After The Storm

Noah, Maxine and Dakota all stood side by side in the middle of the living room in their new apartment looking around with dropped jaws.

“Holy fuck.” Maxine said.

“Very subtle Max.” Noah said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, as subtle as that ass of yours.” Maxine replied walking further into the huge living room.

“You’re not funny.” Noah said pinching her best friend in the side.

Maxine squealed as she jumped back. “Bitch!”

Noah laughed and ran towards the bedroom next to the living room as Maxine followed. Once she stepped foot in the room she stopped immediately her jaw dropping again. Noah flew forward trying to catch her balance as Maxine ran right into her.

“Fuck me.” Maxine said looking around the room with wide eyes. “I’m assuming this is the master bedroom.”

“Probably.” Noah said walking towards the glass door that led to the balcony. “Look at this view Max.”

“You lucky bitch. I hope you know I will be in here all the time. You might as well call this room ours.” She said, unlocking the door and sliding it open.

Both girls walked out on to the balcony and took in the breathtaking view of Pittsburgh. Fantastic views weren’t uncommon for the two girls who hailed from New York City but it was quite different. That was one reason Noah felt so at ease. After the traumatic past few months she had had, different scenery would be good for her.

“I have a good feeling about this city Noah.” Maxine said throwing her arm over her Noah’s shoulder. “This will be good for you. All of us, really.”

“Yeah, I know Max.” She said looking over at Maxine, her best friend since elementary school. “I really hope this will be a good move. I don’t want to end up regretting it.”

“I don’t think you will. There is nothing to regret about change. Change is always good.” Maxine spoke seriously.

Noah chuckled and looked back out towards the city. “Okay, Dr. Lewis. Whatever you say.”

Maxine bumped Noah with her hip as they both fell into light laughter.

“Hey, you better listen to me. I’m on my way to becoming a psychologist. A damn good one, at that. Just imagine how much money I’ll be making.” The red head said, smiling.

Noah raised an eyebrow before crossing her arms across her chest and looking down at Maxine. “Are you only worried about the money? Shame on you. Your main objective should be helping people.”

“First of all, I want to help people. My check will just be a perk. Second, damn you and your boots. Take them off. You looking down at me feels weird. I’m the tall one.” She said backing away.

Noah laughed out loud and shook her head. “You are the one that told me to wear the boots for my interview.”

“Yeah, well the interview was an hour ago. Take them off. I know your feet hurt. You hate shoes with heels.”

Noah walked over to the black chest in the middle of her room and sat down on it, taking off the boots. “You’re totally right. I don’t know why I still have these things on.”

Maxine laughed at her friend and closed the balcony door. They both looked towards the bedroom door when they heard footsteps.

“I can’t believe dad is paying for us to live here. How much is rent again?” Dakota said looking around.

“$3600, I think. But he’s not going to pay for all of it forever Dakota. Only for three months. You still need to find a job. He’s only going to pay for half come December.” Noah said looking at her younger brother.

“I know, I know. No need to get so serious on me, Noah.” Dakota said rolling his eyes as he walked into the bathroom. “Damn!”

Noah and Maxine got up quickly and walked over to the bathroom. They stepped inside and laughed when they saw Dakota sitting in the tub.

“Look how big this thing is. I could have like…six girls in here with me.”

“Ha! Not in my tub. You can do whatever you want in your bathroom.” Noah said with her hands on her hips.

Dakota looked up at his sister with a blank face. “One, you look like mom standing like that. Two, that tub isn’t big enough.”

“Well, that sounds like a personal problem.” Noah said before they all heard a knock on the door. The three of them walking back out into the living room and Dakota walked to the front door and opened it. Noah smiled wide at who she saw walk in first.

“Auntie Noah!!!” the little girl said loudly, before running into Noah’s awaiting arms. “I miss you so much!”

“I missed you too, Olivia. You’re getting so big!” Noah said smiling at her young niece.

