Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Fifty-seven: "Sunrise"

Wednesday night, I paraded around in my black reversible short-sleeved biker romper and adjusted my zipper after almost having a nip-slip more than once.

I shook off one man's comments and walked away with my tray between my arm.

It was an okay night, kind of busy but not overwhelming and packed. The gang was all here; Gael, Noah, Cassie, and myself.
Things seemed to be pretty normal and we had no problem jumping back into work after our mini vacation. Actually, I kind of missed the atmosphere.

"Hey, Nate," I greeted the men as I passed them, "Hey Flynn, Zeke." They all smiled and greeted me back better returning to their conversation.

Approaching the bar, I rolled my aching ankle. I decided to wear boots with a heel tonight - a pair of black pleather platform lace-up booties.

When I leaned back up, my eyes scanned the club as I danced to the music Andre played.
I just so happened to see Noah and Lyric, and they looked awfully close. He made her laugh and then she walked away, her hand sliding down his arm on the way. My face curled but I tried not to jump to conclusions.

Nope, I thought in my head. Nevermind, I'm jumping to conclusions.

Seeing Lyric in the dressing room, I advanced forward and confronted her.

"Hey," I said plainly, looking away while she changed costumes.

"Hi?" She sounded surprised to be speaking with me.

Once she was covered, I turned back to face her.

I cut right to it. "So, Noah's cute," I said.

She scoffed and closed her locker. "Cut the shit, girl, everyone here knows you two are into each other. Relax, even though you got my girl - Venus - fired, none of us are going to snitch."

"Oh," I breathed out, "good."

Lyric faced the full body mirror to adjust her hair. "And anyway," she said, "I wasn't talking to him for me. I was doing a favor for Paris." My eyebrows furrowed, wondering if that was the truth.
Paris, really? Hm.

Lyric walked away and I returned to the floor to get back to doing my job.

*

"Hi, Gail," I sighed, stuffing my tips into the fanny pack around my waist.

"Hey, Harlem. Good night for you?" he asked me.

My shoulders hunched. "It's okay. How's your night?"

"Same," he replied, chewing on minty gum.

I exhaled and watched the club-goers enjoy their moments.

"Gael, how are you? Like, in general? I never ask, we always joke around or talk about Cassie and Noah."

Gael was about to respond when Noah walked up in his all black.

Noah looked between us and Gael said, "That's my cue." They slapped hands and then my eyes followed Gael as he made his way to Cassie at the other end of the bar.

"Hey, girl," Noah smirked, holding up the wall. I just huffed and turned my back to him so I could gather my tray of mixers.

"What's wrong," he asked, catching my facial expression, "you look mad."

When I didn't say anything, he asked me, "Are we fighting?"

"No, Noah, damn," I hissed, whipping my neck around.

"Then talk to me," he laughed, "I hate being ignored." His stupid - but cute - laugh made me ease up a little. I shook my head and relaxed my shoulders, finally facing him.

"I'm fine," I confessed, looking past him with my arms in a pretzel over my chest.

"You don't look like it," he told me, staring over my head to make sure no one would think we're too close.

I quickly decided to cheer up and plastered a huge smile on my face. "I am. Happy Brooklyn, see?"

Noah laughed. "That's better. I got to go, but I'll see you later?"

"Maybe," I flirted, "what do you have in mind?"

"Um, nothing, yet," Noah admitted, laughing. I rolled my eyes, my head shaking. He wet his lips and then said, "But I'ma think of something!"

"Well, if I don't have a choice," I giggled.

"You don't," Noah said, walking away.

He was out of sight and I almost forgot why I was upset until I saw Paris switching past me.

I grabbed her arm and said, "Hey, haven't heard from you in a while."

She pulled her arm back and snarled. "Yeah, um, been busy. How are you? You look cute."

"Thanks? I'm okay. You want to come over sometime, hang out or something?"

"Sounds cute, text me details. Later, bitch," Paris talked. She waved her tattooed hand and strutted away, giving men suggestive looks as she walked by.

"-When you said hang out later, I thought you meant right after work or, like, tomorrow," I said, "not seven in the morning."

Noah laughed at me as we walked side-by-side down the pier.

I stopped at the end and peered out at the water and scenery that was the small beach and rest of the city behind it.
It was a sight for sure, better than what I'd gotten used to in Texas.

"I'm glad I'm here, though," I breathed out and paused, twisting my mouth. "Even though you woke me up at six and I'm running on two hours of sleep."

"But it was worth it," he spoke, taking my hand. Not used to that gesture, I looked down and smiled, but it faded.

"Emereigh's birthday is coming up," I heard Noah say. My head nodded as I waited for him to go on. He added, "I'm taking her and her half-sister to the aquarium, I want you to come."

My eyes widened, not having expected that. "Oh. Um... Noah you don't have to invite me just because of what I said-"

"Shut up, I really want you to come."

"Then I'd love to!" I squealed, bending my knees in excitement.

But my joy faded when I remembered something.

I hated to bring the mood down but I had to ask. "Hey, what did.. uh... what did you and Lyric talk about?" I swallowed and tucked hair behind my ear.

"At the club? What did she tell you?"

"I'm asking you, Noah." I took my hand back and put it into the front pocket of my hoodie.

He gulped and leaned over the railing. "Nothing that matters," was his excuse.

"Nothing that matters or you just don't want me to know? I'm not mad, I'm just asking," I explained, staring up at Noah who wasn't making eye contact.

"She said Paris wants to get together sometime and I said I'd see her around, that's it," he briefed like it was nothing.

My eyelashes flickered as my lips parted. "See her around? Like you want to hook up with her, or something?"

"See her around as in we work together and are bound to see each other again, geez, Brooklyn."

He started pacing away and I sat on the bench.

"I just- I just wanted to know, and you told me so it's fine, I guess. I'm not going to tell you what to do or whatever. Sorry," I apologized, looking down at the wooden planks. I sniffed and Noah came over.

"This is annoying. We should go, it's gonna be a long day," Noah said. He held his hand in my face like I was supposed to take it but I just stared.

He groaned impatiently. "Fuck it."

I sighed as he walked ahead of me.

First, I had Sky to worry about. Then Natalie, and now Paris.
Why should I even bother at this point?