NOAH

Ch. 10

Chapter 10

Eyes.

Eyes of all different colors, shapes, and sizes fixing their gaze on a lonely target. Whispers circle around me as I ignore the stares, heading straight for Noah.

My phone continued to ding after I'd fainted. Camry updated me on my fate with every new signature that appeared on the petition. Noah only letting me know that he didn't know anything.

He must surely know something now with the countless number of eyes following me. His eyes stay focused on me as if to guard me from the unwanted stares. I slide into the seat next to him, letting my hair fall in front of my face.

"Have you heard anything about the petition I sent you last night?"

He leans in closer, warmth fanning my cheek. "Yeah, but it's not even the petition that's bad, it's who started it."

"Tell me."

"Your friend, Woods."

I scrunch up my face, brow furrowing as I shake my head. "No, she didn't start it. She just knew about it."

Noah leans back, blowing out a breath as his own head shakes. "Nope, she sent me a text last night wanting me to sign it. She said she had to do it. That it was necessary to prevent the fall of UMC or some other bullshit excuse."

I tug my hands through my curls, yanking out any tangles as I go. My jaw strains as my teeth bare down on each other, eyes trained on the embodiment of perfection as she laughs with her two friends like nothing even happened.

"I can't deal with her anymore."

"You don't have to. We know what really happened, thats all that matters."

"That's all that matters until I lose my spot in this program! Everyone can't just be positive all the time!" I snap, noting the change in his expression. I sigh, letting my head fall into my hands. Ropes burn in my stomach as I wish to go back, my mind replaying the switch in him. Washing away the last bit of sunshine wasn't the best idea when you needed to bring light to a dark situation.

I peek out from under my arm, checking to see if he'd already left me, but the same carved features sit before me. His lips lift into a smile, chuckles falling from his lips. "Do you feel better?"

"I'm sorry."

"I've been yelled at before, Raine. It's OK."

My mind flashes back to the parking lot screaming match he had the day before, but before I can attempt to ask about it, Chief Williamson steps over to us. His expression as blank as before.

"Come to my office, please."

I lift a finger towards myself. "Me?"

"Both of you."

The journey to his office is a silent one. Neither of us daring to speak, the looming possibility of being cut, dangling above our heads. Signatures piled onto the petition like bodies piled onto Camry, only her ways of persuasion were hopefully less bodily.

He clicks his office door shut, falling into his chair as he waves us to our own. "Sit."

He opens his mouth to speak as we fall into our seats. "Dr. Marsh explained the situation a little different than you. I'll read exactly what he said."

I shake my head as he begins to speak, betrayal seeming to be a new trend in this facility.

"Arcadia was extremely reckless and has been since she joined me. She just yanked it out of his neck, not a care in the world."