“I know. Daddy says I am a big girl.” Olivia said animatedly to Noah. “Hi, Auntie Maxi!”
“Hey sweet thing!” Maxine said caressing the young girl’s cheek. “You know, you get more and more beautiful every time I see you.”

“Daddy says that too!” Olivia giggled.

“It’s because it’s true baby doll.”

Noah looked up to see her older brother Shay standing in front of her donning the infamous Harjo smile. Shay, Noah and Dakota all had it. Shay even passed it down to Olivia. It was a big, bright smile paired with deep dimples. They used it to their advantage a lot growing up. Maxine grabbed Olivia out of Noah’s arms and Noah immediately threw her arms around her brother’s neck. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up in the air swinging her slightly.

“I’m so glad you decided to come here.” He said into her ear as he put her back down on the ground. “Now I have family here.”

“You had Olivia and Jenna.” Noah said looking at him.

Shay roughed up her hair before speaking again, “You know what I meant.”

“You just had to mess up my hair, didn’t you?” Noah said, pulling her long, wavy light brown hair into a low ponytail.

“Of course, I know you hate it and I haven’t been able to do it in a long while.” He said laughing.

“Babe, stopping hogging her. I want a hug too.” Jenna, Shay’s wife, said stepping in front of him and pulling Noah into a hug.

“He’s so selfish right?” Noah said into Jenna shoulder as they hugged.

“So, so selfish. I don’t know how I put up with him.” She said in Noah’s ear making her laugh out loud.

“If you guys want tot continue talking about me, I can just leave.” Shay said in a bored tone.

“Oh, stop being such a baby.” Jenna said pulling back form the hug and placing her arm around Noah’s shoulder. “You know you love both of us.”

“I don’t know why sometimes.”

“Now, that’s just mean.” Noah said looking at him.

“I’m kidding.” He said with a smile. “Anyway, how do you like the place?”

Maxine, Olivia and Dakota joined the group and Maxine spoke. “Well, Noah and I haven’t made it to the other rooms yet. Only the living room and the master bedroom but if it looks anything like those two I’m never going to leave this apartment.”

Everyone laughed and Jenna spoke, “So Shay said him and Dakota could watch Liv while we go shopping for the house stuff. Are you guys ready? I’ve got an itch and I’m ready to shop.”

“Actually, let me change really quick and they we can go.” Noah said before walking into the master bedroom and over to a box marked ‘clothes’ and opened it. She grabbed a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a grey New York Rangers t-shirt and quickly changed before tearing open another box containing her shoes and grabbing a pair of sneakers. She slipped her feet into them and walked out of the bedroom.

“Okay, I’m ready.” Noah announced to everyone. Shay looked at his sister and shook his head.

“You might want to change that shirt.”

“Why?” Noah said looking down at the shirt. “There is nothing wrong with it.”

“Yes there is. It says ‘New York Rangers’.” He said smirking. “You’re in Pittsburgh Penguins territory now.”

“Pfft. Whatever. I bleed New York and if anyone has a problem with it too bad. You ready girls?” Noah said grabbing her purse and snatching Dakota’s black baseball cap off of his head and putting it on hers.

