"Noah!" I can hear somebody shouting me but I keep my eyes squeezed shut, trying to block out the light streaming through my window. "Noah!" The voice calls again. This time I open my eyes slowly to see my sister Rachel standing above me with an envelope in her hand.
"What is it Rach?" I groan, frustrated.
"You got a letter. Granny told me to give it to you so get up! I want to know who it's from, it looks old." Rach smiles at me.
Reluctantly, I sit up leaning back against the headboard and hold my hand out for the letter, which Rach eagerly gives to me taking a seat on the bed. I see the writing on the front of the envelope and feel like I should recognize it. "Hey Rach? Do you recognize this writing?" I ask her, flashing the envelope at her.
"Nope. Just open it then you'll know who it's from won't you?" Rach rolls her eyes as if it's the most obvious thing ever. She's right of course, she may be fifteen but she's not stupid. I can't help but think that her girlfriend Santana really is a bad influence her on her though, I laugh at the thought before opening the letter and beginning to read.
I can't really believe what I'm seeing. I don't move. I just sit and stare at the letter.
I know Rach can tell something's wrong and she hugs me quickly. "Can you read it to me?" She whispers, softly.
I nod my head stiffly at her and begin reading out the letter in front of me. The letter is dated ten years ago, the year that our parents went missing. "Dear Noah." I began, choking slightly on the words. "Sorry I haven't written to you. I know it's been a while since I saw you but I've got great news! Your mother and I will be changing posts soon so we'll be home for a few weeks. Sorry son, I have to go. Look after your sister little man. Love you lots Daddy and Mama." I finish. My eyes are burning from staring at the letter for so long and I can feel Rach crying beside me. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close to my side and let her cry. I can feel my own tears rolling down my cheeks and I can tell my T-shirt is getting soaked but I can't bring myself to care. Before I have the chance to say anything I feel her raise her head off my chest.
"They never came back." She whispers, heartbroken.
"I don't think they could." I reply evenly and see her gaze shoot towards me.
"What do you mean Noah?"
"I think that something happened that day. Nothing would have stopped them coming home that day Rach unless…"
"No! Don't say it Noah." Rachel cuts me off. "I have to believe they're alive, it's the only way I got through the last ten years."
"Me too Rach." I sigh. "Me too."
I feel Rachel begin to sob against me again. I spent so long trying to convince myself they were alive, to be strong for Rachel that I don't know what to say. I just lie there for a while, with my arms wrapped around Rach trying to convince myself they couldn't be dead but that was the only explanation I had, the only reason for why they wouldn't have come home. Rachel is still sniffling against me so I begin to sing gently,
"Nothin's gonna harm you,
Not while I'm around.
Nothings gonna harm you no sir, not while I'm around.
Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays.
I'll send 'em howlin' I don't care,
I got ways.
No one's gonna hurt you,
No one's gonna dare.
Other's can desert you,
Not to worry whistle I'll be there,
Demons will charm you, for a while, but in time.
Nothin' can harm you,
Not while I'm around.
Not to worry, not to worry,
I may not be smart but I ain't dumb.
I can do it,
Put me to it,
Show me something I can overcome.
Not to worry ma'am.
Being close and being clever,
Ain't like being true.
I don't need to, I will never, hide a thing from you.
Like some…" I trail off and smile when Rachel starts to sing.
"Nothin's gonna harm you,
Not while I'm around.
Nothin's gonna harm you darlin'
Not while I'm around."
"Demons'll charm you with a smile, for a while, but in time.
Nothin's gonna harm you,
Not while I'm around." I finish the song and smile gently at Rachel. She smiles back but I notice it doesn't fully reach her eyes. "Rach…" I begin.
"Sorry Noah, I just can't be here right now, not in here. I'll be back tomorrow I promise."
"Rach, don't leave…"
"I'm coming back Noah but I need Santana right now and I know you need Quinn."
"They were coming back too Rach… Quinn was coming back." I say softly, avoiding her eyes.
"What do you mean Noah?"
"Q… Quinn cheated on me Rach."
"Oh my god Noah! Why didn't you tell me?" She demanded.
"Maybe because I was embarrassed Rach, I loved her. I wanted to be with her and she threw it back in my face."
"You did love her Noah. In the past but I know there's someone else. I can see it in your eyes."
My eyes shoot up to meet hers. "What do you mean?" I mumble.
"Brittany." She says simply. "You like Brittany." She shrugs as though it's nothing then she continues, grinning slightly. "I know she like you too. She told Santana and I happen to know she's at Santana's house. Care to accompany me?"
"Basically you want a lift." I roll my eyes at her smirking. "I'll come with you but I can't give you a lift, my cars' in the garage. We'll go on the bikes."
"Noah…" Rachel whined.
"Look I know you don't like going out on them cuz of your 'school image' or whatever. By the way you don't have one, but Santana knows you ride and I know she's gonna think you look fit in the leather cuz she told me how hot she thought you must look on your bike which I thought was gross by the way. Oh and you can't hide it you totally tapped that last month." I tease her; relieved we are off the subject of our parents slightly.
"Noah! That's so inappropriate!" Rachel groans, her cheeks flushing and I grin.
"You totally slept with her! Oh my god! This is great I am gonna bully you for so long about this!" I laugh. "Anyway. Come on, lets' go to our girls."
"She's not your girl yet Noah." Rachel laughs before running out to the garage, calling out to her grandparents on the way. "We're going to Santana's. We'll be back tomorrow."
"Ok." Our Granny calls back.
Rachel grabs her leather jacket pulling it on her and jumping on the blue motorbike while she fixes her helmet. I grin at her and jump on the larger black bike while I fix my gear before opening the garage door and we speed out onto the road, cutting though the dirt bike track on the way to Santana's. I speed my bike up to one of the jumps near the woods and jump over it, gaining as much height as possible. I skid to a halt as soon as I land the jump and stare out into the woods when something catches my eye.
I can see a blonde girl curled up crying next to a tree and I know straight away who it is. I climb off my bike slowly and approach Brittany. She looks up with wide eyes as she hears me approach and she stares at me for a minute before her eyes flicker over my shoulder. I see Rachel beginning to get off her bike but I wave her off, shouting to her to meet me at Santana's and she looks hesitant for a moment before nodding and speeding off on her bike.
"What's wrong B?" I ask, sitting down beside her.
"My… my parents kicked me out." She chokes out.
"What? Why?" I say amazed.
"They… they found out something that they weren't very supportive of…" She trailed off.
"Britt, you can tell me anything you know that right? I might have a badass image but I care about you ok? I'm not gonna judge you."
"Y… You care about me?"
"Yeah B. I really do and I really wanna help you but you have to let me in."
"Alright. I'll tell you…"
It's a bit of a cliffhanger i know but let me know if you want me to continue it :) R&R