Noah flinched at the males words. The words hurt more than he thought they would. He closed his eyes tightly, wanting nothing more than to just completely just leave. "Your acting just like him...." He muttered, before he turned and walked away. He headed for the door, just wanting to leave.
That was it for Astrid. Any ounce of self-control he had left was immediately evaporated into thin air.
"Just like him?! Are you serious right now?! I am NOTHING like that man! Miles and I are the ones who helped get you out of that place, so don't you DARE say that about me." He slammed the plastic container of blueberries down on the counter, causing a few to bounce out and fall to the floor.
"Just shut up Astrid! You abandoned me just like my mother did these past months! The only reason I told you I was smoking was because I wanted to protect Miles! Every time you two argue and fight i'm the one stuck in the middle! I had to stay with my dad because you quit talking to me!! I was alone these months too! I'm not like you who has money, and i'm not like Miles who has a loving mom! I started smoking because I hoped that maybe it would kill me to save me from that hell hole and from the devil who I had to live with! So i'm sorry if i'm terrified to open up to you, and that i'm such a burden to you!" Noah shouted, finally just losing it. Tears ran down the males face as he slowly stood up straight
Astrid had never heard Noah stand up for himself before, especially not against someone he cared about. Despite his shock, he had constructed his retort within seconds. "I didn't abandon you! You let your fear get in the way! You stopped talking to us! You let your fears eat you alive! How can you expect someone else to care for your basic needs when you won't even do that yourself?!" He snapped back, shouting loudly. "You only get stuck in the middle because you choose to be! If you would just use your words and TELL US WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG, THEN MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM." He clenched his fists at his sides, looking up to make eye contact with the taller boy.
"Everything is wrong with me!! I'm broken Astrid!" Noah shouted, he slowly broke down. "I'm just a disappointment to everyone!! I can't tell you what's wrong because you'll just tell me to stand up straight! I just want to be normal like you...I just want to make you proud..."
He really feels that way? Astrid wondered silently, seeming to pause momentarily. "Why would you want to make me proud?" He muttered. He was confused. No one had ever valued him enough before to care about his opinions aside from Miles, and he wasn't sure how to process this.
"B-because I love you so much it hurts....a-and I just want to make someone who actually cares about me p-proud..." He muttered quietly, forcing himself to standing up straight at an almost painful angle.
Astrid glanced down, suddenly realizing how aggressive he had been. "..I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I understand why you started cigarettes, but I think it's important that we talk about things like this." He used his big boy words, for once.
"And you make me plenty proud, you idiot." He sighed, stepping forward and placing his head against the other's chest, holding the fabric of his shirt loosely in his hands.
He swallowed a little as he shifted his weight. His arms were around Astrid almost the second his head touched his chest. "I-I'm sorry..i-I get better, i-i come out of my shell more." He muttered quietly. He then froze for a moment, "I-I make you proud?"
Astrid knew that Noah was trying his best, and that was enough for him. He might be an idiot, but he's not stupid.
"You make me very proud. If you would start using that brain of yours, though, I think you would make yourself proud, too." He teased, keeping his tone of voice even as he spoke.
