The Echoes of Solitude

Chapter Seven

"I thought you said you were working today?" Noah asked, confused as he pulled Cora in for a hug.

"I am, Noah, I have to go back in a couple of hours, I'm on break, you dork." She answered and rolled her eyes.

I stayed quiet through their exchange of pleasantries and let my eyes dance around the diner. It looked like it had rolled out of one of those eighties movies. Waitresses' who were in pale yellow dresses and white aprons were moving from table to table, refilling coffees and taking orders. The floors were checkered red and white, the tables a cream colour, and the chairs a shiny, velvety red. Booths were connected against the far north and west wall and below the Elvis framed picture was a bright mixed coloured jukebox that was playing music in the background of all the chatter and noise which filled the room.

"Come on you two, go sit in that empty booth up the back, so I can take your order and get you fed," Noah said as he pointed over to the corner booth. "So, what do you girls want?" He asked as we settled into the booth, "Wait. Let me guess, for Cora, it will be a large chocolate shake, cheeseburger, and curly fries, you know, your usual."

Cora just laughed and flipped him off, "Yes the usual, thank you, Noah."

"What would you like Ally?" Noah asked as he shifted his body to face me.

I looked up at him, surprised that he knew my name. "Ho..."

"Yes, I know your name." Noah interrupted me with a laugh, "Cora," He pointed over to her with his thumb, "doesn't shut up about you, you are all she talks about, but it's finally nice to put a face to the name."

"Um, I wish I could say the same, but this is the first I've heard of you. Sorry?" I replied and turned to give Cora an 'I'm so confused' look.

"I'm hurt, sis," Noah said to Cora as he threw his hand against his chest, feigning a heart wound.

"Wait a minute, you guys are related?" I asked the pair. They didn't exactly look the same. Cora had blonde hair, whereas Noah was dark. Cora had a roundish face and was petite whereas Noah was the complete opposite, he was more muscular and had a defined jawline. The only feature that they both had that looked slightly similar was their bright blue eyes.

"Yup," He replied, popping the p. "I am this loser's oldest, but awesome brother. It's nice to finally meet you, Ally." He added and extended his hand,

"It's nice to meet you too," I replied, meeting his blue eyes, and reached for his hand and shook it. I could feel my cheeks blushing ever so slightly at his touch. "Could I have the same as Cora, please?"

"You sure can," Noah said as he wrote down the two orders, "Next time you are in, you will have to try the banana and blueberry pancakes. They are to die for, they will honestly change your life, forever." He added with a wink and turned to head towards the kitchen.

My eyes followed him the whole way.

"So that was my older brother," Cora admitted as soon as Noah entered the kitchen. I quickly averted my gaze, hoping not to be caught staring at her brother. I could feel a blush rising in my cheeks at the thought of being caught.

"I thought you had an older sister?" I asked, thinking back to the day when we went clothes shopping and we had talked about her family.

"He's my half-brother. He's actually the same age as Oliver, my cousin. Before my dad and mum got married, dad got with another woman and she ended up pregnant. Noah lived with his mum for a while, but after I turned seven he lived with us. It's a long story, but long story short his mum left him with our dad."

"That's good he has you guys then, how did your mum take it?"

"She wasn't overly happy about it when he was born. She's never been angry at Noah, but at the fact that my dad cheated. It was when they had just begun dating, though, not that is any excuse. She's never treated him horribly. She's always cared for him as one of her own"

"That's pretty amazing of your mum. Does he get along with your sister?" I asked,

She nodded, "When he first moved in I would have been seven I think, Bianca would have been nine, and Noah would have been about eleven. Bianca and Noah would fight like cats and dogs. I don't remember fully, but from what I can and what I have been told Bianca didn't like that she was the oldest and that he got her room. She ended up having to share with me. But as they grew up they got over it. They used to be very close up until she met Jose and left."

"Do you ever hear from her?"

"We get the occasional text or email and we Skype every month. But she always comes home for Thanksgiving and Christmas." She shrugged, "I know she's doing the right thing for her, she's never belonged in a small town like Swansea. She's more of a city chick. But I miss her." Cora added sadly.

"Have you ever thought about visiting her?"

"Yes and no. As much as I would love to, Jose, her partner, creeps me out and I wouldn't want to go by myself. I would ask Noah, but he and Jose fight. Noah doesn't like him either."

"Who don't I like?" Noah asked as he approached the table, placed the tray which held the food on it, and started to dish out the plates.

"Jose," Cora answered whilst leaning forward to grab a curly fry.

I took a sip of the chocolate shake that Noah had placed in front of me and silently thanked the lord for this chocolatey goodness.

Noah pulled a face at the name and picked up the tray, sliding it under his arm. "He's a dick. You are right, I don't like him. Bianca will come to her senses eventually." He said. He turned his head to look at the group who had just walked in. "I have to go serve those people that have just come in. I'll see you at home Cor and I'll probably see you around Ally. It was nice meeting you." He added with a smile and left.

And once again, my eyes followed his retreat.

Authors note:

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and I would love to know what you think.

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Until next time.