MAKING UP

      Ethan and Faith walked into the police station holding hands and Noah watched them with scorn from the reception. Faith had purposely held Ethan's hands so that Noah could see that his schemes couldn't break them, rather it made them stronger.  They walked up to the table of the cop she was supposed to drop her statement with. A bulky man with curly brown hair and fat cheeks. 

      "Miss Prescott?" 

      "Yes." She glanced back at Noah and smiled lopsidedly and turned to face the cop again. 

      "We are granting him bail. Is it okay if he is here?" the cop asked eyeing Ethan suspiciously. 

      "Yes, I feel confident when he is here. I am not nervous." 

     "Alright. We understand that you filed a report against Mr Noah Bucks on the 6th of May?" 

       "Yes. He broke into my apartment." 

       "From the investigation, there was no forced entry." 

      "I don't know how he got in there, I came in and saw him sitting there on my couch." 

       "His statement said you invited him, you are acquainted." 

       "I didn't. I cut ties with him a long time ago." 

       "There was no evidence of violence and no evidence of forced entry and you have been friends..." 

        "Officer, you are not getting her point. She was harassed in her apartment." 

         "We need to take this logical Mr..." 

        "Floyd," Ethan offered. 

        "Mr Floyd. We have to look at it from both sides. Now, why would a man with the intention to kill someone go there without bullets in his gun and enter the house as peacefully as ever?" 

        "Because that is how he wants the police to see it," Ethan said. 

        "I sent out a panic message!" Faith said. 

         "That's right, you sent that message because you got shocked to see him with a gun. We understand these situations. What were you two talking about?" 

         "Nothing, he was threatening me!" 

         "He said he came to warn you about Mr Floyd here, is that right?" 

         "He came to do that for his selfish intere..."

        "Did he warn you about Mr Floyd's identity or not?" 

   Defeated, Faith relaxed back on the chair.  "He did." 

       The cop wrote it down on his pad.  "You know, Miss Prescott, it difficult to detain a man with no criminal records over some little lover's fight here. Go back and settle your difference." 

         "Jesus Christ! Are you listening to yourself?" Ethan fired. 

         "There is no case here, it's just some sentimental bullshit. Y'all should see a therapist." 

     Faith glanced back at Noah, he had a devilish smirk on his face. She turned back to the cop.  "Alright, but I would get a restraining order. I have nothing to do with Noah Bucks anymore and the next time he comes anywhere close to me, I will sue him." 

          "Maybe, you should do that, we would give him harassment warnings."  the cop said and stood. 

         Ethan glanced at Faith when the cop left his desk. "Why don't we push it further?" 

       "No, Noah only glories in seeing us humiliated. Let's leave him to his defeat. Let's go." 

        "Are you sure?" 

        "I am getting a restraining order right?" 

        "You know how hectic that is beside you don't have evidence of harassment. Has he sent you threat texts or emails before? Even the police didn't believe that he broke into our apartment." 

       "Let's go home. We would find a way. There is always a way around these things." 

       "Alright." Ethan stood up and Faith held his hand. 

    When they came closer to where Noah was seated, Faith asked Ethan to go ahead and wait for her by the car. He hesitated for a moment but she assured him that she was going to be fine. Ethan glanced at Noah and left the station. Faith walked up to Noah. 

        "Hey," she said. 

    Noah smiled.  "You can't even leave without saying hello to me." 

       Faith smiled sarcastically.  "I really can't." She moved closer.  "I love the way you feel you are winning." 

       "I always win, you know that." 

        "Yeah, you do, but I've got  something to say to you." She bent and put her mouth to his ears.  "You are crazy!" she said aloud in his ear, then lowered her voice again. "If you think you would win this time. Grow up boy, I am not some commodity that you can use. I am human and I have feelings." 

       "What are you trying to say?" 

       "I am trying to say that you should accept that you failed." She noticed Noah's breath quickened and deepened.  "You are not so smart after all, you can deceive the police all you want, but your schemes only make us stronger, you hear me? It only gets us stronger, so I would like for you to carry your self-serving self and look for help, you need it." 

       She started pulling away and he started to chuckle. She pulled away, stood straight and looked at him and started to chuckle with him.  His chuckle gradually turned into laughter and hers faded. 

      "Goodbye, Noah," she said and started to leave. 

