Nora's P.O.V

There she was, sitting cross-legged on the rug in front of the sofa, drinking a hot chocolate as she leaned in to take a sip before turning to look at me. My mom was sitting on the opposite sofa, a delicate touch of sincerity adorning her face as she picked herself up and left the room, giving me and my best friend some privacy to reconnect. The angel to that voice slowly stood up, placing her cup on the table before she smiled at me and spread her arms out in a knowing gesture. Now this was my guardian protector who would keep all evil out of my life and sass every male into his rightful place. She was the one who would stand up for me and listen to everything I'd whine about; she was the living embodiment of a sister from another mister.

Tears started curling in my eyes as I dropped all of my belongings and headed straight into Jane's arms, her hug engulfing me as she held on tightly and I scrunched my fist into her shirt. The tears finally cascaded down my cheeks as I pulled back before a chuckle escaped my lips.

"I missed you, you know", I stated, wiping the tears away as she laughed and went back to her drink.

"Didn't think you'd miss me that much to be honest", she replied cheekily. We both sat down on the sofa this time, facing one another as I admired how much she had changed.

It had been three years since we had last seen each other and as much as Jane didn't want to admit it, we both knew she missed me just as much as I missed her. Her appearance hadn't really changed either, her reddish hair was still as vibrant as before, only longer as it still curled effortlessly down her back. Her hazel eyes were still lit with a passion from her last endeavours at the excursion and her skin had tanned to an olive colour, only highlighting her natural beauty. When I looked at her clothes, I noticed black track pants matched to a black sports bra, revealing her toned arms and curvaceous hips. Within those three years she had ditched her glasses, finally relying on contact lenses. We had both grown up so much within these years that I was proud of her, more than anyone else in the world.

"I'm so glad you're back, you have no idea what I've had to go through all on my own", I stated in a pout, watching her face turn into curiosity as she placed the cup back down.

"Spill the tea. Now."

"Wait... Hang on, you first. Tell me everything about your excursion to Rome."

"Well-"

Mom walked back into the living room, a slight uncomfortable look on her face as she shuffled in one place, interrupting our conversation. The lingering scent of lasagne flooding through the entryway of the kitchen before she spoke up.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry to break you two apart but you need to pick Nina up from school."

I subconsciously drooled at the food I imagined stuffing into my mouth greedily before my brain kicked in and I whizzed to the clock on the wall, noticing the time and cursing under my breath as I headed out of the living room.

"Alright mom, I've got this", I let her know picking up the belongings I'd dropped at the door and turning to face Jane who had followed me.

"I have to pick my sister up from school, want to join me?"

"Okay, gives us more time to catch up", she shrugged before attempting to put her black trainers on until I stopped her.

"Just give me a sec, I think it's best I freshen up and then we can head off", I suggested whilst Jane nodded, and her eyes gravitated towards the bag from the clothing shop I returned from.

'Oh no, she's going to explode any minute now and I don't want to talk about it', I grimaced suddenly losing all feelings of happiness only to have rage return as Jane squealed in ecstasy and practically shook me to my death.

"Oh my God, B&B Couture! Did you go shopping without me? You're so rude!" She dramatically told me off before eyeing the dress inside, her eyebrows raising up and mouth gaping like a fish, "Wait, that's an expensive dress! How did you afford it?"

"It's just that...." I wasn't sure how to explain my situation to her without giving her the wrong impression or idea. It was bad enough having to face Elijah, but Jane and her interpretations could go beyond normal. She could assume I had a sugar-daddy, or a rich boyfriend, or that I was spoiled by a secret admirer. 'Oh, who am I kidding? I've never had a relationship in my life, and she knows that', I gruntled before replying snippily.

"It was a gift from one of my colleagues."

"Colleagues? Don't you mean one of those bosses to die for?" She read through my lie as she wiggled her eyebrows.

"Oh hush, you know nothing."

"Wow Nora, you're so lucky! I can't believe the Coopers are your bosses, you've got to introduce them to me!" She giggled before I rolled my eyes and started making my way up the stairs.

"If you actually got to know them, you'd learn one of them is a nightmare and the second one is perfection."

"Which ones hot? I heard Elijah Cooper is really hot", she devilishly asked as I walked into my room and started to pick out a change of clothes. Keeping it simple I decided to go with a plain white blouse, denim jeans and black ankle boots. To top it off a black biker jacket would complete the outfit.

"They're both hot, Jane", I admitted with reluctance before she squealed yet again and did a mini dance in the middle of my room then winked at me.

"Argh, I wish I could just see them. I need to have their faces etched in my memory!" Jane fangirled as I made a disgusted face and started walking back down the stairs, Jane at my heels.

"Get a grip girl. You're exactly like my mom."

"Your mom knows good taste in men then. By the way this conversation's not over yet", she ended before putting her trainers and black denim jacket on. Unfortunately, my dad was not a good taste.

"Let's just go", I replied wanting to escape this topic more than anything.

"Fine, I'm starving anyways. The quicker we get Nina, the quicker I can eat that lasagne to my hearts content", Jane mentioned, resulting in my stomach growling loudly and me agreeing with her.

