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"That we have in common," her brother said, beckoning her to him. "Let's get you something to eat and we'll do a fun little activity before we go back home."
"Do we have to?" Cisco frowned at her question.
"Return home, that is," Noelle clarified in a small voice.
Both Cisco and Yu shared a hidden look before Cisco sighed.
"Yes we do. But I'm hoping this afternoon will help you," he said cryptically.
Noelle was about to ask him what he meant when her stomach announced loudly that she hadn't eaten since breakfast, and she flushed from head to toe in embarrassment.
She'd completely forgotten about it, since she'd been faced with issue after issue. She might have gotten hungry at some point, but she'd overlooked it at the time.
Yu smiled, and unpacking the food they'd bought, he laid everything out on the table, including some already cooked dishes.
Both Noelle and Cisco took a seat at the table while Yu served the food, placing a plate in front of Noelle, then one in front of Cisco, his hand brushing against her brother's in the slightest manner, yet one that didn't leave either unaffected.
Noelle noted that they shrugged it off with practiced ease before Yu took a seat at the table as well, helping himself to some food too.
"Thank you," Noelle murmured, giving him a small smile.
"You're welcome," Yu smiled brightly, patting her hair.
"Dig in, you'll need the energy," Cisco mentioned.
Not for the first time, Noelle had to wonder what the purpose of the trip was. She wondered if he was going to punish her in any way, but going by the way he'd behaved so far she didn't think he was upset with her.
But he should be, shouldn't he?
She'd been bad. She'd beaten those girls and had been rude to a teacher. It didn't matter that they had deserved what Noelle had dished to them. She'd been the bad guy for so long, she'd forgotten what it was like for someone to take her side because they thought she was entitled to her behavior—that she'd been provoked, not that she'd acted out of spite.
Because she was soodd, people liked to believe the worst of her. Certainly her mother did. She didn't want to think about her father, since she knew he would always side with Elena and the version of events she fed him.
Noelle ate slowly, savoring the food but also afraid that the cozy atmosphere would suddenly come to an end and her punishment would begin. She was used to be on the receiving end of all accusations, to be seen as the guilty party even when she'd done nothing, that she didn't think someone would acceptherversion.
She was wary—with good reason. But she was also enjoying the company too much and she didn't want to say anything that might destroy the ambiance. As such, she kept quiet, merely smiling and nodding along.
She'd become so inured to being on her own that she hadn't realized just how pleasant it was to interact with people—someone who didn't blame, sneer, or laugh at her.
So this is what it's like to have friends…
But then harsh reality dawned on her. Yu and Cisco weren't her friends. They were authority figures whose sole purpose was to curb heroddbehavior. Maybe they weren't using her mother's methods, but she doubted the goal wasn't the same.
As she brought a piece of bread to her lips, she chewed slowly as she observed the easy camaraderie between Yu and Cisco.
They were laughing at something Yu had said, and Noelle marveled at the way her brother's entire face lit up. He wasn't like the Cisco she'd come to know—not the cold, indifferent, scary man. No, this was someone else entirely. And she didn't know what to make of it.
"You think they're going to try to come again after what happened last time?" Yu asked with a sly smile.
"I want to see them try. In fact, I wish they did come again because I haven't had that much fun in years."
"You need the exercise, old man," Yu laughed, elbowing Cisco in his side.
Noelle blinked, taken aback by the fact that her brother was allowing it. In fact, he barely noticed it as if it was something that happened on a regular basis.
"You're one to speak. You're just two years younger," Cisco lifted a brow.
"But I get more exercise than you," Yu chuckled. "I'd wager even Noelle does," he continued, somehow involving her into the conversation.
