She will not bow

"No." Sabina spoke like she had any say on the market statistics and total downfall of her family's estate.  "No," she said again, almost to herself. She couldn't believe how a single report could overturn her life completely. Her bank accounts freezed, her credit cards blocked, her family's stocks and properties all siphoned off to pay off investors for their losses. She didn't understand how her mother's trusted lawyer could run away with all her assets and everything the Romanoffs had been known for. Her poor mother must be turning in her grave right now.  At exactly 3:54 P.M. on the 18th of June on her 17th year, she was penniless and homeless. She clutched at the papers in front of her while her own lawyer fidgeted and seemed nervous about being the receiver of her possible backlash. Even in the happiest of news, she was never too friendly with him.  However, Sabina Romanoff did not even shed a tear. She did not scream or whine like most rich brats probably would have had they just found out that their luxurious goods would be taken away and they cannot afford to buy replacements anymore. Instead, Sabina took a deep breathe, slowly reading through the crumpled papers, trying to find a way out of it. However, the more she read, the more she realized that there was no way out. Unless, that coward of a lawyer shows up and compensates her and the investors for everything. Very unlikely, she thought.  Frantic knocks interrupted her train of thoughts and a panting Noah barged into her living room. Her living room. After all, she still had until 5 PM to pack up and leave everything behind.  "Sabina! I just heard the news. How are you coping? Do you have a place to stay? Oh, what am I thinking, of course not. Don't worry though, you need not travel far, my home's always open for you, you know that, right?" Noah rambled on but Sabina just stood there, her hands wrapped between his.  While she tried to think of ways to undo this disaster, she realized she hadn't even thought about the next steps yet. Where would she stay? How would she get by? She didn't have other relatives. Her mother was an only child and her father was off who knows or even cares where. She breathed shakily and collapsed on the couch. It all didn't really feel real until her best friend came in looking more frantic and worried than her.  "Sab? Are you alright? Do you need water?," Noah carefully asked as he knelt on one knee in front of her and tried to study her pale face.  "I-- I don't know, Noah. I haven't really planned out my family's doom escape route yet...", Sabina mirthlessly joked. She batted her lashes as she battled the tears that threatened to come. She will not cry. Not now. Not ever.  She repeated this to herself over and over again and she actually held it all in. "Sab? Are those all your things? I'll take them. You should stay with me--, ermn, don't you basically already own that guest room at home? It'll be just like the old times, Sab and Noah." She let out a small sigh and stared at his beautiful green eyes. His soft wavy brown hair looked tussled, like he'd been woken from a nap and his dimpled cheeks creased as he tried to smile at her reassuringly. Right now, he looked so much like the angel he was. 'Oh, Noah. My ever kindhearted, Noah.', she thought.  Sabina shook her head and motioned for the lawyer to leave. He scurried out of the room, almost too happily. "Noah, you know I can't mooch off you. You're my best friend, not my bank whatsoever." She ruffled his hair, something she could only do now when he was in this position. He's grown way taller since they were seven. Standing up, Sabina walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out at the garden she always tediously tended to. She was not worried about her things or the house, instead, she was worried that the flowers she planted with her mother would wilt in her absence.  "I will find a job, for my living expenses. Perhaps, as a tutor or an assistant... I mean, my studies are all paid for, I only have to worry about my living expenses... I can perhaps even... um.. live in the school dormitories. Didn't they say those were cheap?"  "Maybe for other schools... but you know St. Rupert's.", Noah responded almost sadly, until a bright idea hit him. Moving closer to her, he spoke enthusiastically about his plan. "Why don't you come work for me instead? I need uh, an assistant! School's been too hard and all the maids have given up on waking me..." Noah knew Sabina was too proud to receive charity but if he managed to turn things around so it appears as well-earned pennies instead of charity, then that was a different story altogether. Sabina blinked. The proposal seemed logical. She doesn't have to uproot herself completely and she'd be in a household she's comfortable being around in. She'd be earning her keep and she won't be a burden on anyone. But... she was not sure about how she felt having her best friend as her boss. Noah held her hands and stared at her hazel brown eyes. He could see the hesitation in there. Cupping her small face with his hands, he looked at her intently, memorizing the soft quiver in her pink lips while he tucked a loose tuft of her straight black hair behind her ear. How he would love for her to let that down so he could run his fingers down her silky locks.... "Noah?" Sabina's confused voice broke his trance however, that was all he needed to spring back to action. He took the one suitcase from the floor and tugged at her arm with his free hand. "You don't mind working for me, do you? It's better than going to strangers, don't you think?"  Sabina gave a small nod, "True... I suppose... but--" That was all the answer Noah needed. With a cheeky smile on his face, he dragged her along with him towards the house next door that would now serve as both their homes.