An hour after I woke up after having apparently being missing for a full week, me and Noah were sitting on the couch in silence as I held a hand to my face. I was'nt too sure what to say actually, but eventually I asked Noah,

"So...what happened exactly?".

"Well... how far back do you remember?" I scrunched my eyebrows up as I thought over Noah's question.

"Er, we were in bed and talking...then you asked me what I would like for my birthday and I said a kiss". A bit of colour rose in my cheeks as I said this. "And, that's about as far as I can go". Noah nodded and then went to explain.

"Well, around that time, the doorbell rang. You said I should just ignore it so I did, but then it kept going for a few more minutes so I kinda-"

"You got pissed into a swear filled rant and went to get the door?" Noah gave a bitter chuckle.

"I guess you could say that. Anyway, I grabbed the camera and we went to look, but no one was there. We were going back to the room and... I don't know how but... I heard something and I turned around to look, then the next thing I heard the bedroom door slamm shut and you screaming for me. I tried to force the door open but it would budge, and I think you yelled at one point, erm...'you can't be', I think. When the door finally opened you were... you were gone".

I nodded my head as Noah finished. I was going to ask what exactly Noah did during the week I was gone but Noah quickly said,

"I'm sorry about... about letting that happen". I frowned. Did Noah seriously think that it was his fault.

"Noah-"

"No, I know it's my fault and nothing you can say will change it". Noah was being his usual stubborn self, not that I hated it completely. I liked seeing Noah being so determined for us to win this twisted game, it made me feel safe when he was'nt doing anything reckless... Well, safer then none at the very least.

"Look. we can't change what's happened, so let's just try to figure out what to do next. Now, how's the rendering on that tape comming along?", I asked Noah.

"Well, I think I'm starting to get some of the end at the very least, but we probably won't get anything definite 'till the end of the month, or January".

"Better then nothing I guess", I murmured. Another question came to mind, and even if it was embarrassing. "Um, Noah, about that ki-"

"I need some coffee", Noah suddenly said before he got up and walked to the kitchen.

"Hey! I did'nt get to ask my-"

"You want some?", Noah cut me off again. I was annoyed by this, but I just nodded. There was always another time.

Weeks went past and it was eventually Christmas. It's funny to think that years ago I would have woken up before my parents and rush downstairs to open up my presents left by the jolly old, fat man, Saint Nick. Ah, those were good times. Nothing to worry about, and no fears.

Now however, me and Noah are stuck inside the house, depressed and fearfull of what may happen if we're not carefull. Still, at least we can spend the holidays in fear together, and do the one thing we can do in a situation like this.

Get piss drunk off beer.

"Y'know what we should d-" hic "do, Rachy?"

Yeah, I'm not going to say HOW much we drunk, but enough so that Noah was pretty drunk off his ass. I was'nt as bad, but I was'nt too far off either.

""Uh... Get a gun and shoot the Observer's balls off?", I guessed before hiccuping. Noah seemed to think this over... well, as much as a drunk person can at least.

"That... is pretty good, man. I was gonna say we get a ice pick and stab his eyes out, but that's a better idea".

"Does he even have a sex life?", I giggled. I was surprised me and Noah have'nt fallen off the couch yet. Noah gave a drunken giggle as well... Yeah, even in my current state I found it weird too.

"Hell no, and even if he does he should just get a handjob by sandpaper, thorns and other shit like that".

"I-" hic "I wonder who... who we would be in'a... in'a movie or somthin'", I wondered outloud randomly.

"Like, er... Harry Potter?"

"Yeah, the Observer and his bitches would SO be the Death Eaters!", I nodded.

"Then... then I'm Harry Potter", Noah declared. "I have the hiar for it anyway. You can be Hermione".

"Whada 'bout Ron and Ginny", I questioned but Noah just grinned.

"There is no Ron or Ginny in our story".

"Oh, and maybe that tall guy is Voldemort!", I exclaimed. ... My God, it all makes sense now! Or, maybe that's the booze talking. I did loose track of how many cans I drank from.

"Holy shit, your right! He is Voldemort!"

We were quiet as a dormouse for a moment before we burst out laughing loudly, slipping to the floor and barely even noticing it somehow.

"MAN! We are pissed!" My laughing calmed down a good bit eventually enough for me to say this.

"Yeah, both because of booze and Obser-bitch!", Noah laughed.

"Obser-bitch!", I cheered before the both of us calmed down slightly.

"Hey, Rach?"

"Yeah, Noah?"

"... I always thought you were pretty", Noah said blutnly. The alcohol must still be in his head, so I just giggled.

"Thanks, Noah, but I think your drun-"

"No, I'm serious. I sometimes thought that... that you were pretty when we were kids", Noah told me. It probably would have sounded better if his voice was'nt a tad slured. None the less I was surprised.

"Oh... Um, wow".

"I just wish this bullshit was'nt going on", Noah groaned. "Then I would'nt have to be paranoid that they'll use it against us or something if I told you what I thought".

"What are you...?", I questioned, but the small part of me that was still sober knew what Noah meant. It was a fear of mine as well. What would happen if I told Noah how I fel-

Wait. Does this mean that he... Me?

"Noah, are you trying to say...". I was becoming a bit more sober now, but I could'nt finish my question because Noah clamped his hand over my mouth.

"Shh. They might hear", he grumbled, still drunk by the looks of it. I wonder if he would be acting like this if we were both sober.

"And you think they would actually care?"

"Pfft, I don't give two shits what they think. I just don't want anything like what happened on our birthdays to happen again... 'specially to you". I felt my cheeks go red a bit as Noah said this.

"It's just... Your really the only person I trust a hundred percent right now, right before Kevin. And if...", Noah bit his lip a little and for a split second I thought I saw a tear. "After all the shit that's happened. Last Thanksgiving, the nature trail, Halloween and our birthdays I just... I just don't want to loose you and never get you back", Noah said in a surprisingly soft voice. "I'd never forgive myself".

"Noah...", I murmured gently and scooted next to him and held his hand. "Nothing's going to happen. I know we'll be safe together and I trust you. Why else do you think I've stayed this long?"

"My incredible sexiness", Noah said bluntly, faintly chuckling. I guess he was still drunk but I could'nt help but smile.

"I can't say that is'nt tempting, but you being alive is the most I could ask for", I said, holding his hand with of both of mine now.

"... Rach', let's make a promise", Noah said, sounding serious as anyone with the same amount of alcohol in them like Noah could.

"What is it?"

"Let's promise, no matter what. We'll keep fighting these bastards, and even if we're forced to join, we'll still fight back". I squeezed Noah's hand and placed a palm on his cheek.

"I thought we made that promise when we realised we were in a big trouble?", a small smile played on my face.

"Then let's seal it with this. I did'nt really get to give ", he mumbled when he took my face in his hands and pushed his lips onto mine. His lips were a bit chapped, and the taste of alcohol was strong on both of us, but I doubted it made the kiss any less special. It actually seemed like bliss for those few minutes we kissed untill he pulled away and leaned his head on my shoulder.

"Deal?"

"Deal?", I mumbled back and leaned my head against his. True, Noah was possibly going to deny this happened when we wake up with hangovers from hell, but for Christmas to actually have that brief moment of good in it while me and Noah were feeling miserable is nothing short of a miracle.

Maybe things were not going to be like this tomorrow, but for now we had comfort, and I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted.