We Loved Until We Couldn’t Novel – Chapter 11
I don’t know. I might wait a couple of days before saying anything — see if he goes back home.
Maybe he just needs a break from his parents.
Same as I wish I could have sometimes.
That’s all. I’ll let you know what happens tomorrow.
— Iris
Dear Nora,
I have to admit something.
I fast-forward through all your dancing when I watch your show.
I used to love it — the way you danced through the audience at the start — but now I get a little bored with it. I’d rather just hear you talk. I hope that doesn’t make you mad.
Okay, so… I found out who the guy is.
And yes, he’s still staying over there.
It’s been two days now, and I still haven’t told anyone.
His name is Julian Cross, and he’s a senior — that’s all I know.
I asked Katie who he was when she sat next to me on the bus. She rolled her eyes and said, “His name’s Julian Cross,” like I was dumb for not knowing. Then she wrinkled her nose and said, “I don’t know anything else about him, but he smells.”
I wanted to tell her that he can’t help it — that he doesn’t have running water — but instead, I just looked at him. Maybe I looked too long, because he caught me staring.
When I got home, I went out to the backyard to do some gardening.
My radishes were ready to pull. They’re the last things growing this late in the season, and honestly, I probably could’ve waited a few more days to harvest them. But really, I was outside because I was being nosy.
While pulling them, I noticed something strange — a few were already gone. Dug up, dirt disturbed.
I know I didn’t pull them, and my parents never touch my garden.
That’s when I thought about Julian.
If he doesn’t have access to a shower, he probably doesn’t have much access to food either.
So, I went inside and made a couple of sandwiches.
Grabbed two sodas and a bag of chips from the pantry.
I packed them into a lunch bag and ran it over to the abandoned house, setting it on the back porch near the door.
I wasn’t sure if he’d seen me, so I knocked hard — twice — then ran straight home.
By the time I made it back to my window to check, the bag was gone.
That’s when I knew he’d been watching me.
And now that he knows I know, I can’t stop wondering what’ll happen if he talks to me tomorrow.
— Iris
Dear Nora,
I saw your interview with the presidential candidate, Barack Obama, today.
Does that make you nervous — interviewing someone who could actually run the country?
I don’t know much about politics, but I don’t think I could ever be funny under that kind of pressure.
Anyway, it feels like so much is happening to both of us lately.
You just interviewed a possible future president… and I’m feeding a homeless boy.
This morning at the bus stop, Julian was already there.
It was just the two of us at first, and honestly — it was awkward.
I saw the bus turning the corner and silently begged it to go faster.
Right before it pulled up, he took a step closer and said, quietly, “Thank you.”
He didn’t even look up when he said it — just those two words.
The bus doors opened, and he stepped aside, letting me go first.
I didn’t say “you’re welcome.” I couldn’t. His voice had sent shivers all through me.
Nora, has anyone’s voice ever done that to you?
Oh, wait — sorry. Has a girl’s voice ever done that to you?
He didn’t sit with me on the way to school, but that afternoon, when the bus came to pick us up, he got on last.
There weren’t any empty seats left, but I could tell by the way he scanned the rows that he wasn’t looking for one.
He was looking for me.
When his eyes met mine, I panicked and looked down at my lap.
I hate that I’m not confident around guys. Maybe I’ll grow into it someday. Maybe when I finally turn sixteen.
He sat down next to me, dropping his backpack between his feet.
That’s when I noticed what Katie meant. He did smell a little — but I didn’t judge him for that.
He didn’t say anything at first. Just kept fidgeting with a hole in his jeans.
It wasn’t one of those trendy holes you see in stores — it was a real one, worn thin from time and wear.