Hills & Valleys : The Sophomore Sequel || Tori Kelly

But You Gotta Keep Your Head Up

continued

"Noah!" Tori yelled watching her brother hover over some girl on her couch. The teen started to scramble for their clothes as Tori silently did her best to calm her nerves. "I know you were not about have sex in my house. I know you weren't!" She said, slamming the door shut, causing the teens to jump. Noah got off the couch and started towards Tori ready to explain, but the older sister was not about hear it.

"Tori, I—"

"I thought you were clear. You weren't having sex, right? You weren't going to be like André. You were respecting her," Tori threw back, reciting everything he'd said. Noah folded his arms and hung his head. Tori didn't have time to discipline her brother. She needed to get to her father, so the parenting was clearly going to have to wait. "Honey," Tori calmly started, looking at the young girl, "it's time for you to go." Natalie and Noah shared a small glance before she quietly left the sober house out of the front door past the still angry singer. "Go get your shoes on and grab some clothes. I'll explain in the car," Tori said, before heading back out to sit with her babies.

—

Noah walked up to his room, shut the door, and sat on the edge of the bed. Quickly, he pulled out his phone and called his mother. He didn't even care that she was "on vacation". He was sure his sister was going to kick him out and he did not know what to do. "Noah, honey, I'm sort of busy. What's going on?" Laura rushed. Noah took a deep breath and contemplated whether or not to hang up. He didn't want to be a bother, but he didn't want his sister to be mad at him.

"Mom, I messed up and I think Tori is gonna send me away," Noah groaned. He could hear his mother's disappointment through the phone.

"Noah, I'm sure whatever you did can be fixed. You two will work this out. I really have to go. I'll see you next week when I get back." And just like that Noah was on his own. The sixteen year old tossed his phone across the rom sure that it was, at least, cracked and started to pack a bag like his sister told him. He didn't know where he was going, however he definitely wanted to stay with the only person who was showing him structure and care.

—

Silently, Noah tossed his things into the trunk, then dropped into the passengers seat as Tori changed Ella in the front seat. Tori sighed heavily, and finished cleaning her child so they could hit the road. Thankfully the boys were still asleep, so when Tori put the newborn in her seat and started the car they could go without a hitch.

Noah noticed that the diaper bag and the boys backpack was the only thing Tori had. There was no duffle bag for clothes or anything. And that scared Noah even more. "I just want to let you know that where ever you take me, I'll force them to send me back to you," Noah tried. Tori glanced from the highway for a second, confused.

"Umm, okay," Tori replied, merging onto the busy interstate. Noah uneasily shifted in his seat and turned the radio down. He knew this route. This was the way to their fathers place. Aka a place he did not want to be.

"I'll be good. I promise. Please don't send me to dad's. I wasn't thinking, but I'll do better. I won't have Natalie over, and I'll put my clothes in the hamper, and I'll watch the kids for you. But, please just don't send me to dad," Noah begged. Tori furrowed her eyebrows. Why would he think that she was sending him away?

"Send you to dad's? Noah, what are you talking about?" Tori asked, slowing down in midday traffic.

"You told me to pack a bag. But you don't have one, and you got mad at me. I—"

"Noah, no." Tori tried to keep her emotions together as best she could, to explain to her brother the situation at hand. "Dré is bringing my stuff later. We aren't going to dad's to drop you off. Dad is..." Tori trailed off. Noah watched Tori wile away a free falling tear and move up slowly in the line. "Dad had a heart attack. He's in the hospital," she revealed. Noah couldn't believe what he was hearing. Their dad was the strongest guy they knew. It didn't make sense.