Break the Distance

Chapter 13

Friday 26th of August, 2016

Wellington, New Zealand

Richelle Smith

My eyes are focused on the clock, just 5 more minutes. I'm sitting beside Katie in English class, the last class of today. Friday is always the worst day, the day is long and boring. I'm seriously wondering who's idea it ever was to make Friday the longest school day. "4 more minutes," I hear Katie whisper. It seems like every minute the time goes a little slower. "3," I whisper when the clock arrow moves closer to the 12. Katie sighs. "Is it even possible for the time to go slower?" she asks. "I don't think so," I say, and turn back to my work for the last few minutes.

Then finally the bell rings. "YAS," Katie exclaims almost jumping up. I laugh at her. "Is this going to happen every week?" I ask. "Shush," Katie says, "let me be happy."

"Here," the teacher says giving me back my phone, "from now on no phones in my classes." "Yes sir," I say hug my phone when the teacher walks away. This week was literally the worst, I'm afraid Noah has forgotten me by now. Katie and I grab our stuff and walk to our lockers.

"And now 7 hours of homework!" Katie says sarcastically being happy about it. "Just a few months and we're gone forever," I say, "no more high school for the rest of our lives." "I'm really going to miss you," Katie says. "I'm going to miss you too," I say.

Katie is going to follow her dream, she's going to attend a university in the USA while I'm staying here in New Zealand. She has been my best friend since the first day of school so it will be weird not seeing her every day.

"Say, how's it going with Noah?" Katie asks teasingly. "I just got my phone back," I say, "I don't know yet." Katie laughs. "You're already over him?" she asks. "No not yet," I say, "I'm going to get there." I decide to just keep my mouth shut about the fact that he reacted to my message. It will probably make things worse...

"Talking about boys," Katie stars then, "what did Dan do Monday morning at your house?" I blush. Katie doesn't know I'm selling assignments and I don't want her to know. "He wasn't," I lie. "Yea he was," Katie says. "Then I don't know," I say. "Since when do you like him?" she teases. "What?!" I say, "I don't like him!" Katie just laughs. "Yea right," she says. Luckily we arrive at my house.

"See you Monday," I say and walk to my door. "See you Monday," she says, still laughing a bit. "Greet Dan from me!" she says loud when she walks away. "Shut up," I yell back and can't help to laugh a bit.

No. Never. I don't like Dan and I'll never like him, even if he was the last person on earth.

"Hi!" I scream as I'm inside and wait to hear if someone react. Nope, they're not home. I grab something to drink and sit down with it on the couch, pulling my phone out and going to i********: instantly. I can't help but get that warm feeling again reading Noah’s message. 'I love literally all his songs, once in a while I like to keep a little marathon. Lay down, close my eyes and just listen, thinking about life. I really recommend it if you ever have time for it!' I send before I realize who I'm actually talking to. Why am I talking to him like we've been friends for years? It's way too personal, now he'll for sure think I'm weird.

I burry my head in my hands. When am I ever going to learn to act normal?!

Even though I just send him a message and he reacted before, I still jump by the sound of my phone. 'Sounds good! Think I should do that any time soon,' I read. Wait, is he being honest or just being nice? I move my phone for a while from my left hand to my right hand. I really need to know, but don't want to ask. What if he thinks it's rude to ask? Maybe he'll never react again.

I take a deep breath and start to type, I just need to know. 'Are you being honest? Or are you being nice?' I send instantly regretting it. 'Sorry to ask,' I type fast and feel my head heating up.

A few seconds later I hear my phone buzz again. Afraid to read I open the message. 'No need, I'm being honest. Think I should think more often,' I read and smile widely.

I am doomed.

'Wasn't expecting that!' I send back. I really hope he doesn't think it's in a negative way. 'I know, I wasn't either but I think I should go sleep now, don't think people will appreciate me falling asleep tomorrow during the day,' he sends. 'Haha, good night,' I send and throw my phone aside.

Why did it feel so natural to talk to him?

I try to concentrate on my schoolwork, but my mind keeps thinking about Noah. My dad comes home around 6 and we eat dinner together. He doesn't even bother anymore asking where Brandon is, and I don't either. We actually don't talk at all. We just eat and after that go do our own things again. I feel like I'm lately drifting apart from my dad. He's at work or in his room, I barely see him.

Even though he's here I still miss him. Does that make sense? It's like he's not really here, like his mind is somewhere completely else. I and should be honest, my mind isn't here either.

"Dad," I say before he leaves to his room. He turns around to me. "I'm eating at a friend's house tomorrow okay?" I say. I totally forgot to ask him earlier, hopefully he's fine with it.

"Okay," he says, "make sure your schoolwork is finished." "Yes dad," I say and sigh relieved. I was kind of scared he wouldn't allow me.

I go to my room to and scare when I look in the mirror. My face is starting to look normal again. My jaw is just a little green and yellow.

It's Friday evening and I have nothing to do the whole evening, perfect. I put some comfortable clothes on. The only thing I want to right now is dance, so that's what I'm going to do.