Chapter 736: Tree Hill High School
Wednesday, March 22nd, Afternoon
It's been a quiet day, which means the other shoe was about to drop. He sat in a corner of the library and read a random book he pulled off the shelf. The silence in the library kept his mind focused, as he promised not to cause trouble for the rest of the school year.
Noah lifted his head from his book when his quiet was disturbed. He turned his gaze to the offending distraction. This turned out to be two cheerleaders: Shannon Rothenburg, a girl he had known since grade school, but they all traveled in different social circles. The other girl was a year behind and was the stuck-up Joce Allen-Travis.
"Shannon, I got exciting news," Joce said, too loud.
"What news is that?" Shannon asked, looking over her smartphone.
"My cousin is moving to Tree Hill; they just got their house," Joce said.
"That's nice," Shannon said.
"Do you think we could get her in with the cheerleaders?" Joce asked.
"I don't know, what are they like?" Shannon asked, disinterested.
"Jordan looks just like me, but with blue eyes and a bit taller," Joce said.
"I see," Shannon said.
"She's also going to be a junior like me," Joce said; Noah snorted at that. Joce was barely passing and was notorious for having guys do her homework since she couldn't be bothered.
"So, why do you think your cousin Jordan would like being a cheerleader?" Shannon asked.
"She's athletic," Joce said.
"Brett Pierce-Burke is athletic, and she's a basketball player," Shannon said. Noah nodded that it was true.
"But Sawyer Scott is athletic and a cheerleader," Joce said.
"So?" Shannon asked. Noah nodded; everyone except Joce knew that Sawyer Scott would rather be on the basketball court.
"I want my cousin to be in good when she gets here," Joce said.
Noah had had enough, put a piece of paper in his place in his book, and put it on the table. He stood up and walked over to Joce and Shannon. Noah was tall, and his long, dark hair flowed as he moved. He looked down at the two sitting girls.
"What do you want, Noah?" Joce snapped.
"This is a library, and you're being too loud," Noah said in an even, low tone.
"Are we disturbing you, Noah?" Joce snapped.
"Yes," Noah said.
"Well, tough," Joce said.
Noah tilted his head, "Why is that tough?" he asked.
"You're a nobody, not part of the pretty or popular," Joce said, "You don't matter.
"Why does that even matter?" Noah asked.
"It matters," Joce said.
"Whatever," Noah said.
"Don't whatever me," Joce said, "Isn't your dad a vegetable?"
"Joce!" Shannon said.
"TBI," Noah said.
"What, Noah?" Shannon asked.
"Traumatic brain injury," Noah said.
"Whatever, same difference," Joce said.
"It's not," Noah said.
"Joce, we should lower our voices," Shannon said.
"Noah, why don't you slink off and just dream of being able even to have the right to speak to us," Joce said.
"No," Noah said.
"No? You dare say no to me," Joce said.
"Joce put it on ice," Shannon said.
Someone headed over to the confrontation. Noah looked over to see it was his cousin, Flannery O'Brien. Her dad was his mom's uncle. Flannery was also the same age as Noah. She stood almost as tall as Noah and looked down at Joce.
"What's going on here?" Flannery asked.
"Just Noah, sticking his nose into my business," Joce said.
"Shan, could you please curb your pet? She is too loud. Do you want the librarian to kick you out," Flannery said.
"Flan, she's not my pet," Shannon said.
"Just handle it," Flannery said.
"Haha, Noah, you have to be saved by a girl," Joce said.
"Joce, hold your tongue, or I'll tell Dr. O'Brien about who really wrote your term papers," Flannery said.
"You, you, you won't," Joce stammered.
"I can and I will," Flannery said, grabbed Noah, and pulled him away.
"Flan, I had it handled," Noah said.
"I know, but you promised your momma you'd stay out of trouble, Cuz," Flannery said.
"I wasn't causing trouble," Noah said, "How did you know that?"
Flannery gave Noah a look.
"Cousin Shay," Noah said.
"I wasn't worried about you but I was certainly concerned about her," Flannery said.
"Joce?" Noah asked.
"Joce Allen-Travis is nothing but trouble, and her dad lets her get away with it," Flannery said.
"So, why did you intervene?" Noah asked.
"We're family, and well, Noah, I may not show it, but I like you. You're a good person, and you don't hear that enough," Flannery said.
"Thanks," Noah said.
"We'll get you through this," Flannery said.
Noah nodded.
"So, you really ran to New York?" Flannery asked.
"Yeah, I went to see Cash," Noah said.
"How is Cousin Cash?" Flannery asked.
"Good," Noah said.
Flannery smiled, "Good, and Noah, be good," she said, leaving Noah somewhat confused.