Chapter Five

"You seriously don't remember this?" Priscilla asks again.

Noel shakes her head. "I remember this trip, but I don't remember Harken being on it or ever talking to him. Did I talk to him?"

"You must've, we were paired together a lot with him, I imagine it would've been hard to not exchange a few words in that case. But regardless," she says and takes out two plastic containers of to-go sushi, hanging one to Noel. "Enough talk about Harken and school drama, we don't have any classes together this year so this is the only time we will get to spend during school hours."

Noel knows clearly what this means.

"You can't drive me home after school, can you?"

Priscilla slumps her shoulder, her act saw through and through.

"I'm sorry, Nole. I have another date tonight, and this guy seems to have a lot of boyfriend potential," she pouts.

"Didn't you say that about what's-his-face from yesterday?"

She has to think about it for a second. "Do you mean Carter?"

Noel nods.

"No, I said he has good sex potential, he is definitely not boyfriend material."

Noel rolls her eyes but smiles reassuringly at her friend. "It's fine, I can always walk home again, today's weather doesn't seem too bad, and I don't think I'm going to be in a rush to get home, anyway." Knowing now what she has to come home too, she has considered talking Priscilla into letting her stay at her place until the end of the school year, but she doubts living there would be much better, or else Priscilla wouldn't use Noel's house as her own escape.

"I can try and come over after my date, make sure he doesn't bother you for the night or try and sneak into your room and take advantage of you?" Priscilla offers.

Noel looks at her strangely. "You're worried about him taking advantage of me? I'm worried he's going to put something gross in my bed, like a small dead animal or something to mess with me. Harken trying to sleep with me is the least of my worries, he has made it very clear he isn't attracted to me."

Besides, he doesn't seem like the type that would be interested in inexperienced virgins such as herself, like he has pointed out several times loud and clear to her.

"You're delusional, Nole. Harken is an 18-year-old boy, about to be a man physically, maybe not mentally. I don't care what you think about yourself, fix yourself up if you really want to and you can change that cute shy girl appearance into one of a real looker, you could probably give me and Amy a run for our money, and Harken is bound to notice that living with you."

"Regardless of if I act like Amy and strip naked in front of me, he has made several comments about my body and how unattractive it is. I'm not blind to my own appearance, but I'm also not deaf."

Priscilla waves off the conversation and they let it drop between them, digging into their sushi and complaining about the spit shower she once again received from Mrs. Jones this morning, preparing Noel for the one she is probably going to receive last period.

She spent her spare period yesterday working on the bit of homework she ended up receiving from Mr. Hamilton's class in the library, hiding herself in the back in the farthest study desk available. Harken should have another class, finally giving her a brief period of peace, and since Priscilla has Social Studies first period with him, there is no chance of him showing up for her last period either.

Remembering that she used to be a part of the yearbook club last year, seeing it as a free photography class more or less, she decides to seek out Mr. Baldwin and offer assistance, knowing how vacant the class was last year, she doesn't expect this year to be any different and assumes he could use the help.

Popping her head into the computer lab where Mr. Baldwin spends pretty much all of his time, whether it's class time or not, she doesn't even need to say anything before he is stumbling over it, shoving a school camera into her hand.

"Were you expecting me, Mr. Baldwin?" she chuckles.

He shakes his head, his thick spectacles almost tumbling off his face. "No, but I saw you had a spare this period. I prayed you might come by and help out, thank goodness you're here. As you can see," he says and gestures to the three kids sitting at scattered computers. "Not many kids signed up this year, and none of them seem interested in what the actual course is."

Noel almost wants to pat Mr. Baldwins shoulder to comfort him out of pity. He has tried to hold onto this class for such a long time, but all anyone sees this class as is a way to skip class or lounge around on the computers all day. Most kids take this class if to make up an art credit since it does count towards the art academics of the school, treating it as nothing more than an easy credit.

"I am expecting one more student, but I'm not sure he's going to show."

Noel doesn't say it out loud, she can't help but agree. Class started 20 minutes ago, they're either skipping or don't ever plan on showing up.

"Is there anything going on this week that you'll need pictures of for the yearbook?" she asks, not wanting to spend her entire spare period having a pity party with her teacher.

"There is homecoming at the end of the week, that's the most important event coming up. Other than that, you can get some shots of the sports teams and of a few classes as they prepare for another school year, maybe some of the junior students, just entering their first year of high school," he says, his dark blue eyes sparkling behind his glasses.

