Penny For Your Thoughts

The men around were still hauling and working hard, and she quickly sidestepped into a corner without breaking eye contact with Noah. The air conditioning was blasting despite the unexpected chill and with the door propped open created an odd atmosphere in total that she knew she was only adding to.

"Miller! Come here," one of the men barked from outside.

Miller pulled his hat down more on his forehead. "On it, Davis. Tell Kento to drive the truck back."

Alice was standing with her hands behind her back awkwardly while looking into Noah's frosty eyes that were practically shouting for her to leave when Miller got back to work.

She herself would gladly do as he asked but the rest of the crew started coming in with all the bigger furniture that she had to wait a bit to the side of the small foyer hallway that had all the mailboxes to apartment rooms.

Noah shifted from foot to foot, trying to find a way out since he was still holding stacks of boxes in his hands and was about to turn his back to continue his work after the little stream of his co-workers stopped when Miller lifted the box out of Noah's hands as if it was toy taken out of a child's hands, and placed the stack on a nearby wooden table that looked as though it still needed to be put back as well.

She covered her tiny laugh with a slight cough at the scene that almost looked as if it were father and son, and Noah sighed as he leaned against the wall while everyone else went around them as if there was nothing amiss. Alice lifted her gaze and tilted her head when she found Noah studying her.

"What is it now?" she asked lightly.

"You could have just walked past."

"That would have been a great idea if they hadn't caught me."

"Still, what has got you coming home so late?"

Alice lifted a shoulder. "Cleaning duties."

"This late?"

"I guess the better question to ask is why weren't you at school today?"

He smirked. "Carrying about my attendance now? I'm sure that you miss my face."

She scoffed and waved a hand at him. "Hardly. It is starting to grate on my ears hearing everyone wonder where you are."

"I must be so loved."

"Trust me, you aren't," she said sarcastically because he was quite the golden boy. "You tend to skip quite a lot, golden boy. I would love to do the same as you, off and lazing away."

Noah's face hardened. "You don't know anything about me, Alice. So quit talking big."

"Sorry, sorry," she quipped as she brought her fingers to her lips, knowing that the gesture would annoy him. Alice needed to turn down her bratty tone, but whenever she was with him, he would always grate on her nerves in an unexplainable fashion. "My apologies. You're always welcome to correct me."

"I was busy, and I had already called out. Are you now taking on the role of mother as well with the nagging?"

"I have to get my volunteer hours in you see."

She knew that it was a low blow to call hanging out with his charity work, but she knew that he had caught her all bark no bite words with the quick flash of his pearly white teeth as his lips twisted into a smile that seemed to bring darkness rather the light feelings of happiness. It felt as though she had ensnared herself instead of trying to cut him off.

"I was working," he slowly said. "I don't know how to spell it out for you further."

"Why?" she blurted. "Do you often skip school to work?"

Miller clapped a hand on Noah's shoulder and ruffled his hair. "This rascal has been trying to weasel his way out of school I see... hm, it's time for you to get off then, Noah."

Noah turned back. "I'm still on the clock for two more hours."

"You can go home. You came in earlier today anyways," Miller said with a warm smile. "And walk the lady home while you're at it."

Noah didn't bother to push and instead grumbled as he walked away and beckoned Alice to follow him. She inclined her head to Miller when she strode past to go after Noah, who seemed to be in a surly mood. Alice didn't want to say that it was all on her part today, but he looked to be more uncomfortable today than most.

He went past a room that was open and was still in the making with the drywall and open beams above where personal items were stored away underneath the wooden benches that had tons of spare tools laid on top.

Alice abruptly pulled to a stop when Noah yanked his navy worker's tee over his head to expose the sinewy muscles she knew were underneath.

The sweat glimmered on his warm skin that seemed to ripple with life every time he moved, and he blew out a tired breath before tossing the dirty shirt stripped of white dust and other specs next to his backpack before pulling out a fresh one and slipping it over his shoulders in a way only men could do.

Pivoting on her heel, she bit on her lips as she fisted her hands by her side when she leaned her back on the outside wall. Alice did know that her unspoken uncomfortable rift was getting a bit out of hand at times, but he often rubbed her in the wrong way. She brought her palms to her flushed cheeks and knew that he probably did want to see that on purpose.

Gritting her teeth, she waited quietly for him to grab all of his items in the room. Noah emerged from the room with his black backpack slung over his shoulder with the lazy air from him that was attractive but only seemed to rise her ire. His hair was messy and laid across his forehead as if he had just run his hand angrily through it multiple times.

She shined a smile at him. "Let's take another hour to get ready, shall we?"

He brushed past her without another word, and she bit down the words that were begging to pour out when he didn't entertain her sarcastic words which was probably for the better.

They went past his co-workers, who were still going at it and giving their all, and she waved at them with a bright smile despite her dying on the inside with the unwanted company that was now tagging along with her.

"Have a great night, everyone!" she called as they stepped foot outside. "Don't work too hard."

Noah all but practically pulled her down the street since he didn't want to get roped into another conversation. She waved at them all one last time before falling into step with Noah, who had all but shut down and had his hands stuck into his pockets of his dark-colored hoodie, lost in his thoughts. She wanted to give a penny for his thoughts but had figured that she had already done enough.