ADDY
"Vanilla or Matcha Ice?"
"Death." I respond with a groan but I don't miss the upward tugging on Noah's lips. She tilts her head at me, stepping away from the counter.
"You're still upset about it," she says matter of factly and I clutch my purse at my sides. I almost wince at the piercing of it's sharp ends.
Noah rolls her eyes and I know it's only a matter of time before she –
"Let's go find that son of a failed sperm," she yanks my arm forward and my feet are forced to follow. Noah pushes the door with a grunt, forcefully letting us out of our favourite cafe.
She's been my best friend for a decade and you would have thought she knew me better. Problem was, she did. I just…was more complicated and complex than google maps.
My eyes soften and my brows close in on each other. "Why'd you do that?"
"Because you're being a slob, Addison Brooke." My eyes widen on their own accord but she doesn't care, seeing as she continued. "Seb cheated on you with Nina and I get it. But snap out of it already! You're loosing your fun."
My feet shuffle backwards. "Well, you didn't have to say it like that."
"Like what?" She tilts her head at me again, this time, crossing her arms below her chest. "Raw? Real?"
Now I mirror her, crossing my arms but looking away. The fresh summer breeze ruffles my blonde hair but not without the faint scent of sunflowers and freshly baked bread sweep past my nose.
I feel my shoulders slump comfortably and with an ease, my heart no longer pounds thoroughly against my chest.
"I just want to get the Vanilla creamed coffee and we'll be on our way."
Noah scoffs, the wind blows out her onyx hair and she looks at me with a scorn. "Don't be such a noob, Addy. We were…" she points the front door we just barged out of. "We were seconds away from ordering when you started shit again."
"Ugh!" I throw my head back. "It's just been so difficult Noah," a prickling feeling stings my eyes and I know I'm about to cry. "I really thought he was the one, you know," but this mascara costs two grands and not to mention — this outfit wasn't made to be cried over cheating ex boyfriends that sleeps with his coworker.
I drag my head forward, quickly blinking the tears away because I can't afford to waste a good outfit.
That's the crap I tell myself.
Although, it's actually because Noah would give me shit for crying, she'd never let it go and she'll probably ruin Seb and Nina so they'll never find a place to work anywhere else in their lives.
Being the granddaughter of one of the biggest moguls, of course.
"Girl, please…" Noah blows a raspberry. "Seb doesn't stand a chance against the remaining two billion men on this planet."
"Well," I sniffle. "I'm not looking into that."
"I love you," Noah's tone is careful, soft. "But you gotta move on from all that." Her fingers grip my wrists, shaking me semi vigorously. "Dude! He's got you hating vanilla!"
My lips quiver with laughter, though I didn't find it funny. I was the one made fun of. I was the ridiculed one. "I'm sorry," my head dips into the palm of my hands. "I'm so sorry, Noah. But if I didn't do it, he'd always lash out and hit me."
I yank my head out of my palm abruptly, my lips form an 'O' as a gasp escapes from my throat. My fingers fly to my face, hovering over my lips.
But it's too late, I had already said it.
"He hit you?!" Noah's tone is biting, meant to cut through me and it did. I feel a sharpness in my chest. Noah steps closer to me, "Is that why you…" Noah takes a step back, lifting her head as if searching for the wind, needing it to cool her down.
If I could see energy, I know Noah's heating up lava right now.
A heavy breath huffs out of Noah's lips and her eyes slice back to me. Suddenly, I feel overly self conscious.
"Is that why you refused to go to the hospital when you fell off your bed?" My lips are sealed shut, but I know my eyes give me away and Noah closes in on me, her eyes soften. "You never fell off your bed, did you?"
I don't give an answer.
"You told me.." one look at my best friend and I know she's shattered. "You told me that you fell off your bed, Addy."
I heaved a sigh. "It was years ago."
"You've put up with that for years, Addy."
"I'm sorry –"
"Stop apologizing!" Noah's on the brink of tears. "That's your problem, you're too good! Even for you. Why are you apologizing?"
My fingers reach out to wipe the tears from her cheeks. "I love you, Noah. And I'm so lucky that I've got you. But you don't need to worry. I'm done with him."
She sniffles, holding back laughter. "Can I at least have him serve jail time for physical and emotional abuse?"
I nod, smiling at her. "Yeah, definitely."
She pulls out her phone, no doubt ready to text her grandfather. "After all, why hold power if you can't use it?."
"Can we go and get my coffee now?" My tongue darts out to lick my lips – I can already taste it. "I desperately need it to survive today."
Noah grins at me but I'm already hazed, my eyes sight's draining on me, telling me to get that coffee now!.
Noah leads the way and I hold still. The chill of the wind is rare in summer and I want to enjoy it for at least fifteen seconds. Noah knows my order and would get it for me anyway.
My hands are shoved into the deep pockets of my flowery print A line mini dress and I close my eyes. My lips tugs up in a smile as I feel my hair dance in the wind.
Then, there's a thump.
And another.
And soon enough, it becomes faster. My eyes are still shut and I'm wondering why Noah hasn't gotten our orders yet, why she hasn't walked through that door.
And it's not until there are murmurs from the street and the sound of someone running down that I open my eyes. I pull my hands out of my pocket and trace the eyes of the few people in the street.
They're looking ahead, far ahead and I'm unable to see what they're so fixated on.
That's not until he comes into view.
The wind rustled his perfect hair and I felt my lungs close up, preventing me from breathing. I don't know what colour his eyes are and I don't care. My eyes sweep over the dark leather pants that crunched at the knees as he ran down, his cream shirt hugged his body a bit, leaving no room for imagination.
How can someone be running and still look like that? Perfect.
I feel a shift in the air, there's an onyx van being driven ahead of him. My ears ring from the screeching of its tyres.
The van drives past me and my eyes follow it. I turn my head but don't complete it as I feel my body weight thrown in the air like I'm paper.
A loud scream leaves my lips but a hand covers my mouth immediately. My eyes dance around me, frantically searching for someone, something bit I can only make out the train of people covering their mouths in fear as they watch me.
The cafe's door opens with a ding and I see Noah with two coffee cups in her hands. Strands of her hair are stuck on her face and I watch her throw the cups down and run after me in those damn heels.
Noah's running but she never gets close. Then, I'm yanked backwards and my head hits an object.
"Noah!" It's a call for help. Life or Death.
Noah keeps running but my vision goes blurry and I feel my head throbbing in pain. I look up at the figure standing in front of me and I can't make out his face. He's wearing a mask and all I see are his eyes.
The engine roars louder and there's a sense of motion. I realise I'm in a vehicle. But that's too late.
Because the last thing I see is Noah who falls on the rough granite floor as I drift off to unconsciousness. Maybe if Noah asked me again; Vanilla or Matcha Ice, I'd reply….
Life.