Oh yeah...homecoming. Another useless and unnecessary party.

Mr. Baldwin must have taken her look of disappointment towards having to go to another party, as disappointment for having to take pictures the entire time.

"Oh, how stupid of me, this is your graduating year, Noel. I can't ask you to work on the first dance of the year, and your last homecoming," he says.

He reaches to take back the camera, but she quickly snatches it back, clutching it to her chest. "Don't worry, Mr. Baldwin. You know I already sent in my registration letter for CCA, having this on my application for my final year of school will be beneficial for me."

He smiles thoughtfully at her. "If only more students were like you, Noel, it would make teaching a lot more beneficial for me. Regardless, I don't want you spending the entire night working, I'll have someone else with you to also take some, so you can take a break and enjoy yourself. This is your final year, the last time to make high school memories. Cherish it."

"I appreciate that, and I understand how important this last year is for students like me, but I assure you I'll be much happier at homecoming doing this. Besides, it doesn't seem like there are many students available to help me," she says, and gestures back to the three students who hardly know she is even there.

She hates to dig deeper into his pride, but the last thing she needs to make homecoming even worse than it's already going to be, is shackling her to some newbie student who could care less to be there and will probably run off and leave her anyway.

"I can help her."

For the hundredth time today, she fills a icy chill run up her spine, closing her eyes and already feeling the headache she is about to get.

"There he is my star student! I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up," Mr. Baldwin exclaims, brushing past Noel as if she is a mere piece of room décor and rushes over to Harken.

Did he just say, 'star student'? What kind of parallel universe am I living in where Harken is the pride and joy of every teacher here, and I'm just yesterday's trash?

"Come on, Mr. B, you know I'd never miss a class with you. So, what does our dear Noel need help taking pictures for?" he asks, eyeing the camera in her hands.

She realizes this is the first time he has directly called her by her name, rather than using it to tease her or make fun of it or calling her Little Red like he seems to love doing. Hearing it makes her feel weird, but not in a bad way.

"I asked her to take some pictures of homecoming this Friday, nothing special just some highlights to put in the yearbook. Since this is both your graduating years, help each other so you can both work and enjoy the dance at the same time, does that work?"

Noel opens her mouth to object, but is once again silenced by Harken, this time shocking her speechless by pulling her into his side and slinging an arm around her shoulder.

"Not a problem, Mr. B, Noel and I make a great team," he says with a toothy grin. She grits her teeth and clenches her fist, wanting to slap that grin right off his face, but remembering they are in a school setting and putting a pin in it for when they get home.

Ew, did I just say home?

When they get back to her place, she meant to think.

"Great! Well, for the time being Noel, you can just take some pictures of the junior classes and sports team on the fields, and Harken-"

"I can go with her; we can split up and tag team it."

Please, shut up!

"Sounds like a plan, off you go then!"

Why is he showing up everywhere she is? Is it really just a coincidence?

She did choose to come to Mr. Baldwin's class of her own will, and Mr. Baldwin was clearing expecting Harken before he showed up, there is no other explanation other than mere coincidence.

But that is three times today. She was on high alert for him when she got to school, but he still managed to pop up at her locker. Then he found her again just before math, and again now.

"What weird thoughts are you thinking?" Harken asks, poking her in the forehead.

She swats his hand away and rubs the spot he poked, realizing they've already left the classroom.

"I'm not thinking anything weird; I'm just wondering how you keep managing to find me everywhere I go and tormenting me so much. Did I do something to you in a past life to make you take revenge on me in this one?" she teases, but a part of her is really starting to believe this is universal karma for something she did in the past.

Why else would God send her someone like Harken for no reason?

"Something like that," he simply says.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

He shrugs. "Don't worry about it."

What the fuck?

Deciding to ignore him she asks, "so, how do you want to do this? I'm assuming you want to photograph the sports teams rather than bore your time with kids?" Noel asks. It's clear that whatever Harken meant, he isn't going to tell her no matter how much she bugs him. For someone as annoying as Harken, she doubts he can be bothered by anyone.

Harken snorts. "You're really going to take pictures?"

"Ugh! I knew you weren't taking this seriously," she groans. "Why did you bother volunteering in the first place then?"

