The Essence of Noah (Muslim story)

Bottle

"Ten cents alright?"

"Yeah."

"Reciept?"

"Unless their taxable." Riley looks up, with a confused expression that has me feeling stupidly embarrassed. "No." I clarify, taking my bag and change and offering Riley a tight smile before walking out.

When I think about, the joke is lame, really lame, but even though Riley didn't 'get it' it doesn't really bother me. Noah got it, he even laughed, and for some reason that's good enough.

~*~

My semester break ended far too quickly, and with another round of farewells and a sarcastic drive with Evan to the airport, I found myself back in my apartment. It was unbelievably cold when I entered the apartment; it feels a lot more like winter in Melbourne than it did in Adelaide. Not caring much for my electricity bill, I turned on the heating to the highest temperature and changed into warmer attire.

I fell into routine within the first few days after my return, preparing my iftar, doing my laundry and sorting my books. However since my return, I haven't seen or heard of Noah at all; not even when I step out onto the balcony and take cautious glances through his glass double doors. I did miss him while I was gone, though I've convinced myself that it's not necessarily him that I missed, but rather his conversations and positivity. I also want to know if he's been fasting for the last week or so, that's something that I've been wondering about for a while.

I stand from my prayer mat and fold it, placing it to the side, as I open up a glass door and step outside. It's only asr, but it's relatively dark out; the street lamps have turned on and the sun has dropped closer to the horizon. It's cold, but bearable and my scarf covers my ears and shields my cheeks. I let out a warm breath and watch as it morphs into a little cloud and wisps away. Mesmerised by it, I do it again, only this time I don't watch it fade as I hear the door next door open.

I expect to see Noah when I turn, feeling my heart pick up its beats and a smile instinctively spread itself across my lips, but it all wavers when I see someone else walk out onto his balcony instead.

"Hey." He says. His hair is a dark shade of brown, ruffled and in much need of a trim. His face is tanned for the middle of winter, with kind-looking features. Much like me, he's dressed in jeans and a jumper, and a can of Carlton Draught in his hand.

"Hi." I nod and offer up a short smile.

"You Noah's neighbour?" He indicates with the can in his hand to my apartment. I nod again.

"Yeah." He nods and takes a long drink from the can, tilting his head back and wincing as he drinks the stale fluid.

"I'm Ed." Taking a few steps towards the banisters, he extends out a hand for me to shake. I hesitate for a moment, my eyes flickering to Noah's apartment for any sign of him and back to Ed, with his outstretched arm. Hesitantly, I take it, shaking it lightly and letting go almost instantly.

"What's your name?"

"Hana." I speak almost absent mindedly, as I think of where Noah could be. I remember him telling me he was having a mate come and stay during the break, and now I wonder if it's Ed. "Are you a friend of Noah's?"

"Yeah, he's my buddy." He takes another swig from the can, this time screwing his face and shaking his head a couple of times. As I watch him, my brain reels to think where he got the alcohol from. Is Noah okay with that? "We've been hangin' out," He point back into Noah's apartment, "He's on the phone-oh, no here he comes."

I glance to the doors, where I see Noah barefoot in joggers and a jumper and a bottle of coke in hand. I think he seems surprised to see me, as he steps slow down at the door as he pauses to take in the scene before him. Subtly, I lift a hand and wave slightly with a smile in attempts at easing his surprise. "Hi."

"Hi." He steps out and stands by Ed. "You're back."

"I've been back for a few days." He nods and runs his free hand through his hair. His hair has gotten much longer now, the ends tickling by his ears and fading out into an amber blonde. I let my eyes wander over his face, and when I notice his laugh lines and lips spreading into a smile, I realise I've been staring.

"You've met Ed then." He pats his buddy's shoulder who returns the gesture by throwing an arm around Noah's.

"Yeah."

"We've already introduced mate." Ed speaks up, then turns to me, "Hana, yeah?" I nod as he looks to Noah. "How simple is that? I was expecting a harder one." I blush at his words, and instantly turn away from them both to look towards the sunset. 'Expecting a harder one?' A harder, more Arab name perhaps. To say the least I'm offended, and want nothing more than to walk into my apartment and pretend like this never happened.

From my side, I can feel Noah looking at me and then I hear him mutter a 'shut up' to Ed.

"You need to lighten up man." Reluctantly I turn to them both, hoping the wind cools my cheeks. "I didn't mean to offend you." He clarifies.

"It's fine." It's not.

It goes quiet after that, and I feel misplaced between Noah and Ed. Noah doesn't say anything to me. He leans against the banister, looking down and around, though never letting his gaze linger on me long enough to initiate conversation. It's almost as though he has nothing to say, and frankly I don't blame him. I'm not making much of an effort myself to start up any small talk either. In a way, I want Ed to leave, so Noah and I can chat, more freely, but I know it's probably me holding them up.

As the silence prolongs, Ed takes another drink from his can before nudging Noah's shoulder. "Want some in your drink?" His question catches me off guard and instantly, I lock my gaze with Noah's. He straightens up from the banister and looks away from me. I can see his jaw tighten and then release as he brushes he hair over his head.

"I'm good." He says as he opens his bottle and drinks from it. Ed shrugs, as he finishes off his drink and crushes the can against his palm and knee.

"I'm getting another one." He says as he heads inside. Left alone with Noah, I instantly regret wanting Ed to leave, because he's left a lingering air of awkwardness. Noah smiles briefly though it doesn't reach his eyes or show off his laugh lines.

"Ed's kind of full on." I nod in acknowledgment. Noah turns and sees Ed sit on the couch instead of joining us again.

"I guess."

"How've you been?" Noah leans on the banister again and balances his bottle on it.

"Good, you?" I wrap my arms around my body as I stare at the bottle in his hands. I guess he's not fasting then. I don't know why, but it sends a pang of disappointment through my chest and stirs another question.

"Yeah, not bad." It falls silent again, but before it can prolong I break it.

"Have you told your friends that you converted?"

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Another update for you all, because you're all amazing and I felt like it. Thank you all so much for reading, voting and commenting, it's actually really motivating so keep it coming.

I also want to apologise for the lack of translation in the previous chapter. From now on I will provide translations at the end of every chapter if I use any language other than English. I hope you like this one and enjoy!

Vote, comment, share- let me know what you think! :)