─── ∙ ~εïз~ ∙ ───

The next night, right before they were ordered to sleep, Noelle found Robby in the quiet reading room. Despite her being at the centre for six months, she wasn't too familiar with this room as there was nothing about her that was 'quiet.' The two were the only people in there, and Noelle took the seat beside him.

"So, what I've gathered is that Miguel Diaz, the boy that you kicked over the balcony, has some sort of father-son bond with your dad." Noelle spoke, forcing Robby to glance up from his book. "I'm sure there's more background to the tension between you and your father, but I assume that one of the reasons you feel such anger for him is because of Miguel."

The boy just blinked at her, a part of himself was concerned as to why she knew so much, and another part was a little impressed by her observation skills. The slightest part of him wanted to blame Juliet for feeding her information.

But he knew that Juliet wouldn't do that.

"And... he was supposed to visit you the other day, but instead, he was in the hospital with Miguel." Noelle rambled. "And see, I haven't got a theory as to why you don't like Miguel, but I assume it's something to do with why you guys got into that fight in the first place."

"Yeah." Robby sighed, not in the mood to even deny anything. "Yeah, you're right."

Noelle's face lit up. "I am?!"

"And you got all of that from less than half an hour with my dad?" Robby questioned, his eyes following her movement as she sat in the chair beside him.

"They don't call me 'The Observer' for no reason." Noelle shrugged.

"No one calls you The Observer," Robby said to her.

"Well, not yet. But you've said it, and I've said it, so technically, it's caught on." Noelle pointed out. "If I can just get one more person to say it, it's officially a thing."

"Okay. Look, yes, you've figured something out about my life, but this still doesn't mean that we're friends." Robby explained.

Noelle just smiled. "Who said we're friends? See, I never said that," she hummed. "Interesting that's the first thing that came to your mind, though."

Robby just rolled his eyes at her, turning his gaze away. But Noelle was a very persistent girl. "You know, I think a reason that you act like this is because you don't know me." Noelle spoke up.

"Is this stage two of how you recruit your 'Freshies'?" Robby asked, his gaze fixed on the wall.

"Stage three." She corrected him. "Stage one was sitting with you in the canteen. Stage two was finding out something about you that you'd never tell me."

"Right." Robby nodded.

"So, go on. Hit me." Noelle said.

His head whipped over to look at her in utter shock. "What?"

Noelle winced. "I mean hit me with a question. Like Twenty-One Questions. Like, when's your birthday? Do not hit me with your fists, please."

Robby bit back a smile. "Okay, whatever. When's your birthday?"

"February fourth." She started. Robby gave her a look of confusion as she continued. "2003." Noelle finished.

"You read that in my file too?" Robby asked with irritation. "Nice. You got the year wrong, though."

"Firstly, that reading-your-file thing was a joke." Noelle explained. "And why would I look in your file to find my birthday?"

"Because that's my birthday?"

"Wait, we have the same birthday? That's so adorable. Oh, we could have a cake with both our names, matching party hats—" She rambled.

"Yeah, no. We're not doing that." Robby concluded.

"Okay, it's really not adorable." Robby shook his head. "Yeah, no. We're not doing that." He concluded.

"Must you be so negative all the time?" Noelle asked, crossing her arms dramatically.

"Must you be so... you all the time?" Robby shot back, glancing at her with a smirk.

"See? Progress. You're smiling. That's, like, stage four of my 'Freshie recruitment plan.'" She told him.

Robby rolled his eyes at her. "Wait. Wait, did you say 2003? So, you're a sophomore?"

"No, I skipped a grade." She informed him. "All the moving around thing messed up my transcripts. I'd be a junior like you."

"What moving around thing?" Robby questioned, furrowing his eyebrows with confusion. Noelle smiled, "Is this your question? Are you gonna lock it in?" She asked.

Robby rolled his eyes, nodding as a reply. "Yeah, I'm gonna lock it in." He confirmed.

"Well, I um... I actually spent most of my life in group and foster homes." She admitted. "I've been around the country. About three East Coast states and four West Coast. I had this little map in my room, and every time I moved, I'd cross off a state. Like a scavenger hunt, but instead of treasures, I was collecting family drama. I even colour-coded it. The green states were fine; the red ones? Not so much."

Robby frowned. He had no idea how she could make what would be seen as a bad situation so... positive. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." He shook his head.

"No, don't be sorry. It's okay." She told him. The last thing she wanted was pity, she hated that from others. "This is getting depressing now... so, what's your favourite colour?"

"I thought I was asking you questions." Robby reminded her. "Well, you're not as creative as me, clearly. The first question you chose was the one I told you to do." Noelle told him.

"Fine. It's blue." He stated. "Yours?"

"Mine's green." She answered, her grin growing wider as if she'd won something he didn't even realise they were competing for. Then she paused, tilting her head slightly, the loose strands of hair falling in front of her face.

"Hey, your eyes are green."

The way she said it caught him off guard. Not like she was mocking him, though she probably would if she thought of it, but like she'd just noticed something worth mentioning. Her voice lowered just enough to make it sound... different. Flirtatious?

