Noel silently cried in her tent she shared with Max.
She tried to not make a sound, but failed.
"Noel, would you shut up?" He snapped turning over to face her.
Noel wiped her face hastily.
"Sorry..just..leave me alone.." she says in a rasp voice.
Max's look softens before he could stop it. He sat up.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Noel sighs. "You wouldn't understand.." she muttered.
"You're fucking crying in the middle of the night. What's to understand?" Max asked rolling his eyes.
"Fine. i've been sad lately, and i cover it up with smiles and happiness.
I've been having anxiety dreams. A lot. But i say i have happy dreams..
I can't tell people because they expect me to be the happy-go-lucky girl.
You're the first i ever told. I'm not surprised. Are you happy, Max?
I cry myself to sleepy like the rest of you."
Max didn't expect that at all. Don't get him wrong.
He wanted DAVID to cry himself to sleep. Noel on the other hand…
"Noel..listen..i don't know HOW to deal with this.." Max says rubbing the back of his head.
"How do you know they're anxiety dreams?"
Noel sighs again.
"I read a book called 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' and
I saw a page that said, '...here are some common themes to anxiety dreams,
Falling
Being late for a test
Moving slow motion
Getting caught naked in public
Drowning
And i always fall or move slow motion…"
Max stares at Noel for the longest time. The moonlight shining in the tent.
Covering her brown skin in a white light.
Her shiney orange hair and pink eyes sparkle in the moonlight.
"Just forget it.." she says lying down and facing her back toward Max.
Max looked down at the blanket covering his knees.
He lays back down, HIS back facing her.