A Boy Called Noah

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Noah James

Noah attempts at sneaking into the house but unfortunately fails miserably, "Noah." Noah freezes and slowly turns to face Jess, "Hey, Mom. It's great to see you. I've been up a while," yawn, "I think I'm going to go take a nap." Jess stands with her arms crossed over her chest and she only lifts a single unamused eyebrow. "Where have you been?" Noah cringes under her scrutinizing gaze, "I... I'm sorry, Mom, I know I should have told you but be honest would you have let me go?" She rolls her eyes and sighs heavily, "Noah, that's not the point. No one knew where you were. I was worried sick." 

Noah's heart clenches, "I'm really sorry, I just really had to get out of the house. And I had to see Thea..." Jess's eyes sparkle at this statement, "You saw Thea?" Noah rolls his eyes in a friendly manner, "Mooom, don't embarrass me." Jess gently pushes his shoulder and wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, "How is  Thea?"  

Noah's loud laugh quickly turns into a painful coughing fit. Jessica's delight turns to concern and she gently helps him to stand up from their seat on the stairs, "Let's get you to bed..." Noah only nods his head, still breathless from the coughing. 

***

Noah shivers as Jess helps him into bed. She quickly pulls the covers over his body and ads an extra comforter and blanket, "You okay?" He nods his head and she quietly leaves the room, closing the door behind her. He lays his head down and closes his eyes, quickly drifting into a dreamless sleep.

***

'Baby, lay on back and relax, kick your pretty feet up on my dash

No need to go nowhere fast, let's enjoy right here where we atWho knows where this road is supposed to lead
We got nothing but time
As long as you're right here next to me, everything's gonna be alright'

Noah groans and his hand searches for the source of the noise. His fingers fumble with his phone to answer the call, "Hello?" His voice is hoarse and thick with sleep.

"Noah, hey... sorry this is random. I just kinda wanted to talk to you abo-... you know what? Never mind. Sorry for calling."

"Thea, come on, talk to me. You can tell me anything." 

A sigh comes through the phone and Noah wipes the sleep from his eyes. His mouth gapes with a yawn and he quickly silences it.

"Did I wake you? I'm so sorry. I didn't think you'd be sleeping... but then again, the website did say that sleep fights cancer. Maybe I should call later, so you can sleep again. Noah?" 

"Hm?" 

"I'm rambling, aren't I?" 

Noah lightly laughs and assures her that he thinks it's adorable when she rambles. "Thea, what's wrong?" 

"Nothing. Why would anything be wrong?"

"I can hear the pain in your voice. What's happened?"

A deep sigh, "It's my mum. She says that she won't allow me to bother you guys anymore... I guess she's right, I kinda barge into your daily lives... I'm sorry about that... and this..." 

Noah fears that his outrage at such a statement may be clear through the phone, "That's utter crap, Thea. You aren't a burden and you aren't barging into our lives. We are practically roping you in. Jess sometimes worries that we overwhelm you..." 

Thea's end of the line is silent and Noah worries that their call may have cut off, "Thea?" 

"Can my sister maybe bring me over? My mum's punishing me with no dinner and I'm starving... I'm not really comfortable here right now..." 

Noah's joy is evident in his voice, "Definitely... see you in ten?" 

"Yeah."

The line goes dead and Noah practically leaps from his bed. "Mom!" Footsteps quickly run down the hall towards his room. Seconds later Jess bursts into the room with a white fluffy towel tied around her wet body, "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Noah laughs and shakes his head, "Thea's coming over, can she stay for dinner?" Jess visibly relaxes and nods her head, "Of course. Don't scare me like that, Noah." Noah smiles sheepishly, "Sorry, Mom." She smiles and closes the door behind her muttering about crazy teenagers.