A Boy Called Noah

Chapter Forty-five

Amalthea Galanos

"She will not go to that boy's house! She is supposed to be dancing. She's wasting air if she isn't dancing." "Codswallop, Regina! This is her bloody choice. I won't allow you to force her to do things she doesn't want to. She hasn't been there in two weeks! You're ruling days over Thea are over."  "That's it! Get out of my house!" 

Thalia snorts, "You're house? My father paid- still pays for this house. You have yet to put a single penny out for it. So tell me again to get out and I'll make sure that this house becomes mine." Regina gasps, "You wouldn't dare." "Try me." 

Thea squeezes her eyes shut, trying to block out her mother and sister's fight. Their voices pierce her thoughts and make her mind cloud with horribly dark thoughts. Thoughts of how everything would be better had she not been here. More than once has she wondered if it would just be better if she just... left. If she just disappeared... and then she remembers that she's too much of a coward to do anything about it. 

She slowly lifts from her bed and walks to her door. The voices are a bit muffled meaning that they're most likely downstairs. She takes a deep breath and opens the door a crack. Leaning out, she peeks her head into the hall and makes a break for the bathroom as soon as she establishes that the coast is clear. 

Halfway there she, unfortunately, runs straight into Calum's best friend Vanessa. Both girls tumble to the ground and a slightly pained gasp rasps through Venessa's lips, "Hi, Thea. It's nice  to see you again, I'm doing good thanks." Vanessa smiles brightly and only rubs at the tender spot on her forehead. Thea giggles, "Sorry, Vanessa. I didn't see you there. When did you get here by the way?" Vanessa laughs, "This morning, sleeping beauty. It's almost noon." Thea's head jerks down at her wristwatch, "NOON?" Vanessa nods her head and rises to her feet. She holds her hand out to help Thea and she gladly takes it. "Good luck with Mr. Moody today. I've got to head off. Is Thalia here?" Vanessa laughs, "Yeah she is and you get used to him after a while." 

Thea shakes her head as she walks back to her bedroom to quickly get dressed and brush her teeth.

***

Thea catches Thalia on her way out of the door and calls for her to wait. Thalia turns to face her sister as she frantically runs down the stairs two at a time. Thea puffs air out through her nose and bends over to catch her breath, "Can you take me to Noah's place?" Thalia laughs, "I'm actually heading there myself." Thea cocks her head to the side and a cheeky smile graces her lips, "Are you visiting Vick? Oh, do you like him?" "Codswallop. We're just mates." Thea lifts a suggestive eyebrow, making Thalia giggle, "Do you want a ride or not?" Thea laughs and closes the door behind her.

***

The James Manor is cold and quite terrifying for the first time since Thea came to visit. Vera greets them at the door with a very solemn face and takes Thalia to Vick and tells Thea that Noah and Jess are in his room.

Thea's footsteps are the only sound in the house and it seems to echo, even with the thick rug under her. She tugs on her flowy black skirt and makes sure that her white t-shirt is tucked in completely. She finds herself outside of his familiar grey door and she lightly raps her knuckles against it. 

Seconds later, Jess opens the door and looks at Thea sadly, "He's having a really bad day but he's been asking when you're coming all morning." Thea's smiles drops and she leans forward to try and see Noah. Jess notices this and opens the door for her to walk in. She slowly steps into the room and almost flees from the scene. 

"Oh, Noah..." Noah's eyes are closed and he seems to be asleep. His usually dark skin is an almost translucent white and his hair is matted to his forehead with sweat. His bed lay covered in blood-stained tissues and a bucket stands next to his bed. Thea doesn't have to look inside to know that it's filled with blood. 

"Jess, this can't be normal. We have to take him to the hospital. We have to... we have to do something..." Jess pulls her into a hug, "Sh, it's okay. Dr. Brown was already here. He says that it's normal this far in." Thea buries her face in Jess's shoulder and lets her tears stream, "He looks..." "Sh, I know, sweetheart. Go lay down next to him and I'll go make us each a nice cup of tea." Thea nods and slips her shoes off. She lays down onto the bed and Noah lightly stirs but does not wake. She lays her head down onto the soft pillow and tries to keep her heavy eyelids open but as soon as Jess closes the door behind her she drifts into a land of great nightmares.