The Girl in the Hoodie

44

He points a finger at me. "Don't judge me."

I raise my arms in surrender. "Not judging."

"Mum, why were you crying?" Danny asks with furrowed eyebrows.

I glance over and see tear streaks on Mrs King's face.

I look at Danny before looking at Mrs King, who nods at me.

I purse my lips. "Danny, I need to talk to you about something."

Mrs King gives Noah a look before walking into the kitchen, Noah following her immediately.

I pat the spot next to me on the couch and Danny sits down next to me.

"You look sad." He analyses. "I don't like it when you're sad."

I sigh.

How the hell am I supposed to tell him?

"When we first met, you grabbed my face and called me beautiful. Then you said, 'Beauty isn't in the face. Beauty is a light in the heart. And nothing is more beautiful than a real smile that has struggled through tears.' I start. "Danny, you are the most beautiful person I have ever met. And you were right, I have struggled through tears."

He grabs my hand.

I smile slightly before continuing. "I lost both of my sisters to cancer. And now, I have it, too. I don't have long."

His eyes widen. "Vaeh..."

I pull him into a hug, kissing his head. "I love you, kid."

"I love you, too, Vaeh." He sniffles, burying his head in my shoulder.

-Noah-

"You really love her, don't you." Mum asks as we get in the kitchen, but it's more of a statement than a question.

"Is it that obvious?" I question, sitting down at the island.

She sits down next to me. "Honey, you've been making heart eyes for her since the first time you brought her to our house."

I scoff. "No I haven't."

She gives me a pointed look. "I came in to check on the two of you that night and saw her sleeping on the right side of the bed. You always sleep on the right side of the bed."

Dammit.

I shrug. "So?"

She gives me a knowing look. "I know for a fact you let her take the right side of the bed."

Busted.

Shut up, Pablo.

I give mum a sheepish look. "Well, I told her she was sleeping on the floor but she slept in the bed anyway."

She looks at me skeptically. "You were going to make her sleep on the floor? I raised you better than that."

"Me? Why would you make her sleep in my room?" I counter. "What kind of responsible parenting is that?"

"It's not like we had a spare room." She says. "And I don't think she would've wanted to sleep in Danny's bed, which barely had any space for him and that ridiculous huge stuffed penguin you won him at a carnival four years ago."

I point a finger at her. "Mr. Waddles is iconic."

She gives me a weird look. "Since when do you stay stuff like that?"

"Since you called Mr. Waddles ridiculous."

She rolls her eyes. "I thought Max was the weird one."

"He is." I state. "And, yes, I do really love Carter."

She smiles softly and pats my hand that was resting on the countertop.

"I know you do." She gets up and walks behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. "You make the most of it, okay?"

I hug her arms. "Okay."

"MUM!" Danny's scream comes from the living room. "NOAH!"

We both share a look before running into the living room to see Nevaeh lying on the floor with Danny kneeling next to her.

"Daniel, what happened?!" Mum questions hurriedly as she rushes over and kneels down next to Nevaeh, placing her head on her lap.

"I-I don't know." He stutters, panicking. "We were coming to the kitchen, but as soon as she stood up, she fainted."

I stand there, frozen.

"Noah, call the ambulance." Mum orders as she brushes Nevaeh's hair from her face. "Nevaeh? Nevaeh, honey, wake up. Sweetheart, please wake up! NOAH CALL THE AMBULANCE! NOAH!"

I scramble to get my phone from my pocket before dialling 911.

God, please let her be okay.