Once the library opened, Noah and Emma parted ways. Emma- going to the books. Noah- going to a backroom. There he waited for a retired high-school teacher who taught dropouts what may or may not be on the GED. Before parting, Emma smiled shyly as she said, "I'll be here till lunch time. That table over there is the one I sit at. If you have time, come join me before lunchtime." "I'll have time." Noah promised, and they both walked their separate ways.
Once Noah reached one of the four back rooms. The one he was in front of was the one that he had been attending every day the past week, besides when he went to church. He was early, but he usually was. Noah felt uncomfortable being late and could never be right on time. Being on time felt rushed. Everyone was usually on time, so everyone was doing the same exact thing to prepare. Being early meant Noah had time to think without being rushed.
Then Mr. Greg, the retired teacher, walked professionally to the door. He would glance at his wristwatch, making sure he was just a couple of minutes early. He glances over at Noah as he usually does before saying, "Good morning, Noah. Are you ready for a day of learning?" The same phrase that Mr. Greg always said. Noah nodded his head up and down. He didn't say anything to Mr. Greg, just the gesture.
Mr. Greg didn't take offense to it after all of the people who were paying him to teach Noah, or maybe he should have said Noah's uncle Andrew was paying him the most.
Mr. Greg or anyone, for that matter, would never say it out loud, but they did think it. It was strange that Andrew, who couldn't find his child one day, showed back up at church after not attending since his son went missing, with someone who looked like Noah- his lost child, but older. Andrew claimed that he was a relative who lost his parents and that his name was Noah as well. Everyone found it strange, but Andrew was the most powerful man in Middleburg, so no one asked any questions and just accepted it for what it was.
Mr. Greg unlocked the door and then opened it wide before slipping the stop underneath the door. Noah walked in, sitting in his usual seat, the one closest to the door. Mr. Greg went to his desk, sorting through some papers and then writing some math equations on the board.
Some of the other dropouts came into the room. There were six students, including Noah, and all of them were older than Noah. They were adults who dropped out to probably work early, but then later on in life found out they needed education to move up in jobs. So, they had to go backwards to go forwards. There weren't many, after all; most people didn't have the time or money to go backwards.
None of them talked to Noah, and he didn't talk to them. They were just too different from him. Older and her for vastly different circumstances. These people were trying to fix their past. Noah skipped forward in time.
Mr. Greg then started his lectures. But Noah wasn't listening; all he could think about was Emma. One thing he missed about being with Professor X and the other mutants was that they were like him. Someone to relate to. Noah didn't have that here in Middleburg, but for some reason, he felt like he could feel that way with Emma.
The lecture went on for an hour before Noah stood up. The people in the class looked in his direction. They still had three hours to go. Noah could feel the hidden smile on his face as he said, "I have to leave early." With that, he didn't wait for anybody to respond; he walked out the door and walked to the table where Emma said she would be.
The table was beside the window, and rays of the sun shone down on Emma as she was reading through one of the five different books laid out on the table. Noah did find that a bit strange; the library had a rule to only take two books out at a time. But the librarian, a strict, small, older woman, didn't say anything to Emma. It was strange because the angry woman would even get on to his dad and her; she was letting Emma do as she pleased.
Emma then moved her head from the book, sensing someone staring at her to see Noah. Emma smiled and pointed at the chair beside her. Noah smiles as well, taking his steps to that chair, sitting down in it, brushing his arm with Emma's. "You're here earlier than expected," Emma commented. Noah looked to the side as he lied, "Well, um, Mr. Greg is reviewing all today, and I already know all of the review." Emma had a knowing smile on her lips as she said, "Alright, I got the perfect starting book. I'll go over some of the stuff that I've already learned to you so that you're caught up." Noah nodded his head in anticipation, and Emma smiled as she started reading aloud to him. "There are 500 types of road signs-"
Noah tried to listen, he really did, but his focus was on Emma's face as she spoke. Her pretty lips formed the words, and her light blue eyes seemed to twinkle in the light. Her hair cascaded down in waves. "Noah… Noah? Noah!" Noah snapped out of his thoughts, hearing his name loudly. Realizing quickly that it was Emma calling. "Yeah?" Noah asked. Emma's eyes narrowed as she asked, "Have you been listening to me?" Noah nodded his head, "Of course." His face burned red, a product that happened when he was embarrassed or in a tense situation. Of course, it happened to him much more than others because of albinism.
Emma smirked, seeing his face turning red. "There's no need to read your mind, is there, Noah, when you display every emotion on that cute face of yours." Noah's face reddens even more, and he quickly brings his hands to his face to cover it. "Nuh uh." Emma said as she reached over to his hands, bringing them away from his face. "No hiding." Emma then held her hand on his cheek. It was cold and brought a nice sensation to his red-hot face.
