noah

Awkwardness aside, it was kinda nice when Dawn accepted the idea for us to go to the fair together. I mean, I sure as hell hoped that I would be able to come over to her house another time, but for now, I felt like the fair might be a good place for us to establish a firmer relationship- and that was what we wanted, right? 

I passed through the rest of my day, seeing her in English and at lunch again.

Jason ditched his seat next to me for Aria, so Dawn switched places and sat next to me. Halfway through lunch, she turned as she muttered, "Do you think we should bring those two lovebirds with us to the fair?" 

I chuckled as I glanced over to where Jason was whispering something suspicious into Aria's ear. Kat was looking at them weirdly. 

"I really don't care if they come." 

"They can make up their own minds," she decided, then asked me if we could meet up at the cafe two streets down right after school to complete the English project the teacher had assigned- although it was individual, it wouldn't hurt to do it with Dawn. 

"Except my phone is on really low charge because I forgot to charge it yesterday, so if I'm not answering anything if we can't meet up, that's why."

I nodded. I rarely used my phone to send messages, so at least that wouldn't affect me. 

Mum would be working late again and Dad honestly didn't give a shit as long as I did my homework and got good grades, so I accepted the offer with a small smile I was sure she'd seen.

*

I arrived at the cafe late, cursing as I let myself in. School had finished ten minutes ago, and I would've been here already in five minutes had the teacher not caught me running in the hallway and forced me to slow walk the rest of my way out until he was out of view.

My eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face.

She wasn't here.

It's been ten minutes. 

But...

School's basically just finished. What your standards may be for the word 'right after school' may be different to hers. She'll be here soon enough. 

Sighing, I spotted an empty table near the back and ignored the flirty waitress who was leaning on the counter in a very... weird way, flashing me winks as I strode past her.

What the heck.

I shoved my bag down onto the ground under my seat and rested my back against the chair, crossing my arms across peering around to check on the door.

Thirteen minutes.

"Would you like something to drink?"

I glared at the waitress who had followed me and shook my head. "No thank you. I'll tell you if I'm feeling thirsty."

"Hungry?" 

I tried not to feel to grossed out at the double meaning. 

"No, thank you," I said a little bit more loudly. 

She looked at me as if she wouldn't be backing down without a fight, so I ran a hand through my hair, and checked the door again.

Fifteen minutes.

I was starting to wonder whether I'd dreamed the whole lunchtime request. 

"Are you sure you don't want something to eat-"

"No, thank you very much, and I believe you heard me the first time- you have ears attached to your face after all."

The girl, who couldn't be older than seventeen, waved off my small insult and braced her arm against my chair, handing me a slip of paper, which was folded up so I couldn't see what it read.

I shoved it deep into my pocket without looking at it. 

When I turned to check the silent door again, the waitress watched me. 

"You seem to be looking for somebody," she said, eyeing my body with a smile. 

"The only thing I'm looking for is your sanity," I snapped. "Now please get the hell away from me."

Still smiling, the waitress sashayed back to the counter, never taking her eyes off me as she sat behind the bench. 

Breathing out slowly, I checked my watch and felt something inside me clench. 

Twenty minutes.

If Dawn didn't arrive in the next five minutes, she was either ditching me or something more pressing had come up and she couldn't make it.

But she'd tell me if she wasn't going to come, wouldn't she? My phone was on but it hadn't made a sound. 

I couldn't quite remember what she'd said about her phone at lunch. Either way, she wasn't sending a message or calling me.

I tapped my fingers against the table and wondered if someone could fire the waitress. 

Ten minutes later, I got up, grabbed my bag, mentally gave the waitress the finger while outwardly smiling a little smugly since I was leaving, and left the cafe.

Inside though, I was a little hurt that Dawn hadn't come. It'd been thirty minutes; surely that was enough time for her to show up?

That's why you never did long-lasting relationships, Noah. 

It's never gonna turn out right.

*

Dawn

This was so goddamn shitty. 

Why the actual frick did dad have to call me on my way to the cafe and tell me to head over to my mum's house instead because he was going on the business trip to Brisbane? I'd actually forgotten that he'd told me about his trip that had come up, but apparently they'd needed him sooner so everything was a little messed up. He'd told me mum already knew and was expecting me to come to her place in ten minutes. And that I'd be staying there for a week, like normal. He'd been in a hurry, so I didn't even have a chance to argue.

