Never ever

2. Noah

They smiled at me thankfully and then sent me out to look at the apartment with miss Dover. I guess I had their approvement and it was all up to me now. They seemed nice and I didn’t think they would take any advantage of me. I was still thinking it over as we walked up the side staircase to the apartment. There was a small bench on the balcony so you could sit outside. 

As soon as I walked in any doubt disappeared. It looked even bigger than I had imagined and somehow it felt like coming home even though I had never set a foot inside before. 

Miss Dover had been right about the natural light, it made the space feel warm and inviting. There wasn’t much funitair, just some basics like a table and a couch. The kitchen was simple but had everything I needed. There was a broad hallway to the back, where there were two doors. One was the bathroom and the other led to a decent sized bedroom. It already had a two persons bed and a wardrobe but there was still enough for a desk or dressoir.

“It suits you and I have somewhat of a gift for this” miss Dover said smiling at me as I walked around. I bet she said that to all her customers I thought but I did really like this place. It was the first place that spoke to me and there was an some kind of a connection with the Greens. I could not put my finger on it but the decision was made then and there. I moved in the next week. 

Aunt rachel had asked her neighbor Noah to help out. We had met the first week I moved to the city. I had lost my way and Noah kindly  showed me the way. He even walked with me so I didn’t get lost again, he had made me feeling giddy. The following weeks I saw him coming and going. We talked some but mostly just waved to each other saying hai. I didn't think he liked me that way and our interactions became more friendly than anything else. Not searching for a relationship I had let it slide. He did have a pickup truck which meant we could take all my stuff to my apartment in one trip. He also was a great help carrying everything upstairs. He wasn't really muscular, like one of those bodybuilders, but you could still see the muscles tighten through his shirt as he carried yet another heavy box up those stairs. Rachel had even commented on them making me blush everythime she saw me looking at them or his immaculate ass.

Mrs. Green came down with a small welcome basket and kept talking with rachel while noah and I moved all my stuff in. Well at least all my belongings were upstairs. I still needed to sort everything out. 

“Are you all ready done moving in?” mrs Green asked as we came standing with them.

“Well that’s the plus side of not having a lot, you can move very fast” I said smiling. 

“If there is anything you’ll need just come up to the house.” she said and gave me a set of keys. “for the car.” she told me as I looked confused taking them. O yeah that was right I could take their car. Noah’s eyes widened, I knew he liked cars. Before mrs Green left we agreed we would make some kind of schedule for the work but only after I had settled in.

“Well let’s see the car” Noah said almost jumping up and down excited as he was. I let them under the stairs were there was a side door to the garage. 

“No Way” Noah exclaimed, he was clearly impressed by the cars in the garage. There were two cars inside a black muscle car and a blue Audi. I pushed the button on the carkeys and wasn’t surprised when the lights from the Audi lit up. I wondered if the classic muscle car even had button on the keys.

After Noah was done geeking out about the cars, we went back to aunt Rachel’s place. She cooked for us and Noah had offered to drive me back afterwards. Diner was excellent as always. She was a chef so I had gained a few pounds by eating her food for the last month. I also worked at her restaurant so I would still see her alot but it would be strange to not see her every day. We hugged each other both feeling it. It saddens me but as soon as I stepped in the car with Noah it disappeared. You could not help yourself feeling happy when he gave one of his beaming bright smiles. I got excited as we drove of to my own place. 

“Is this your first apartment?” Noah wanted to know.

“Yeah, before I moved in with Rachel, I lived with my dad but he wasn’t around much. Working a lot you know, so i’m going to be just fine on my own” I told him hoping he would leave it alone for now. 

The sun was slowly disappearing behind the trees as we drove up to the garage. The dark night would soon take over waiting for the rays of the moon to lighten it. I turned around as Noah cleared his throat trying to get my attention. 

“So I guess this is my final chance” he said grinning somewhat shy, “Would you like to go on a date with me sometime?”

For a second I was shocked. I had not seen this coming, sure Rachel had teased me about Noah’s affection for me but I hadn’t seen it myself. So I dismissed it as her yoking with her niece or even trying to push me towards a nice guy. Noah was definitely a nice guy and even a good looking one in a boyish way. He had an athletic physique with broad shoulders and golden somewhat curly hair. He waited patiently for my answer not taking his icy blue eyes of me.    

Finally I smiled at him which made him sigh before laughing back. 

“I would love to, let me get settled in and I will give you a call” I said.

“Do you have my number?” He asked surprised.

“I do not” I said giving him my phone so he could enter his contact info. He even let his own phone ring once. 

“Now I have yours as well” he said as he saw my expression while giving it back. 

“Damn, i’m not getting out of this am I” I teased him grinning from ear to ear and slamming the door close before he could react. I winked at him and then ran up stairs. He blew me a kiss as he drove of and I made an effort catching it. I could see him laughing as he turned the corner. We were acting like children I thought but couldn't help but smile at the thought a date of him.  

The porchlight lit up as I walked toward the door, inside however it stayed dark, even as I flipped the light switch off and on again. Turning on my flashlight app and found my way through the apartment. The clock on the microwave showed me the power wasn’t cut of, but the time didn’t seem right. I found the lightswitch for the kitchen and a soft led light sprang to life, slightly buzzing. Now with some light I could see there was some glass on the floor. I had just passed it in the dark. 

“Ha, mystery solved” I said to no one in particular, looking up at the broken lamp. Quickly cleaning up the glass and even removed the fitting I went searching for a new light bulb. There were none to be found. I did find some candles which burned brightly on the living room table a few minutes later. By the candlelight I focused on the boxes that were still sitting there. Most of them haven't been opened since I left my father's house. They had been stored in Rachel’s garage for over a month. In the first box where books, some pictures and other nick nacks from my old room. There had been a box with kitchen supplies I thought opening them one by one. I growled in frustration, maybe it had been wise to label them. This couldn’t be everything, right? Looking around a noticed some more boxes in the hallway. Off course the supplies were in the boxes closest to the kitchen. Noah probably sorted them out already, putting them where they needed to be unpacked. Checking this thought I found the rest of my bags and boxes in the bedroom. My bed was even made and a small note was sitting on my pillow. Sleep well love Rachel was neatly written on it. I smiled, She was the sweetest. Why she didn’t have a relationship was beyond me. I started with the boxes in the kitchen, working my way to the bath and the bedroom. Walking back towards the living room it suddenly got a little darker. One by one the candles went out. That’s weird I thought maybe there was a draft somewhere? Looking at the microwave, who I had set to the correct time about an hour ago, seeing it was just past eleven o’clock. Well time to go to bed I guess. Quickly checking if the door was closed and rinsing my glass before turning in for the night.

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As I came home the boxes became immediately evident.

“Not again” I yelled and let out a grunt of frustration. Somewhere some glass snapt as I left slamming the door shut. I walked up the main house, this time they will give me an explanation I thought getting sick to my stomach. Why was this happening again? I didn’t knock, walking straight in. Ready to say something and start this confrontation but was taken back by the worrying look on my mother's face. Dad looked old and tired as she helped him upstairs. I swallowed my words, we could have this conversation tomorrow I guess. A wave of sorrow washed over me as I walked back making me feel worn out. In a daze I blew out the candles and went to bed. Tomorrow will me a better day I thought hopefully and closed my eyes. 

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