Sweet Sugar Taxi

The car honked, startling Alice. She slid a glance over to her left to see that the car had actually gotten too close to her rather than in the other manner. Alice placed a lovely smile on her face that had never failed, and the guy who was driving the car atrocity gave her a second glance when he saw her face.

She wasn't even surprised when the car that was already precariously close to the sidewalk came closer yet, and the car window was just about to roll down to the point where she was able to hear the music playing in his car when Noah yanked her over to his side just as she was about to let the idiot know that he was being extremely rude to a pedestrian.

"Didn't you say that you weren't going to cause any trouble?" Noah said with her attached to his hip.

The car immediately swerved off after the dark expression on Noah's face. She didn't even get to have her word in, but maybe that was better for her because the situation had the chance to go off the rails after she caught sight of more people in the back who were sending her signals that were highly inappropriate that left a bad taste in her mouth.

"You dreamed that up," Alice replied with a smirk since she was already careful with her reaction to the other car. She wasn't trying to tarnish her reputation right before her life started. Every little action could have a consequence if she didn't know better. "Don't you dare say I was in the wrong. But it's fine since we're tight on time."

"Don't go doing things on your own," Noah said.

She huffed out a breath. "I won't."

He slid her another look, and she waved him off, trying to get him out of her face. He was too much in her bubble lately. 

Noah went out on the street to try and flag down a taxi before turning over his shoulder with a smirk. "We don't have time for you to go all prissy librarian on them."

Alice huffed out a breath but an annoyed smile was playing on her lips. "Ah, darn. I was so close to giving them the largest scolding in their lives. I already know that chiding librarian is your style."

"Better save that one for later," Noah replied as he flagged down a taxi and dragged her inside. He was starting to shut down on her judging by his stuttering emotions flashing on his face. 

She got in first and scooted across the seats for Noah beside her with the taxi scenting of something sweet. Alice was able to figure it out when she saw there were fresh donuts in a bag in the passenger seat in small baskets that were clearly for children, and the taxi driver looked over at them with a welcoming smile on his face. 

"Where to?" the warm voice said.

"Lisettes Hospital," Noah answered emotionless, their banter long forgotten as the heaviness of the situation settled in.

The man nodded before facing back to the front and starting the journey there. Noah was staring out the window, but it didn't take long for his knee to start bouncing in anxiety. She placed her hand on his knee to get him to stop. Alice could feel the visceral nervousness rippling off of him, and there was nothing that she could do.

The ride seemed longer than it was, and they were silent the whole entire trip. Alice felt bad since the taxi was filled with happy with a happy atmosphere once they came and crashed it. The taxi driver was kind enough to realize that it wasn't the best time to hold small conversations, and he turned the radio up.

The loud music of the popular music on the radio's attempt at drowning out the thoughts wasn't working well, but Alice got settled back into her seat to try and relax. She had been talking with Noah about his grandfather for so long now that she hadn't even realized what it meant to follow Noah along to visit. 

She was about to meet his grandfather very soon. And all that she could wish for was that she would be able to come in and see him well. The final turn of the car into the parking lot of the hospital was full of silence, and Alice glanced out the window to look at the tall building that was reaching the sky.

The major hospital was a big name in the city, and the daughter of the shareholder of the hospital attended the academy as well. It was no surprise that Noah's grandfather would be located here, but the sadness that was exuded off of him made her breathless with tears on the bridge of breaking free.