The Next Day
Light slipped into the living room through the thin curtains. Nox’s eyelids fluttered. Half-conscious, he sat up and stretched. He yawned. His feet touched the floor. Still sleepy, he glanced at the clock on the wall.
10:15 AM
Nox grimaced and slapped his hands in the face. “Ouch! You idiot!” He growled to himself . He was mentally planning what he would say to his father when he got home from work. When a yellow sticky note caught his eye, Nox approached it slowly, as if it were about to eat him. The boy looked left and right and picked it up. The handwriting was hasty and crooked, yet familiar. Remir’s handwriting.
“Today I decided you wouldn’t go to school. Not after what happened to you yesterday. Rest will do you good. You don’t have to worry. I’ll see you when I get home from work.”
I love you, Dad.
Nox put down the note and went into the kitchen. A day off didn’t bother him at all. However, the thought of Vienna and Kieran haunted him. Yesterday, after chemistry class, he’d fled without explanation. Not a word, not a last glance. Nox shook his head and pulled out a carton of cereal.
“I should get in touch with them…”
The boy tilted the carton, pouring the cereal into a bowl. His gaze drifted to the couch where he’d slept the night before. His phone lay beside the plush dog. The screen was off. The boy put the carton of cereal aside. Before he could think it through, he was already holding his phone in his hand. Nox saw his reflection in the blank screen. He turned it on. His finger was tapping Kieran’s number, but his finger hovered over the call button.
“What if he doesn’t answer?…What if he thinks you’re a liar?…”
“Get a grip, Nox,” they muttered under their breath, and his finger finally settled on the green button. Nox put the phone to his ear. He closed his eyes, bringing his free hand to his mouths.
“Please answer… Or don’t…”
After a few rings, the boy answered, his voice echoing through the phone. And in Nox’s head.
“Hey, man! You’re alive, where are you?”
“At home… I’m not feeling well.”
On the other end, Nox heard Vienna’s voice, cheerful and relieved.
“Hey, Nox!”
“Hey Vienna,” he replied, finally removing his hand from his mouth.
“I’m sorry I ran away yesterday.”
Nox heard Kieran sigh.
“You don’t have to apologize… But it would still be nice if you explained what happened.”
Nox fell silent, only after a moment Kieran snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Nox, hello, are you there?”
“Mhm. I’m… Could you both come over later… I have something to tell you.”
Silence fell on the other end.
“Okay, we’re on our way.”
“Kieran, wait…”
A short beep came from the phone.
Kieran hung up before Nox could say anything more. Nox simply sighed, tossing his phone back onto the couch. Then he turned and looked into the kitchen, where his bowl of cereal was.
“Maybe I should eat something before they get here…”
—————————————
Half an hour later
Nox was sitting in the living room, his back against the couch. His guitar rested on his lap. Busy writing down some extra notes on paper when he heard the doorbell. Nox fell silent and listened. After a moment, the doorbell rang again throughout the apartment, followed by familiar voices.
“Do you think he’s home?” It was Vienna’s voice.
“I’m sure he is, you know him, he doesn’t like to go out. He might just be sleeping.”
“Maybe…but I thought I heard a guitar.”
Nox smiled faintly and placed the guitar beside him on the floor. Then he stood up and walked to the door, which he opened a little bit.
“Hey,” he replied, and the door opened wider. Vienna and Kieran stepped inside, looking around. Nox led them to the living room, then went to the kitchen, returning with three glasses of juice and sitting in the armchair opposite Kieran and Vienna.
“You know, you didn’t have to sneak out of class. This could have waited until later.”
Kieran grinned from ear to ear. Meanwhile, he pulled out his old, torn notebook in which he had written down all the information and observations about Nox.
“If you weren’t in a hurry, you wouldn’t have called me.”
“Or…” Vienna rolled her eyes. “Just like any diligent student, you decided to skip class so you wouldn’t have to take the math quiz.”
Kieran shrugged. “Maybe… But this is about Nox. So, man, tell me what you remember?”
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.