(Ch 55)Broken Wings, Severed Horns

Noah didn't think much of his encounter with Daniel, writing the boy off as a wannabe and nothing more. School continued, his classes mind-numbing boring and his interaction with others as minimal as possible.

The bell signalling the end of his day was like the harmony of a thousand angels, all singing in unison for his escape from this prison of boredom.

'Wonder where that girl is?' Noah thought, thanking the gods for not meeting her again while collector his bag from the locker.

Like normal Noah headed home, pulling his left sock up along the way every time it drooped a little. Music was the only companion he needed and soon he arrived at the government-issued apartment.

Noah didn't know his parents being orphaned before he could remember and he had no intention of trying to look for them.

'They didn't want me and I don't care about them, fair trade' Noah reasoned.

"It's good to see you Noah, how was the first day of school?" Callum the clerk at his apartments building inbuilt convenience store asked, Noah being a regular.

"Alright, felt longer then it needed to be though" Noah replied.

Out of all the people he'd ever met Callum was the only one Noah was forced to communicate with on daily basis and actually grew to like. That being said if Callum was to die in front of him Noah wouldn't care in the slightest, apathy being his nature.

"Schools like that, drags on and on but it's important so don't slack" Callum said.

"Or I'll end up Like you?"

"Hey! I'm only twenty-three."

"And working at a convenience store," Noah said, adding salt to Callum's wounds.

"I'm not just a "Convenience store worker" I'm a man of the people. A shoulder to cry on while you purchase daily goods or a hype man while you satiate your midnight snack craving" Callum said, incensed at the lack of respect for his job.

"Sure thing," Noah said, taking his quick and easy meal with him.

While the elevator worked in Noah's complex he rarely used it, choosing the stairs which avoided contact with others and kept him fit enough to react if needed. Entering his apartment most would argue it was rather bland having the absolute minimum furniture and bedding arrangements but that was how Noah liked it.

"it's easy to clean, effective and no one will miss it when it's gone. Kinda like me" Noah chuckled, placing his goods on the kitchen counter.

Making his way to the bathroom Noah stripped down to his birthday suit and took a long shower. The water against his skin calmed Noah to a degree he found nowhere else, using it to reset and cool off after doing something that irritated him immensely.

Its calm beat against the tray was like a soft melody, exclusive for him and no one else.

'A drop of water's life begins when it falls and ends when it joins the rest, to me its but a second… but to the drop that's all its ever know, its beginning and end in my hands and yet completely out of my grasp'

"If I can't even control a drop of water's life I never had a hope of controlling my own" Noah lamented turning off the water.

The mirror on the basin was fogged, his shower being hot enough to give the sun a run for its money. Noah didn't bother to wipe it down, knowing all the details of his own face would just blur so his dead unfeeling eyes could stand out.

Noah just read random articles on his phone while eating then went to bed at a reasonable hour, having nothing better than sleep to take up his time.

Making his way to school the next day was a bother and Noah would've just preferred to sleep but sadly he didn't have much of a choice.

"What's got you down Noah?" An irritating voice he recognised asked from behind his locker door when he'd gone to put his bag away.

'Why me?'

"A blonde girl who can't take hints," Noah said, hoping she'd just leave him alone.

"Who is it? I'm sure I can sort things out" Emma replied, puffing out her chest in confidence of her social ability.

Noah stared at her dead in the eyes, his mask fading a little as he tried to figure out what the heck was wrong with her. People in the hall caught glimpses and peaks of his maskless eyes, feeling discomfort and fright tied with disgust and revulsion. Noah realised his mistake quickly, adorning his mask of apathy so as to not stand out too much.

"Pretty" Emma muttered.

"Pardon?" Noah asked, confused about what she was on about.

"You're eyes, they're really pretty," Emma said, her bright eyes shining into his ones.

"…"

"…"

"… You're weird" Noah eventually said, walking past her and towards his next class.

Emma didn't seem intent on leaving him alone though, and to his surprise and absolute dismay they shared the same class, Art.

"Why did you take Art, Noah. You some deep edgy kinda guy that draws knives to express their hate and all that stuff?" Emma queried.

"No, just because it's just an easy breeze through class. Get in, get out." Noah answered, concerned a little about what this girl really thought he was.

"That's lazy! You should try harder you only get to go to school once you know!"

"One time too many, in my opinion"

Unsurprisingly Emma pestered Noah the whole way through their walk and art class. Noah tried to avoid her numerous times but the word "Pretty" always kept him stuck whenever he wanted to leave. He was convinced she was lying about his eyes… but he still had to make sure, absolutely sure.

Emma from his perspective was strange. She seemed to be friendly and inclusive with almost everyone despite her looks being an easy ticket to get away with a more bitchy attitude. Genuine and kind to a fault were the trademark qualities he found in her.

'She doesn't feel like those "Nice girls" either that just act that way so they can stroke their egos. She genuinely wants to be friends with everyone' Noah concluded, finding it hard to believe a person so bright actually existed.

"Noah, you know about what happened yesterday… you did that to help didn't you?" Emma asked, in a serious manner like it was some grand secret, her eyes brightness losing a little bit of their light remember the previous day's events.

"Nope, just wanted to get through" Noah answered, telling the gods honest truth.

"But he threw milk on you and you didn't even react, a normal guy would hit him and a bad one would probably smash a tray into his face. But you did nothing… so that makes you a good guy right?" Emma asked, sure of her theory.

"No, it makes me the worst kind of guy. You're mistaking kindness for indifference. I didn't react because I don't care about him, or anyone for that matter" Noah said cold and distant, laying the brutal truth in front of this hopeful.

He was sure she'd feel some kind of disgust or anger at that. Or maybe Emma would think he was lying.

"…That doesn't sound bad… It just sounds sad" Emma said, shedding a few tears for Noah's sake to his immense surprise.

She hugged him in the middle of class, genuinely worried for him and the words he spoke.

'…I don't get her at all' Noah concluded… but he didn't push away.

Over the next few weeks, he'd see Emma at the lockers, in class and just generally around school. She'd always say hi and talk non stop to him despite being friendly with pretty much everyone and having much better conversation partners to pick from.

He also found out purely by chance that the boy, Daniel seemed to have been Emma's ex-boyfriend.

'So that's why she had Faith in him, what a shame.' Noah lamented for her sake, immediately catching himself on such a non like him thought process.

'Then again though she seems to have Faith in just about everyone, regardless of how they treat her or what they say about her. Hell, she even seems to believe in me… Emma what are you?' Noah wondered.

About a month after he met Emma and a month after he started school Noah was invited on what she insisted was a "Hang out" but sounded far more like a date.

"So you're coming?" Emma asked, puppy eyed.

"Depends" Noah mumbled, ignoring her clear manipulation tactic.

"On what?"

"Well, you want to watch a movie, what movies are playing?" Noah asked.

"Umm let's see… mostly comic book ones and a few rom coms" Emma answered, guessing neither of which would interest Noah.

"What about this one "Let's break it down". It seems alright" Noah said, pointing to a rather flashy dance set movie on Emmas phone.

"…"

"What?"

"I didn't think this pick anything like this" Emma answered.

"I just like dancing, it's not that special" Noah replied.

That day Emma apologised and begged Noah for hours over the phone after nearly dying of laughter at his strange passion for dancing.