Byte and Max walked slowly through the city as they were followed by a few other guards. Max turned to her and looked at her with somewhat bloodshot eyes. "So, you remember anything from last night?" he asked.
"Not at all but Java," she sighed, "she caught me. Luckily she didn't tell anyone, but she sure did make something clear."
He stared down at her. "She doesn't want you to see me anymore," he replied since he actually remembered what Java had said to him. That's all he remembered though, he didn't remember the slap in the face thankfully. The next morning, though, he did wonder why his right cheek was a little red.
She nodded then looked up at him, bringing their walk outside to a halt. "But I don't want to stop being with you."
Max sighed. He knew that he wanted to be with Byte more than anything but it was just the people around her that caused the reluctance. He knew there would come a day when they'd have to make their decision on whether to part ways because of it. "Are you sure about that Byte? I mean the people who aren't approving of us right now are the most important people in your life. Are you sure you want to be with me?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I don't care about what they say. It's been two years, Max and-"
"Two years, I know. But that's the thing, they've tolerated us for two years and no one has really supported us."
"Do we really need their support? They're not the ones in this relationship! Their opinion about us is nothing to me."
"Yeah but they're like your family. They matter to you."
Byte crossed her arms and stared at him. "Max, are you trying to get at something? Just be straightforward with me."
Max sighed and shook his head. "No, I'm just concerned that's all," he then wrapped his arms around her waist, "I just want to be sure that's all."
"If I didn't want anything between us to happen, I'd have already kicked you to the curb," she smirked.
Flashback
"Why don't you just shut up and mind your own business, Ebony? They're my grades anyway." A sixteen year old Java said, very much annoyed with her younger sister.
"Fine, just so you know mom and dad won't be very pleased." Ebony replied with a slight smirk before handing Java her report card.
Java walked downstairs of the two story home after hearing the doorbell. She opened the door to find Noah just standing there. "Hey you," she smiled and let him in the house.
Noah was her boyfriend at the time. He was a strapping guy, standing at a height of six feet with brown hair and deep set eyes. His eyes always seemed to change colors under certain lighting from hazel to green to blue to grey. This awed Java as well as his toned body. Apart from that, he was also the captain of the rugby team. "Your parents home?" he asked, his voice deep yet slightly husky.
"Nope. They're gone once again surprise surprise."
Noah grinned while he brought out a bottle of alcohol and two shot glasses. "Looks like we're gonna have some fun tonight."
Java looked up to her sisters' room and smirked, "Yeah, we just have to work on getting them out of the house."
He nodded then walked into the kitchen and placed the bottle and glasses under the sink. "Go ahead and work on that."
She walked upstairs to Siva's room, walking in without knocking. "Hey. Got any plans tonight?" she asked.
Siva poked her head out from her closet and shook her head.
"Well make some plans or something. Go ahead and go shopping with some of the girls."
"With what money Java?"
Java tossed her a bundle of cash then grinned, "Looks like you don't know where dad's been keeping all his money."
Siva smiled uneasily then sat on her bed. "Fine, I'll go."
"Good." Java muttered and walked out of her room to Ebony's room. She walked in again without knocking. "Hey, get out of the house tonight. Hang out with that Martin kid you're always talking about," She said simply then walked out.
She trotted back down the stairs over to Noah and curled up on his lap as he watched TV on the couch. "Looks like we've got the place to ourselves," she said then kissed him on the cheek.
After about two hours, the house was finally cleared and the two of them got to drinking. Ten shots of vodka each and the both of them were just about done. "Java, come here," Noah grinned and pulled her toward him then kissed her on the lips. Right before walking upstairs, he scooped her up in one swift motion then proceeded up the stairs to Java's room.
Two months later, she was back in the exact same place just months before. Java muttered along as she read the directions on the box slowly. "Alright so pink is negative and blue is positive," she said to herself and went to the bathroom.
She sneaked back in her room, and awaited the results while the loud rock boomed out of the speakers. Two minutes and a little stick would determine her life for her, one way it'd be changed forever and the other way her life would be normal. The two minutes passed and she headed to the bathroom for the stick. Her hands shook as she picked it up and she sighed deeply, tears already brimming over her eyes.
Siva came upstairs and knocked on Java's door but she didn't answer. "Java! Turn that music down!" she banged on the wall.
