Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Seventy-four: "The L word"

I was tossing in turning in bed. Sleeping wasn't easy, or as comfortable, without Noah in my bed.

I had gotten up at two AM to grab a glass of water when there was a light knock on the door. I almost didn't answer it, but I'm glad I did.

"Can't sleep," Noah said. I nodded in agreement.

He had on no shirt, but a pair of socks and slides, and pajama pants that hung low on him.
His hair was a disheveled mess yet he managed to still look good and I was a sucker for his sleepy voice.

After we agreed in figuring things out at the beach, we drove home in silence. Not that we were angry, but because there was nothing left to say, I think. And I hated that it was a comfortable silence. I know, most people love those because Uma Thurman said it in Pulp Fiction, but I don't like it for Noah and I. Before, we'd never run out of things to say. We've been mad at each other before but this time, it seems so... broken. Almost like a lost cause.

Noah parted his lips like he was about to speak but I stopped him with my lips pressed against his.

"Brook-"

"Shut up," I breathed, letting my hair down.

Noah lifted me and walked me to the bedroom where he threw me down on the bed.

His eyes glazed over my skin after I quickly undressed myself.

I sat up and aggressively pulled his body on top of mine.

I felt him taking his time and that's not what I wanted so I assumed control and yanked his pants down.

He subtly laughed at my eagerness but didn't object.

I got on my knees and put my palms against the wall, rushing Noah to put it in as I then pleasured myself since I was too impatient for foreplay.

He kissed down my shoulder and spine. Antsy once aroused, I reached for his back and pulled him closer to me.

I threw my head back once he entered me and started rocking into him, building the speed.

Noah stopped and kissed me, gently caressing every inch of my body.

I shook my head, pulling away, and lowered myself onto the pillows with my ass raised to him.

It felt like forever before I felt him touch me again and when he did, I grew angry.

"Noah, please just fuck me," I panted, my head in the sheet.

He lowered himself to my ear and whispered how he wanted to take his time, sending shivers down my spine but it just wasn't what I wanted.

My eyebrows furrowed and I sat up, pushing him away.

"No," I gasped, covering myself.

"What?" he chuckled, confused.

"I don't-" I stammered through, blinking my eyes shut hard. "I don't want to make love, or whatever the fuck."

He stood proudly and didn't know to take me serious, or not. "Okay? Then, I'll fuck you."

I shook my head. "Noah, I'm still mad at you and you should still be mad at me. This won't help figure anything out, we should also probably give each some space," I said quietly, walking to the door with the sheet I wore over my skin dragging along the hardwoods.

Noah stepped into his pants and followed me to grab my wrist and stop me.

"I don't want space, Brooklyn. I'm not mad anymore, I just want to get passed this," he said, sounding almost like he was desperate.

"Why?" I grumbled, my face curling.

"I love you," he replied and took a step back once he realized he said it. He stumbled back onto the edge of my bed and sat there with his head in his hands.

The cabinet door shut after I reached for a cup.

"I think I'm done with Noah," I told my father the next day as I sat in their hotel room, perched on top of a kitchen countertop.

"What?" he asked me, looking up from his phone. He slammed his coffee mug down and removed his glasses to talk to me.

I blinked down at the floor. "Yeah, things aren't the same."

"What happened?" Dad wondered, walking over to me.

I hunched my shoulders.

"I thought things were fine after dinner?" Dad questioned me.

"I did too, then something happened."

"Something like what?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now, it's bullshit," I huffed, flicking lint from my clothes.

"Brooklyn," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"I want to skip the melodramatics, Dad. It's just... it's stupid."

"It's not stupid if you're hurting over it," he told me.

"Do I look hurt to you?" I asked, trying to laugh to lighten the mood.

"Oddly, no. So, this must be your fault?"

I twisted my face, taking offense. "No! God, why do you and Mom think so little of me," I growled, flailing my arms.

"Hey, hey," he cooed, "I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry, Brooklyn."

I nodded, bringing myself to calm down.

"So what happened?" Dad asked.

I raised my chin and looked up at the ceiling. "We had sex, and uh, he tried being all slow and sensual and I didn't like it. Then he said he loved me and I freaked out."

"Why'd you freak out?"

"Well, I didn't freak out. He said it and we both didn't know how to react. I let him have space and then he left."

"Have you talked to him all day?" he asked and I shook my head with low eyes.

"Maybe you should, yeah?" Dad asked and changed his mind when my face fell straight. "No? Okay, no."

I laughed. "God," I exclaimed, tossing my head back, "I can hear Mom now-"

And just like that, she entered with William, shopping bags all along both of her arms.

"Can hear Mom what?" she chimed in, removing her Cartier frames.

"Hey, Brooklyn, you look beautiful," Will said. I just looked at him then returned my eyes on my mother.

"She wasn't saying anything, honey. I-" Dad tried speaking up for me but I put my hand up and talked for myself this time.

"I'm tired of this," I huffed, "she need to hear what I have to say."

"And get off the counter; what are you, an animal?" she hissed.

I dropped down and balled my fists.

"Oh, good news, Lynn," she beamed, squaring my shoulders, "I talked to my friend, Nina, downtown. She'll be expecting us tomorrow at ten AM sharp. I already paid your tuition for the rest of this year, and next year. No need to thank me. Finally, now you can put that volleyball nonsense behind you. Oh- and make sure you lay off the snacks, your ass has gotten bigger and you did look sluggish out there."

