Break the Distance

Chapter 27

Thursday 8th of September, 2016 Wellington, New Zealand 

Richelle Smith

I'm having another sleepless night when I suddenly get a text from Noah.'I'm sorry,' it says. The decision to not response is a no brainer. What is hethinking? Does he thinks that I'm so hopeless that I'm waiting for him to text?He has to do a little more before I'll forgive him.

'I know you told me to never bother you again, but I'm truly sorry. Imessed up. I didn't know what was going on and I was confused and frustrated. Ishould've never let it out on you,' he sends, 'Please forgive me.'

A single tears slides over my cheek from frustration. I want to hate him,but I can't. I want to hide my face in his chest. I want to hear his voicecomforting me, telling me that it's not my fault, that everything is going tobe alright. You know those hugs only your best friends can give, that's what Iwant from him.

'Give me one good reason why I should forgive you,' I send after a while.

'I don't know,' he sends, 'you've all the right to be mad at me.' 'I am,' Isend. 'But you don't ignore me,' he sends. 'Kind of hard to ignore you,' Isend. It truly is. I want to ignore him. I wish things he says wouldn't affectme, but that's not the case.

'I haven't slept Saturday night,' he sends. 'Why not?' I ask. 'I was mad atmyself, I felt like I lost a dear friend,' he sends. 'I haven't slept properlysince Sunday,' I confess. 'I'm sorry,' he sends again, 'you're 16 hours aheadright.' 'Yea,' I send.

'so it's 4 AM there right now,' he sends. I look at the time. 'Yea it is,'I send. I've another sleepless night... Maybe it's better to forgive him. Idon't think things will get better of I keep ignoring him. But I don't know ifI can trust him. He definitely ruined something. Things are confusing, I agree.'I'm sorry,' he sends again. 'I'm sorry too,' I send. Guess I can at least saysorry too after he said it three times. 'It's none of my business who you trustwith your life,' I send.

'Please forgive me,' he sends. 'I do,' I type after I take a deep breath.'Thank you,' he sends, 'I won't ruin it again.' 'You better not,' I say, 'Ineed a friend like you in my life.' Look, there I did it again. I can't trusthim, but I keep being honest with him and it pisses me off. Why does he hasthis effect on me?! 'Wouldn't know what I should do without you (: ' he sends.I smile. Such things are great to hear, especially from him.

Now there's just one more thing I have to know.

'So that girl on the picture,' I send, 'is she your girlfriend?' I'm scaredfor whatever his answer will be. If it is his girlfriend I'll be crushed, butif it she isn't this picture really says something about him.

'No,' he sends, 'I got drunk and made some mistakes.' Am I supposed to behappy with this answer? Because I'm not. 'I hate alcohol,' I send, 'it makespeople aggressive.' 'And it tastes horrible,' he sends. 'Then why did you drinkit?' I send. This is really confusing me. Why would he ever drink somethingwhat he doesn't even like?

'I was hurt,' he sends. 'By our fight?' I send. 'Yes,' he sends. It makesme smile again. That's the Noah how I remember him. The carrying Noah who wantsthe best for everyone. 'Thanks for being honest with me,' I send. 'Least I cando,' he sends and my smile widens.

Why did I forgive him this quickly? He really hurt me. Things with Dan justhappened and I'm really confused. I'll probably get in some big fight tomorrowwith dad and Katie and probably with school too. I just hope Dan keeps it forhimself and not tells the whole school that I refused to have s*x with him.Actually I shouldn't care about that. Katie will for always be my best friendand things with Noah are okay again.

My thoughts get interrupted by my phone buzzing. 'You're still coming toAuckland right?' he asks. 'Of course,' I say, 'I should've enough money intime.' 'Great,' he sends, 'I can't wait to meet you.' 'I can't wait to meet youtoo,' I send.

'I think I'm going to try to sleep,' I send, '2 hours until my alarm goes.''Good night x,' he sends. 'Thanks, you have a nice day,' I send. 'Thanks (:' hesends. I lay my phone away and sigh happily. Did he actually just added a 'x'to his message?! That's something he has never done before.

I've a lot to think about again, like every time after I've had aconversation with him.

Dressed and with my bag packed I walk downstairs a few hours later. I canalready hear my dad in the kitchen. "Hi," I say quietly looking downwhen I walk into the kitchen. " Richelle," he says and I hear himsigh, "never thought to see you again." "I'm sorry dad," Isay.

"Walking away without letting me know where you are is reallysomething that runs in the family I think," he says. I can hear thedisappointment in his voice. "I'm really sorry," I say again, "Ihad some complicated stuff to deal with." " Richelle I'm glad you'reback," he says.

I look up and see that he has a tear in his eyes. My dad never cries."I'm really sorry dad," I say, "I won't do it again.""I trust you," he says before pulling me in a hug.