"I already told you; I need the credits to graduate high school, and then get out of here. To get the credit, I need to at least show up, right?"

Unbelievable. His level and skill of laziness is unbelievable.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but yes, I am going to take pictures so, have fun doing whatever it is you planned to do," she says and picks up the camera around her neck to turn it on, walking in the direction of the fields.

Harken comes running up behind her, slinging himself over her back and hooks an arm around her neck. "Don't be like that, Little Red, I wanted us to hangout."

"That's hard to believe."

"You wound me." He puts a hand over his chest and gives her puppy eyes, fake sniffling to sell his joke.

She just rolls her eyes and pushes him off of her to continue walking.

"I'm serious, let's go somewhere and hangout. You have a spare period right now anyway, what are you afraid of?"

Noel raises a brow and gives him a curious look. "How do you know I have a spare right now?"

"I was out at the smoke pit, I saw you sitting on the bleachers after classes had started, and knowing your bootlicking attitude, you wouldn't be skipping."

"My what? I'm not a bootlicker, I'm barely even a teacher's pet, you've had class with me. Did I ever once raise my hand or participate in class?" she asks, her voice rising with her frustration and annoyance at being called a bootlicker for wanting to have good grades in school.

Harken just stares at her, his face slowly going red, before he finally bursts out laughing. He holds onto her shoulder and wipes fake tears from the corner of his eyes.

"Like I said, Little Red, you really get me sometimes, it's hard to hold back when you're like this, you know?"

She doesn't want to know what he means by that; almost certain he means holding back when it comes to teasing and belittling her.

"Whatever. Are you coming with me or not? If you want to hangout with me so badly, then you can come with me to take pictures of the soccer team during practice," she says and pushes through the back doors.

Harken rolls his eyes, his mood suddenly turning sour. "Why, so you have another excuse to ogle at your crush?"

She shoots him a glare over her shoulder. "I have no idea what you're talking about but stay out of my personal life. I heard you already made yourself a target this morning by flirting with Amy Stone in front of Karl, don't try and make me a target too."

"Make you a target how? And how did you find out about that?" Harken asks. Does he not remember Priscilla being in his class? Do they already despise each other that much he won't notice when she's in the room?

"Make me a target of you, I don't want you using things from my personal life to target me for your stupid jokes and pranks. As for how I found out, Priscilla told me at lunch, it was quite the story. I'm really sad I missed seeing it in person," she says and cracks a smile.

Harken is pretty sure this is the first time she has smiled in front of him, other than the sarcastic or fake smiles she has given him before, this is the closest she has come to a genuine smile.

"You guys are really close it seems."

Noel pauses to snap a couple photos of the small group of players scattered around the field practicing or exercising on the grass.

"Of course, even I'll admit I don't have very many friends, if any besides her, so she has become my closest confidant you can say."

Harken nods and stays quiet for a few moments before asking, "how did she know I used to come to school here? It was only for a year."

She snaps a couple more photos, then sits down on the grassy hill next to him, overlooking the large soccer field. "She has pictures from a fieldtrip we took back in grade 9, she said it was for our end of the year trip, we went camping or something. You were in one of the photos she showed me."

This seems to stun Harken.

"Why, what's wrong?" she asks.

"Nothing, except I never went on that trip."

What? "But I saw a picture, and you're in the background."

He shakes his head. "Are you sure it was me? Because I remember them arranging that trip, but I never went, I stayed home for that weekend and broke into the liquor store downtown, had a pretty wild time."

"You were drinking at that age?" she asks in disbelief.

He laughs. "Not exactly, I gave myself a few more years, I just sold it to other underaged kids, most of them older than I was at the time, but still too young to buy it themselves."

She wants to ask more about his past life, but before she has the chance, he suddenly snatches the camera out of her hand and jumps up from his spot.

"Smile, Little Red," he says and holds it up to his face.

"Hey, stop! What are you doing?" She tries to leap up at him and grab the camera but being almost a whole foot taller than her while standing, while sitting down he easily evades her and rushes up the hill.

"Harken, stop messing around, that's a school camera."

She doesn't bother to try and chase him up the hill, with his long legs and stamina compared to hers, he is going to bolt the second she moves and possibly trip, damaging the camera.

He ignores her and quickly snaps a couple shots.

"Stand right there, the lighting is perfect."

Noel rolls her eyes, and turns back to look down at the field, hoping no one is watching this embarrassing scene unfold.