They sat there staring into each other's eyes, but Noah could take it no longer as he pulled away and stood up. "Excuse me, I have to use the restroom." He said not to form complete sentences. As he walked away, he could hear the giggles coming from Emma. It sounded like a bell. He thought.
One in the restroom, Noah went straight from the sink to a mirror. Looking at the mirror, just as he expected, he saw his red face staring back at him. His long white hair, which was pulled back, was now drifting into his face. He quickly redid his hair and then started splashing cold water onto his face. "You need to calm down." He kept telling himself. Splashing even more cold water and taking deep breaths. "We aren't even friends yet. Let's get to that stage." Noah said softly. Once he was deemed calm enough, he walked out of the restroom and walked back to the table and sat beside Emma once again. "Ready to learn more?" Emma asked in a friendly way, as if they were restarting.
Noah needed the restart as he nodded as he said, "Yes, sorry, my head has been cloudy lately. I will be listening this time."
"Alright then, I'll start over this time, listen. We both want our driver's license." Emma then started back over, explaining the traffic signs, what they mean, and how every color had a different meaning. They studied together until. Mr. Greg was done with his lesson. The dropouts walked out and looked in Noah's direction and smiled, seeing that he ditched class for a girl. Surely it reminded them of their own times when they were in high school, as some nudged the other before laughing.
They walked out of the library, and Noah ignored them, hoping that Emma did as well.
Then lunch time came, and Emma asked, "Would you like to go get some lunch with me?"
"Yeah." Noah agreed as he nodded. They then both stood up and walked out of the library into the cold outside. "Brr, I forgot it was this cold." Emma remarked. "There's a place I know nearby. We won't have to be in the cold for long. Follow me." Noah took the lead, and unexpectedly, he led them to a beautiful building. That had people with formal wear going into it. It was a Fine Dining Restaurant called Harrimans Piedmont Grill. Emma could already feel her wallet evaporating. "Uh, Noah, how often do you go here?" Noah tilted his head to the side as he thought. "This is my father's favorite restaurant, so we've been here pretty often." Emma nodded, remembering that Noah's father was rich.
"Noah, you know this place is very expensive, right?" Emma asked. Noah shrugged his shoulders as he said, "I'll pay for the food, don't worry." Emma laughed loudly as she thought about her own background. She had come from wealth as well and normally would not have to worry about money, but this mission came out of nowhere.
"What's funny?" Noah asked. "Nothing, it's alright, I'll pay for my own food." Noah looked like he wanted to argue; he was always taught that the man should pay for the date, but was this a date? He questioned. "Emma. Please let me pay." Emma looked at Noah. She couldn't read his mind, but she could guess what he was thinking. She knew that this came down to principle for him, and she reluctantly agreed. "Alright, Noah, you can pay for everything, but just know that even though I look like this, it doesn't mean I don't eat." Emma gave a warning, and Noah laughed at it as they both walked inside.
The receptionist was very kind, even though Noah and Emma did not look dressed enough to enter. She and almost everyone in town knew who backed Noah and would not decline him. As soon as she showed them to their table, she went and informed the owner of who was there.
Noah and Emma sat at a table beside a window that had a view of the frozen pond out back. Normally, there would also be beautiful plants around the pond, but with it being so cold, the plants were dead.
The server asked for their order and drinks, and Noah was surprised at how easily Emma ordered her food. "Will you be at the library tomorrow?" Noah asked as he drank from a glass cup containing his favorite soda. "Yes, I will be. Will you be there tomorrow?" Noah nodded his head with a smile forming on his lips. "Then we can continue studying together." Emma had her own smile as she replied, "Why do I feel like you're ditching your GED class to learn with me?"
Noah calmed his beating heart as he told himself to tell his friends first. "I don't have many friends, and I think that we could be good friends. So, to answer your question, I believe I already know enough to pass my GED, so learning with you seems much more important to me."
Emma smiled, and then their food was brought to them.
They ate in comfortable silence, and Noah was shocked that Emma was in fact able to eat much more than her size let on. "How do you eat that much and stay that size?" Noah couldn't help but ask. Emma laughed as she replied, "Well, I forget to eat a lot, so I miss many meals, but when I do remember to eat, I make up for those missed meals."
Once they were done eating, they walked outside, and while Noah walked back to the library, Emma told him that she had to leave. Noah was sad to see Emma go, but he knew he would see her again tomorrow. Noah could not help but look forward to their next meeting.