NOAH'S P.O.V
'Wherever you are, always remember that YOU ARE A TRUE GURNALD' Father said, I looked up at those bright blue eyes and that bright whimsical smile, I nodded and turned to look at my mum. Her petite looks a clear resemblance to mine.
If I knew that the both of them would be gone within the next second I would have treasured that moment better, the next seconds went by in a flash that till now I still can't wrap my head around how that ten year old boy had gotten himself buried under his mum's own body. I recalled how fast the next hours and days went by till they were both buried. Now I remembered as those faces that are forever encrypted in my head glanced at me with hope, those five faces stood in the gap for the family I had lost, at least Lexus was still alive back then.
Now, staring at those faces again as I marked my nineteenth year on the surface of the earth gave me all the hope I would ever need.
'SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' about fifty voices screamed in unison, I looked all around and identified familiar faces in the minimized crowd. I had thought Harold and the boys had forgotten all about my birthday, they had acted on all day as if they didn't remember,
'those assholes' I thought in my head as Harold brought forward a white chocolate cake with candles placed all across its top. I blew out the candles and loud noises ensued from the people all around.
A glass clinked loudly, 'I wanna make a toast' Harold announced and immediately all attention drifted towards him.
'I am making this toast to the best man of my future wedding, my one and only best friend, the dude that always got my back, my personal fool, my brother and comforter. Mate, it's you and I against the world always and forever' he said and I smiled at how much I loved this asshole
'Cheers to Noah Gurnald' he added and I allowed myself a soft laughter.
HAROLD'S P.O.V
I eyed the black beauty that sat close-by to me, I caught sight of her a few times passing me lewd glances. I ignored her as I poured myself another glass from the tequila bottle, I could feel my eyebrows slowly shutting. I was undeniable drunk to a stupor but I couldn't stop drinking as the thoughts of that little wide-eyed girl came up in my head, my Nella, my best friend. The girl that got me reminiscing about my childhood every now and then, I didn't know when I drank up the alcohol that I had poured. I refilled the tumbler glass.
I wondered how that girl that was taken away while still unconscious was fairing, I grabbed the glass and pulled it to my mouth to drink but Noah snatched the glass from my hands before the content could reach my mouth
'You have had enough alcohol for a day, Harold' he said caringly
'You should go home now' he urged on, I nodded in agreement as I staggered upwards, he caught me before I fell to the ground. I shoved his hand away and fought away his helping hands. I staggered my way out of the door and straight to my car.
I fumbled stupidly with the car keys. I entered into the car and started the engine, the car's engine revved and purred powerfully, I pulled the car into reverse and pulled out of the parking lot, I speedily sped away from the hotel and drove off, soon I had lost track of the speed limit of the highway. I drove madly, but for a split second I dozed off by the time I would snap out of it, it was already too late. I had swerved to the other lane
'Fuck' I cursed loudly as I smacked into an incoming brown Rolex. I slipped out of my car and walked the little distance to the other car
MICHELLE'S P.O.V
As I stepped out of the taxi that immediately sped off, I made my way towards my brown Rolex, Ethel eyed me interestingly for a few seconds,
'What's up with the brown leader jacket?' she questioned as she pulled out of the slum area, I creased my brows and frowned as I recalled what had happened at school today
'A perverted asshole tore my skirt intentionally' I answered
'And what did Michelle Hudson do for the asshole to warrant this type of treatment' Ethel asked, I eyed her
'I acted irrationally basically because I forgot I am disguising as a low-class nerd' I confessed, Ethel didn't say anything. She rolled the car unto the highway and turned on the car's radio. I pulled off my fake uniform and got changed into the original uniform.
I was deeply engrossed with eyeing the brown leather jacket, my fingers fingered the worn out leather of the old jacket. Ethel glanced at me warmly before turning to face the road.
The moment I slid on the jacket, the musky scent associated with the masculine gender overpowered my nostrils in a good way. I smiled as the image of the beautiful owner of the clothing flowed into my line of thoughts. I was too deeply occupied with my thoughts that I didn't see a black car slide off its track and slam into my car.
Ethel roared with anger as she alighted out of the car, the look on her face was enough to kill. I slipped out of the passengers sit and followed behind her, the driver of the latest model convertible drunkenly staggered forward.
'Drunk ass' Ethel mouthed with livid anger, the moment the male driver sauntered towards us she immediately had him pinned against his car's bonnet, her knee locked in-between his crotch, the driver winced in pain as she nudged hard against his groin.
'Say you're sorry you fucking asshole' she yelled while effortlessly ramming harder at his balls. I surprisingly was drawn towards her action.
'Yes, squeeze harder' I said, urging Ethel on. This was fun, today hadn't been great for me but I derived joy in viewing this act of enormity. I hyped Ethel more.
