I walk downstairs with my hair down. My hair's not so long but it's a good length, stopping just a few inches underneath my shoulders.
I've thought about dying it so many times but never had the guts to. My ideal color was blonde at some point but now I think I want my hair this way, all gingerly and red.
It's something that says Abby.
"Mum I'll be out for a while", I yell before walking out the front door.
I breath in and then out as I approach my next door neighbor's house. Now that I look at the house clearly, I can't actually believe how it was almost my second home.
Almost..
I sigh then ring the doorbell. The door opens and it's like deja vu when Loren appears.
Her red strapless crop makes her collar bones feel like the life of the party with the oil glowing off it. The baggy denim jean she's on covers most parts of her Nike sneakers. And of course her face wouldn't miss make up even for a second.
The look she renders me is.. not mocking, surprisingly, but confident. Her eyes give me a once over before she steps out, closing the door behind her.
"I'll play nice", she says and I frown. When was it a game? and when did we start playing?.
"Since Noah said you're like a sister to him", she feigns a smile and I'm in both doubt and shock by what she just said. Would Noah really say that?.
"I can't believe I didn't see it..", she says, trailing as she twirls a lock of hair with her index finger. I look at her as I feel my chest beat fast.
"I mean..", she pauses, chuckling, "Look at you, why on earth would he want something more",
I clench on to my dress. I hate to admit it but.. she's right. Why would he want something more? Come to think of it, he's never said he wants me or even that he likes me.
If he just sees me as a sister then why hasn't he done a thing to make me think otherwise. Why?!.
"Oh don't cry", Loren says pouting down at me from the steps of the front door.
I glare at her with my glossy eyes. Why does she have to see me this way all the time?.
"This just tells you to bring your head low, where it's meant to be..", she says, giving me a disgusted look. Actually wondered where that went from the start.
"You dumb fuck low budget Barney", she scoffs then walks back inside. Barney? But my nose is all healed now.
I sniff, trying hard to keep my tears at bay. I wipe my eyes furiously as I ring the doorbell again. I pat my dress down, sooth up my jacket and hold up a fake cherry smile.
The door opens revealing Carmen. Her eyes brighten when she sees me, "Abby, I thought you already came cause I heard the doorbell ring earlier",
"No, I just arrived", I say and she lets me in. "Thanks", I say as I walk into the house and I'm not surprised to see Bonnie and Clyde sitting next to each other on the sofa.
Noah looks tired as he looks up at me. The thought of him actually calling me his sister disgusts me like the way I disgust Loren. It's sickening.
He moves away from Loren and I roll my eyes heading to the kitchen. Carmen gets in after me.
"Are you and Noah by any chance fighting?- I know I'm not meant to meddle-",
"No", I cut her off, "We're fine", I say, giving her a tight smile and she nods, smiling as well.
"Okay so let's get started", she says, sounding excited. I try to act excited but Loren's words are etched in my brain now and I can't seem to get rid of it. Ugh!, I can just hear it repeating itself over and over again.
You're like a sister to him.
"Can I use the bathroom.. before we start?", I ask and she slowly nods.
"Of course dear, I'll just get the ingredients ready", she says and I nod, leaving the kitchen.
I avoid eye contact with them as I head upstairs. Upstairs, right turn and bam, the bathroom.. If there's anywhere I can't forget in the Kushner's residence, it's their bathroom. When we were younger, I always had to go.
I get in and just as I'm about to close the door a hand slides in, pushing it back, making me step away.
Noah lets himself in then closes the door behind him. "What's wrong?", he asks me and I try not to glower at him.
"Why does it seem like something's wrong?", I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Cause she's here", he says and I shake my head.
"I'm not here for either of you so get out so I can use the bathroom", I say and his brows shoot up in surprise.
"Woah, slow down..", he says then smirks and I feel like taking off my jacket to wipe it off his perfect chiseled face, "Give me a second to process jealous Abby",
I loudly scoff, "Jealous?", I ask, giving him an incredulous stare.
"Why would I be jealous? You're not mine and I'm not yours",
Noah's face seems more serious and the deepness in his voice gives me goosebumps when he says, "Wrong".
His finger finds it's way to the V opening of my dress. My lips part when he pulls me close to him.
He lowers his head down to my ear and whispers, "You're mine", the hotness of his breath and the coldness of his nose touching my neck makes my knees go weak.
I gulp.
He pulls away, "I'll get out as my princess requests",
I watch him walk out of the bathroom and I let out a breath I had no idea I was holding as I grab on to the sink. Whatever Loren said was overshadowed now, with just two words.
You're mine.
I walk downstairs and I notice Loren's not in the living room anymore. Almost like she came just to mess with my mind. If they told she was Lucifer let out of hell, I'd straight up believe.
I walk into the kitchen to find Noah mixing the batter with an apron around him.
"Got rid of the vermin so we can cook now", he winks and his mum gives him a look, probably wondering if she had pests in her kitchen.
"C'mon Abby, we just started the basics", Carmen says then hands me an apron.
I put it on and before I could get the apron tied around my waist, two strong hands are already tying it for me. The same strong hands put my hair up in a ponytail and although it's a messy one, I've got to give it to him.
"You keep bands on you now?", I ask, wondering where he got the hair band from.
"Just in case my princess needs it", he says and I hide my blush from not just him but Carmen.
She smiles as she says, "Quit playing Romeo and Juliet and come help me with this". Noah rushes to her, helping her get a jar of edible glitter from the top cabinet.
"I call shot gun on sprinkling the glitter", I announce with a hand up.
"Rock paper scissors?", Noah asks and I make a pst sound. You wish.
"I already called shot gun loser", I say, sticking my tongue out and he rolls his eyes at me playfully.
Carmen sets up 24 muffin liners and puts the batter into the piping bag. She hands it to me and I take it doing the honors of putting the batter into the muffin liners.
Just as I put them in, Noah comes from behind holding my hands.
"Let me help", he says really close to my ear and I feel a shiver down my spine.
"I'll just step out.. to the bathroom", Carmen says but we're in our own world now.
Noah lowers his head to my neck and his breath fans it. "Princess..", he whispers and I hum, unable to speak.
I let out a breath as his lips graze my ear. He nibs at my earlobe and his arms around mine comes closer and I feel his lips move back to my neck.
He plants slow kisses on it, gently sucking on a spot.
"Noah", I moan, letting go of the piping bag and it falls on the tray knocking over the muffin liners we've put batter in.
"Shit", he says, kissing me on the cheek either way.
"I'll get rid of these and you remake", he tells me as he takes the knocked over ones away and I sigh putting the banter on the remaining muffin liners.
"Help me with the oven", I tell him as I carry the tray off the counter. He helps me get it into the oven and I turn it up.
"So, we'll just leave it for 18 minutes or so and..", I trail as I notice his eyes staring right into mine. I quickly look away.
"You blinked", he says and a slow smirk appears on his pink lips.
"No I didn't", I deny, moving away.
"Yes you did", he chuckles, trying to pull me to him but I move away giggling.
"No..", I trail and he swiftly grabs my arm, pulling me to him causing my hands to collide with his chest.
"Yes..", he trails, wrapping his arms around my waist thereby caging me to his body.
"Okay fine, what'd you want?", I ask, trying not to get lost in his eyes.
"You", he says and my eyes pop out when he lowers his face to mine. I shut my eyes close and just as his lips touch mine Carmen walks in so I try to pull away but Noah still holds me in place.
"Well..", Carmen trails, speechless.
Noah smiles, "Romeo and Juliet eh?".