Free Thirty-Eight Days by Len Webster Page B

killed him knowing that there was a chance that she’d fall in love with Liam.
    He was comforting her. That was it.
    “Urghh!” he groaned out loud. He couldn’t sit on the couch any longer. He stood up. He was upset with himself for everything that had happened. Noel wanted to punch something, anything. The feeling inside of him was eating him alive. The guilt was unbelievably painful. He didn’t know how he could hurt someone like Clara.
    I should have been there!
    Looking around the apartment for something to break, he came up with nothing. Everything that Clara owned looked of sentimental value, and he couldn’t bring himself to break a frame or a vase. He could go for a run, but Clara could come home, and that meant he wouldn’t be able to speak to her. She would lock herself in her room, taking away his chance of reconciliation.
    A knock had Noel walking to the front door. He held the door handle and took a deep breath, trying to control the frustrating emotions that billowed inside. Opening the door, a woman in a red and white polka dot dress looked at him. Her eyes were wide in surprise before she composed herself and smiled at Noel.
    “Hi,” Noel said as he watched her wrap a lock of long blonde hair around her finger.
    “Oh... umm, hello!” the bubbly yet uncertain female said. She peered past Noel’s body and into the apartment. “Is, umm, Clara home?” Her name drew him like a beacon breaking through thick sea fog.
    “No, I’m sorry. She isn’t here at the moment,” Noel replied.
    “Oh,” was all she said before she frowned. The girl seemed disappointed in his reply. Noel stood there observing her as she continued to nervously twirl her hair.
    “Do you mind telling her I stopped by?” she asked sweetly.
    “Sure, umm, who are you?” Noel asked curiously.
    “I’m Annie. And you?”
    “Noel.”
    “Right, Noel, just Noel. Who exactly are you? Oh, not to be rude, of course.”
    “I’m Alex’s best friend. I’m staying at Clara’s till he comes back.” There was silence.
    “Oh, I get it now!” Annie exclaimed as she released her lock of hair from between her fingers.
    Get what?
    “Uhhh…” He trailed off, unsure of what to say or what Annie meant.
    “Oh, I’m sorry, just thinking. Now, I understand why she flaked out on us yesterday. She’s been busy with you! You guys aren’t… umm… sleep—”
    “We aren’t sleeping together!” Noel blurted out, stopping Annie. Her cheeks turned a vibrant red colour.
    “Oh, no sorry, I’m really sorry! It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have made assumptions. Clara texted us to cancel coming to the party she organised, and well, if she wasn’t with you then what happened?” Annie sighed.
    “Wait! It’s Wednesday !”
    “Wednesday?” Noel tilted his head at her.
    “Geez, how did I forget? It’s Wednesday! Clara works at the bakery all day on Wednesdays!”
    She’s at work. How could I forget?
    “Annie, last night with Clara, that was all my fault. I said some things to her and I made her cry and she well, yeah,” Noel breathed out, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
    “Wait a minute! Clara... cried?” Concern was obvious in Annie’s tone.
    “Uh-huh. I didn’t mean to, I just let loose and well I, uhh, messed up big time!” he confessed, placing his hand on the doorframe and letting out a heavy sigh.
    “Oh, I see.”
    “You do?” Noel asked, surprised.
    Annie nodded. “Of course, I do. I like Clara. She’s my friend; she may not believe me, but I owe her a whole lot.”
    “I, uhh, don’t follow, Annie.”
    “Clara is a strong person; you may or may not know that her last boyfriend cheated on her…”
    I want to find the bastard!
    “Yeah, I heard about that. Actually, I only know the basics.”
    “Oh, well, I won’t go into detail. That’s for Clara to tell you when she’s ready.” She gave him a reassuring smile.
    “I don’t think she will, Annie. You weren’t there. I was