To her dismay, the moment her eyes scan the soccer field, they connect with the bright green eyes of Nolan. He is standing off to the side of the field looking like he is about to get a drink from his bag but stopped to witness Noel and Harken chasing each other like little schoolgirls.

Groaning in shame, she covers her face and decides to just give up the camera and protect whatever pride she still has left before anyone else notices them. Nolan witnessing that is more than enough, but the last thing she needs is rumors spreading about her and Harken, making her a huge target for the fan base he has already gathered himself.

"Hey, where are you going?" Harken calls after her.

She ignores him and continues down the hill towards the school. She can hear him running after her and tries to quicken her pace but should've known it is no use. He easily catches up to her and before she has the chance to react, he sticks the camera in front of them and squeezes their faces together.

"Say cheese, Little Red!" He snaps the photos and whips the camera away in a flash.

"Harken, delete those photos before you give that camera back," she pleads with him. She doesn't want to imagine the God awful pictures he took of her just now, she doesn't want him to have them to use against her one day.

He waves her off. "Don't worry, no one wants to see how you look without make-up."

Is that supposed to be an insult?

She doesn't think anyone at school has witnessed her with anymore make-up than some mascara on her eyelashes to help her hazel eyes pop a little more and not seem so dull with her copper hair.

The bell signalling the end of the third period rings as they enter the school. Harken turns to Noel and lifts the camera up. "I'll take this back; you can head off to class."

"Are you sure you're going to delete those photos? I don't have to come with you and supervise?" she asks, not trusting anything he does, whether it be good intentions or no intentions.

He scoffs at her and looks like he is holding back from mocking her. "Am I really that untrustworthy, Little Red?"

"Yes, you are," she says without hesitation.

He sucks in a breath through his teeth. "Ouch, right in the feels."

She is wasting time arguing with him and she almost feels like that is his plan, making her late for class once again. "Alright, return it and show me a reason to trust you then. I have access to all the school cameras and files for the computer and yearbook class, I can easily find out if you don't."

She turns and waves to him over her shoulder but has a sinking feeling as she walks to her locker – like she just made a big mistake.

~*~

When the final bell of the day rings, relief washes over Noel now that she can finally escape this hell. But it is short lived when she remembers the hell, she still has waiting for her at her place, and how she also has to walk home now.

Knowing this she takes her time putting away her books in her locker and packing her bag with homework, thinking about stopping by the art store downtown before going home to get a few more paint supplies to work in her room, until she can find another place for her little studio, her room not being big enough for some of the messes she likes to create when getting into a certain creative mode.

She has sold a few of her art pieces online to a few local people, nothing too big but enough to earn her a bit of spending cash for moments like this. Anything she earns from her artwork always ends up going right back into her supplies anyway, but she wonders if she has enough for everything she needs to set up a small desk studio in her room.

Distracted by her phone as she walks out of the building, she doesn't see Harken waiting outside for her.

"About time, what the hell were you doing in there, more work?"

She jumps and nearly drops her phone. "What are you still doing here?"

"How else are you going to get home? You're going to walk again?"

She takes a few seconds to calm her rapid beating heart before answering. "No, I was going to take the bus downtown, I need to go to the art store."

He takes the helmet off his bike seat and tosses it to her.

"Get on, I'll take you there."

"Are you kidding? I'm not getting on that back of that thing; I've seen the way you drive it!" she cries and shoves the helmet back at him.

He removes the chin strap and places the helmet over her head, ignoring her completely.

"Stop whining and just get on. You think I'm going to let you get injured with Scott watching my ass? I'll drive carefully, I promise."

She rolls her eyes, but he can't see through the visor. "Those are empty words to me."

"Just hold on tight to my waist, you'll be fine. When I go around corners, don't let your body fight the movement, don't lean in the opposite direction, or tense up, you have to lean with the bike," he tries explaining, though it's hard to hear through the thick helmet covering her ears.

"What am I supposed to do then? I'm going to tense up out of instinct and lean away." Knowing how terrified she already is, there's no way her nerves aren't going to fight her body when something unnatural occurs – like purposely feeling like you're diving towards the pavement.

"Like I said, just remember to hold onto me and before I make the turn, just let your body go limp and I'll do the rest, just always remember to have your arms keep a firm grip."

He makes it sound so easy, but she knows it isn't, he has just experienced it so many times it's like second nature to him.

