Baby I'm A Sinner novel Chapter 56

"What happened?"

"While we were out last night, no one was here to watch Charlie."

"Did she run away?" I ask, immediately feeling sick to my stomach.

"No...she was run over."

"By whom?"

I don't really want to cry, but I feel terrible and like I've lost someone important.

"We don't know, but we found her this morning across the street."

"And where did you put her?"

"The garbage disposal behind the apartment buildings."

"You just threw her out?" I exclaim, pushing my chair back from the table.

"What else were we supposed to do?"

"I'm not hungry anymore." I say as I run upstairs and into the bathroom, throwing up everything that I have in my stomach and not even on purpose.

I feel to sick to face everyone right now so I throw myself in my bed and grab my phone. I tell Jake and Emma about it, and of course they're both sorry and heartbroken because the three of us had found her three years prior, under to a car that was parked next to our school.

I get a new message, and I see it's Noah asking how I'm doing.

Me: I'm ok, you?

Noah: everything alright?

Me: no

Noah: :(

Noah: what happened?

Me: my cat was run over

Me: and my parents threw her in the garbage bin ffs

Noah: I'm sorry :(

Me: what are you doing?

Noah: getting ready to go to this boring charity new years gala with my parents

Me: where is it?

Noah: Hilton

Me: ooh that's posh

Me: bring me some soap back :))

Noah: okay :D

He goes offline after that, probably because he has to shower, but not without promising that he'll text me later. I get up and start packing for Emma's, even though a sleepover is the last thing on my mind right now.

My mother doesn't even tell me to be back home at 12, obviously feeling guilty about what happened to Charlie.

Mrs. Smith answers the door with a big smile, welcoming me inside and taking off my coat, although I insist she doesn't have to. Then she lets me know that there are cookies in the kitchen if I want some, right before I thank her and walk up the stairs.

Jake is already there, greeting me with a big hug and a giant, sloppy kiss on my lips.

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" Emma asks from inside her room and I look at him surprised.

"I was supposed to tell her!" he exclaims.

"Tell me what?"

"I know that this isn't the right time, but well...Harry and I are kind of dating."

"What? Since when?"

"Since yesterday, at the New Year's party."

"Oh my God! This is huge!" I say and hug him. "What did Lucas say?"

"He doesn't...know yet. And we'd like to stay like that for the next two weeks if possible. To see if we...you know. Are actually going to last for a while.

"Alright, sure."

We then settle on Emma's giant double bed with her laptop and an arsenal of crisps and ice cream, putting a chick flick on. It's like a ritual. Every Friday night before school starts after at least a week of vacation, the three of us gather at one of our houses for a girl's night in.

"So you and Noah huh?" Emma asks as the movie plays, and I can feel both of them watching me with full mouths and curious glares.

"Yeah...no. We're not like, together. And I don't think we'll ever be."

"But you like him." Jake says with his mouth full.

"And he likes you." Emma adds, almost spitting out her ice cream.

Why do my best friends always deep stuff way too much food in their mouths?

"Yeahh..." I drag on, closing my eyes, thinking that after two bottles of wine I could fall asleep just like this.

That is, until my phone annoyingly rings from across the room. It's the one time I hate hearing Martin Garrix's beat drop.

"Who the fuck calls you at twelve in the morning?" Emma complains from her window seat.

"Noah." Jake immediately guesses, and I'm about to flip him off but Noah's name is indeed showing up on the screen.

"Yeah?" I answer, trying to sound as sober as possible.

"Where are you?"

"At Emma's. What's up?"

"Well...I'm in the park across the street and I can't stay long because I told my parents I was going out for a smoke...so can you like, sneak out?"

My heart picks up its rate.

"Alright? I'll be there in a moment."

"Where are you going?" Jake asks when he sees me putting on one of Emma's thicker jackets and a beanie.

"Noah's outside so I'm going to meet him for a minute. That okay?"

Emma answers with a wave of her hand so I take it as a yes. Jake locks the door behind me and I exit the yard without a sound.

Noah is waiting on a bench in the park like he said, with his blazer buttoned all the way up. It's a bit cold and I'm freezing in my cotton pajama bottoms as I make my way towards him.

"Wazzzuuuup." I greet and sit down next to him, crossing my legs.

"Are you drunk?"

"Shhhh. I'm Dani, by the way."

He rolls his eyes with a smile and pulls me across his lap.

"I've got something for you."

"Is it money? A car? What?" I furrow my brows, listing off things I'd like.

"No."

He then manages to unbutton his blazer to reveal a fluffy white ball of fur.

"What-NO!" I exclaim when I see a small kitten looking up at me with innocent eyes.