"Is that all you do, nag?" I scoffed, shaking my head.

She turned her face up. "Excuse me, nag?"

"Yes, nag. Nag, nag, nag. Do you ever hear yourself? Or you can't because your constant bitching?"

"Brooklyn," Dad intervened, yanking at my arm but I snatched it away.

Dana stared at me with dark eyes. "Watch your damned mouth, I will not be disrespected."

"Why? Because you disrespect everyone else and you can dish it but not take it? You're a horrible fucking person, and I'm not interested in ballet so you can forget it."

She stepped closer, her square black heels clicking on the floor.

Her lower lip quivered and, in a rage, she shook me by my shoulders, cursing me until Will pulled her away and my father grabbed me up.

"How dare you?!" She roared, crying hysterically.

"How dare I? How dare you?! You're a horrible mother, I can't stand you!"

"I'VE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING!"

"YOU'VE GIVEN ME NOTHING!" I kicked to get out of my father's arms.

Dana angrily hyperventilated in the corner when Will released her.

Silence fell in the presidential suite they occupied during their stay. And it stayed quiet for a good five minutes, or longer.

I don't know when, but my father and Will left the room.

I lazily dropped my body onto the couch and cried in my knees.

Dana came over and tried hugging me but my flinching scared her to the opposite couch.

"I'm sorry, Lynn. You know I love you more than I love myself. I only wanted the best for you," she pled.

"No," I sat up and sniffled, "you only love yourself and you never wanted the best for me."

"I did everything for you," she cried, repeating herself.

I shook my head, biting my lip. "No, you tried to live through me. You know I lost interest in ballet long before we went on vacation. I'm twenty-two, not fifteen. I hate how you treat me - how you treat other people!"

She flailed her arms, her eyes rolling with them. "What? How do I treat people, Lynn? Please enlighten me."

I scoffed. "See, why do you have to act like that? Come off your pedestal and talk to me like a normal person for once - like I'm your daughter."

She exhaled and sucked her lips into her tight mouth.
"When did you start to feel like this?" My mother asked me quietly, staring to her left. I couldn't bring myself to look away while she couldn't make eye contact.

I smoothed my palms down my thighs as I sat. "Since I can remember; you were always like this. I remember in middle school even, you would always host my sleepovers, but you never let me sleep over at anyone else's house unless you made sure their parents made over a hundred-thousand dollars a year. And compared to Dad's salary, you laugh at that."

"I just wanted to surround you with people with the same upbringing-"

"You just think you're better than everyone else. Can you please calm down and be a mother for once? Or if that's too much to ask, then just a good person?"

She sat up in her seat. "Brooklyn, you don't get to talk to me like this. Our relationship is fine and I am not in therapy right now. Enough!"

"I can't do this," I snorted, standing up. "I'm not telling you what to do, I'm asking... as your daughter." I took long pauses as I thought of what to say.

"And if I don't?" I heard Mother sniffle.

"Then you've lost a daughter."

*

As soon as I exited the hotel, I found myself stomping through the parking lot. I angrily wiped my eyes and flicked the tears off my fingertips.

I shook my head and searched for my Porsche, not remembering right away where I had parked.

The second I located my car and made my way closer, I was stopped by William.

"Not right now, Will, I'm not in the mood," I said fast, pushing right passed his body.

"Huh," I heard him make a sound and my face curled in confusion and impatience. "That's the first time you've called me Will this whole time, it's like the old days."

"I don't think it is," I sniffed, tilting my head.

He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his corduroy
pants and said, "Yep, I'm pretty sure."

"Well I'm surprised you've noticed since you barely let me get a word in ever."

Will unfolded my arms and smiled in my face. "Well I'm listening now. Let's go talk over here, hm? Tell me what's on your mind." He kept my wrists in his grasp and walked backwards to a nearby bench.

I plopped down and exhaled deeply through my nose. I tossed my head back and let my eyes flicker in annoyance.

I noticed Will scooting closer but I just eyed him up and down.

"It's just my mother, she's so crazy and I don't know if she's ever going to get it. I tried talking to her, but honestly I see what everyone means - she's a bitch."

"Hey, we don't have to talk about that. I won't tolerate her being badmouthed, and you shouldn't be using language like that."

"I'm trying to vent. You asked me to talk about what's on my mind and that's what's on my mind, so why won't you let me talk-"

"You're so cute when you're mad," he growled lowly, leaning in.

"What?" I hissed, my face turning up.

"Kiss me," he said in a hurry, pulling me in. Before I could object, William's lips were pressed against mine.

I pushed off of his body and roared, offended, not knowing how else to react.

My chest puffed as my nails sunk into my palm from squeezing a fist so tight.

With all the anger from the Noah situation, bullshit with my mother, and that unwanted kiss, I let myself exploded.
In a rage, my fist connected with Will's chin [not where I hoped for but my eyes closed and, angry, my vision went black anyway.]

"Brooklyn, you just punched me in the face," Will exclaimed, cupping his chin.

My lip quivered, I didn't know what to do. I looked around to make sure no one was lurking first, then I ran for my Porsche.

Will kept calling after me in a fit. "Brooklyn, get back here!"

"Brooklyn!" he yelled again.

"BROOKLYN!"