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It struck Cisco that his sister did not behave like a nine-year-old—not that he knew how most behaved. But because she was so atypical than any child he'd ever met, he was unsure how to proceed.
Her speech, manner and intelligence all spoke of someone far more advanced than her years. But it was her eyes that struck him the most—the eyes of someone in pain but unable to speak out.
Not for the first time, he had to give it to Yu for orienting him towards the issue.
Though they were exceedingly similar in nature and intellect, Yu was more emotionally inclined than he. While Cisco excelled at intricate planning and horizon scanning, Yu was the perfect counterpart to bring him more in touch with the emotional side of human nature—which he could sometimes lose sight of.
That wasn't to say Cisco was emotionless, as exemplified by the anger he felt at the mistreatment of his sister. He was just rather…unfeeling.
"Why are you doing this?" Noelle asked, tilting her head to study him with her shrewd gaze.
"Because we're a lot more similar than you think."
She blinked.
"And because I think you need someone to talk to, don't you?" He asked in a soft voice, earning himself an even softer smile from Yu as he arranged his rearview.
"Ok," Noelle added softly. "For now."
Cisco chuckled at her last words, inviting her into the car as he took his seat next to Yu.
The drive took close to two hours before they finally reached their destination. On the way there, they only stopped once to get something to eat and drink, and Cisco switched places with Yu to drive the car. Noelle thought it slightly odd, and it didn't escape her notice that the exchange was made as soon as they were out of the city. But then she'd always found Cisco's relationship with Yu a strange one.
If there was someone Elena disapproved of more than her, it was Yu. Nevertheless, Cisco had always shot their mother down when she'd commented about Yu, going against the family's wishes and making him his right-hand man. They were always together, and sometimes Noelle thought they acted like one person rather than two.
But she couldn't complain.
She liked Yu.
He was nice to her, always with a treat up his sleeve to give to her. He might not speak much, but there was a certain warmth that emanated from him that drew Noelle in.
Whereas Yu was warm and affable, her brother was the opposite—which is why she was so confused by their dynamic.
She was even more confused that it had been Cisco who'd come to school. As far as she knew, he never involved himself in her matters, rarely even acknowledging her presence.
The fact that he'd been present at her school recital had been a surprise. But for him to come get her from school? That was unprecedented.
As the car drew to a stop, Noelle stepped onto the damp grass, her eyes taking in the small lodge and the vegetation around.
"We're in a forest," she frowned.
"So we are," Cisco chuckled, coming to her side. "This is my secret spot—ourhidden spot," he corrected himself as Yu came around with the bag of food. "No one knows the exact location, so I use this place when I want to get away from civilization," he told her.
Noelle nodded as she carefully observed the area. The lodge was the only construction around, the entire area green and seemingly untouched by man.
At her brother's signal, she followed him as they entered the house. Immediately, Noelle was struck by the size of it. From the outside it looked like a typical hunting lodge, small and compact. But from the inside she noted it was quite spacious and split into two levels.
Everything was made from wood, and the rustic atmosphere gave her a sense of comfort that she'd been missing in the city. The lack of noise was the first thing that registered. No longer were the car engines and horns filling the background. Instead, there was a dull thrum that lulled her into a sense of security.
A weary sigh escaped her, almost as if she'd been holding her breath her entire life and only now managed to find some reprieve from the stress of the world.
That small sigh didn't go unnoticed by either Yu or Cisco, with the former smiling approvingly while the latter shook his head in amusement.
"I reckon you approve of theaway from civilizationpart," Cisco added.
Noelle's cheeks went red as she realized how obvious she'd been.
"Yes," she answered, still peering around. "It's quiet," she observed. "I like quiet."
