Noah's POV

I step into the kitchen, and see Jamie stirring something on the stove.

I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, "hey," I whisper, smiling into the crook of her neck.

"Hey." She says, turning to face me. She wraps her arm around my neck and kisses me on the lips. I kiss her back immediately and it turns into a long, slow, loving kiss.

She pulls away, and looks me right in the eye, "how are you?" she asks.

"I'm great." I respond, smiling at her.

she gives me a look of disbelief, "really?" she asks, one eyebrow raised.

I sigh, "I-I just don't know what to do know. I don't have anywhere to go. I love my dad, but I can't stay there. I-I miss my mom, so much. She would know what to do, she would tell me that it's going to be okay, and she would help my dad. Not just live with it and pretend nothings happening like I did, I'm such a coward." I tell her, bowing my head so she can't see me.

''Hey." she says, lifting my chin so I can look her in the eye, "you're the bravest person I know. Don't ever call yourself a coward, okay? You've lived with this and dealt with this, and it didn't break you. It made you stronger, it made you the person you are today, the person I fell in love with. Noah Adams, you are no coward. Don't let yourself believe that. Because none of this is your fault. There was nothing you could do to prevent it from happening. Nothing. Everything happens for a reason okay? Now, I don't know the reason for this yet but I know that something good will happen for you, you just have to trust me and trust yourself."

"Okay." I say, and I believe her, because for the first time, I do realize that it isn't my fault. I couldn't prevent my mothers death, I couldn't prevent my fathers alcoholism. But I can, and I will do something now.

"Thank you." I say

"Noah, you don't need to thank me, I'm always here for you."

I bring her in for a long kiss, savoring every moment.

"I love you more than you will ever know." I whisper, kissing all over her face.

She giggles, "And I love you."

I smile at that.

"Something smells good." I tell her

"Oh the soup!" She jumps, turning back around to face the stove, while I chuckle behind her.

"I'm going to have a quick shower, is that okay?" I ask, stepping out of the kitchen.

"Yes, absolutely, make yourself at home, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you." I respond, and walk out of the kitchen, and up the stairs.

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Once in the bathroom I undress and fold my clothes into a neat little pile.

I step into the shower and turn the tap.

I let the warm water shower down on me as I begin to think.

Of course Jamie is right. I know it is not my fault and I shouldn't feel guilty, but I also know that I need to do something to help. I can't sit here any longer knowing he is in pain and needing my help, yet not giving him any.

But what can I do?

I do need to go back to the house and get a change of clothes, and my stuff for school.

I'll talk to Jamie after lunch.

I wash my hair thoroughly and wash some soap all over myself.

I hear a small knock on the door, then Jamie's voice on the other side; "Hey, Noah, don't want to rush you but lunch is ready."

"Thanks, Jamie, I'll be out in a minute." I call back, turning the tap again and stepping out onto the cool tile, into the steam-filled room.

I slip on the clothes I came in wearing and head back downstairs.

"You smell nice." Jamie remarks, pouring soup evenly into two bowls.

"Thank you. I tried not to use up too much soap. I hate having to borrow everything."

"Oh, don't worry about it. I told you, make yourself at home."

"Thank you." I say, hugging her.

"Your welcome." She replies and hugs me back.

"Now lets eat, I'm starving." she says, pulling away.

"Me too." I add, sitting down next to her.

she gives me my bowl of soup, and I take a bite.

"Mmmmm," I exclaim, "Jamie this is seriously so good!"

She blushes, "Thank you."

I finish the bowl in no time and ask for seconds.

I finish off the second bowl almost as quickly as the first, and lean back in my chair, rubbing my stuffed stomach.

I watch her eat for a second, finding it adorable when she blows onto the warm soup to cool it off and it splashes back onto her nose. Her cheeks flare red as I chuckle.

"So, I thought about what you said," I start, and she looks up at me, "I want to help my dad. I need  to help my dad. But... I don't know how to do that exactly. I need your help Jamie, I can't do this on my own."

She smiles slightly, "Noah, you know that I am more than willing to help, that I always will be," she pauses, "I'm going to help you as much as I can, but you need professional help too."

"I know." I tell her, looking down at the table, "I just... I don't know what to do. I'm scared."

She comes around the table and hugs me, holding me tightly to her, comforting me lovingly.

"Hey," she says, getting me to look at her, "it's going to be okay. Everything will work out, it always does. You just need to believe in yourself, and trust me."

"Okay." I tell her, nodding.

"I have to go back to my place to get some stuff, will you come?" I ask.

"Absolutely." She smiles warmly, but I can tell that she is nervous.

I would never put Jamie in danger, and I know that my dad can be scary at times, but he isn't dangerous.

Well... He wasn't up until yesterday

Chances are, he probably won't even be there.

I need Jamie there with me, but if she gets scared, or things get bad, I won't let anything happen to her, and I will leave as soon as she gets uncomfortable.

"If we're gonna go we should leave soon, before it gets dark." She tells me

"Yeah, let's go." I say, and stand up, grabbing my coat, and passing Jamie hers as well.

Once we have our shoes on we step out the door, I wait for Jamie to lock it and then we head to my house.

My heart pounds harder with each step closer to my house.

Images of yesterday are passing through my head, I try to shake them away, but they're there, lingering in the back of my mind, lacing my thoughts.

My footsteps get shaky as I make my way up the steps. I can hear my heart beating in my chest, and I'm sure that Jamie can too.

I open the door, and it seems to happen in slow motion.

Everything comes into view, but I don't see my father.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Let's go up this way, just try to be quiet, I don't know if my dad is here, and if he is, I don't know if I'm ready to face him just yet." I tell Jamie, leading her up the stairs to my room.

Everything is exactly where I left it. Good.

I grab a backpack, and stuff a few changes of clothes into it, along with that I add a toothbrush, toothpaste, and some hair soap, deodorant, cologne and wash. I place in my books for school, my phone charger and headphones. I also place in my wallet, and grab my pillow, along with a blanket.

"Is that everything?" Jamie asks me.

"Should be." I tell her, smiling.

"Okay, and honestly, stay as long as you need too. My parents loved you, and they're more than willing to help out."

"Thank you, now let's go, we still have to walk back to your house and it is getting a bit dark out."

"Okay." She says, and heads back downstairs, me following her.

We reach the front door, and as soon as my hand hits the knob, I hear the loud sobs.

In the kitchen, crying with his head sunk low into his hands, sits my father.

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YESSS IM BACK!!
hehe ! Sorry for taking so long, I know its been over a month, and I feel so bad! But I was super busy with Christmas, then New Years' and then came exams, that I just had zero time. 

AND OMG I HIT OVER 900 READS ON THIS STORY!!!! LIKE .... WHAT!? OMG THANK YOU ALL!!! <3 ILY ALL SO MUCH!!!!!

I'll be updating much more now, hopefully.                                                                                                                 Also, sorry about the mini cliff hanger there, hope you guys still enjoyed the chapter:) 

Thank you guys all so much, there are so many shoutouts to give right now, but my laptop is going to die soon, so I will do major shoutouts next chapter!! :)                                                          Please vote, comment, and recommend! I love to see all the comments :)                                                  Next update will be soon, promise!!

Love you all!

-Maxine <3