Untouchable

Chapter 10

Noah lay in his new flat that night feeling alone, but not alone. The flat still needed some work, and was bigger than Ruth’s. Instead of just the one bedroom in her flat, his had two, though the second was a tiny box room that currently contained his computer and all his work. The lounge, dining room and kitchen all merged into one long room along 2/3rd the length of the building, only cut off by the master bedroom and the bathroom adjacent to Noah’s room, and squashed along one side, next to Noah’s room was what he had renamed ‘The Study’, the only room kept permanently locked to ensure Ruth didn’t mess his stuff up. As much as he trusted her, he didn’t want her messing with his lack of organisation in there.

                Noah stared up at the white ceiling, lit up by the streetlight outside his bedroom window. He rolled onto his side and tried to fall asleep, but he just couldn’t shift the perpetual temptation to go and see Ruth who was lying in her own bed just across the hall. He supressed the urge but got out of bed and walked into the lounge and switched on the TV that had always festered in the corner of his room at his parents. He flicked through the channels, but at 3am, there is very little on. He walked into the kitchen, chugged a glass of water, and went back to bed. Somehow, he fell asleep, but not comfortably. It was strange to him not to be surrounded by the sounds of Abbie’s giggles as she pretended she was asleep while their parents snored the night away. He missed them.

                Ruth woke up early that morning to hear the sombre snores of Noah across the hall. She sighed as she heard them, smiling a little that he was at peace with everything. She got up and did everything she would on a Sunday morning: ate breakfast, put everything in the dishwasher, brush teeth, run bath, and spend at least an hour in the hot water, just soaking and turning into a prune. At 10am, there was a knock on her door and Noah turned his key in the door.

                “Currently in the bath.” Ruth called. Noah chuckled.

                “Want me to come back later?” He asked, seeing the bathroom door was open; Ruth barely ever shut the door when she was home alone.

                “No, it’s alright. You can come in here if you like.” Her voice was surprisingly chirpy. Noah edged towards the bathroom.

                “Are you sure?” He asked nervously.

                “Come on in! I was running around your garden naked until we were 7! And then my swimming stuff didn’t cover much. I wouldn’t worry, I’m coating in bubbles.” Her voice giggled. Noah stepped cautiously into the bathroom, hoping there was no water on the floor as all he had on his feet were his black socks. Ruth lay in the bath, water up to her shoulders, her brown hair braided up into a bun, though the baby hairs lingered around her neck, damp from the water and bubbles. To Noah, she looked amazing and beautiful. He felt privileged to see her like this, despite what he was able to see being just her bare shoulders and wondrous face.

                “You’re not a little girl anymore though, Ruth.” Noah whispered as he sat on the toilet lid.

                “I know. But I’m used to you. I’m not shy around you.” Her smile was dazzling as she spoke. Noah blushed.

                “You should be though.”

                “Why?”

                “We’ve not been dating long.”

                “And I need to practice being normal.”

                “Why? You’re amazing as you are.”

                “Because I want to be normal.” She whispered, perhaps a little ashamed of what she was. Noah could only feel guilty and bad for her, just wishing he could do something to help her, but she could only help herself.

                “Ruth, you are wonderful, amazing, and brilliant as you are. You managed to get a good master’s degree, get your own place, get a good job, but most amazing is the fact you’ve reopened up to me again.” He whispered, kneeling next to the bath. She blushed and could barely look into Noah’s magnificent hazel eyes. To her, he was the most beautiful thing on the entire planet, and always had been, she just hadn’t had the words, or the ability, to express exactly how she felt about him. She lifted her left hand from the water and touched his cheek gently, caressing the side of his face with her soapy hands. Noah just wanted to kiss her.

                “Ruth.” He whispered. “I wish I could kiss you.”

                “I’ve never kissed anyone before, not, well, properly.” She admitted cautiously. Noah had. He’d had a relationship that had ended monumentally badly during the two year gap.

                “I know.” Was all Noah could admit. Ruth looked at him, reading between the lines at what he had meant.

                “Is that all over now?” She asked incredibly nervously.

                “Yeah, it ended nearly a year ago, badly.” Noah admitted. Ruth giggled.

                “I always expected you to get a girlfriend when we were at school; I guess I freaked all the girls off.”

                “Yeah, you did.” Noah laughed. “We were weirdoes together though, and it was brilliant.” They both laughed.

                “Pass me my towel, will you?” Ruth asked, pointing to the cream towel on the radiator. Noah leant over and handed to her, she placed it on the floor, right next to the bathtub. She pulled the shower curtain across, pulled the plug out, stood up, and grabbed the towel. The shower curtain moved again and Noah saw his girlfriend, soap dripping off her, towel wrapped around her torso. She stepped onto the bathmat and turned to face her back to Noah before drying herself off. He just admired the view as she dried and dressed in her pyjamas before walking back to her bedroom and dressing in her tatty clothes for another day of painting and decorating. She appeared from her room and Noah smiled beautifully at her.

                “You look wonderful.” He complemented.

                “This is as tatty as my stuff gets.” She said, thinking that his complement meant she looked too nice to decorate his flat.

                “Ruth, to me, you always look beautiful, and always have… especially when you have not got a problem with standing nude in front of me.” He chuckled. Ruth blushed and walked over to hug Noah, squeezing him tight. He hugged her back, still wanting to kiss her, but this time he was going to restrain himself from ruining everything again.

                “Cheeky.” She giggled. He just laughed.

                “Always.” He smiled, resting his chin on top of her head. Ruth was somewhat comfortable with this, it was strange to her, and a few years ago she would have hated it, but now, it was Noah, and she’d always known Noah. She was becoming more comfortable with him than anyone else in the world, and she loved it.