Page 59 of Collide

When no one came to the door, Coop decided to peek inside. This was Noah’s house. It’s not like they would care.

With a hand on the door, he pushed. “Noah—” His words died off when he saw the living room almost empty. The couches were still there but the TV was gone, and the pictures off the wall. Cooper’s heart started going wild, even louder than all the fans had been at the game.

“Noah?” He ran inside. Went to the kitchen first. The cabinets were all open, with nothing in them. Cooper ran for the hall, his feet tangling and making him run into a wall.

“Where you at?” He went straight for Noah’s room.

And there was nothing inside.

Nothing.

Noah was gone.

He was a baby. Such a freaking baby, because his eyes got blurry with tears. They ran down his face, more following quickly behind them. All he could think was, Noah was gone. His best friend had left him just like his parents had. Noah was the only person who really got him. The only one who he talked to about his Mom and Dad. The guy who knew he had nightmares but never told, and never made him feel like a wuss because of it.

And then, that ache in his chest spread because he knew he’d let him down. Just like his parents, Cooper had let him down. He’d left for the weekend and Noah’s parents had made him leave, when he knew Noah would never want to go. He’d promised if it ever came down to that, he would beg Autumn and Vernon to let him live with them or they’d run away. He hadn’t been here and because of it, Noah had to go away. He hated that he’d gone to that game and hated that he’d let Noah down.

And now, Noah was gone. What was he supposed to do without his best friend?

Cooper didn’t even bother to wipe his tears away. Didn’t bother to try and stop more from flowing, as he turned and walked out of Noah’s room. Down the hallway again and back to the front door. When he stepped onto the front porch, Vernon was standing there, smoking a cigarette.

“Your aunt told me you came over. I’d hoped you’d come home first so I could tell you.”

“What happened, Uncle Vernon? Where did they go?”

The man shrugged. “His mama and dad decided they wanted to leave, so they did.”

Cooper crossed his arms, still crying. “It’s not fair,” he whispered. He’d already lost Mom and Dad. Why did he have to lose Noah too?

“That’s life, kid. Better get used to that idea now. Life’s not fair and there’s nothing we can do about it. Crying over it won’t help.”

Cooper wiped his eyes, even though he didn’t feel like it.

His uncle sighed. “I’m not trying to be mean here, son. I just think you need to be prepared for life. It dealt you a bad hand. I get that. And I don’t know what I’m doing here either. Kids weren’t ever on the list for me, but your parents died and now we have to do the best we can. The sooner you get used to the fact that you never know what cards you’ll be dealt, the better.”

“Yes, sir.” Cooper whispered. He was shocked when Vernon put his arm around Cooper’s shoulders.

“You’re better off, if ya ask me. Not the most respectable family.”

“What?” Coop looked up at his uncle. He’d never spoken like that about Noah before.

He dropped his arm from Cooper’s shoulders. “They’re just not the kind of people we need around, is all. All that fighting. We’re…we’re better off. Trust me on this, kid. And that boy was always a little soft, if you ask me. Always worried about him rubbing off on ya. Things will be much better now.”

No, they wouldn’t. Things would never be good again.

Cooper tried to shake the memory from his head. Tried to forget how Vernon had taken him out camping that night, even though it had been a school night. They went fishing and he’d tried hard to help Coop forget his friend. It was then he realized his uncle really did love him. He might not show it with kind words and he expected a lot out of Cooper, but it was because he wanted Cooper to do well.

They rarely agreed but he had no doubt Vernon’s heart was always in the right place.

Even though he’d wanted to cry that whole night, wanted to tell him that Noah wasn’t soft, and that he was Cooper’s best friend. That he didn’t care if his parents fought or his mom was wild. Noah deserved better. He was better.

So he’d waited. Noah had his address. He would write and then once they found out where he was, he’d tell his uncle he would do anything if Noah could come live with them.

But Noah never wrote. Or called.

Vernon got upset every time Cooper mentioned them, until he finally stopped. And now, Noah was back. Noah was in his bed. He’d been dragged away, been unhappy, but he was here, again.

And Cooper was an even bigger pussy than he’d been as a kid. Because he hadn’t even told his aunt and uncle Noah was back. Maybe it was because his uncle had had such a problem with Noah and his family, or maybe it was because he didn’t want Vernon to think Noah was soft like he had said. Because that’s what he would think. Noah was gay so he was weak, when he was anything but.

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