Break the Distance

Chapter 6

Saturday, August 20th 2016

Toronto, Canada

Noah William's pov

I wake up from my little sister jumping up and down on my bed. " Noah, Noah," she exclaims. I groan and hide my head under my pillow. I hear her laugh excitedly and she pulls my pillow away. I can't really be mad at her, I love her. " Noah," she exclaims again, "wake up." "And why would I," I ask her looking serious. Her smile disappears and it looks like she can start to cry every second. I laugh slightly and embrace her in a hug. "I'm joking," I say and kiss the top of her head. "Happy birthday Marylou," I say. "I almost thought you forgot!" she says upset her little arms tight around me. "Did I ever forget your birthday?" I ask her and rub over her back, "now if you let go of me I'll get your present." She instantly lets go of me and sits on the end of my bed. I reach under my bed and grab a big box wrapped in pretty pink paper. Her eyes light up as she sees it and it makes me smile.

Her eyes follow the present as I give it to her and she unwraps so fast I'm starting to thinks she's to be somewhere in 10 seconds. A big smile appears on her face as she sees what it is and she flies in my arms. "Thank you thank you thank you," she says. "You're welcome sweetie," I say laughing and hug her bag. She sits on my lap and help her to open the box with in there a new doll. "And how does it feel to be 5?" I ask her. "I feel old," she says, "just a year and I won't be able to tell people my age with only one had." I laugh. "If you're old," I ask her, "what am I?" "I don't know," she said, "super old?" "Don't ever try to call me that again!" I say and tickle her. "Stop stop!" she giggles, "I won't do it again." "Promise?" I ask still tickling her. "I promise," she says still giggling. "Hmm," I say, "only because it's your birthday, you won't get away with this another time."

Marylou turns her attention back to the doll and I grab my phone. 5:09 am. Seriously Marylou? No wonder I'm still so tired. I sigh and decide to check my social media. The photo I posted last night has already thousands of likes and hundreds of comments. Don't think it will ever stop feeling weird having all those fans, all of that just because I can live my dream. I take a quick picture of Marylou playing with her new doll and send it in the groups w******p with the family. I almost right away get an answer from my mom. "5 am?! It's getting earlier every year," it says. Then one of my younger brothers Michael reacts. "That's the price you have to pay for being her favorite brother," he sends. "Oh and I will pay it any time," I send back. And I mean it, Marylou is allowed to wake me up anytime.

I'm more curious why they are already awake at 5 am

" Noah!!" Marylou says all of the sudden. "Yes," I say coming back to earth. "I asked you something," she giggles. "Sorry Lou," I say, "what did you ask?" "I was thinking about a name for my new doll," she says, "what do you think of the name Annabelle?" "I like it," I say. "So that won't be her name," she states. "Wait what?" I say a little confused, "I said I liked the name." "Yes," Marylou says, "but this is important, her name has to be perfect." Right, I underestimated the seriousness of the case. I should've known this, naming a doll is one of the most important things for a toddler. "You know what," I say, "I will think about it okay?" She smiles. "You're the best brother ever," she says and hugs me again. I laugh. "Can you say that again while I've my Dictaphone on my phone on?" I say, "I want it as ringtone." Marylou giggles. "Never," she says. Yup, even though she's five, she'll always stay her stubborn self.

As she won't let go of the hug I grab my phone. "Smile!" I say and hold the camera up. Marylou smiles a wide smile and it makes me smile instantly. I like the photo. "This one is going on i********:," I say and go to i********: to post it. 'Selfie with the birthday girl, happy 5th birthday little LouLou,' I caption it. "Approved?" I ask Marylou who was watching at it. She nods even though I'm sure she can't read and has no idea what I wrote.

"Come," I say, "lets wake the others up and have breakfast." "YES," she exclaims excited and runs out my room. A little 30 minutes later everyone sits dressed at the dining table. We eat breakfast and everybody gives Marylou presents. She loves the attention, she always does. After breakfast I help my mom clean it all up. Michael ran away to his football practice, I don't believe his football practices start this early, haven't figured out what he does instead. Matthew went back to his bed to sleep for another hour, and Marylou played with her new doll and her other presents. I'm not letting my mother clean it up alone, so I kind of don't have a choice.

" Noah," Marylou asks me as I'm leaving for dance. "Yes birthday girl," I say. "Have thought of a name?" she asks. To be honest I kind of forgot... "I've to go to dance now," I say, "but when I come back I'm sure I know something." Her face lights up. "I can't wait," she says and smiles.

I arrive early at the studio and none of my friends are there yet, so after a little warm up, I decide to sit down and start thinking about a name for Marylou's new doll. Shouldn't be too hard right? Well finding the perfect name is way easier said than done. I get so up in the thinking that I don't notice the others coming in until someone throws a shoe at me. Looking up I see Max, my best friends since we were little, smirking and all the others walking in. "You good morning too," he says. "Good morning," I say and stand up to grab my water bottle. "So what were you thinking about?" Max asks following me to my bag. "Nothing," I sigh, I've been thinking for I don't know how long, but I couldn't come up with the perfect name.

"What's her name?" Max asks teasing. Currently that's all they do, when he isn't teasing me about Jacquie crushing over me, he teases me about who I like. I'm the only one in the whole squad who's never been in a relationship and now the constantly ask me who I'm crushing on, but to be honest that's not really what I'm thinking about in life. "If I just knew a name, none of that thinking would've happened!" I say and take a sip of my water. "Wait what?" Max says clearly confused. "My little sister," I say and sigh, "it's her birthday, I gave her a doll and now she expect to come up with a name!" Max laughs and pats my shoulder. "Good luck bro," he says. "Yea I can use some of that," I say turning the lit back on my water bottle.

I'm throughout the whole rehearsal distracted and just not present. Normally I can turn my mind off pretty easily as I dance, but I think this is a little too important. I actually don't know why I'm taking it so serious, if I just blurt out some names I'm sure Marylou will love one of them, but I just want to find that perfect name. " Noah!" Max says and he snaps in my face. "Huh," I say. "A little distracted?" he says, "I called your name like 83 times." "Sorry," I say, "what's up?" "If you want to get a drink after rehearsal," he asks. "Oh eh yes for sure," I say, "but only if you help me come up with a name." Max sighs. "Really?" he says. "Yes!" I say clearly, "I'm really that desperate!"