Something of a Kind

chapter 10 | NOAH

Aly glanced atNoah, her expression unreadable. “Do you spell your last name… unusually– or is it just…?”

He shrugged. “Not really. L-O-C-K-L-E-A-R. Pretty straightforward. Why?”

“Because my father’s being a jerky jerk,” she sighed.

Noah grinned, pleased she remembered his advice. They said it in school as kids – life’s too short, jerks are too jerky. Most agreed the dried meat was foul smelling, if not generally disgusting, an unpleasant surprise dropped in their lunchbox. Cheap rations in offseason was a fact of life. When the tourists moved through the coast midJuly and again in December, the town’s delicacies could shoot past six bucks a slice plus flavored brine fees. There were always mini-recessions when the vacationers dispersed. In those months, it was the only protein available for seventy cents a pound.

The adults seemed to get into it, but then again, they also enjoyed hard liquor and sports on cable that had never been played in Ashland. As far as Noah was concerned, acquired tastes were the small town’s thesis.

Aly sighed, slumping against the window. As Noah pulled into the familiar parking lot, his peripheral nervously focused on Owen’s uncalled-for tailgating. When they passed through shade cast across the street with trees, a glare let up enough to see his friend had his hands off the wheel more often than not.

It’s incredible he’s not crawling out of a ditch by now.

Unable to tell if they were singing or arguing, Noah risked a glance at Aly. She looked like she was fighting tears. His brow knitted in concern.

“Hey, is everything okay?” he asked. The pickup slowed to a stop. He cut the ignition.

Aly lied, nodding. Climbing out of the truck, he sprinted to get her door. She hugged herself, staring at the blinking cell in her lap.

She made an effort to avert her gaze as she unbuckled, ignoring his concerned expression. Moving to wait at the hood, she shuddered as she leaned back at his side. He cocked his head. “Seriously, Aly, what’s wrong?”

Her face twisted. For a fleeting moment, he expected her to brush him off. Wordlessly, she stuck out her hand, the screen open to an instant messaging app.

Thunderbird02_PHD: ALLISON, Y THE HELL IS MY SUV @ LEEs?– GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly: Did you really forget how to spell my name?

Thunderbird02_PHD: AUTOCORRECT. ANSWER THE Q – GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly: I was literally just at the diner.

Thunderbird02_PHD: WHERE R U – GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly:Hiking. I’ll be back in a few hours.

Thunderbird02_PHD: U CANT LEAVE IT THERE. – GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly:Don’t you have the keys? I can get a ride if you want it home.

Thunderbird02_PHD: IDON’T GET BACK UNTIL MON. MORNING– GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly: How do you even know about the SUV then?

Thunderbird02_PHD: WORK FRIEND. WHO R U WITH?– GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly: Noah Locklear and some friends.

Thunderbird02_PHD: WHAT? Y?– GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly: If this is an interrogation, call me. This is a lot of typing.

Thunderbird02_PHD: BAD TIME. ANSWER THE Q – GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly: BECAUSE I’M TRYING TO BE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING AND INTERACT WITH MY KIND.

Thunderbird02_PHD: CAP LOCKS ALLISON. – GREG GLASS

Noah raised an eyebrow. Was that a scolding or an observation?

Austen-esque_Aly: No, sarcasm.You can yell later. I’m going now. – AUTOCORRECT ALYSON

Thunderbird02_PHD: ALYSON MACKENZIE – GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly: Meanwhile, you can figure explain the troopers.

Thunderbird02_PHD: WHAT??– GREG GLASS out how to

Austen-esque_Aly: Officers, hunting vendetta, Familiar?

thug tactics.

Thunderbird02_PHD: WHAT DID U SAY 2 THEM?– GREG GLASS

Thunderbird02_PHD: ANSWER THE Q – GREG GLASS

Thunderbird02_PHD: HOW DARE U ALLISON MACKENZIE – GREG GLASS

Austen-esque_Aly: Nothing. I always say nothing.

Austen-esque_Aly is invisible.

Thunderbird02_PHD: Message not delivered.

Thunderbird02_PHD: Message not delivered.

Thunderbird02_PHD: Message not delivered.

I know the feeling.

Noah winced sympathetically, offering it back. “Is he always like that?”

“When he’s actually talking to me.” She shook her head, as though it needed to be cleared. “On the bright side, a bigfoot might show.”

“You know if you’re not up for it, this can wait.”

She shrugged, a forced smile tugging at her lips. “It was my idea. Besides, if I went running to Mr. Grumptastic Overlord, he’d havethe satisfaction I’m not feeling generous enough to offer.”

She gets it.

He smiled. “You’re a spitfire, you know that?”

“I’m surprised you do.” She smirked. As the beeping in her hand continued, she shut it off, sliding the phone into the back pocket of her shorts. “Well, it was nice while it lasted.”

“What’s that?” He frowned.

“Greg leaving me alone, not constantly making demands,” she sighed.

“At least he’s not back just yet,” Noah offered, waving as Owen U-turned across three spaces.

What is wrong with that kid? He’s going to get himself killed.

“But he’s watching from afar,” Aly noted, seeming troubled as she watched Luke jumped out of the vehicle. Owen reached across the seat, slamming the door shut before attempting to correct his parking. Laughing, she added, “That sounds so creepy.”

“And you were worried about the troopers stalking you,” he teased.

“You know what? It is creepy. There’s something wrong with that man. I’ve always known that, of course.” She groaned, burying her face in her hands. “What was my mother thinking? Greg is insane.”

Noah chewed his cheek, unsure how to respond. The last time he had asked about the pretty woman from the photograph, Aly seemed hurt. He wasn’t sure how to comfort or evade, or which would be better.

“Sorry,” she apologized, frowning. Aly waved, as though it could fan the comment from the air. “I didn’t mean to drag an elephant in.”

“No worries,” he smiled, relieved. “We’ve all got baggage. My parents are insane, too. Hell, you know. You saw what happened to my sister.” Noah grimaced. “My dad’s problems are the only ones that matter, but at the same time, they don’t exist. Nothing is acceptable to him except his own messedup… -ness.”

“I know exactly what you mean. I know I’m not good enough. I know I’m not what he wants me to be.” Aly admitted, biting her lip. “I just wish he would get over it so I can.”

They fell silent, mulling over her words. In an instant, he knew there was an unspoken awareness between them. What she didn’t know, she would understand. Why Owen and Luke were the closest thing he would have to brothers, why his sister needed to be protected, why he needed to get out and as far away from this hell of a town as possible. Their pain was totally different and exactly the same. He loved her for it, and hated himself for that.

Noah grabbed her wrists, pinning them to her chest, leaning in. Her breath grazed his, their eyes locked. Suddenly, he guided her arms out, stretched like she stood on the stern of The Titanic. Moving away, he motioned to hold still, and circled her, coming to a stop as he completed a 360, absorbing every detail. Ivory skin, dark hair cascading down her back. The pale freckle to the right of her blue eyes, the exposed indents of her clavicles, a shamrock-shaped birthmark on her wrist. Every curve, every feature. She shivered, biting her lip beneath his scrutiny. He cupped her chin in one hand, gently turning her face to each side.

“Do you know what I see, Aly Glass?” Noah whispered, his thumb brushing across her cheek. She closed her eyes, trembling beneath his touch. “I see perfect, literally everywhere. I see Aly, not how-dare-you-Alyson-Mackenzie: this beautiful person, amazing as she is – someone who doesn’t need to change for anyone, especially her anal-retentive father that everyone hates anyway.”