Break the Distance

Chapter 48

Monday 3rd of October, 2016

Sydney, Australia

Noah Williams

"Why so grumpy," Riley asks when she sits down beside me on the couch. "Oh nothing," I say. "Nice try," Riley says, "by the way you don't have angry friends yet." I feel my face heat up. "How long have you been listening?" I ask her. "Actually I was going to get you, but when I wanted to walk in you got called, so I waited," Riley says.

I grab the pillow besides me and hit her with the pillow. Riley laughs. "Wasn't that nice of me?" she asks. "No that was not nice of you!" I say. "Anyways," Riley says, "we're leaving to the airport. "Okay," I say standing up, but Riley pulls me back on the couch. "coincidentally you're sitting beside me in the airplane," she says, "and you're going to tell me everything." "Hmm, let me think," I say, "ah right, no." I stand up again and walk away. "What?" Riley says, "but I want to know!" "Bad for you," I say. I hear Riley sigh and stand up too. "Wait wait," Riley says before I can walk away, "how are you doing?" "Good I guess," I say a little confused, "why?" "I just wanted to know if you were alright," Riley says, "you looked kind of broken after the show in Auckland." "Okay," I say, "I'm fine, don't worry." "Okay, good," Riley says and she smiles genuinely.

"What took you so long?" West asks when Riley and I walk outside where the others are already waiting. "Noah got a phone call," Riley says and winks. I sigh. "Oh seriously," I say, "so this is what I get for not telling." "Exactly," Riley says, "second guessing your decision?" "No," I say without thinking. Wasn't the best decision.

"Noah got a phone call from Richelle," Riley says and I face palm my face. Great. She literally heard the whole conversation. "Is she still in the hospital?" Eldon asks then suddenly. Oh great, this is getting better and better. "Hospital?" Riley asks confused.

I had to tell Eldon why I wanted to fly back to Wellington or he would tell the others. Kind of nice to know that he kept his promise, but he shouldn't have brought it up now. "She got Friday already out of the hospital," I say. "What happened?" Michelle asks. "She had a car accident," I say. "Is she okay?" Michelle asks worried. "Yea," I say, "just a concussion and some bruised ribs, but she'll be fine." "When did she have the car accident?" Riley asks. "Thursday morning," I say. "Before or after you met her?" Eldon asks. "I didn't met her," I say.

"Huh," Giselle says suddenly. "What?" Eldon asks. "Noah isn't lying about that," Giselle says. I roll my eyes slightly. Is it so clearly when I'm lying? "But you went to Wellington to meet her right?" Riley asks confused.

Right then we hear the horn of a cab. Is that something too? 'Saved by the horn.' Anyways, I am saved by the horn. They already know too much. Okay that's also my fault. If I never asked if the neighbor of Richelle was in the audience my friends wouldn't have an idea who she is.

The confusing part is that I don't know exactly what they know, and that I don't know what they think.

They don't start about it again until I'm sitting in the plane besides Riley. "Hey Noah," she says suddenly, "we've WIFI, you should let your girlfriend know." " Richelle isn't my girlfriend!" I say clearly. "Maybe she didn't mean Richelle," West chuckles who sits on the other side of Riley. Riley laughs. "Exactly," she says. "Okay and now I want to know," I say, "what do you know?" "About what?" Riley asks. "About Richelle," I say obviously. "Of course," Riley says, "who else. I know that she lives in Wellington, that if you're texting someone it is probably her and that you don't want to admit it that you like her." "Because I don't like her!" I say defensive. "I bet that letter you got was from her," Eldon, sitting behind us, probably adds to the conversation. "Letter?" Riley says, "what letter?" "That letter he got in Auckland," Eldon says. "You got a letter from Richelle? I thought you got it from her neighbor," Riley says, "that's so sweet."

I sigh. "Are you guys done?" I ask. "Yes," Riley says grabbing out her phone. Wow that was surprisingly easy. I grab my phone out too. I let Richelle know that I've indeed WIFI and text my parents that I'm on the plane to Vancouver. I looking forward to seeing my parents and siblings again. The few days home will be nice, but it will just be a few days.

I have to say that I can't wait for the Europe part of this tour. I open the chat with Richelle.

Hi

Hi

And is your dad already back?

Yea, he didn't get the job

What? Why?

The had 'someone better'

Stupid

I know

He'll find something else

I hope so

Who are you?

What?

Who are you?

Who are you?

I'm Brandon

Oh Richelle’s brother right?

Yea, who're you?

Noah

Who do you think you are?

Eh Noah?

The guy thinks he's funny

What?

You can read it back, perk of texting

Listen I don't know what you've said to my sister, but you've to mind your own business

I didn't say anything

Yea right, do I really have to read this whole chat back?

I'm telling you, I don't know where you're talking about

If I found out you did you're dead

What's wrong with you?

I can ask you the same, from who did she get this phone

From me

Why?

Because I wanted too

Not because you threw her in front of a car?

What?

I know what you did

What the hell, why would I ever do that

He suddenly doesn't react anymore and I feel my body tense up. I thought Richelle mentioned that her dad kicked her brother out of the house. What is her brother doing back and why does he think that I pushed Richelle in front of a car? Why would I ever do that.

Sorry

Richelle, are you that

Yes, sorry

What was that

My brother

I thought your dad kicked him out

He did

But?

Brandon likes to think that he can still get food and money here

Are you okay?

I'm fine

No you're not

I'm going to be

Why does he think that I pushed you?

He's been doing drugs

And he was drunk

I'm coming to Wellington

What? No

Yes

That's not possible, you're sitting in a plane

So? we aren't in the air yet

But you'll be soon

I don't care

Noah please calm down

I can't

Yes you can, I'm fine, my dad is home

Sure?

Yes

Is Brandon gone?

Yes

He's not coming back right?

Not any time soon

Okay

I'm going to sleep again

Okay, sleep well x

Thanks, have a save flight x

Thanks x

I lean my head back again the chair and sigh. "Are you alright?" Riley asks suddenly. I turn my head towards her. "Yea of course," I say, "why wouldn't I be?" "No nothing," Riley says, but I hear clearly that she's not convinced, "you're right."

Soon I feel the airplane take off and can't ignore thinking that I made a mistake. I should've gone back to Richelle.