    Noah's laughter followed her until she left the door. He bolted up from his seat and kicked it in frustration. 

       "F*ck! F*ck! F*ck!" he yelled as he kicked the seat. 

 The cops around stared at him in confusion as he kicked the seat in frustration. 

        "Are you alright there, buddy?" one of the cops asked. 

        "F*ck you!" he yelled at the man. 

    Ethan watched Faith as she came down the stairs, smiling and walking up to him.  When she got to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and he held her waist. 

       "What's going on?" he asked. 

        "Nothing, I just gave him a dose of his own medicine." 

        "Really? Are you alright?" 

        "Perfect. I need to run, I have to see Nora right away." She disentangled from him. 

         "Why?" 

        "We had a little fight. I will see you when I get back. You said you have some works to do." She patted his shoulder.  "Go do them while I go sort out my friendship." 

       He planted a kiss on her lips and planted small kisses all over her face.  "Be quick about it." 

        "Bye," 

         "Bye, I will see you soon." 

     She flagged down a cab and their hands slowly slid away from each other's hand as she moved away, smiling at him. 

        "Call me if you need my help," he mouthed. 

    Before she entered the cab, she blew him kisses. She got into the cab and the car moved away. Ethan stood there watching the car until it was out of sight. He got into his and zoomed off. 

      Nora avoided Charlie at the hospital after that confrontation. Charlie was both mad at Nora and Faith. He thought they trusted him, but it turned out that they didn't. He kept wondering how Faith could think of him like that and he was mad at Nora for avoiding him. 

      He bumped into Nora on his way to the pharmacy. He knew that she had been avoiding him, but he didn't know it was out of shame not because she believed Faith or think something was going on between him and Ethan. He ignored her and tried to move ahead but she stopped him. 

      "Charlie!" she called. 

  Charlie was somewhat startled but he stopped and turned to Nora without saying anything. Nora glared at him. 

        "Were you going to pass like you didn't see me?" 

         "You avoided me first." 

        "That's because...because I am ashamed, can't you see?!" 

       Charlie squinted his eyes at her.  "Ashamed?" 

       "Right now, I am so confused.  I have never been this confused in my life before. I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea." 

        "What do you mean?" 

        "I don't know what to believe. I have never had to make this kind of decision in my life before, having to choose who to believe." 

       "You have chosen who you believe already." 

        "No, Charlie, I haven't. I just said I'm confused. I don't know if Faith is right or not, I can't tell. I can't believe Ethan did those things and I can't believe he has anything to do with you. But my loyalty lies with Faith and I can't hurt the both of you." 

      "I would be a liar if I say I don't understand what you are saying, but, just calm down, alright?" Charlie said. 

   Nora's phone beeped and she fumbled in her pocket for the phone. As Charlie watched her, his own beeped. He looked at the screen and saw it was Faith.  Faith had texted both of them that she would be at the hospital in a few minutes and they should wait for her at the canteen. Charlie who was so mad at Faith sighed and walked away. Nora quickly wiped her tears and headed towards the canteen. 

      She sat there for a few minutes and Faith wasn't anywhere to be found. No one showed up and she wondered if Faith was just pulling her legs. 

      Faith watched Nora from the window for a while after some time, she went into the canteen and walked up to Nora who was looking at her as she approached her with her right hand behind his back. 

     "Hey," Faith said once she got to the table where Nora was seated. 

        "Hey," Nora replied. 

   Not knowing what else to do, Faith shoved her hand that has been hidden from Nora in her face and there was a box tied up with colourful ribbons. Nora stared at her and the box in her hand for a while, somewhat surprised. She didn't believe what was going on. Faith urged her to take it with a smile. 

        "I am sorry for blaming you," Faith said. 

  Nora's eyes widened.  "I should be the one saying sorry…"

      "Sometimes, saying sorry doesn't mean you are wrong, my darling." 

       Nora took the box from her and untied the ribbon while Faith took a seat opposite her, still smiling. When she opened the box, her favourite cupcakes were in there, in different flavours. Tears welled up in her eyes and she looked from the cake to Faith. Faith smiled and reached over and took one of the cupcakes. 

        "Let me taste it first," Faith said and bit into the cupcake. 

      Nora's eyes widened.  "Why did you...?"

