Chapter 6-Things He Doesn’t Say
750 Words
The rooftop was quiet.
Too quiet.
At 2:30 Lily stood near her bedroom window watching, finally Noah sit alone under the pale moonlight, his guitar resting untouched beside him.
Usually, he played.
Usually, he teased her the second he noticed her watching.
Tonight, he just stared out into the darkness like his mind was somewhere far away.
Lily hesitated.
Then finally pushed her window open slightly.
“You’re not playing tonight?”
Noah glanced toward her slowly.
For once, there was no smirk waiting for her.
“Do you care about that?" he asked quietly.
Lily frowned slightly.
Something was definitely wrong.
“i didn't see you at the general study." Lily asked immediately without giving an answer to his question.
“Thought we already covered this question earlier.” Noah asked like he didn't know what Lily was talking about.
“That wasn’t really an answer.”
Noah looked down at the guitar beside him.
For a moment, Lily thought he might ignore her completely.
Then he sighed softly.
“My dad called.”
Oh.
The answer surprised her enough that she stayed silent.
Noah leaned back against the roof carefully.
“He usually only calls when something’s wrong.”
Lily didn’t know much about Noah’s family yet.
Only that his mother worked constantly and Emily practically worshipped him.
But whenever his father was mentioned—
Something in Noah changed.
“Would you like to share?” she asked gently.
A humorless laugh escaped him.
“Money.”
Lily’s chest tightened The answer surprised her enough that she stayed slightly and surprised for well.
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
The single word carried years of exhaustion behind it.
Noah rubbed tiredly at his face before continuing.
“He disappears for months, then suddenly remembers he has children whenever he needs something.”
Lily’s heart ached unexpectedly.
Because she understood that feeling more than she wanted to admit.
“My dad’s kind of similar,” she admitted quietly.
Noah looked at her properly then.
“He leaves,” Lily explained softly, “comes back pretending everything’s normal… then leaves again.”
The air between them shifted slightly.
Less teasing.
Less walls.
Just honesty.
“What is the really the problem” Noah asked.
"Nothing."
"Really.
“Yes. I think that is all for now, that is all for you."
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The neighborhood stayed silent except for distant crickets and soft night wind.
Then Noah suddenly glanced toward her.
“You know what’s weird?”
“What?”
“You’re the first person here who talks to me like I’m normal.”
Lily blinked.
“That’s because you are normal.”
Noah laughed quietly under his breath.
“Trust me, Westwood High would disagree.”
“Well,” Lily replied carefully, “Westwood High seems dramatic.”
That finally earned a real smile from him.
Small.
But real.
“There’s the girl from the window again.”
“The girl from the window?”
“The one who laughs at me sometimes.
Lily rolled her eyes softly, though she felt warmth spread through her chest anyway.
“You really notice everything, huh?”
“Mostly you.”
The words slipped out naturally.
But the second they did, Noah froze slightly.
And so did Lily.
Oh.
The silence afterward suddenly felt dangerous.
Noah cleared his throat first, looking away toward the street.
“I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay,” Lily interrupted quickly, cheeks warm.
Neither of them sounded convincing.
Before the awkwardness could completely consume them, Emily’s window suddenly flew open.
“There you are!” she whisper-yelled dramatically at Noah. “Mom says stop emotionally suffering on the roof and come help carry groceries.”
Noah closed his eyes briefly.
“Your timing is terrifying.”
Emily spotted Lily instantly and gasped.
“Oh my God, rooftop girl!”
Lily laughed before she could stop herself.
Emily pointed accusingly between them.
“You two are flirting again.”
“We are literally talking,” Noah deadpanned.
“That’s how flirting starts.”
Honestly?
Fair point.
Noah stood up carefully, grabbing his guitar.
“Goodnight, Lily.”
“Goodnight.”
He paused for half a second before climbing back through his window.
And somehow—
For the first time since moving to Westwood—
Lily didn’t feel quite so alone anymore.
Emily stepped back to the window
"is gonna rain tonight I guess you should put on something to keep you warm."
- Writer
