Too complicated

Too complicated: Part 5

Y/n POV:

I walk into the house to see my best friend Riley slouched lazily on the sofa, the sound barley audible whilst Friends played on the TV. I don't think it mattered though, I'm pretty sure she has the entire season memorised. She looks up at me with sleepy eyes as I plop myself next to her and rests her head on my shoulder.

Y/n: Thank you for staying.

Riley: Any time.

She smiles and stands up, stretching and yawning as she collected all of her belongings in one hand and shoved them into her pocket.

Riley: I should get going.

Y/n: You sure you don't want to just sleep over?

Riley: It's cool. I live like two minutes from here anyway.

Y/n: Well only if you're sure. Noah didn't cause you too much trouble did he?

Riley: He was as perfect as always. I'm gonna head out, see ya, love you!

Y/n: Thanks for tonight, love you too!

She gently pulled the door shut, locking it behind her with the spare keys I entrusted her with since she's always here anyways. I tiredly walk up the stairs, being careful with every foot placement so the floor wouldn't creak under the weight of me in case it woke up Noah. I push open his door excepting him to be sound asleep, the brown curls of his hair masking his face as he held the covers up to his neck. Instead I find him sitting upright, his favourite book open in his lap as the little yellow nightlight on the corner of his night stand shone so subtly against the pages to allow some capability of reading the words in the otherwise blackened room. His eyes immediately shoot up to mine as I opened the door, alarmed by the ghostly squeal it screams every time you enter or exit the room. I shake my head and walk over to him, setting his book aside, he shifts slightly to give me room to sit next to him on the bed. When I do, he leans against my chest as I take him in my arms kissing his head.

Y/n: It's late. Why are you still up?

Noah: I couldn't sleep. So I started reading.

Y/n: Okay...why can't you sleep? Aren't you tired from your long week at school?

Noah: Yeah I guess...

He buries his body closer to me and I realise what was happening. I push the hair from his face and lean my chin on the top of his head, squeezing him tighter than before.

Y/n: You don't have to worry about me Noah. I was just at work, don't I always come back to you?

Noah: I know...but that's what they said too.

I stiffen up at his words. At the mention of our parents. I brush the painful memories away, not wanting to open that door right now. I've bolted it shut. No way in or out. I'm not going to give it another chance, at least not yet. Not tonight.

Y/n: Gets some rest okay? Maybe tomorrow we can go to the museum before my shift starts?

Noah: Yeah, I'd like that.

Y/n: Good. Now go to sleep.

I step out of the bed and haul the covers up to tuck him in. He giggles at my exaggerated sighs and I kiss his forehead before making my way towards my room.

Y/n: Love you weirdo.

Noah: Love you too, bigger weirdo.

I closed his door shut and collapsed onto my bed, ripping out the hair band from my scalp and letting my hair fall freely, brushing against my skin. I got ready for bed and shut my eyes ready to invite sleep in. But instead, I ended up staring at the ceiling, playing over my sweet little brother's fear in my head. I hated that he felt like this, and that I was powerless against stopping it. I was angry, with myself, with the world. It's not fair that a nine year old should feel like this. Constantly worried, unable to sleep because he thinks he'll lose his family again. Because that's how he handled it. He let his emotions control him, letting the tears flow daily at every memory of our parents. He'd ask me to hold him as he wept into my hoodies, or wait with him until he could fall asleep. He didn't leave my side for weeks. And that's how he coped, with the comfort of others around him telling him everything was going to be okay, filling his head with pretty lies. But I shouldn't judge that, I did it too, assuring him every single night before he shut his eyes that things would get better, that the pain will retire. But it didn't, things just got worse. My eyes stung with the threat of tears and I let them fall to quickly wipe them away. Not tonight, I'm too tired to go there right now. And after what felt like an eternity, I finally fall asleep.

Tom POV:

Haz: So tell me about her?

Harrison began interrogating me as I sat with my morning coffee, glancing up from my phone as he sat opposite me eagerly waiting for my response.

Tom: Sorry?

Haz: Come on, she must be important if you were willing to skip out on hanging out with your best friends.

He chuckled and I rolled my eyes, getting up and making my way towards the sink to spill the left overs in my mug.

Haz: Seriously? Nothing?

I purse my lips and shake my head trying to suppress my overwhelming feelings of wanting to talk about her. But Harrison catches on with my smile and knows I wouldn't be able to stay strong for long. And he continues to pry and of course I eventually give in.

Tom: Her name is Y/n.

Haz: Yeah we know that already.

Tom: She has a little brother called Noah. 

Haz: And...?

Tom: I know where she lives.

Haz: You realise how creepy that sounds right?

Tom: I just dropped her home, it was late!

Haz: Okay fine. Is that all you know about her?

Tom: And she's a waitress.

Haz: Dude, you've been drooling over her ever since you met, and that's all you know?

Tom: Yeah well it's fine cause it doesn't really matter.

Haz: And why not?

Tom: Because she told me she's not looking to see anyone at the moment.

Haz: Yet you're going to see her tonight?

I look down and nod my head grabbing my phone from the counter and checking it for emails. And as always the endless amount of mail I received almost seemed to have frozen my phone. I bite my lip and look back at Harrison. How many of those emails do you think asked me how I was, or how I'm doing? Simple answer: zero. Because that's just now things work now.

Tom: I like being around her.

Haz: You're hoping to change her mind.

He states, and honestly, he's completely right. I wave him off and get dressed for work.