Closing the front door to the house I pocketed my phone and began to walk in the direction of Nina's school. The weather was cloudy, and a touch of sizzle was in the air indicating a storm was brewing in the distance. I could already feel the slight pitter patter of the beginning of some rain on my hair and I picked up the pace with Jane right beside me who was too busy looking around the neighbourhood to notice the weather.

"Some areas here have changed so much, I'm glad that small ice cream shop hasn't though. They always made the best gelato", she commented with a grin.

"When the weather clears up, lets go there", I returned with a grin also etching onto my face, "How's your job anyways?" I asked her as we crossed the street, and the school became visible in the distance. It was named the Blue School, not because of its colour but because the headteacher was a balding 60-year-old and lacked creativity.

"It's pretty good, hey, remember that surprise I mentioned?" Jane reminded me and I nodded in excitement as she eagerly informed me, "I got a promotion!"

My eyes lit up and I bounced a few times on the walkway before hugging Jane and congratulating her.

"Want to know the best part though?" She asked me.

"Go on..." I patiently replied.

"I'm transferring here because of it, and it means we can stay close to each other like the old times", Jane briefed me whilst I turned to her and stopped her in her place.

"That's amazing news Jane, I'm so proud of you girl! Congratulations you deserve it."

"Thanks, I still can't believe it though", she shyly fumbled at the praise before resuming her walk as we neared the entrance to the school.

I was happy for Jane; she had worked hard for that promotion and finally she had achieved her dream of being head of excursions in NYC for a private museum company. She was living her dream and although I knew Jane's parents were always busy and she sometimes felt lonely, I also knew she preferred travelling alone as it was less hassle. At least this time Jane would be able to work alongside having close friends by her side and some familiarity of home.

We stopped in the waiting area outside of the school as children ran out of the building and straight into their parents' arms whereas teenagers mingled together forming groups before departing to go to restaurants or takeaway joints. In the meantime, as we waited for Nina to arrive the wind picked up and I involuntarily shivered, the small conversation about Jane settling down in NYC and getting rid of the remainder of her jet lag as the only thing to keep us busy.

I felt the much-needed venting whispering in my ear before temptation over-rid me and I uttered the tantalising rant out to Jane, "As much as everyone thinks Elijah Cooper is handsome, he's actually rude and arrogant. I hate him."

"Then why don't you leave the job, Nora?" Jane replied with a sigh as if she was expecting this all along, "Rich people are difficult, you and I both know that very well."

'If I could leave, I'd be the happiest person in the world', I bitterly thought before I chewed that sentence out and gritted my teeth, fists clenching in irritation.

“I can’t, I signed a contract paper and it’s chained me to the company for a year, minimum.”, I replied whilst looking forlorn towards the ground, “Plus my family is struggling financially so I have to stay in this job for as long as they’ll let me to earn the wage.”

Jane turned to me, an arm encasing my silhouette as she pitifully consolidated me, and a concerned look plastered over her features, “It’s only a year, you know how fast time flies by. Before you realise it, you’ll be quitting in no time and you’ll find a better place to work at”, Jane stated as she smiled sympathetically before whispering discreetly, “Besides… Maybe Elijah’s behaving like that since there’s rumours flying around that the Coopers are in danger because someone’s trying to steal their company and they can’t do a thing about it.”

I looked over to Jane with an incredulous look before she removed her arm from around me and gave me some space. The cold wind biting at me body as I tried to warm myself up but failed.

'I think that's just a rumour and hardly reality', I scoffed, 'Who could possibly be more powerful than the Coopers?'

My sister finally decided to show her presence by taking her time to walk out of the building, a group of girls swarming her as they gossiped and laughed about random things. Nina looked around the waiting area then noticed my presence, an enthusiastic wave being thrown in our direction whilst she walked towards us. She bid her goodbyes to her friends as the group of girls turned in the opposite direction heading towards the town centre.

Upon getting closer to us, Nina noticed Jane standing beside me who was smiling with admiration, or at least that was the case until my sister stopped in her place and frowned in confusion at Jane's presence.

"Hey Nina, you've grown so much. How have you been?" Jane asked a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Nina didn't bother replying instead looking to me with a silent questioning glance. The last time Nina had met Jane was when she was a child, close to the age of eight so it was no surprise that Nina didn't remember her, but I did hope that maybe something about Jane had triggered her past memories. At present, Nina is thirteen years old, ten years younger than me. She thinks she is all grown up.

"Nina, that's my best friend, Jane. You were a little kid when she used to visit us, do you remember her?" I asked as Nina once again scrutinized Jane before shaking her head and coming closer towards us.

"How about we go to McDonalds then?" Suggested Jane trying to brighten the mood as disappointment seeped through her voice and she seemed to take a step away from us.

I frowned at that trying to scold Jane as she looked towards me, "We have lasagne at home though."

"Think of our adventure to McDonalds as an appetiser before our main course meal of lasagne, okay?" Jane replied.