Which meant I couldn't do the 'study date' with Noah. 

And what was worse- I'd invited him to study with me, and I was the one who ended up not going.

What the heck had happened to my life?

I stayed in the middle of the path for about ten seconds, debating whether I should make mum happy or make Noah happy. 

You guessed it.

I opened my phone again again and was about to send mum a message that to hell with her demands to come home- I was going to meet Noah, when she messaged me:

Dawn,

I'm really sorry, but my new job as a journalist requires me to go to Melbourne to check out some events that have recently happened. I'll probably be gone for at the most two weeks, and I've heard that Dad has left for Brisbane. I'm currently at the airport already. So, if you don't mind, you will have to stay at my house alone for two weeks. I'm sure you can make your own food- or you can buy some if necessary. Your friend Aria lives close to you, doesn't she? You can go there if you need to. Call my mobile anytime if you need help with something. I will always pick up. I will also call you every night at seven to check in.

I'm really sorry that this happened, but I know the neighbors quite well so you should be as safe as possible. Always lock the doors and close all windows if it rains, and before you go to bed. Turn off all power points before you go to school or sleep as well. Don't stay up too late (how the hell did you guess I was going to do that?) and please stay as safe as possible. I know you can drive so I left my car here, but you don't have to if you feel insecure. And please continue to do your best in school and try not to skip classes.

See you in two weeks.

Xx,

Mum.

What a long ass message. 

My whirring brain was hurting from the sudden change of events, struggling to take in all the new information, so when I checked the time, it was already twenty minutes past the time Noah and I were meant to meet up.

Oh shit.

He'd think I was ditching him.

Should I send him a message, or should I just run to the cafe? He'd probably already left. 

It'd been twenty minutes after all.

I'd message him, I decided. Tell him what was going on, or at least part of it. I didn't want everybody to know that I was suddenly living alone for a while, and plus I didn't know Noah well enough to wonder if he could keep a secret. 

Sighing, I turned on my phone again to tell him, only to be met with a black screen.

Blinking, I pressed the button again. 

Still black.

What the hell?

After punching the button at least fifty times and three minutes had passed, I remembered how low charge my phone had been on.

It was officially dead.

Which meant I couldn't call or message Noah.

Or anyone for that matter.

Swearing under my breath and having an old lady overhear my foul words and give me a little squinty look, I started to run towards the cafe. 

I ignored everybody around me, focusing on the path ahead, dodging more old ladies and loud teens, mums with prams and business people with briefcases and a stone cold frown on. 

At last the cafe came into view, and I doubled my pace, my bag bumping against my back in the most horrible, uncomfortable, and honestly crazy way, reached the door, swung it open, and, panting, looked around for Noah. 

He wasn't there.

How many minutes had passed?

I checked my watch. 

Even with all that crazy running, I was now over thirty minutes late.

He must've left.

He must've thought I wasn't going to come. I hadn't even been able to send him a message. And plus, I could've seen him as I ran towards the cafe if he was leaving, but I'd had my head down and was focusing on just getting the cafe and ignoring everyone around me. 

Shit.

I hurried over to the young girl behind the counter, who seemed to have this permanent scowl on her face as she made some drinks.

"Excuse me," I started quickly, and was promptly waved off. 

"If you want food or drink, go get your own table and be patient, please. I don't just randomly go up to people who've just come in and ignore other people who are still waiting for their food."

"No, I was just wondering if-"

"What did I say?"

I ground my teeth together, and went straight to the point. "Have you seen a boy here, around my age, tall, dark hair?"

"And why would I tell you if I had?" She drawled, suddenly abandoning the drink-in-progress and leaning her elbows on the counter. 

Was that a hint of jealously I caught? Did that mean she'd seen him but didn't want to tell me she had because- for some wild reason- she wanted him to herself?

I glared at her stupid smirk. "Well, have you?"

"I don't deal with impatient or bossy customers either," she continued, reaching for the drink again. "Just wait a minute while I give this drink to a more patient person."

Giving her an icy glare, I watched her slowly come around the bench and walk away to one of the tables near the window.

Screw this. I was pretty sure I knew what had happened anyway.

I walked over to the door and pushed it open, striding away without looking back at that waitress girl.

I would go home, charge my goddamn phone, and call Noah.

And he better pick up.