Promise?

Chapter 9

Noah spent the rest of the day floating in a daze.

She replayed the memory of that morning and the night before over and over in her head; the girl's smile, small and awkward put a bounce in her steps and filled her with white hot joy while a smile of her own tugged at her lips each and every time she recalled the girl's. Her cheeks were constantly aflame while the pit of her belly filled with warmth. Everything seemed to be tinged in pink hues and soft clouds. She was all smiles and fluttering butterflies.

Nothing could bother her.

Even when she lost her favorite pencil, when she cost her team the win during the lunchtime kickball game, and even when some of the boys in her class made fun of her and her "stupid face"- Noah was far too over the moon with joy to care.

Nothing could bring her down.

All she could think about was the girl and her cold touch and the memory of her finally, finally smiling. She could barely contain her excitement, could barely wait till nightfall came... when she would be able to see her again and maybe... maybe that night would finally be the one where the girl finally spoke...

By the time her mother picked her up from school later that day Noah was practically bouncing off the sidewalk.

Nina smiled at the sight of her daughter. It was nice to see her so excited and back to her old self. She'd been in some sort of a stupor that morning; lost in her own thoughts and with a faraway sort of look to her. In fact, she'd been so lost in her own little world that she hadn't even noticed her coming in, not even when she stood in front of her calling to her. It was only until Nina reached out with a concerned look in her hazel eyes and touched a hand to her pink-tinged cheek that Noah finally reacted. And even then... she'd been a bit off; simply smiling at her before making her way to the bathroom without so much as a word. Sure, there wasn't anything physically wrong with her daughter but Nina still couldn't help but worry and wonder just what was going on with her?

Maybe she simply had another "good dream", whatever that meant. Whatever the case, it was nice to see the playful girl back to her old cheerful self.

"Good day at school hon'?" Nina asked easing out of the curb and onto the street after Noah was safely buckled.

Noah blinked, her eyes glittering gold as she peered into the rear-view mirror to meet her mother's gaze before nodding in affirmation.

Nina raised a brow when she didn't elaborate. It was usually her job to remind Noah to stop and take a breath from all of the rapid-fire words coming out of her detailing her day. She'd never imagine having to coax any information out of her daughter. "Anything new or exciting?"

In the few seconds it took for her to finish asking the question Noah's gaze grew unfocused again, her focus elsewhere. Far away from the 'now' in the car and in a time and place only she saw and remembered... just like this morning. Her cheeks grew flushed while her eyes softened and a smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts tugged at her lips.

Nina felt a small smile tug at her own lips as a thought crept into her head. No... it couldn't be? Could it? She shook her head at the absurdity. If she didn't know any better, it almost looked as though Noah... were in lo-

"Yeah. We played kickball..." The chiming giggle interrupted Nina's train of thought before she could finish it. "We lost though. I think it was my fault." Another giggle.

"Oh?" Nina glanced at the rear-view mirror once more, her brow raised in question as she met Noah's gaze. The girl nodded but didn't seem all that upset by the loss she'd apparently cost her team. In fact, she didn't really seem to care at all about anything going on around her and Nina once again noticed how Noah's features softened and her golden eyes glazed over. When she realized that the girl wasn't going to elaborate any further on the matter she simply shook her head and turned her gaze back on the road. And Noah still smiling and with eyes still glittering failed to notice the amused yet slightly worried expression on her mother's face.