After the Sun Sets

Chapter 5 Nora

Thursday night I was watching a movie on Netflix when I heard someone at my window. I looked up and saw Charlie crawling in and sat in the floor. His eye was bruised and his lip was busted.

"Are you okay?!" I jumped up and went to him inspecting his face.

He pushed me off "I'm fine! I just didn't have any where to go. I noticed Mike's car isn't here, can I stay here until dad cools off." his voice cracked as he stared at the floor. unshed tears in his eyes.

"Of course Charlie! You are always welcome here, especially if it will keep you safe." I said kneeling down to meet his gaze. He studies me for a minute and then shuts his eyes and starts sobbing. I crawl onto his lap straddling him and pull him to me. He wraps his arms around me and sobs into my chest as I say comforting worlds to him.

After a good 10 mins he apologizes and pulls back.

"I'm always here for you Charlie, no matter how weird things are between us." I brush his hair with my fingers and he looks up at me with those dark brown eyes. I lower my mouth to his and lightly kiss him. He tightens his hold on me and I pull him to me pushing my lips against him. He groans in pain and pushes me away. I pull back remembering his busted lip. I could feel myself turn the color of a tomato realizing I'd lost myself in him again. "Talking about making it weird. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you!" I climbed off his lap and looked away from him. I pull my extra pillow and a blanket " You can sleep down in the living room on the couch." I said trying to relax my trembling hands.

Charlie took the blanket and pillow from me. "I don't mind if you kiss me Nora. Just don't kiss me if your kissing other people."

I turn to glare at him "I'd like the same treatment, Charlie!"

"You should tame it down a bit. People might start talking about how easy you are. I'm sure your dad would be disappointed if he saw how you were acting." He said as he pushed by me. He glared at me and walked down the stairs.

"Did you just imply I'm a slut because I kissed you?" I yelled after him.

"Take it the way you want!" He kept walking.

"You're an asshole!" I screamed. I slammed my door shut just as the sobs came. I was trying to help him, comfort him. yeah I shouldn't have kissed him but did he have to an ass... I apologized. I crawled onto my bed and covered myself with my blankets. I could feel the darkness pull at me. I'd trained myself to jump up and distract myself but today I didn't care and I willingly let it pull me under. ..My mind wandering places I haven't let it go in months.

By the time Mike got off work, I was at my lowest. He banged on my door... probably pissed he found Charlie here but I didn't respond. Moments later he let himself in. I could tell he was angry but I didn't care. "Nora.. what happened!" He took in my state with a worried look.

"Nothing." I shrugged and rolled over so I didn't have to see the pity in his eyes.

"Why don't I take you out for a bit... we could check out that new restaurant down town!?" he said hopeful.

"No." I said

"Your eating dinner so tell me what you want! " He begged

"Whatever... I'm not very hungry."I murmured.

Not even 30 minutes later Mike was forcing me down the stairs for supper. He pushed me into the dinning room and told me to sit. I looked up for a moment to find Charlie's eyes following me with concern. No I won't let myself cling to that with hope. He just didn't mean to hurt my feelings and feels bad.

Mike sets down my favorite potato soup in front of me. He knows I love it and would never turn it down. I'm not hungry and push the stuff around. After a few minutes Mike sighed loudly.

"You aren't eating it Nora.. don't think I won't ask Charlie to hold you down while I force feed you." Mike stated.

Knowing in the past he did what it took to keep me healthy. I glared at him as I put a big spoonful of soup in my mouth. I finished the bowl, shoved it across the table and got up from my seat. Giving Mike the middle finger as I headed for my room.

I took a shower trying to clear my head . I turned on Netflix and tried to watch happy shows to distract myself from my feelings.

Charlie

When my dad got home from work he was in a mood. I got an attitude with him popped me few times. I was able to get away from him and found myself crawling through Nora's window. She comforted me while I cried like a baby. Then she kissed me and I got mad and blew up at her. I wanted her to kiss me but only me. I didn't want to share. I set myself up on the couch and was flipping through channels when Mike walked in the door. I gave him a cocky grin and he stormed up the stairs. I heard him banging on a door. After a few minutes he came back down and went to the kitchen. The smell of delicious food filled the house reminding me I didn't eat. Mike walked towards the stairs and told me he warmed up leftover soup in the kitchen, to help myself. After he was up the stairs I went to the kitchen and filled one of the bowls that sat next to the stove. I sat down and started eating. Soon after Mike came in pretty much pushing Nora into a chair and serving her a bowl of soup. She didn't look right, something was off. I watched her as she pushed her food around and noticed Mike was watching her to. Then he threatened to have me hold her down while he made her eat. She scarffed down her soup, pushed the bowl across the table and left giving Mike the middle finger. She was mad at him. I gave him a smirk and headed back to the living room. I watched a game and then went to sleep.

I woke to noise. I rubbed my eyes trying to figure out where I was. That's when I heard Nora's screams. I jumped up and ran for her. She sounded like she was in trouble. As I got to her door Mike came running down the hall towards her room. I flip on the light and she appears to be having a nightmare. Mike jumps on her bed. "Nora! wake up!" He shakes her. Her eyes shoot open and they stay wide. She starts hyperventilating. "s**t!" Mike cursed. He reached in her nightstand and pulled out a bottle of pills. "Nora! I'm giving you your pill." he said shoving it in her mouth and she took the water he handed her. "Deep breaths Nora. In through your nose and out through your mouth." he said rubbing her back, Mike was breathing the way he told her to. After whar seemed like forever her breaths became normal and Mike tucked her in.

He pushed me out of the room and shut the door. He started walking towards where he came from. "Uhh... what was that?!" I stormed after him. He walked into a room that had all his stuff in it like he lived here. "Since she was in the car accident she has night terrors every once in awhile. It messed her up bad. She won't even get in the pool anymore."

Mike laid down on the bed. "Do you mind? I need to get some sleep and I don't think she'd like me discussing this with you." I went downstairs and laid down on the couch my mind spinning. Sleep was not going to happen anytime soon.