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Chapter Two

While I'm Stuck Here

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Noah

When Charlie came over to our usual table in the cafeteria at lunch, everyone started talking over each other, bombarding him with questions that we all were trying to understand.

"Guys!" Jade yelled over top of all of us causing everyone to be quiet, "Give Charlie a second, Jesus." She rolled her eyes as she sat down again. Charlie only laughed but gave her a thankful look.

"I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal," He mumbled nonchalantly as he bit into his apple.

Kai scoffed, "We've known you for years and not once have you mentioned a sister and now all of a sudden she shows up and it's just... supposed to be normal?"

It was true. I had known Charlie since we were 12 when he transferred to my elementary school and he never said anything about having a sister.

"Explain." Luke said, speaking for all of us as we all had so many questions.

Charlie nonchalantly leaned back in his seat, "There's not much to say, really. Our parents got divorced when we were 12 so Tiffany stayed with our mom and I moved out here with our dad. She took my moms last name after that because it was easier since there would be less questions. We stayed in touch and talked everyday and would see each other in the Summer time when we would travel together with our dad. That's about it, I guess."

"Wait... why have you never brought her up before?" Joy asked, her eyebrows furrowing together in confusion.

Charlie shrugged, "She's my family and we're close but we have two completely separate lives so we never brought each other into the other's life because... things were complicated."

Jade nodded in understanding, "So why is she here now? I mean is she also living with your dad now?"

Charlie nodded, "Yeah, she is. Uh... it's complicated. My mom has got a lot going on with work and Tiff... she wanted to spend more time with dad which is better since they're close anyways." Charlie glanced away and cleared his throat.

"Your mom just let her move?" Leo inquired, a look of fluster clearly shown on his face.

Charlie sighed, sitting up straighter. "It's complicated but yes. She uh.. she thought-- the timing just worked out, I guess." Charlie seemed a little uncomfortable, like he wanted the topic to change.

"Hey, do we have practice today?" I spoke up, giving Charlie a look of understanding. He gave me a small thankful smile so I slightly nodded my head in response.

We all got busy in random conversation about soccer and other random things when I noticed Ezra and Tiffany walking towards our table.

"Do we have to sit with them?" I heard Tiffany grumble to Ezra but it wasn't loud enough for anyone else to hear since they hadn't noticed them. Ezra laughed and said something to her but I couldn't hear.

"Hello young bloods." Ezra grinned as he took a seat and pulled the chair beside him out for Tiffany to take. She quietly sat down. Tiffany was looking at something on her phone but looked up when she noticed that the entire table had gone dead silent.

"Hi." She looked between all of us sitting here, an eyebrow quirked in amusement and a small grin twitching one side of her lip upwards. It was a surprise because I had yet to see her smile. She always had a serious or bored and tired look on her face. "I'm Tiffany, the better sibling. May as well get to know you guys while I'm stuck here, am I right?"

"Lovely to meet you, princess." Luke grinned as he took her hand and placed a soft kiss on it. "I'm Luke, the better... human here."

Tiffany scoffed as she took her hand back, "Seems like it."

After Charlie briskly introduced all of us, small conversation started between the table. I hadn't realized my gaze was stuck on Tiffany until she looked over and our eyes locked. She narrowed her eyes at me before a smirk grew on her face and she looked away, busying herself in a conversation with Ezra.

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"Hey, what the hell is up with you?" Luke asked as he came up to me in the locker room.

I groaned and shut my locker. I turned to look at him, wiping sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand, "What?"

"What's up?" He raised his eyebrows. "You're all... like quiet and weird and shit. You've been zoned out all day. What is up with you?"

I sighed and shook my head as I sat down on the bench that was beside us. I dropped my head low, "Nothing... I'm just-"

"Is this about Tiffany or something?" Luke leaned against the lockers and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at me.

I looked up at him, confused as to where he got that idea. "Why would it be about her?"

Luke scoffed, "I'm not an idiot Noah, I know you. Every time you see her you just get lost and don't even realize you're starring at her. And you didn't say a word basically all of lunch."

I looked at Luke and debated for a moment before sighing, "She's the girl from the grocery store."

"What?" Luke looked at me, dumbfounded. Then realization hit him and the idiot started laughing out loud, literally bending over to catch his breath once he had calmed down. "You mean the cereal girl? The one you got a crush on or something?"

I groaned loudly as I stood up and smacked his head, "I don't have a crush, fuckhead. It was one conversation."

"So then what's the big deal?" Luke asked as he watched me take my bag out of my locker.

I shrugged as we started walking out of the change rooms and going down the hallway, "I don't know. There isn't one, I just didn't think I would see her again."

Luke just looked at me in confusion, "I don't get it. Then why are you acting like a lost idiot?"

I looked at him and exhaled a deep breath, "It's been a long day. I'll see you tomorrow man." I slapped his arm before turning and walking out the school to my car.