"Bite me!" she yelled back and turned the music up even louder, but Siva came bursting in.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Java asked angrily then put the stick down quickly.
Siva went to the CD player and turned the music way down and almost made her way down back to her room until she saw the test. She looked back at Java and sighed, "Java, what's this?" she asked cautiously.
Java wiped the tears away quickly and plopped down on her bed. "Siva, you can't tell anyone," she cried.
Siva came and sat next to her, "Javie you are…aren't you?"
Java nodded reluctantly which caused her sister to sigh deeply. "Yeah, I am."
"But you're only sixteen…" she said, astonished.
"Don't you think I know that?"
"What are you gonna do?"
"I have to tell Noah first."
The next morning Java walked out to Noah's house and knocked on his door, it was about six in the morning. Noah answered the door sleepily with his brown hair messy, "Java, it's six o'clock," he said, his voice a bit raspy.
"I know, I need to talk to you," she replied anxiously.
"Come in." He backed away from the door. He was simply dressed in a pair of blue boxers and nothing else.
Java came in and followed him up to his room, still contemplating about how she was going to break the news to him.
"So, what do you need to talk about?" Noah asked as he sat down on his full sized bed.
"Noah, I'm gonna have your kid," she blurted out.
"Well, yeah, if or when we get married, which is years from now."
"No, I'm gonna have a baby in a matter of months."
Noah stared at her for a second then shook his head. "Oh shit," he muttered, "Java, how…how could you let this happen?"
"It takes two to tango and it takes two to make a baby. I mean," she shrugged, "this whole thing cannot be my fault."
He stood up and opened the door for her. "Get out. I want nothing to do with this."
"Noah, you think I wanted this?" Java asked angrily. "One way or another this kid is yours, so take some damn responsibility!"
"Get the hell out of my house!" he yelled. "There's no way this kid is mine, you slut! Probably cheated on me anyway."
She stormed out of his house and came back to her house. She then moved up the stairs, dreading each step she took. Once at her bed she broke down, thinking about how she just lost everything and how she just let everyone down. She knew she couldn't raise this baby by herself and so she decided right then and there that the baby was going to be put up for adoption. She couldn't give the kid the life he/she needed but a family could.
Seven months passed and there she was, with the baby in her arms. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she sat in her hospital bed. Her heart sank every time she thought about how she'd be leaving her with another family but it was something she had to do. She sighed, trying to compose herself to speak but it was almost impossible. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…but I just can't keep you. I promise that someway somehow, I'll come back to you. This is one of the hardest things I've ever done. But just want you to remember that I love you and I just want the best for you Noelle," she took off her silver necklace and placed it around Noelle's neck. "You've got something to remember me by."
The baby just smiled slightly and stared back at Java blankly.
Jay then knocked on Java's door and poked his head in, "Can I come in?"
Java nodded then wiped the tears away quickly.
He smiled weakly as he grazed his finger over the baby's forehead which caused Noelle to furrow her eyebrows and whine slightly. "She's got your temper already," he smirked then looked at the necklace. "JN?" he asked.
"Janelle and Noah," Java replied, "you didn't think my real name was Java did you?"
Jay nodded then looked at the baby, "What's her name?"
"Noelle." Java replied. The name was Janelle and Noah combined, the only name she thought of, and the only name she liked.
Finally the nurse came in. "Miss, it's time," the nurse simply said.
Java nodded and sighed while taking one last look at Noelle. She kissed her forehead as she reluctantly handed the baby over to the nurse and once the nurse was gone she wept. Jay held her and rocked her slightly.
"Java…everything will work out, don't you worry," he whispered.
Four years passed and everything was almost back to normal. By this time, Java was already in college in which she majored in business and economics. She arrived home in her black SUV, got out and leaned against it. She slowly watched her neighbors pull up to their driveway in their minivan.
The father of the family, Robert, came out of the van, then the mother, as did a younger Mega, Mega's brother, and a little girl. The mother of the family, Jane, waved at Java as she held the hand of the young girl. "Well hello there Java," she greeted with a grin on her face.
"Hi," she simply replied.
Mega walked up and tapped his mom gently on the shoulder. "Mom, I'm going to the mall with Jay and Ram," he told her and she nodded.
"Do you want to meet our neighbors? Come on, let's go." Jane smiled as she walked over to Java with the little girl by her side.
