“Okay. Then why do you sound so tired, if I may ask?”
“It’s early?” I didn’t know this man well enough to explain how my night went.
“True,” he laughed. “Your night went okay, though?”
“Yeah.” No, not at all, but not because of what he did. “I’m good.”
It was then that I heard Noah start moving around, the floor creaking as his feet hit that certain spot I had learned to overstep.
“Sorry, but I gotta go. A friend is here.”
“That’s my fault. I didn’t think. Of course, you’d have someone there. Okay, I’ll let you go. Hope to see you at another munchie sometime.”
“Yeah, sure. Okay. Bye.” I rushed, ending the call right as Noah leaned his body against the bedroom doorway.
“You didn’t have to end your call,” Noah muttered, dropping his eyes. “I’ll just....” He trailed off, motioning towards the bathroom.
“Do you need help?”
“No thanks.” His answer took a moment, causing me to wonder what really went through his head before answering.
I stood where I was, watching Noah as he put most of his weight against the wall, shuffling towards the bathroom.
I turned away from the small, short hallway after he closed the bathroom door. I knew he’d call for me if he needed help.
Making myself busy, I headed towards the kitchen to slowly pull out what I needed to make Noah some chocolate milk. It was one of the many things I kept in my apartment, even if he didn’t live here, or hardly visited more than once or twice in the past year alone.
It was hard to believe that at one point in time, Noah and I were nearly inseparable. It was always Noah and Asher. Best friends, forever and always.
I wanted to think that we would never be pulled apart. That neither of us would ever dream of letting the other be taken away to where we couldn’t be friends. But I guess when someone wanted to separate us that badly, they would find a way.
Sighing, knowing there was more than one reason I detested Noah’s first ex, I poured milk into a cup. His ex hated me; always thinking there was more between Noah and me than there really was. We were only ever friends. Nothing more.
Crossing that line wasn’t worth the risk of losing what we had. Not when I was the only thing he had left in this world.
After Noah had kicked that man to the curb, his next choices in dating were just as bad. Men who were filled with jealousy, and wanted things from a boy who was young at heart that no man ever should. But by that time, the damage had already been done.
There had been a wedge put between Noah and me. One that wasn’t going to be fixed easily or quickly. But, that didn’t change the fact that I’d always be there for my best friend. No matter what. In death or life.
By the time I was stirring the chocolate syrup into the milk, making it the perfect brown color that only I could master, according to Noah, I heard him shuffle toward the living room. I kept my back towards him, letting him huff and grit his teeth as he did so.
I grabbed some pain reliever and a bottle of water before heading towards Noah, who was sitting on the couch, breathing a bit too heavily.
“Here.” I handed the water and pills over, making sure he’d take them before I let him have the sweeter drink. When his eyes landed on the other cup, they lit up for a moment.
“Thank you.” The two words were barely spoken, almost like he was in awe of it. Noah’s hand was shaking as he took it, wrapping his fingers around the cup tightly.
All the questions came back to the front of my mind as I took a seat next to him, leaving plenty of space between us. I wasn’t entirely sure what Noah had been through, and I didn’t want to crowd him. Or freak him out more than he already was.
I gave him a few minutes to settle, sipping on his cold drink and for the pain pills to hopefully start to work.
“You didn’t have to....” He paused, waving his empty hand around. “I shouldn’t even be here. He’s gonna find me. I’m sorry, Asher. I shouldn’t have....I should go.”
“No. You’re going to stay right here and explain.” I turned, putting one foot under me as I sat on the couch. “Calling me in the middle of the night like that....” I stopped, clearing my throat.
“I shouldn’t have done that. He’s going to be so, so mad. I can’t stay. I need to go. Sorry. I’m sorry, Asher. I shouldn’t be here. I need-“
“Noah, stop.”
