Page 3 of Return To You

She's not from the right side of the tracks—his words, not mine.

"She's all of ours, Al, so get used to it," she replies, then pulls me toward the building, and my nerves pick up again. She catches on and gives me a squeeze, whispering, "If any of those girls touch you, I'll kick their ass."

I smile a little but don't take my eyes off the door.

"Hey, cuz, does Aunty Tam know you're smoking?" she suddenly says, stopping us.

"Stay outta my business, Van…" a voice replies with a bit of hate, confusing me, because Vanessa is the nicest person I know.

I frown at the hurt look on Vanessa's face and then glance toward the stone wall.

A boy with black hair that's short on the sides and long on top, with the deepest blue eyes I've ever seen, stares daggers at Vanessa while he puffs on his cigarette.

My stomach tightens, deepening my confusion.

My frown deepens at my reaction to him, and I say, "It's not nice to make people sad, especially not someone like Vanessa…."

The boy looks at me sharply, blowing smoke my way. His eyes take me in, and how my arm is linked with his cousin’s, before he raises a brow and asks, "And why is that?"

I shrug. "Because she's nice, and I'm not sure if you know this, but smoking is harmful, so you should really stop."

Vanessa snorts but coughs to cover it up while the boy half smiles and murmurs, "Is that so?"

I nod as heat rise up my back.

"Noah, stop looking at my baby sister like that," Alejandro states firmly, and I look up at Al and smile.

He returns the smile. "Ready to get this day started, Little Bit?"

My smile disappears, and I shake my head, making him chuckle.

"Come on, Rose. It'll be alright, I promise. Heck, even my stupid cousin here will make sure you'll be okay," Vanessa tries to console me, and I swallow hard, looking back at the boy.

Noah….

He tilts his head as another boy comes to stand near him, looking at us all in confusion, while Noah doesn't take his eyes off me.

"Your first day?" he asks, and I nod once, making him hum.

He observes me for a few seconds before stubbing out his cigarette, then jumps off the wall, nods to the door, and says, "Let's go, then…."

I blink a few times before Vanessa pulls on my arm, taking me into the school with my big brother, my cousin, his friends, and now Noah and friend behind us, causing everyone to look our way.

I notice Piper instantly. Her dark blonde hair is straight, and she's even wearing makeup. She's staring daggers my way until she notices the people surrounding me, and she takes a step back, hitting the lockers, her face paling.

I swallow hard and ignore her and everyone else, allowing my brother and the people he sees as his family guide me to my first class of the day.

Hopefully, I can dodge everyone after this, maybe hide in the library….

It's a shame I didn't realize that Noah had taken notice of me…and that he’d hurt me.

Noah – Age Fourteen

I twist the apple in my hands, leaning my elbows on my knees as I watch the double doors. My left knee bounces a little, and apprehension fills me.

“Mr. Scott, tables are for glasses, not asses, and chairs are not for your feet,” Mr. Crow snaps from the front of the room, and I grin.

“Does the dean know you swear at the kids, Mr. Crow, and in the library no less….” I chortle, making him grumble, shaking his bald head before going back to checking in books.

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