"Java, this is our new little girl. Her name's Noelle."
"Noelle?" Java's eyes lit up as Jane said the name, "That's a pretty name for a pretty girl," she said calmly.
"Thank you," Noelle said quietly as she stared at the ground, playing with that old necklace of hers.
Jane stared at Java for a second then smiled once more, "Anywho, how are your parents?"
"They're just fine, thank you," she sighed.
"Alright, give them my greetings." Jane said and walked off with Noelle.
As Mega walked out of the house to head to the mall, Java waved him over. "Mega, who's that?" she asked.
Mega smirked as he slipped on his left shoe. "Noelle…she's new to the family," he quickly replied then walked off.
The next day, Jane stood at Java, Siva, and Ebony's front door with Noelle at her side. Once Siva opened the door, she looked at Jane and smiled to the small girl. "Hi there," she said. The little girl looked awfully familiar and she couldn't place the face with the name.
"Hi Siva, I hate to do this to you but I have an emergency meeting at work. Looks like someone screwed up some calculations and yeah, well I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to watch Noelle," Jane said with a slight sigh.
Siva looked down at Noelle and nodded. "She'll be in good hands, don't worry."
Jane gave a sigh of relief and kneeled down to the child, "Alright, I don't think I have to remind you but I will anyway. You be a good girl, okay?"
Noelle nodded then looked up at Siva with a slight smile.
"C'mon, kid," Siva smiled and led her into the house as Jane left after shutting the door. "You want anything to eat? Drink?"
She shook her head as she walked through the house, "No thank you," she replied in a quiet voice.
Siva grabbed a bottle of water and sat down on the black leather couch. "Come and sit, don't be shy around here. If you're shy, you won't get what you want," she smirked.
Noelle climbed atop the couch and sunk in; her legs didn't even get to hang over the edge of the seat. She took into consideration what Siva said and finally spoke up. "What're we gonna watch, Siva?" she asked as she played with the silver necklace hung around her neck.
She looked down at the kid, almost surprised that she'd remembered her name. "Well, I don't know. What do you wanna watch?"
She thought about it for a second, "Cartoons. But won't you get bored?"
Siva chuckled then shook her head, "No. I may be a lot older than you, but I still happen to enjoy cartoons."
Meanwhile, Java was walking down the stairs with her headphones on then spotted Noelle. She froze, staring blankly at the kid then walked back upstairs. She couldn't believe it, she wondered if this was just her mind playing tricks on her. She then snuck back downstairs and concluded that the kid was real. "What are we watchin here?" Java asked as she took a seat on the couch next to the kid.
Noelle sat there between Java and Siva and smiled slightly, "Cartoons," she replied quietly.
Java then noticed Noelle playing with the necklace. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She looked to Siva and discreetly gestured to the necklace.
"Go on, ask her about it," Siva mouthed and smirked.
Java couldn't say much except for turning to the kid and smiling awkwardly "That's a cute necklace you've got there, Noelle," she smiled, "Where'd you get it from?"
Noelle shrugged and let go of it for a second, those grey-green eyes looked up to Java. "Um…I don't…I don't know," she began, only to become confused with herself, "they told me I had it since I was born."
"Hm…did they ever tell you who gave it to you?"
The kid sighed deeply, "No, they didn't wanna tell me."
Siva looked back at Java and vice versa. "Tell her!" she mouthed frantically, wanting so bad for Noelle to find out.
Java sighed uneasily, "I…um…I…"
The little girl turned to her with her eyes lit up, hoping for some sort of answer. "Do you know?" she asked.
Siva waved her arms in the air but Java just gave her a hard look, "No, I'm sorry I don't know," she replied which caused Siva to shake her head in disappointment.
The kid exhaled deeply. "Oh, okay," she said, slightly disappointed.
Java saw the disappointment through her child's eyes and suddenly the deep guilt she felt when Noelle was first born came rushing back to her. Her heart sank and her throat tightened up, she wanted to cry but found the strength not to. She thought about what she had wanted to say to her baby ever since she was born and finally all the thoughts and jumbled up words she wanted to say finally flowed together.
I'm still here, Noelle.
Don't worry
When the time was right, she'd give this to her. It was just one step of a whole process she had in mind. The step after that would be to tell her the truth, that she was Noelle's mother.
End of Flashback