'Next time, you drive only when you are sober' Ethel said before finally letting go of the drunk driver, the male staggered backwards and glanced upwards. My knees wobbled unceasingly from shock, Harold turned to face me, our eyes clashed.
That bastard I thought as he eyed me intensely,
'Do I know you from somewhere?' he asked with an irritating smile, I was still tongue tied from shock. I coughed persistently finally recovering from the shock that had me tongue tied.
'I just have to play my cards well' I said to myself as I replied
'Yeah you do, we attend the same school' I told him with a fake Scottish accent, he didn't seem fooled by my fake lilt cause my accent only made him draw nearer to me. I looked right across him and caught Ethel looking lost, she obviously didn't understand what was going on.
'Are you sure I don't know you from anywhere other than that?' he asked, drawing close to me till his drunk raspy breath tickled my nostrils irritatingly
'No you don't and if you inch closer I would be forced to ram my knees into the area where the sun doesn't shine' I threatened angrily. Deep within me I know that the sun would have shone on this asshole's family jewels uncountable times because he obviously sleeps about like a hobo.
'A beauty with a compensating fiery temper' he said calmly before shuffling backwards, I sighed softly
'What class do you belong to?' he questioned
'S...i.....l...ver' I stammered, he glanced at me and smiled
'I hope to see you back at school tomorrow' he said and turned to leave
'And we should probably go sledging someday' he offered, the words replayed in my head recurrently as I recalled a familiar person that always said it
'Nella, let's go sledging' I recalled that familiar voice, I shook my head hard and swiftly as it had come the voice dissipated into thin air.
'HELL NO!' I replied harshly and he turned around to smile.
I bent my heels towards the car, I felt as though that asshole was toying with me intentionally. I slipped into the passengers sit and sank into the plush leather. Ethel entered into the car next and started the engine, she was about to pull out when Harold knocked unto the window of my sit, Ethel looked at me before doubtingly winding the glass. Harold had on a suspicious smile,
'Michelle, make sure to return Noah's jacket. You really suck at lying girl' he whispered in a sotto voce so that it was only the two of us that heard. I sat there shocked and surprised. I guess I had underestimated this asshole. Ethel pulled out and drove off, I turned back and watched the tall 6'4 inches dude slowly turn into a blurry image.
HAROLD'S P.O.V
'Yes squeeze harder' that familiar voice that is peculiar to only one female spoke, I would recognize the voice anywhere I go because of the annoying intensity with which she always spoke.
I could bet my ass off the fact that it was Michelle, but when I looked up it wasn't that blonde headed girl from school that I saw, was I probably hallucinating or I was been played by this girl with long black hair.
The Scottish girl didn't really look anything like that nerd back at the school, the only similarity between them were those mature hips but observing closely I smiled as I sighted Noah's brown leather jacket.
I chuckled softly, my eyes must have not been deceiving me, I was conceived beyond reasonable doubt that it was that bitch trying to mess with my head.
I shook my head as I drunkenly staggered backwards, was it the alcohol reaching me or did I notice a slight resemblance of this pretended Scottish girl with NELLA, I tried to ignore the thought but it wasn't leaving so I pushed my luck a little bit further.
'and we should probably go sledging someday' I offered, I watched as her context and demeanor changed all at once, I needed just one reaction to confirm this propounded theory of mine.
I silently prayed that she responded in that familiar manner, I had waited enough, I have waited 8 fucking years while waiting for fate to bring my childhood love back to me I didn't need fate disappointing me now,
'Not now, fate ain't gonna fail me now' I argued in my head
'HELL NO!' she responded giving me that desired and golden reaction, I sighed at once.
'Alas, I found you Nella, I said to myself as I eyed her closely.
******************************
I tossed continually on my bed, I couldn't sleep not after I discovered something that I had sought for years after years. I got out of bed and probabilities enveloped me at once,
'What if she had just plainly reacted like that out of the blues not because she is Nella Hudson?'
'Or what if Nella is really dead'
'What if she is just normal Michelle with no relatable past?'
These thoughts all bothered me all at once making me wonder if my assumptions were really right or just plain wrong' I pulled out my phone and rang Lee's cellphone, he picked up on the second ring.
'You know a Michelle back at school right?' I asked the French-Korean citizen
'Yeah, what's up about her?' he asked sounding sleepy, I must have woken up the gay dude selfishly. But the reality was that I badly wanted answers at all cost to all these questions bothering my head.
'Something seems really off with her, I want you to check up on everything you can get on her. I want it done secretly without the rest of the gang knowing or sensing anything wrong' I announced
'Okay' he stated plainly
'See you at school tomorrow morning' I said before both lines went dead.
I placed my head in-between my hands and sighed loudly, I just badly wanted my assumptions right