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"I’ you have to tell them yet, Coop We’re still new I can wait a little while I just…I missed them too, when I left I’m actually surprised Autumn hasn’t spoken to me yet She was always like that She used to inviteto ask" Noah smiled at the memory

"Yeah…yeah, I know they want to see you too We’ll plan soht on the bedside table, his eyes suddenly fighting to stay open He didn’t care that he was aNoah squeezed Coop, let himself start to drift off, with the one ed

The second the car came to a stop in their driveway, Cooper opened the door

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Aunt Autumn asked The so over and talk to Noah I want to tell hiame" Cooper had spent three days with his aunt and her fao this tiht hi Cooper had ever done and he couldn’t wait to tell Noah about it He knew his best friend would think it was just as cool as Cooper did

"Don’t be too long I’ame, too" She ruffled Coop’s hair

"Thanks, Autu the door behind him He ran to Noah’s house It was technically next door, but his aunt and uncle had a little bit of property, so he had to jog about a block down the road

The little, white house was dark when he pulled to a stop, out front, out of breath Noah’s parents’ car was gone, but Noah had told hiot ho to stay hoo somewhere with them if he didn’t want--which he usually didn’t

"Noah!" He called as he fist cahtly, not having been closed all the way "Noah, it’sto just go into the house

When no one came to the door, Coop decided to peek inside This was Noah’s house It’s not like they would care

With a hand on the door, he pushed "Noah--" His words died off when he saw the living rooone, and the pictures off the wall Cooper’s heart started going wild, even louder than all the fans had been at the game

"Noah?" He ran inside Went to the kitchen first The cabinets were all open, with nothing in the hiht for Noah’s rooone

He was a baby Such a freaking baby, because his eyes got blurry with tears They ran down his face,quickly behind theone His best friend had left him just like his parents had Noah was the only person who really got hiuy who knew he had nightmares but never told, and never made him feel like a wuss because of it

And then, that ache in his chest spread because he knew he’d let him down Just like his parents, Cooper had let him down He’d left for the weekend and Noah’s parents had o He’d pro Autumn and Vernon to let him live with them or they’d run away He hadn’t been here and because of it, Noah had to go away He hated that he’d gone to that gaone What was he supposed to do without his best friend?

Cooper didn’t even bother to wipe his tears away Didn’t bother to try and stop , as he turned and walked out of Noah’s rooain and back to the front door When he stepped onto the front porch, Vernon was standing there, sarette

"Your aunt told me you came over I’d hoped you’d come home first so I could tell you"

"What happened, Uncle Vernon? Where did they go?"

The ed "His mama and dad decided they wanted to leave, so they did"

Cooper crossed his ar "It’s not fair," he whispered He’d already lost Mom and Dad Why did he have to lose Noah too?