       "You had the look of utter disbelief on your face. I have to just clear your doubt." 

         "Oh, baby girl... I can never think of you that way." Tears ran down Nora's cheeks.  "This is very beautiful. It's very lovely of you. Thank you so much." 

       "You are welcome," Faith said and looked around. 

     Nora took a cupcake and chewed, feeling overwhelmed by the gesture.   "I'm so sorry for hiding things from you." 

        "I'm sure you had a good reason for that and I would have done the same in your shoes." 

       "I just want to give you a hug right now." Nora stood up, Faith stood up and they both hugged each other tightly for a moment. 

        "I sent this text to Charlie, I wonder if he had not seen it yet. Is he busy?" Faith asked once they were seated again. 

      Nora opened her mouth and no word escaped her mouth at first, then she closed her mouth and looked down. Faith saw her reaction and frowned. 

        "What's the problem?" 

         "I am sorry, I just wanted to make it up to you," Nora cried. 

       "Nora, what did you do?" 

       "I confronted him after you left." 

        "What?" 

        "I know, I know, I'm so ashamed that I can't even look in his eyes. Now, he is mad at you for accusing him like that." 

        "Nora, it was just an assumption!" 

        "I know, but I wasn't thinking straight, yesterday after you left, I had to do something. Something I thought would help." 

         "Alright, Ethan said he has never been attracted to a man before and I believe him, it true..." She took out her phone and dialled Charlie's number. It rang for a while but wasn't answered.  "Shit!" she exclaimed. 

     Nora still kept her face down.  "I'm sorry." 

  Faith looked at her and burst into laughter. Nora looked up at her in surprise.   "It's hilarious how vulnerable you appear right now." 

       "Ain't you mad?" 

        "I just forgave all your sins right now, duh!" 

  Charlie walked up to them and took a seat opposite Faith, he looked so serious.  "You sent for me, Faith." 

  Faith suddenly lost all she had wanted to say, Charlie stared at her for a while.  "I'm sorry, I went to the pharmacy to get some drugs... Why are you both staring at me like that, like I just fell from space?" 

      "Charlie, I'm so sorry for thinking that way about you, I was being irrational." Charlie remained quiet.  "Can you say something, please?" 

     "Well, you should mean it when you say sorry." 

  Faith was confused.  "I mean it, it's from the bottom of my heart." 

        "Oh, really?" Charlie eyed the box in front of Nora.  "So, why didn't you bring an apology gift for me and you gave it to Nora here. For God's sake, I was the one accused falsely here." 

     Faith opened her mouth and closed it and then burst into laughter.  "Of course, of course, I owe you one." 

       "I am only forgiving you because I like you, I don't forgive people easily." 

       "I will bear that in mind," Faith said with a smile. 

  Charlie reached and grabbed a cupcake from Nora's box. Nora yelled and tried to stop him but he threw it into his mouth. Nora watched him wide-mouth as he chewed the cupcake and Faith sat there laughing. 

      "So, how is your life? I guess you have found out what the truth is," Charlie asked Faith after chewing. 

       "Yes, I have and I must say I am glad. This particular truth is sweet." 

        "Why won't it be? I mean you hit the jackpot," Nora said. 

         "I don't love him because of his money, Nora." 

         "I know that, girlfriend. Did you remember when you said he is a man without a future?" 

         "Okay, I never said it that way." 

          "So, what are you gonna say now, huh?" Charlie asked. 

           "I think he is just my perfect guy—even without the money or fame." 

          "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh!" her friends teased. 

           "Well, congrats girl. You deserve all the best things in life," Nora said. 

          "See how it makes you glow," Charlie said. 

          "From within, yeah," Nora put in. 

          "Come on, guys, stop you are flattering me." 

         "Are we?" Nora asked.  "What about that loser, Noah?" 

         "He is there. The police are granting him bail and they are giving him harassment warnings." 

          "What?!" Nora exclaimed. 

           "I'm getting a restraining order though." 

           "While at that, you should just enjoy your pre-honeymoon," Nora said. 

           "Is that even a word?" Charlie asked and chuckled. 

        They all laughed.  "Let's meet up  after work for a couple of drinks guys," Faith said. 

         "Bills on you, new money?" Nora asked. 

          "Bills on me," Faith said smugly. 

          Her friends cheered her and they discussed other things and she left for home.