Untouchable

Chapter 2

Ruth sat at home, waiting for the intercom to buzz telling her that Noah had arrived. She felt awkward and panicked about the disorganisation in her normal day-to-day, week-to-week life. Finally, the intercom buzzed. Ruth stood up cautiously, walked across the room and buzzed Noah in. He came up the stairs to Ruth’s 2nd floor flat and knocked. Ruth opened the door and let him in without a word. He stood in the middle of the room, waiting for Ruth to sit so he wouldn’t sit in her spot. She sat down; he sat down next to her. He was handed a coffee, exactly the way he liked it: half milk, half water, one spoon of coffee, same with sugar: of course Ruth would remember.

                “Thanks, Ruth.” Noah spoke softly but thankfully.

                “No problem, Noah.” Ruth smiled, looking at her old best friend. “Thanks for coming here rather than making me go somewhere I don’t know.” She moved her hand towards Noah like she always to, and Noah moved his to within an inch of hers. He didn’t want to move any closer in case it set off one of her nervous panics from the strangeness of another persons touch.

                “I don’t want to unnerve you. I remember how much you used to panic every time we had a timetable change.” Noah smiled, sipping his coffee.

                “I know. Do you recognise my boss?” She asked.

                “Kind of.”

                “She’s a friend of my parents. We have an agreement that if my hours are to change I will be given my hours exactly one month before they come in effect.”

                “That is a good agreement, considering.” Noah chuckled.

                “Yes, I agree. What do you do? I’ve never asked.”

                “I teach at our old school. I accidently got given Abbie’s class earlier in the year.” Noah chuckled.

                “How is Abbie?”

                “She’s like any other 17-year-old girl: happy and hard working.” Noah chuckled. “How are Alyssa and Evie?” Alyssa and Evie were Ruth’s younger sisters, age 21 and 17.

                “Alyssa is still at Bath doing Computer Science, she’s doing her Master’s now; and surely you see Evie around school?”

                “Yes, and I teach her Physics. She’s nearly as bright as you are.”

                “Bright?” Ruth asked, completely confused at the use of the word.

                “I mean clever.” Noah chuckled awkwardly.

                “Evie is very clever.” Ruth smiled.

                “She is. Very near the top of the class, above a lot of the boys.” Ruth began to laugh.

                “My parents used to say that Evie was manlier than our cousins. I never really understood until you say she understands a mainly male subject better than a lot of boys.” Noah smiled as Ruth’s brain explained things to her. She was smiling as she understood something that had tormented her for years.

                “It’s good to see you smile again, Ruth Charis.” Noah whispered, looking into her eyes that he deemed so perfect.

                “It’s nice to see you again, Noah Edward.” They both laughed at addressing one another using their middle names.

                “I’m sorry about two years ago, Ruth.” Noah whispered, unable to look back into Ruth’s eyes. He just looked down at his hands and the coffee.

                “I don’t understand what happened, not entirely. But you’re forgiven for it; it was my fault after all because I’m awkward.” Ruth said, looking directly at her closest friend. His eyes lifted slowly to meet her midnight blue eyes that glimmering in the April sunshine.

                “That’s alright, Ruth. I understand completely. It’s not your fault.” He placed his hand on the sofa, and Ruth placed hers an inch away. She looked at him and smiled. She wasn’t comfortable with touching his skin, or hugging him, but it was better than trying not to think about him, like she struggled to do. And for Noah, his pulse was through the roof, and he loved it.