8. Home #2
“Good,” he sighed, relieved. A soft smile brushed across his face as he squeezed her hand.
“Where are we?”
“Valley Hospital, I’m told.”
“Huh?” she looked around, welcomed by a dismal air that reeked of illness and bleach. How did he get her here?
“Where’s Davy? Is Davy okay?”
“He’s fine,” he said. “Healed by Lunara’s blessing in the creek. Of course, you’re not so lucky, at least not until tonight.”
“And Lila?”
“Pissed, but fine. She went home.”
Flora sighed and looked off, unsure if she could bring herself to ask about the last person. Noec brushed his hand over her forehead, seeing how it wrinkled in distress. She looked back at him, and he quickly hid his worried eyes with a smile. Flora noticed the holes and bloodstains on his shirt.
“Everything is okay,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”
“Noec... are you okay? Your shirt…”
“I healed right up in the spring, too. Don’t worry.”
Flora looked around. “Where is everyone?”
“You’re having a hard time remembering, huh?” he said gently. “Your mother and Davy are out grabbing lunch, and your father is around here…” He looked out, uneasy. “... somewhere.”
“You met my parents?” Flora said. “How did that go?”
“So…” Noec started. “Poofing into their living room with two of their battered children was probably not the best introduction.” He shrugged. “Better luck next time, I guess.”
“Oh lord,” she sighed.
“Sure made for an awkward ride to the hospital.”
“Jesus, Noec,” she chuckled, and she met his slight smirk. Her head was still throbbing, but she was glad to have him there. “What a nightmare,” she said. “I never thought you’d have to come here.”
“Yeah.” For a moment, Noec’s smile seemed almost sad. “Still,” he told her, “I was… surprised to find that no one here had ever heard of me.”
“I—” Flora paused, then sat forward slightly. “Noec, it’s not because I didn’t want anyone to know.”
“It’s okay, Flora.”
“It’s because I didn’t want everyone to think I was insane.”
He paused, and there was a shift in his countenance, partly frustrated, and partly forsaken. “So… you were going to live your whole life here, pretending like we never existed?” He looked up and into her eyes. “Pretending like I never existed?”
She stared at him, shocked, then disappointed. Disappointed in herself, mostly, because she couldn’t come up with an excuse good enough to make it sound like that wasn’t exactly what she’d intended to do.
“I’m sorry, Flora,” he said with a sigh. “Right now, that’s the least of your worries.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Flora said. “I should’ve brought you into my life sooner.
” She watched him and made sure he was watching back.
“I was so terrified of one day realizing that none of it was real, that it was all in my head. You don’t know how glad I am that you’re really here—and that my best friend isn’t just imaginary. ”
“I didn’t realize…” He blinked, and his gaze softened. “Pixie… I didn’t know that was something you were struggling with,” he said, leaning in closer. “I’m glad to be here with you.”
Flora noticed his gentle hand, still wrapped around her fingers, and a sudden warmth flooded to her cheeks.
“You hit your head pretty hard, girly,” a comforting and familiar voice interrupted.
“Hi there, Dad,” Flora coughed, and she withdrew her hand a little too quickly.
“Hey, sweetie. How ya’ doin?” He glared at Noec, cutting between him and his daughter as he came to her side.
“Good. Just tired,” she said, grabbing his hand. “Can I go home?”
“Uh… good question.” He sucked in his bottom lip and looked at Noec, whose face had faded back to worry. Awkwardly, he patted Noec’s shoulder and made his escape. “Let me go talk to a nurse.”
“He’s not a fan,” Noec noted aloud. “I think he’s still having a hard time making sense of everything.”
“He’ll warm up,” Flora assured him. He looked out into the busy hallway, unsure.
“Hey, Noec?” Flora began apprehensively.
“Yes?”
“What happened to Sona?”
Noec paused. Still looking off, he took a deep breath.
“You have to tell me,” she insisted.
“What if…” he strained nervously, then offered a timid smile before continuing, “... what if we worry about that later? Let yourself recover a bit.”
“I’m going to find out tonight anyway,” she said. “I’d rather hear it from you than anyone else.”
With a slow sigh, he leaned in and took her hands in his. “Flora,” he said softly, and in his green and gold eyes was a sadness she had seen only a few times before. “Sona is dead.”
Slowly, Flora’s eyes began to well with tears, and Noec’s followed at the sight.
With a wavering voice, Flora asked, “How?”
“She... she was killed,” he said. “We found her in the morning.” Flora gasped quietly into her hand. “I know,” he said solemnly. “I’m so sorry, Flora. I know how much you loved her.” Noec wrapped his arms around Flora as she found herself sobbing, gripping him tight as she did.
She breathed deeply, in an attempt to compose herself, and looked him in the eyes. “Why did Perri say it was me?”
Noec sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. “I... I don’t know. Rachel said he saw you leaving her house in the dark.”
“I—I was leaving her house. Last night.”
“Past midnight,” he said. “He said it was long past midnight.”
“That... doesn't make sense.”
“I know,” he replied. “But he was sure of it.” Noec looked back and forth between Flora’s eyes. “I know it wasn’t you.” Flora watched him as he seemed to battle with his own thoughts.
“It wasn’t Perri,” Flora said.
“Flora…”
“It wasn’t him,” Flora asserted. “The way he looked at me—he believed it was me.” Flora watched him as the fear in his eyes settled, but only a little.
“I just don’t know what to think,” he said with a sigh. “I wish I could believe that wasn’t Perri at all.”
“You really had to foil my plans,” Davy jested as he guided Flora out to his car. “How am I supposed to mess with Mom and Dad now that you’re bringing that beefcake home?”
“Davy, what the hell is a beefcake?”
Flora and Noec piled into Davy’s car, which smelled of beef jerky and dirty gym bags. Noec gripped the seat ahead of him as soon as the car started moving.
“Oh, yeah. Noec here is terrified of cars,” Davy teased, whipping out of the parking lot.
Flora turned back and whispered, “It’s not the car, is it?” Noec smiled and shook his head, meeting Davy’s glare in the rearview mirror.
“Listen, Flora’s been letting me drive her around for years. Hasn’t died once.”
“Yet,” she said.
Flora caught Noec’s reflection as he gazed curiously out the window in awe, and she couldn’t help but smile.