I left once I found my legs and the will to move them.  I ran out of the building, hailing a cab as quickly as possible.  I hopped inside, and headed to Noah’s.  I didn’t know how to tell Noah that Joel has his little brother.  The only person I know he loves more than anything.  The only person I know he would take a bullet for.  And Joel knows it because Joel would have done the same for his brother.

                This wasn’t fair, none of this was fair.  I don’t understand why Joel is so bent on Noah being the one that killed his brother.  It was ruled a suicide, but there’s something going on.  I was almost starting to believe Joel about Noah.  After what we’ve been through, I don’t think he’s lying to me.  I think…but I wasn’t sure.  Joel put this thoughts in my head and it’s clouding everything.

                I wasn’t doubting Noah’s innocence, but I doubted that he’s told me everything.  There’s a large detail he left out, and I didn’t know what that detail may be.  Noah talked about Jesse like he was basically his brother.  He rarely talked about him, but when he did, he had nothing bad to say.  I can’t imagine what his reaction is going to be when he finds out about Alex.

                  Actually, I can.

                He’s going to go after him, and I can’t stop him.  As much as I care about Noah and don’t want him to get hurt, he needs to get to his brother.  I don’t want either of them hurt. 

                As the cab driver pulled in front of Noah’s driveway, there were already two cop cars in the driveway, their lights flashing.  Four figures stood in the driveway, one belonging to Noah’s dad.  I didn’t want to believe Joel could be so cruel to take him away from his family, but he did.

                I jumped out of the cab after paying, and ran up the driveway.  The person leaning against Noah’s dad, was a frantic mother.  “Willow?” Leo asked as I stopped in front of them.

The police officers looked at me and I noticed one of them to be Larson.  He had the same expression Noah’s dad had.  “What are you doing here?” He asked.

                “Is it true?  Is he gone?” I put my hand to my chest, trying to catch a breath.

                “I’m afraid so.  He’s been gone since earlier this afternoon.  How did you know?”

Noah’s mom lifted her head from her husband’s chest to look at me.

                “Joel, remember I told you about him?”

Larson nodded.

I glanced at Noah’s parents and back to him.  “He found me at Mist.  He said he took Noah’s brother because he’s convinced Noah took his away from him.  You have to find him.” I pleaded.  “Someone is going to get hurt, and he doesn’t care.”

Noah’s mom started crying again.

                “Could you tell me what he looks like?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but Leo spoke first.  “I have a picture.  It’s old, but it could work.”

Leo wrapped his arms around his wife, and brought her inside.

                I turned back to face Larson, who had been watching me intently.  “Why does this Joel character keep saying Noah isn’t innocent?”

I shrugged my shoulders, “I-I don’t know.” I stuttered.  “I don’t know what’s happening anymore.  You’re asking the wrong person.”  I wrapped my arms around myself.

                “When is Noah going to be home?”

I shrugged, looking down at the ground.  “I don’t know.”

                “We’re going to do everything we can, Willow.  We’re going to find Alex and Joel.” He assured.

I looked up at him again, hope was filling my body.  “Please.”  I didn’t want to cry again.

Leo came running back out without his wife this time.  He handed the picture to Larson and Larson scanned the picture.  “This was just last year before his brother died.” 

I peeked over the picture, and noticed Joel first off.  He hasn’t changed much at all.  Maybe a few more wrinkles, but that’s it.  “He’s the one in the middle.” He clarified, pointing the the figure. 

Joel had his arms wrapped around Noah, and who I assumed to be Jesse.  I’ve only seen one picture of him, but not too much.  That was Noah’s best friend.  His dark hair was cropped and his green eyes couldn’t be missed.  He looked happy.  Not someone who would kill themselves.  I wish I could have known him to get a better understanding of Noah and Joel.  But that was impossible.

                Larson stayed for another hour, gathering information about Alex and Joel.  Noah hasn’t called or tried to text and I wondered where he could be.  He has no idea Joel has his brother.  And Joel has no idea we went to the police.  I then wondered if he thought I would do that or make Noah do the right thing.  “Will you come inside?”  Leo asked after the police left.

