“Noah…” she said finally, her voice trailing off, leaving the sentence unfinished. The silence that followed felt heavy, and Noah’s heart began to race slightly as he waited for her to say more.
Noah’s mother, Caroline, sat in the dimly lit living room, the soft glow from the TV flickering across her face. Her expression was tense, her hands folded tightly in her lap. As Noah stood there, taking in the scene, he felt a knot form in his stomach. Something wasn’t right.
“Noah, come here. Sit down next to me,” she said, her voice low but firm. She patted the cushion beside her on the old, worn couch—the one they’d had for years. The fabric was faded, and Noah could remember the countless times he’d sprawled out on it as a kid, watching cartoons or napping after school.
He hesitated for a split second, but there was no avoiding this. Whatever his mom was about to say, it wasn’t good. He crossed the room and sat down beside her, feeling the sag of the couch beneath him. His heart pounded in his chest, but outwardly, he kept his face calm, waiting for her to speak.
Caroline turned to him, her eyes locking onto his. The usual warmth, the softness he’d always found there, was gone. Her gaze was sharp, her lips pressed into a thin line. The sternness in her face made Noah’s pulse quicken.
“Where were you?” she asked, her voice clipped, almost cold.
Noah blinked, trying to steady his breath. “I was outside,” he replied truthfully, keeping his voice calm and steady. “I was invited to dinner.”
Caroline’s eyes narrowed, as though she was gauging his every word. “Who invited you?” she asked, leaning slightly forward. “A Friend?”
Noah hesitated for just a moment, knowing this was a delicate situation. “Someone I met… recently,” he answered carefully. “I’m not sure if we could be considered friends.”
Her eyes seemed to bore into him, cutting through any vagueness in his answer. “Boy or girl?”
“Girl,” Noah said after a pause, bracing himself for what was coming next.
Caroline’s expression didn’t change. She stared at him for a long moment, the room heavy with unspoken tension. T
hen, she leaned back slightly, her hands still clenched tightly in her lap. “Noah,” she said softly, but there was a hard edge in her voice, “I know you have never lied to me before. I made sure to raise you with the right values. You know what’s right and wrong.”
Noah’s heart skipped a beat. His mother had always been strict when it came to honesty, and he’d never lied to her, not once. But tonight, he could feel that she was digging for something deeper. Her next words confirmed his suspicion.
“I want you to tell me the truth,” she said, her voice steady but laced with concern. “Has the money you’ve been using to bring food into this house come from that girl?”
Noah froze for a second, his mind racing.
“Em must have slipped up and said something about Amelia.”
“Maybe one of the neighbours had seen him, riding in a car that was far too expensive for a person from their neighbourhood.”
Either way, the pieces had fallen together, and now his mom was piecing together a story she thought was happening.
Sighing inwardly, Noah turned to his mother, meeting her gaze. “No, Mom,” he said firmly, his voice calm but insistent. “The money I’ve been using is mine. Every cent. She didn’t give me anything, not even a single pound. And before you even ask, the restaurant where I get the food doesn’t belong to her either. I promise.”
Caroline’s eyes searched his face, looking for any hint of dishonesty. But Noah held her gaze steadily, refusing to waver. He had never lied to her, and he wasn’t about to start now.
“I’ve never lied to you, Mom,” Noah continued softly. “And I wouldn’t lie now. We’re barely acquaintances at this point. Tonight was the first time I ever went to her house. Her father just wanted to thank me for helping her with a problem she had, that’s all.”
Caroline studied him for a long moment, her eyes still sharp, but the hardness in her face began to soften. Slowly, her lips parted in a quiet exhale, and she closed her eyes, relief washing over her.
“Thank you, Noah,” she said quietly, her voice filled with emotion. “I was really worried… I thought maybe you were becoming a sugar baby or whatever they call it. You know how I feel about these things. You’ve always been a handsome boy, and there were a lot of girls back in the day who tried to take advantage of that.”
Noah let out a short, almost incredulous laugh. The memory of those awkward years flickered briefly in his mind—his mom had always been paranoid about girls trying to manipulate him because of his looks. “Yeah, I remember, Mom,” he said, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Caroline smiled too, though it was brief. She reached over and placed a hand on his, squeezing it gently. “I’m just trying to protect you, Noah.”
“I know,” he said softly. “But you don’t need to worry. I’ve got this handled.”
For a moment, the room felt lighter. The tension that had been so thick before seemed to ease, and Noah could feel the weight lifting from his chest. But even so, his mother still looked tired, her face lined with the stress of her concerns.
“Is there anything else, Mom?” Noah asked gently. “You should get some sleep. You look tired, and I’m kinda tired too. I’ve got school tomorrow.”
Caroline nodded, her eyes drooping slightly with fatigue. “You’re right,” she said, though her voice was softer now. “I’ll head to bed in a minute.”
Noah stood, stretching slightly. “By the way,” he said with a small smile, “I’ve got a surprise for you tomorrow. I think you’re gonna like it.”
Caroline’s eyebrows lifted slightly in curiosity. “A surprise?”
“You’ll see,” Noah said, his grin widening as he took a step toward his room. “Good night, Mom. Sleep well.”
“Good night, Noah,” she said softly, watching him as he disappeared down the hall. The door to his room clicked shut behind him.
Entering his room, Noah sighed deeply, the weight of the day finally catching up to him. Between the exam results, the unexpected dinner, and the talk with his mom, he felt completely drained.
Deciding he needed something to help him unwind, he headed for the bathroom.
The hot water blasted out of the showerhead, steam filling the room, and fogging up the mirror. Noah stepped under the stream, letting the warmth wash over him.
As the water poured down his shoulders, he felt his muscles begin to loosen, the tension melting away. Closing his eyes, he let his mind wander, trying to disconnect from the noise of the day. For a few moments, the only sound he focused on was the rush of water and the calming sensation it brought him.
After what felt like a small eternity, Noah reluctantly turned off the water, stepping out of the shower.
The cool air hit him, and he shivered briefly, wrapping a towel around himself. Brushing his teeth in front of the fogged-up mirror, his reflection barely visible, he felt a little more at peace. His mind was quieter now, the stress from the day washed away, at least for the moment.
Once he was ready for bed, he climbed under the covers, pulling his phone out from the bedside table. He started to scroll through his messages, a habit he had picked up before going to sleep.
He glanced at a few notifications, checking in on his usual apps, but then his finger hovered over a specific chat. Sarah.
CHECK OUT ‘GLOBAL AWAKENING: STARTING WITH SSS SUMMON.’