The boy cleared his throat, shifting around in his seat. "Yeah... yeah, my eyes are green. Great observation, Garcia." He remarked.

"Okay, next one. What's the worst thing you've ever done?" She asked. Robby let out a laugh. "You can't just go from 'What's your favorite color?' to that." He said.

Noelle frowned, confused. "I'm speeding things up." She explained. "Would you rather I'd have asked what your favorite number is?"

"Okay. Well, you already know that. It's why I'm here," Robby said. "Your turn."

"Well, my answer's the same." Noelle told him. Robby shook his head, "No, No. You know why I'm here. I don't know why you're here." He said.

"Okay. But, before I tell you, just know I should not be in here— I'm innocent," She started. Robby gave her a look of disbelief, silently telling her to continue.

"Well, my foster father was in his car and... well, it was a bad day for everyone—"

"What happened to speeding this up?"

"Fine. I took my baseball bat and smashed up his car." She quickly said.

Robby didn't look too satisfied with this, it didn't seem like her actions matched the punishment she was receiving.

"He was... He was in the car when I did that." She informed him. "He wasn't to happy about it... or about the stitches he had to get after."

Now he was surprised. "You innocently smashed your foster father's car... and left him with multiple stitches?" Robby questioned.

"Okay, and at least I didn't leave him paralyzed?" Noelle quickly shot back. She immediately felt guilty. "Shit, Robby— I am so sorry."

He closed his book and seemed ready to stand up. "Yeah, I'm gonna go." He announced

Noelle sighed, hiding her face in her hands. "No, wait, just give me another chance. I'm really sorry." She practically begged.

Robby thought for a second: either he return to his cell to be physically tormented by Shawn and his friends, or remain here and be mentally tortured by Noelle. He sighed before sitting back down and opening his book again.

"I'm sorry. I should've got so defensive— I shouldn't even be judging. Chris has a massive scar across his face now from the glass." She explained. "I do feel bad about that. But I would smash up his car again if I had the chance, he deserved it. He's a real piece of work."

"So, you got that from him?" Robby questioned. "Being a real piece of work?"

Noelle just smiled, glad he chose to stay. "If you believe in nurture over nature, then yeah." She nodded. "It's your turn."

"Uh... What do you miss most from the outside?"

"I miss playing my guitar. I used to play all the time. It was like my escape." She explained. "I do get one for when I perform at the children's centre, but she's not the same."

"Is that your main community service?" Robby questioned. "I knew it wasn't the soup kitchen! You weren't on that list, were you?"

"Nope." She shook her head. "I just need all the community service hours I can get. What do you miss the most?"

Robby looked down and sighed. "My mom. And... just being able to make my own choices, I guess."

"Yeah, the lack of freedom in here makes me claustrophobic." She agreed. "Um, what's something you're secretly really good at?"

"Well, I've been teaching myself to skate," Robby admitted. "What about you?"

"You're not going to believe me." She chuckled. "Hit me." Robby shrugged. "But not with your fists, please." He joked.

"I'm pretty good at computer coding." Noelle smiled. "I mean, I went to computer camp and everything."

Robby stifled a laugh. "You're a computer geek?"

"Laugh all you want." She shrugged. "But when one of the computers stops working in the lab, don't call for me."

"Trust me, I won't." He scoffed.

"Why do you hate it here so much?" She questioned.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" Robby raised his eyebrow.

"I mean, obviously this place is a shithole." She clarified. "But you don't even seem to be trying to make the most out of the situation."

"You really want to know?" Robby asked before groaning with frustration. "It's like everyone's trying to prove something. It's so tiring."

"Yeah, I get that." Noelle replied. "Everyone's got something to prove. It's like they think it's kill or be killed in here. But that's all some of them know."

"I guess you're right." He muttered.

"And what about your family?" Noelle asked. "I know you said you miss your mom."

Robby hesitated. "Well, my mom's got her own problems." He suddenly scoffed, thinking of his father. "And you've... met my dad. What's the deal with yours? Sorry. I meant, did you know your parents?"

"My mom gave me up when I was a baby. Haven't heard from her since." Noelle shrugged. "And, I never knew my dad."

"That sucks." Robby sighed, leaning back in his seat. It turned out Noelle was right, learning more about her was helping him understand why she was the way she was.

"Everything sucks." Noelle replied with a sigh. There was a moment of silence, the two were just thinking of another question.

"Look Garcia, I get that you have this whole 'Help the new kid' situation, but I'm sure you give up eventually," Robby explained. "So why do you keep talking to me? There are plenty of other people here."

Noelle shrugged. "I don't know, I just think you're interesting. You're not like the others. You're... kinda lost. And maybe I can help you figure things out—if you want."

"Been here for so long and you've become a therapist?" Robby questioned.

"Trust me, if I was a therapist, I wouldn't be the way I am." She chuckled before pausing. "Look, about the stuff I've said before... I don't mean to hit a nerve. I just don't always get how to talk to people. I have like a hyperactivity disorder. It's like my brain's on overdrive and my mouth doesn't have a filter."

