NOAH

Ch. 14

Chapter 14

If she doesn't walk through that door in the next five minutes I don't know what I'll do. I can't spend the another hour in this room waiting for her to show up. Seeing that her children are home wreaking havoc, you'd think she'd be quicker.

The two hours I'd been sulking after Dakota and Josh left were filled with pointless what-ifs and whys. What if Danielle kicks me out? What if Noah stops hanging out with me and goes back to Dakota? Why did Josh choose her? Why was she better than me?

I'd never in my life want to get back with Josh after everything he's done, but my mind can't help but wonder what Dakota possesses that I don't. She's nice enough, though her knowledge of Noah dropping me off is creepy due to the fact that he dropped me a few houses down. Is she still interested in him?

My stomach shrinks as the front door slams shut. "Here goes nothing."

I scurry down the stairs, meeting the scowl of Danielle. Her eyes rake over the messy living room and kitchen, before they roll around, clearly unimpressed. "What are you looking at?"

"I need to ask you something."

She waves her hand in front of her face. "Hurry up."

"I want to know about my mom. What's her real name? Where is sh-"

"Are you kidding?"

"Why the hell would I be kidding?"

She puts her hands on her hips, her botched implants jiggling as she sags to one side, eyes rolling. "Because, your mom was a bitch."

The knot in my stomach unravels, leaving rage to cloud it's space. "How can you talk about your own sister like that?! She disappeared and you did nothing to help find her!"

My teeth bare down against each other as laughter spills from her lips. "Michelle was just like you, annoying as hell. And as far as I'm concerned, I don't have a sister."

Noah's blanket of hope fans my rage, cooling it as I take in what slipped out. "Michelle..."

"What?"

I shake my head, whipping around as I rush to my room. As soon as the door is closed behind me, I squeal into my pillow. The fear of her playing me with another fake name is overwhelmed with the hope that I might be one step closer to finding my mother.

I grab my phone, sending Noah a quick message.

I think I know her real name.

He texts back immediately.

Mission accomplished. Great job soldier.

I shake my head, my lips lifting into a small smile. My phone beeps again before I can send a reply.

Does the name on your birth certificate match the name we now know? You had to have one to apply for UMC right?

I quickly text him back letting him know that it says her name was Anne. As if a light bulb clicks on in my brain, I realize that if her name isn't Anne then my birth certificate may not be real. I type quickly, sharing my thoughts openly with him.

I hop off my bed, heading for a box in the top of my closet. I pull out my birth certificate, making sure it doesn't actually say Michelle. But, I'm right. It states my mom is Anne Raine and my father is unknown. I check my messages as another beep sounds.

Next Mission: Make Sure Birth Certificate is Accurate. Location: DMV Target: Arcadia Raine

I shake my head as I put the papers back into their original space. I rush back to my bed as my phone starts to ring, Noah's name flashing across the screen. The selfie he took of us at Cherry's house shining in the background. His arm is resting on my head, my face no where in the shot, as he grins at the camera.

"Hello."

"It's me."

"Hi Noah."

"Did you get the joke?"

"Yes, Adele, I got the joke."

He laughs, his deep voice tickled with humor. "What are you doing?"

My face scrunches at the simple question. Does he just want to talk? I inhale, my heart not able to stop freaking out at the fact that he called me for no other reason than to do just that. It feels pathetic to have my heart race because someone wants to speak with me, that someone is interested in my words. But, I can't call my heart pathetic because she's wrapped with hope, basking in it's warmth. It's not her fault, nor is it mine.

"Raine? You there?"

"Yeah, sorry. I'm not doing anything actually."

"Well, you must be glad that I called then."

Should I tell him about Dakota?

Yes, if you want to screw things up.

"I- I am."

"Are you blushing? I bet you're blushing."

"Shut up," I retort, holding my hands to my warm cheeks.

His throaty chuckles vibrate against my ear, warming me from head to toe. "Oh, how I wish I could see that."

"I-"

A door slams in the background, a deep voice shouting. "Noah!"

"I'm sorry, Raine. I have to go."

"Bye," I say as the call clicks off.

The abrupt end to our conversation leaves me unsatisfied, wanting to chat just a little while longer.

I place my phone to the side, sighing as I fall backwards onto my bed. I try to think of anything but him, wanting to forget about the unsatisfying end to our call.

My mom washes her way to my forefront, her blond hair blowing in the wind as she waves me over. The thought of meeting her alone makes me ten times happier, but my thoughts blow in a different direction. The clearest direction. Noah by my side as I meet her, seeing it through till the end. She'd love him and his green eyes, his deep voice, his everything. I'd be her missing piece and he'd be the glue that holds it in place.

One of the twins rams into my door, swearing at the other, and I'm broken from my trance. The disappointment comes flying back, ramming into me, knocking me back to where I just was. Unsatisfied and missing Noah's voice.

Who would've thought?