"Rachel, I need your help," Noah said through the phone with tears on his face and I knew from that moment on we were in this together for better or worse without the marriage certificate to prove our love and desperation to help and protect one another.
"What's wrong Noah?" I asked
"I can't live like this anymore, can I bring my mom and my sister over to your house to spend the night. Then after that, I will plan our next move," he asked.
"Of course, I'll have their beds made and something for them to eat when you get here," I said. Once I got off the phone, Shelby bombarded me with questions.
"What did he want?" she asked
"He wanted to know if he could bring his mom and sister to sleep for the night until he plans their next move. I just don't know how Noah's dad is going to react to this," I say. I didn't have too much time to worry, as I rushed downstairs to prepare a meal for a seating of five.
"Where are you going Rach? she asked, following me down the stairs.
"To make them a meal. If I remember anything, his dad was the only one allowed to eat. I remember sneaking Noah food during school. I would bring food enough for two people, but he'd always split it between his sister and mom and choose to eat the school lunch and breakfast even though it included pork. Noah was a complete stick throughout elementary and middle school, but once 8th grade rolled around, he started coming over my house a lot more and spending the night since his dad was stupid drunk and forgot he even had a son. I would just fill Noah up to the top and made pastas for him to sneak to his mom and baby meals for his sister," I said
"Wow, you guys have really been through thick and thin, I guess Jesse never stood a chance," she said
"Yeah, actually he did, he almost took my virginity but Noah beat him by a year," I joke but I saw my mother's face tense and realized what I'd just said.
"You're not a virgin?" she asks hesitantly
"No, and I haven't been for a while. I mean who could refuse those abs when your all alone with parents in China for a month. He had just gotten out of juvie and he was really hungry, so I decided to feed him and then we decided to take that extra step in our relationship." I said
"So you're not my sweet angel?" she asked in a daze of the newest revelation.
"No, if you look at Noah, do you think he could honestly last more than a week without sex?" I asked. "Don't think about it, just look at the things he does when he comes over. Even though he's going through this tough situation, he's always has that on his mind." Thirty minutes later, I heard a bell and Shelby went to retrieve the food, while I opened the door to three people with injuries on their faces and bags in hand.
"Hey Ms. Puckerman, Emily and Noah," I say politely while i motion for them to enter. "Mom, can you get the first aid kit from my room."
"Sure," she says and I hear light footsteps ascend and descend within 2 minutes. I began to set the plates as Noah is fixing his sister's busted lip and gash on her cheek. Once he is done he wraps his arms around my waist and whispers,"I want to thank you for doing this for me and my family, but I need one more favor," he says
"Yeah anything," I say nonchalantly
"Will you make this pain go away. Not physical pain, but emotional pain," he asks
"I can't, only you have the power to do that, but I can surely help. My room at 12, be there," I say sharply
"I will, and thanks again for everything," he says and leans in to kiss me before he joins his sister and mother. I turn to see my mother smirking at me with a knowing look as I shoot her the 'I told you so' look.