                “Are you sure?”

He gave me a weak smile and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.  “My wife wants to talk to you.”

The thought made my stomach turn.  I haven’t met her yet.

                Leo walked me inside and I could hear muffled cries coming from the living room.  He dropped his arm from my shoulders and gestured for me to have a seat on the opposite side of the sectional so I’m able to face them.  “So, you’re Willow?”  She asked, running a tissue under his nose.

I hesitated, but nodded.  “Yes, ma’am.”

                “I’m Carrie.  I wish we could have met under better circumstances.”  Her eyes were puffy from hours of crying.

                “I’m really sorry about Alex.” I blurted.

She waved her hands.

I was afraid I would make her cry more just by saying his name.

                “I don’t know how you got drug into this mess.” She said.  “I’m sorry about that.  Joel is relentless.  We moved because Noah couldn’t even go to school without coming home with a black eye.”  She paused to blow her nose.  “I know it’s not hard to look someone up, but I don’t know why he did.  Noah didn’t hurt Jesse.  Noah would never hurt him.  But for some reason, Joel doesn’t understand that.  A few months before he died, he would show up at the house late at night.  Sometimes he would have a busted lip, and others he couldn’t even walk.”

My heart was hammering hard against my chest.  “Why are you telling me this?” I asked, my voice soft.

                “You should know.”

No, I shouldn’t.

I have no right to know any of this.  Even if it cleared up confusion, the less I knew, the better.

                “Joel blamed Noah for that, too.”

                “Why wouldn’t Jesse just tell him?”

                “He did, but Joel didn’t listen.  He thinks Jesse was too scared of Noah.”

I pressed my fingers to my temples, closing my eyes for a moment.  “This doesn’t make sense.” I muttered, opening my eyes again. 

                “What has Joel told you, Willow?”

I decided I would start from the beginning, and end with tonight.  I told her everything I knew, but left out a few details about Noah and I being together.  And the secret condo.  “He thinks hurting Alex is the only way Noah will come to him willingly.”

She started shaking her head, “I just don’t understand why.  Why can’t he just let things be?  Noah didn’t do it and he needs to realize that and leave my family alone.  He’s doing nothing but making things worse for himself.”

Her legs were trembling and she squeezed her eyes closed.  “I can’t imagine how Alex is feeling right now.”  She started crying again.

I wanted to comfort her, but Leo had that job taken care of.

                “They’ll find him.” I said in confidence.  “They’ll find Alex, and there won’t be a scratch on him.”

She lifted her head and gave me the best smile she could.  “You’re very kind, Willow.  But I don’t know.  I can’t have Noah go after him.  I can’t lose either of them.  I will fall apart.”

I could understand after finding my mom in the kitchen that day.  “I’ll do what I can.”

I couldn’t stop Noah from going after Joel and that bothered me.

                I just wanted Alex to be home safe. And Noah, too.

                Carrie stood up and Leo mocked her actions.  “I’m going to go to bed, I’m really exhausted.”

I stood also, prepared to leave.  “I think you should tell him.” She said.

I felt a lump in my throat and I struggled to speak.  “A-are you sure that’s a good i-idea?”

                “You need to tell him what happened.”

I was the last person that wanted to tell him.  He’s going to take it hard no matter what.  “I’ll talk to him.”

She walked up to me, putting her hands on my arms.  “Don’t let him do anything stupid, okay?  And don’t let him leave the house.  I know my son.”

                “I’ll do what I can.”

She smiled weakly and wrapped me in a hug.  “It was really nice to finally meet you.  And I’m sorry about everything you’ve been through.  I hope your mom is doing okay.”

She pulled away and Leo sent a nod in my direction.

They both left the room and I could hear Carrie’s sniffles as they walked up the stairs.

                With all of this new information, it gave me a new clarity.  Jesse was afraid of someone, that wasn’t Noah.  I wondered if it could possibly be his own brother, but why?  Why would Joel go through all the trouble?  I quickly put that idea to bed and walked in the kitchen.  I don’t think they would mind if I stole a bottle of water.