"How long have you been riding?" she asks, climbing onto the back with his help, scooting all the way back so he can squeeze in front. Her head is already dizzy from the close proximity of her chest against his back, the heat of his body beating onto her, making her feel uncomfortably hot.

"I went for my license the moment I could, 15 years and 6 months, getting my driving permit first before I got my motorcycle permit, I had both first class licenses by the time I was 16 and have been riding daily ever since."

No wonder it seems like a part of him wherever he goes. Chances are if you could live out of a motorcycle, he would consider it rather than living with his lawyer.

Noel jumps and nearly falls off the seat as the engine comes to life, the sound so close behind her it startles the wits out of her. With trembling hands, she latches herself onto Harken like a sloth to a tree, feeling his back shake as he laughs.

She feels his hand come down and cover hers, realizing how large his hand is in comparison, and how warm his palm feels when he squeezes her clenches and trembling fingers. She doesn't like to admit the small comfort his gesture brings her, calming her erratic heart just a little.

He does as he promised, driving out of the parking lot slowly and barely increasing the speed to a legal and safe speed when taking off down the main road towards the downtown core. Thankfully there aren't that many cars on the main road, but the closer they get to the core of the downtown area, the more the road starts to crowd, and more turns Harken has to take.

Every time he is about to make a turn, Noel squeezes her eyes shut and tries her best to do as instructed, squeezing her legs against his and the bike, keeping a solid grip and lock on his chest, but allows every other part of her to go limp and lets his body to lean hers in the motion and direction of the bike.

Once they would make the turn, Harken will reach behind him to squeeze her leg, as if silently asking if she is alright. She can't help the flutter in her chest every time he does it, not used to this caring side of him. She thought for sure he would use this as an opportunity to torment her, seeing how terrified she is, but he has kept to his word and done his best to make sure she feels safe and comfortable the entire time.

The constant flip-flop of his attitude towards her is causing a lot of turmoil in her chest, wondering which side of him is the real him. Maybe Harken has never had a female friend before, always seeing girls as a quick fuck or something to entertain his time, but he doesn't feel that way towards Noel and has no choice but to live with her.

Like her, he could just be trying to adjust to the temporary situation, having no other choice but to live with another stranger. If Noel could move out now and support herself living on her own before moving to California, and avoiding the move there, she wouldn't still be living with her dad. It's clear he doesn't need her anymore, and the loss of her mother is something he will never get over, maybe Noel also reminds him too much of her.

She already lives on her own as it is, but that doesn't mean she has done it entirely alone. She has food in the house to learn how to cook because her dad pays for it, and she has a house to live in to begin with, because her dad pays for it. He might not be there for her as a dad anymore, but he still provides for her rather well as a parent, and she still needs that until the day she graduates high school.

Whereas Harken has no where else to go at the moment, most likely on parole for the next year and no opportunity for a job at the moment with his record. He needs at least his high school to get anything decent, even places that are alright with hiring former convicts of minor offenses, such as himself, she assumes. But without a decent education no one will take you seriously or consider your potential.

Scott and Noel Ashford are a means to an end for him, a steppingstone in his life, nothing more. He has no reason to make friends or get along with her or her dad while he is there, he just has to stay under Scott's radar and not do anything that will get him kicked out.

Getting the opportunity to mess with Noel was just a blessing of a benefit for him, not having the option to choose his lawyer or the outcome of his situation.

Reaching the main strip of downtown, the road is packed with people trying to get home for the day, rush hour peaking at this time. He pulls over just a few blocks down from the art store, signalling for her to get off.

"Road is too crowded to try and fit through, you can walk from here," he says and takes the helmet off her head for her. He doesn't try and hide the snicker of amusement when he sees her disheveled helmet hair, sticking out in all directions due to the static and her thick copper hair. He can tell she tries to use hair products to tone down the volume of her hair, but at the moment it's reminding him of a red hued cloud, passing over the setting sun with tiny specks of bright red and gold flowing through the strands.

He didn't notice just how much color there really is to her usually plain copper hair, but in the sun it catches all the different red and gold hues hidden between the strands, contrasting with her dark hazel eyes, it makes them look brighter, bringing out the subtle bits of green and blue.

Though Harken has spent a few couple days with Noel so far, he hasn't paid much attention to her appearance.

She looks a lot different from before.