Chapter 743: Chase Adams Residence
Thursday, March 23rd, Afternoon
The popcorn ceiling always gave him something to do when he was grounded. He would lie on his bed and play connect the dots with the lumps and bumps. In some ways, he was drawing his own map of constellations. He's been so bored he even started naming and making mythology for his popcorn bump constellations. He was really bored.
"Noah!" Kristen said from his door.
Noah sat up and looked at his mom. "Yes?" he asked.
"You have a visitor," Kristen said.
"I do? Who?" Noah asked.
"Some young lady, kind of cute; I think she looks like Shannon," Kristen said.
"Why would Shannon come over here?" Noah asked.
"She used to always be over here," Kristen said.
"That was then, this is now, Mom," Noah said.
"That was a good book," Kristen said.
"Whatever, Mom," Noah said.
"Don't whatever me, go downstairs and see what it's all about," Kristen said.
"Fine, where is she?" Noah asked.
"On the porch," Kristen said.
"Why is she on the porch?" Noah asked.
"I wanted the neighbors to think my son could get good-looking girls," Kristen said.
"Mom!" Noah said.
"I didn't want her or dad to see each other," Kristen said.
"Bad day?" Noah asked.
"Is there any other? Also, it's a stranger as well," Kristen said.
Noah stood up, "I should see what this is about," he said.
"Good idea," Kristen said.
"Yeah, glad I thought of it," Noah said, leaving his room. Kristen was behind him. At the bottom of the stairs, Kristen went to Chase's room. Noah watched as she disappeared out of the hall. It was agreed that no guests should enter the house because it might trigger his dad.
Noah nodded grimly and stepped out onto the porch. Closing the door, he saw Shannon Rothenburg, wearing her cheerleading jacket with the captain pin.
"Shannon, what are you doing here?" Noah asked.
Shannon looked at Noah, "I'm worried about you," she said.
"Why?" Noah asked.
"We're friends," Shannon said.
Noah laughed, "We've not been friends since…" he said and trailed off.
"I got boobs," Shannon said.
"Yeah, since then," Noah said.
"You were never comfortable with that change," Shannon said.
"So, why are you here?" Noah asked.
"As I said, I'm worried about you," Shannon said.
"Why?" Noah asked.
"Even though we've not been as close as we once were, you're still my friend," Shannon said.
"Some friend, you dumped me for your popular friends, like Joce," Noah said.
"Joce is not my friend," Shannon said.
"Then what is she?" Noah asked.
"My teammate," Shannon said.
"So, why are you always hanging around with her?" Noah asked.
"I'm not, she follows me," Shannon said.
"Makes no difference," Noah said.
"It makes a lot of difference," Shannon said.
"Again, why are you here, Shannon?" Noah asked.
"I've told you I'm worried about you," Shannon said.
"Why? Why now?" Noah asked.
"Well, I heard you ran away to New York," Shannon said.
"I wouldn't exactly call it running away," Noah said.
"You picked up stacks and fled this nowhere town; no one knew until you came back," Shannon said.
"I needed to get away," Noah said.
"Why?" Shannon asked.
"I have no friends," Noah said.
"You have me," Shannon said.
"No, I don't. You left me, and I've not hung out with you since you moved across town," Noah said.
"I didn't mean to," Shannon said.
Noah nodded, "So, what do you want, Shannon?" he asked.
"I want to see you're okay," Shannon said.
"You've seen me, I'm fine," Noah said.
"I don't think so," Shannon said.
Noah sighed, "Yeah, well, I don't know," she said.
"Your mom didn't recognize me," Shannon said.
"She thought it was you," Noah said.
"I'm not allowed in the house?" Shannon asked.
"No, not many people are," Noah said.
"Your dad is that bad?" Shannon asked.
Noah nodded, "Yeah," he said.
"I'm sorry, Noah," Shannon said.
"Thanks," Noah said.
"No problem. Are you still trying to meet your sisters?" Shannon asked.
Noah nodded, "Yeah," he whispered.
"I take it it's not going well," Shannon said.
Noah shook his head, "No, not at all," he said.
Shannon walked over and wrapped her arms around Noah. She rested her head on his shoulder. "It's okay, you big Wookie," Shannon said.
Noah nodded and sighed, "So, you're here?" he asked.
"Yes, I am," Shannon said.
"But will you be here tomorrow?" Noah asked.
"Yes, I will," Shannon said.
"Prove it," Noah said, slipping Shannon's head off of his shoulder," I'll see you tomorrow."
Shannon nodded as Noah went inside, closing the door behind him.