Memories of a Life Shared

Chapter 7 Noana

She walked back into the room after getting something to eat and talking to her mom on the phone. Her mom was being so inconsiderate, she wanted Noana to come home every evening now that Tanner was awake. She knew they would fight about it for a while. Tanner wasn’t even out of the ICU yet and she couldn’t possibly leave him now, what if something went wrong and he God forbid, went back into a coma… or worse… She shivered at the thought. Tanner was sleeping peacefully when she got there so she sat in the chair and pulled out a book she loved to read, she had been reading it to Tanner this whole time. For some reason she couldn’t concentrate on her book, she thought about the first time she had met Tanner.

“Mom, do you mind if my new friend comes over to play video games?” Tazer came running into the room where Noana was getting her hair pinned up in curls, tonight was the daddy daughter dance and she wanted her hair to be perfect, this was the last year that she was able to go because she was getting too old.

“That’s fine, how is he getting here?” her mom asked as she shoved a Bobby pin a little too deep into her scalp, she yelped and her mom smacked her. “Beauty knows no pain, remember that.”

“His dad is bringing him over if its okay. He said he wanted to meet you to make sure we weren’t murderers or dirty. You know, normal stuff.” He shrugged.

“I hope you told them we were not murderers and we are clean people.” She retorted, and jabbed another pin in her scalp a little too forceful. Her mom had never really taken time to do her hair for the dances, but she had begged since it was the last and her mom begrudgingly obliged.

Noana followed her brother out of the room and into the sunroom, she was curious at who he wanted to come over. It was about three o’clock on a Saturday afternoon and it was her turn to cook dinner.

“Will your friend be staying for dinner?” she asked.

“Probably, I’m gonna try to get mom to say he is allowed to stay over night. They just moved into the house at the end of 636. The big blue house you always wanted. He said his dad had a huge lake dug out last year. He and his mom just moved back from England, his dad has lived here for a year already.”

“What’s he like? What’s his name? Where did you meet him?” she asked her brother.

“His name is Tanner, he is pretty cool, not really got an accent or anything, its kinda faint. I met him down at the park a couple weeks ago, you’d like him.”

She smiled, she had just really started to notice boys and noticed that they started to notice her as well. She was average height for girls her age but she had developed into a woman long before all of her friends. Her best friend Jade always told her how jealous she was of her for being able to fill out a shirt well. Truth was, she didn’t like the thought of it being the only reason boys looked at her.

Noana decided to start dinner a little early since she and her dad were going to be leaving at the usual time they ate as a family. She heard the doorbell ring and her bother stumble down the steps after it, she chuckled visualizing his tumble. She heard pleasantries and a deep accent, the voice was way to low to be a fourteen year old boy so she figured it had to be his dad. She heard her name being called but she couldn’t walk away from her food or it would burn. She heard two steps of loud foot falls heading up the stairs and a couple footfalls heading her way.

Noana’s mom and Tanner’s dad stepped through the entryway of the kitchen.

“Noana, this is Tanner, Tanner’s father. They share the same name, isnt that neat?” Noana internally rolled her eyes, she knew her mom and her dad didn’t get along well and knew that her mom had been unfaithful before but she always hated when she acted like a dumb high school girl in front of new men.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come to the door when I was called for, I couldn’t step away or I would burn dinner. Would you like to stay for dinner?” she held out her hand to shake his after she wiped it off on her apron.

“That would be lovely my dear but I’m afraid I will have to take a raincheck. I’m taking Tanner's mom out for dinner, she just landed a new job and we celebrate. Tanner didn’t want to be bored, a few of her colleagues will be there and I’m afraid talking shop would take him to an early grave, or so he says. Dinner does smell divine, you must be a good cook. Are you older than your brother?”

“No, Tazer and I are twins. I got all the looks however.” She smiled, her mother rolled her eyes and Tanner's dad laughed. If Tanner was anything like his dad he was charming for sure. “Dinner is finished mom, I am going to go get ready for the dance. Mr. Mac, it was very nice to meet you. Please excuse me.” She took off her apron and hung it on the peg and shook Tanner’s hand again and walked up to her room. She put on her black party dress and did her make-up, with only being in seventh grade her make-up items were limited to what her mom would let her borrow, which wasn’t much. She put on pretty pink lip gloss and unpinned her hair. Her hair fell to her waist in beautiful ringlet curls, she separated them with her fingers and sprayed them with hair spray to set them,. Once her look was done she made her way down stairs and waited for her dad to get home. She waited and waited and waited, her dad never showed up. She heard feet coming down the steps quickly, she turned and looked. She saw her brother and the most attractive boy she had ever seen.

“What are you still doing here?” Tazer asked stopping dead in his tracks.

“Dad didn’t come home from work.” She tried not to let him see her upset.

“Im sorry Noan. Tell you what, we came down to eat dinner, how about you put some sweats on and join us for game night? We are playing Mortal Enemy number 2. You always beat me at that one, but I think Tanner is better than you.” She shrugged one shoulder to try and get under her skin and she knew it.

“Okay. I guess I can.” She smiled weakly, she hated that this was the ladt dance she was going to get with her dad but she did like video games. As she went to go up stairs a hand grabbed her arm, she followed the hand that was connected to a very toned arm all the way up to a beautiful face.

“I’m Tanner,” he said with a faint accent, not as thick as his dad’s. “You look very lovely tonight. Taze told me about your dance. It’s a right bummer that you didn’t get to go. I’m not very good at it but I would be happy to be your dance partner for a dance in the living room.” He smiled a thousand watt smile at her, she instantly knew she liked him. This crush would run deep for sure.

“I would be more than happy to have a dance, but there is no music.” She frowned. Just as her shoulders sagged she heard a faint sound coming from the kitchen. Tazer had turned on the radio and it was playing a corny country slow song. Noana shook her head in disbelief but took Tanner’s out stretched hand and swayed to the music. She was already in very strong like with him but she wasn’t allowed to date until she was sixteen.

A weird sound brought her out of her memory, Tanner was moving his bed so he could sit up. She pulled her chair closer to him and smiled.

“What were you thinking about?” he asked quietly.

“The day we first met and how my dad stood me up on that dance. You are a good dancer, you don’t give yourself enough credit.”

“I’m afraid my dancing days are over. The doctor came in earlier. Did some tests.” He stopped and closed his eyes, he held his breath for a few seconds and then let out a deep, heavy sigh. Noana's heart sank to her toes. “I’m paralyzed. Doc said it might be temporary but he isnt sure until more of the swelling goes down.”

Noana let a tear slip out, she was too emotional today. “Its okay baby, we will figure it out. I promise.” She said as she climbed in the bed with him and help him tight. She would love him no matter what. He had only been awake for 24 hours so she held hope that it was temporary.