I huffed before turning to Nina and noticing the uncomfortableness in the air. 'This won't do if we return home like this and mom sees us acting so weirdly', I thought before taking initiative of the situation and clapping my hands enthusiastically, "Yeah, let's go."

Once we'd reached the restaurant we ordered our food, the classic Big Mac with large fries and chocolate milkshakes. Nina was slowly opening up to Jane as we sat in the booths and talked about the past, some embarrassing memories resurfacing of when my sister had decided to paint her room without telling our mom. She had a misfortunate flow of events when the paint spilt on the floor covering the entire carpet in purple before slipping and struggling to get up. The paint at that point turned against her coating her in the colour and spreading itself further in the room. Our mom was furious when she found out, but Jane and I thought it was hilarious before mom ordered us to help clean the mess up.

That purple stain still exists, discreetly ignored by the power of a large rug mom had bought.

The conversation flowed from mine and Jane's school bullies and the nerds we envied to the fact that Jane was always better at studying than I was. The entire time Nina listened with open ears, eager to discover everything about us when we were her age. Eventually we fell back to Jane and I's original conversation as Nina smiled understandingly knowing what was going on already.

"The Coopers are throwing a party and I've been told I'm invited. I wish you could come with me", I whined, blinking my eyelashes in a plead.
'If Jane showed up with me then I would enjoy it so much more, I don't like anyone apart from Mark', I bitterly observed.

"I can't, I have to stay with Landon and don't ask me anything about him", she replied waving her hand dismissively as I raised my eyebrow towards her, "It's complicated."

'Who on earth is Landon? Why didn't she mention this person before?' Puzzling thoughts raced through my mind, and I wanted to discover everything about this chemistry between the unknown person and Jane.

"He's called Landon Trevino, I met him in Rome when he was trialling out for a soccer team over there, he's pretty good and we kind of clicked", Jane stated before seeing my expression and she turned stoic, "Nora don't overthink things. Firstly, we're not dating, we're just friends, but we have crossed the line and kissed so it's complicated in the end."
This entire thing between Landon and Jane only made me more frazzled about everything, and I mentally reminded myself to make a list for all the questions I wanted to ask Jane when I got the chance.

"So... Friends with benefits, basically?" I suggested with a soft chuckle. Unfortunately, Jane didn't find it funny as she whipped her head and glared at me. 'If only looks could kill', a teasing glint in my eye surfaced and I continued adding fuel to the fire.

As the skies started to clear up again and the sunlight began to pour through the clouds Nina, and I decided to stop our assault on Jane and the questions ceased around this Landon guy. Our stomachs ached from the food we'd eaten and the laughing attack we'd experienced as we clutched our stomach, pain flaring dramatically. To be fair, if Jane was serious about the guy, then she would have mentioned something.

"Landon wants to be a famous soccer player one day, it's his dream and he's working really hard to achieve it", she mentioned taking the last sip of her chocolate milkshake before continuing, "I want to help him with that dream.''

I patted her back reassuringly, admiring the fact that she was so selfless and kind towards others. A skill I had yet to possess because of my temper and pride.

"I'm sure he'll get there", I told her.

"Now that we know how much you care for him, we're all rooting for him to succeed", Nina added making Jane blush and stammer to try and deny the fact that she cared about Landon.
We discarded our rubbish and headed out of McDonald's, the wind no longer snipping at us but acting tame instead. It was a peaceful walk where we questioned Nina on her school day and which teachers still worked at Blue School and which ones had retired.

Once we stepped through the door to our home, Jane excused herself and promptly left the house, much to our objection because we wanted her to eat with us, but she returned five minutes later to hand a small thin object to Nina. My sister stared at the object in silence before she watched Jane and then jumped into her arms, thanking her non-stop.

It was her favourite chocolate bar: Mint Aero Chocolate.

In return we offered Jane to have dinner with us, but she declined stating she needed to return home and catch up on some work, although Nina and I shared knowing looks. Ones which Jane picked up and fervently blushed a dark red, until my mom coaxed her to at least accept a tub of the lasagne to take home and eat once she got there.

Jane gracefully accepted that offer and reminisced on the old days when my mom used to give both of us candies, most of the time for no reason. It made all of us giggle as mom handed the tub to Jane and she left, promising to return shortly and give the tub back.

"We all know it's not because of the tub but because you want to be around us", Nina goaded pridefully as me and mom rolled our eyes and Jane nodded.

"You guys are awesome, thanks for the food again, Mrs Jones!"

After the entire kitchen and plates had been scrubbed clean, I parted ways with my family and headed towards my room. A much-needed rest was required after such a long day and so I washed, changed into my pyjamas, and practically fell under my duvets to turn 'The Notebook' on to watch on my laptop. It was one of the most classic films to have ever existed in romance genres and also one which I'd watched a thousand times and could proudly state I knew all of the words to.

As the credits rolled by, I cocooned into my blanket and my eyelids began to droop, a serene sleep taking over as the darkness lulled me further and I gently succumbed to it. Only to be awoken with a jolt to the sound of my phone sporadically ringing to an unknown number. I answered it, startled at the sound of the voice that I couldn't figure out.

“Hello”

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