                I grabbed a bottle of water and boosted myself up onto the counter of the island.  I pulled my phone from my front pocket and looked at my messages.  I had one from Ash, asking where I am.  I had another one from Ashley, basically asking the same thing but she may have added bitch at the end.  I just texted Ash and told him I went to Scott’s.  He’s stopped caring at this point because he knows I’m going to see him anyway.

                The sound of the front door opening pulled me out of my head.  I put my phone back in my pocket and I heard Noah’s boots hit the tile.  His footsteps were coming closer, until he rounded the corner into the kitchen.  His features showed nothing less of shock.  “I wondered where you went.” He said, stopping a foot in front of me.  “Why are you here?”

Looking in his eyes made me want to cry.  They were the same as Alex’s.  “We need to talk.”

                “What about?”

My chest tightened with every breath I took.  “I left because I talked to Joel.”

                “He was there tonight?”

I bit down on my lip, but he already knew the answer.  “What did he want, Willow?” He pushed.

                “What do you think?” I retorted.  “He’s done with me.”

                “What’s that mean?  He’s not going to hurt you?”

I couldn’t think of the right things to say.  I was avoiding telling him about Alex.  “Not my family.”

                “Willow…”  His breathing became rapid.  He already knew.

                “I’m so sorry, Noah.”  I started crying again after I avoided it for so long.

I swear for a split second, I thought he was going to start crying.

                  “Where is he?”

                “Noah, you need to listen to me.  They’re doing everything they can to find him.  You can’t disrupt that or it could harm the search.”

He was heaving, trying to catch his breath.  He turned around, slamming his palms so hard against the wall, in return making me jump.

                “Noah, please…”

He ducked his head, pushing his palms against the wall again just to hold himself up.  “This can’t be happening.” He dropped his hands from the wall and lifted his head, but he didn’t turn around.  “This is my fault.  My little brother is…gone because of me.  He’s probably scared…” He trailed off and I knew he was getting choked up.

He finally turned around and looked at me.  “I went wrong somewhere.”

                “He’s going to be okay.  They’ll find Alex and Joel both.  Joel just want be so lucky.”  I kept my tone soft even though I was crying.

His eyes were pleading.  He didn’t have to say anything.

I opened my arms for him.

He timidly stepped forward, and dropped his forehead against my chest.  His arms went around my waist and I wrapped mine around his neck.  “They’re going to find him.” I murmured.  “Don’t blame yourself.”

We sat in the same position for a while.  I ran my hands soothingly through his hair, which earned a few shaky breaths from Noah.  I constantly reminded him Alex will be found and no one will have to get hurt.  This won’t last long with Noah.  “Let’s go to bed.” I whispered, dropping my hands.

He lifted his head and I jumped off of the counter.

                I grabbed Noah’s hand and we made our way up the stairs.  I pushed  his bedroom door open, and didn’t bother to turn on the light.  I made my way into the dark and the door closed with a faint click.  I felt around for the bed, and eased myself onto it.  I climbed to the top of the bed, and waited to feel Noah.  I heard the sound of him kicking of his boots and I felt the bed sink beside me.

                He moved closer, resting his head on my chest again.  Our bodies tangled together, no need to be warmed up with a blanket.  I resumed running my fingers through his hair, only hearing our out of sync breathing.  I left a kiss on the top of his head and that’s when I felt something drip.

The last thing I wanted was Noah to cry.

It was impossible to picture.

                I bit down on my lips, and held Noah closer.

----------------------------

I know I promised long, and this isn't long. :/

I know I'm sure all of you are confused.

I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of Pretty little liars, hahahaha.

That's not even where I got inspiration from.  I stopped watching that show last year, oops.

There will be answers!  And more twists!!!!

So stay tuned.

I'm hoping to have at least more than thirty chapters, so cross your fingers.  I still have a lot planned, and I already know how I'm going to end it.  I just need to figure out how to get there ya feel?

I feel bad for making Noah cry, but I'm pretty sure anyone would in his situation. 

I'm writing the damn story and I want Willow and Noah together, haha.

All votes and comments are sooo loved!!!  Thank you guys!