Robby looked up at her, softening a little. "ADHD? So, that's why you come off... blunt sometimes?"

"I guess." She nodded. "But seriously, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to dig into your stuff like that.

Robby visibly softened up a little bit. "Yeah, well, my past isn't exactly something I like to talk about."

"I get that everyone's got their stuff, you know? I didn't mean to make it worse for you," Noelle explained. "And I know I'm not the easiest person to be around, but I promise— I'm not trying to be annoying. I just... don't know how to turn it off."

Robby gave a small nod. "Well, maybe just... try a little harder?"

"Deal." She stood up from her chair. "Well, if you ever need to talk or just not sit alone, I'm here."

Robby gave her a half-smile. "Thanks, I guess. So, is that the game over? Because I still have one last question."

"Go on."

"What's the first thing you're going to do when you get out?" He asked.

"Find a guitar, my friend, Auggie, and play the longest, noisiest song ever. And then I want to get my life together, maybe start fresh somewhere." She said, her voice gentle as she fantasised. "You?"

"I should apologise to Miguel." Robby said with no hesitation. "And then... I don't know. Try to figure out what to do with myself after all this."

"Sounds like a plan," Noelle nodded. "See, this isn't so bad, right?"

"I guess not. Thanks—"

"What are you two doing here?!" A guard rushed into the dimly lit room. The two quickly put their hands up, Robby dropping his book. "You know you shouldn't be alone, unchaperoned."

"What is this, the eighteenth century?" Noelle questioned. "That is definitely not a rule anymore."

"Don't start, Garcia." The guard shook his head. "You're getting released soon, you better not say or do anything that is going to prevent that. Because I want you out of here more than anything."

"But we've been so close since I first got here." She frowned.

The man ignored her. "Keene, make your way to your cell. Garcia, I'll escort you to yours. Let's go. Now!"

─── ∙ ~εïз~ ∙ ───

"And you're sure he has a girlfriend?" Ophelia asked. She, Delilah and Noelle were sat on her 'bed' as Noelle told them about her actual conversation with Robby Keene.

The girl nodded. "I'm so sorry you had to find out this way." She joked. "You know that girl who was talking about the fundraising car wash?"

"The pretty brunette?" Ophelia asked. "Yeah... I could take her." She shrugged.

"In a fight?" Delilah asked with amazement. "A fight for Robby?"

"No... take her for myself," Ophelia clarified. The two girls began to giggle at their friend's absurdity.

"Can you three shut the fuck up?!" One of the other girls in the room groaned, tired of their constant disturbance. They did this almost every night.

"Say one more word and I will sew your fucking lips together, Megan." Ophelia threatened.

There was a gasp and a mumble, but Megan remained silent. Delilah and Ophelia shared a look at their friend's aggression, but it was more a look of amusement rather than surprise. "What was I saying?" Ophelia asked like nothing had happened.

"The plot twist that you'd rather have Robby's girlfriend," Delilah reminded her, sheepishly. "Are you guys not scared of him? I mean... he kicked someone off a balcony."

"We've all made mistakes, Lilah. But that doesn't mean we can't try to be better," Noelle explained.

"You're just too optimistic." Ophelia ruffled her dark, brown hair and then pushed her head back. "Always seeing the good in people." She turned to Delilah, "You do remember why I'm here, right?"

Delilah thought for a second. "No, I forgot."

"Let's keep it like that," Ophelia laughed. "Don't want you to be scared of me too." The sound of ascending footsteps filled the silent space and the girls gasped. "Shit! Go, go to your beds." She ordered.

Delilah and Noelle shot up from Ophelia's bed and raced to their own. They quickly and quietly threw themselves under the thin blanket and pretended to sleep. As they did so, the door creaked open and a pale light was shone into the room. Eventually, the door closed and was locked.

As Noelle tried to get some rest, the only thing racing in her mind was where she was going to end up next. There was no way her foster father would take her back, and she would rather extend her stay in Juvie than return him.

The sound of sudden light thrashing and murmuring is what brought Noelle out of her thoughts. She pushed herself into a sitting position and glanced at the girl beside her, Juliet.

This happened frequently. In the months Noelle knew Juliet, she couldn't think of one time the girl had a peaceful night of sleep. So, Noelle moved over to her, gently shaking her shoulders to wake her up.

"Hey, hey." She whispered, watching the girl's eyes flutter open. "Are you having a bad dream again?" she questioned.

Juliet groaned. This interaction took place at least once a week and it irritated her. The girl had even tried to switch beds with one of the other girls, but no one wanted to sleep by Noelle— she was a snorer and a sleep talker.

"Get off of me, Noelle," Juliet sighed. "I'm fine, go to sleep."

Noelle sighed. "Okay."

⎯ ❃ jania speaks!
i'm literally so excited while revamping this book i have so many ideas eeeekkk😆😆😆 robby trying his hardest to hate noelle because she's annoying and he (kind of) still has a girlfriend, but he secretly thinks she's pretty and lowk funny UGH I LOVE THE