25. Always

ASTRID

“You are not in charge here anymore and I will do whatever I want with her,” the boy replied to Noah.

“First, by telling me what your name is. What is your name?” Noah asked.

“The fuck do you want to know that for?” He replied.

“I love to know the names of those I am about to kill and you will be my next victim,” he answered and I couldn’t tell if he was joking or if he meant what he said.

“Bold of you to think that you can kill me,” he sounded confident as he replied to Noah.

“What’s your name? My name is Noah,” Noah introduced himself.

“It’s Ethan,” he replied.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ethan. Go on. Stab her. What are you waiting for?” Noah replied daringly and that didn’t sit well with me.

Did he have an idea that he was provoking the boy and he might eventually do it?

“You don’t have the guts now do you?” Noah began to walk closer to us. Ethan placed the knife even closer to my neck to the point I began to shake and cry.

“She’s crying already. Aren’t you concerned about her life?” Ethan said to Noah.

“It seems you care more for her life than you seem to care for yours because why haven’t you stabbed her already? Too much of a chicken to use the knife?” He asked, still walking towards us.

He didn’t look afraid or concerned. He just looked calm. If anything I’ve noticed about Noah, it’s that you can never read him through his face because he’d give you nothing to work with.

“What are you waiting for? Go on, stab her,” he dared Ethan now standing in front of us.

Everything happened so swiftly that I felt myself being freed from the hands of Ethan but not without feeling a faint cut around my neck.

Before I could comprehend everything that had just happened, Ethan was on the ground, his face on the ground with Noah’s leg on his back and the knife he was holding behind now with Noah.

I placed my hand around my neck only to see that I had a light cut and it was hurting but not deeply.

“I told you to stab her when you had the chance to but you didn’t,” Noah scoffed.

He was strong. He handled three boys without having to engage too much with his fist. Just how strong was he and why did he let Damien beat him up before? Was that all a part of his plan? I was curious to know.

“The next time you come for her or you come for me, I will make you pay. Bunch of kids.”

Noah walked towards me, he took my hands in his, and together we walked away. I looked at him in surprise because of what had just happened earlier.

Instead of going to my dorm, he made us go to the Super Mart hand in hand where he got some non-scarring aid and some snacks. He paid for the stuff and only let go of my hand when he wanted to reach for his wallet to pay for the snacks.

We left the Super Mart and went to the park in the school park.

“I should have given that jerk a little more beating for daring to leave a mark on your skin but thank goodness it’s not deep but light,” he said, applying the non-scarring aid on my neck.

“Thank you,” I said to him.

He took the snacks from the bag and the drinks and handed them to me. “Here, eat.”

“Where did you learn to fight like that and do you know I was scared when you were provoking him?”

“Even if he wanted to do it, he would have. People with intentions to kill don’t talk. They just act it and besides I wouldn’t let him kill you, that you should be rest assured of and also I told you to trust me, didn’t I?” He looked at me while he spoke and my eyes focused on his lips.

I looked away clearing my throat because it was evident that I was starting to get too attached to Noah and he had made it clear to me that we aren’t friends.

The only reason he claims me is to protect me and it wasn’t more than that.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?” I asked.

“Oh well,” he shrugged, not saying much, once again shutting me out.

“Why do you always have to claim me as your girlfriend when you don’t even see me as a friend?” I asked although the answer was evident enough.

“Isn’t it obvious already?” He replied.

“Thank you for today, for the other days and every other day,” I said to him.

“And your ankle? How is it?” He asked and honestly, I had almost forgotten that I had a sprained ankle.

“It’s fine. What will you do with Damien? He’s not going to stop and also why did you let him beat you earlier?” I asked.

“I told you that you will find out in no time. You will see,” he said with a smile on his face that made my heart skip.

We sat in silence while I ate the snacks that he got for me. I asked him to take some of it but he said he got them all for me and that he wasn’t hungry. After I was done eating, he escorted me back to my dormitory.

“Thanks once again for today,” I said to him.

“Shhh. Now go inside,” he replied.

I waved at him before entering the room. Seconds later, I walked out of the room to see him leaving.

I smiled as I watched him leave. It felt good knowing I had someone who had my back and they didn’t have an ulterior motive.