“Yeah.” Jenna said, kissing Olivia and Shay and patting Dakota on the head. “We’ll meet you guys back at our place.”

~~~~~~~~~~

After about two hours in IKEA, Noah, Maxine and Jenna almost had everything Noah and Maxine had written down on their list.

“I can’t believe we have two baskets worth of stuff.” Noah said shocked.

“Well, believe it sister. IKEA is a wallet killer.” Jenna said. “Anyway how did your interview go?”

“It went well. I got the job.” Noah said happily.

“Not that she didn’t know she was going to get it already. Noah takes one hell of a picture.” Maxine said looking down at the list.

“Guys, there are a lot of great photographers out there. A lot better than me.”

“I disagree. I haven’t seen any pictures more beautiful than Shay and I’s wedding photos.” Jenna spoke up.

“You’re only saying that because I took them.” Noah said blushing.

“No, I’m saying that because it’s true. Don’t be so modest. You’re amazing Noah.” Jenna said with a smile.

“Thanks Jen.” Noah replied back to her sister-in-law. “Speaking of that, I need to get a lamp that will help with lighting for my pictures. You guys head towards the register while I go grab one. I’ll meet you there.”

Noah split up from Jenna and Maxine as she quickly made her way to the lights area. She walked down an aisle containing a variety of tall lamps and began checking each one out.

“You’re such an ass sometimes, you know that?”

Noah looked to her left and saw three guys standing at the end of the aisle. They were all tall, definitely taller than her, but two stood over the third a bit.

“I’ve been told that many times before TK. You’re not the first to tell me. I’m just being honest with you though. You don’t have any game.”

Noah tried to ignore the conversation between the three guys and continued looking at the lamps. When she decided which one she wanted she looked up, put her hands on her hips, and sighed.

“Shit.” She said softly, looking up at the boxed lamp that she couldn’t reach. She stepped up on the first shelf and tried to reach it but failed.

“You need some help?”

Noah turned to her right and looked up into a pair of bright blue eyes.

“Uh, yeah. If you don’t mind.” She said stepping down from the shelf.

Noah watched him walk forward and grab the medium sized box and pull it down. He sat it in front of her and moved his eyes to her. She noticed him glance at her shirt before looking her in the eyes. She couldn’t help but laugh to herself.

What are the odds?

“Rangers fan, huh?” He said.

“Of course. I mean, they are the best team.”

The guy laughed out loud heartily which made Noah laugh too.

“Oh yeah?” He said.

“Absolutely.” Noah said smiling.

“You’re not from Pittsburgh are you?” He asked, wearing a smirk on his face.

“Is it obvious?” Noah said innocently.

“Just a little bit.” He said smiling.

“Well-”

“Noah, what’s taking you…so…long?”

Noah turned to see Maxine walking up behind her but completely ignoring her and staring at the tall blonde in front of her. Noah then turned to face the guy and saw him staring at her best friend with a similar look. Noah sighed and bent over picking up the box.

“Well, thank for grabbing the lamp for me. I appreciate it.” Noah said holding the box with one arm and grabbing Maxine’s wrist with her free hand and pulling them down the aisle and towards the register.

“What did you do that for?” Maxine said, looking behind her.

“You had that “I’d sex him into next year” look in your eyes Max.” Noah replied.

“So?” Maxine said, seriously.

Noah laughed at her friend. “You are ridiculous.”

“No, YOU are ridiculous. You just pulled me away from Jordan Staal. Did you see how gorgeous that man was? Have you gone mad?” Maxine said walking up behind Jenna.

“What’s going on?” Jenna asked curiously.

“I went to find Noah and she was talking to Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Then I walk up, him and I totally have a connection-”

“Meaning they both wanted to knock each others’ boots.” Noah interrupted.

“-and she pulls me away before we can have conversation. It was about to happen Jen.” Maxine finished.

Jenna laughed at the two girls and continued to unload the basket on the counter. “She was cock blocking Max?”

“Absolutely. I can’t believe it.” The redhead said, helping Jenna unload the basket.

“You just wait. We’re going to go out one night and some guy is going to be pulled in by your green eyes, dimples and huge ass and I’m going to step in and act like your lover.” Maxine said pulling out her credit card.

Noah pushed the basket by Maxine and began loading up the bagged items. “Yeah, because that would completely turn him off.”

Maxine, Jenna and Noah looked at each other and bust out laughing as Maxine grabbed the receipt from the cashier. Noah picked up the boxed lamp and the three girls made their way out of the store.

“I guess you’re right. That might not be the best approach.” Maxine said, “I’ll just call Shay and tell him you’re about to get it on with some guy. He’d be where we were before I hung up the phone.”

Noah rolled her eyes and looked to her left to see Jordan Staal looking at her as he walked aside whom she recognized as Tyler Kennedy and James Neal. He nodded at her and threw her a smirk as she pointed to the Rangers logo on her shirt, which made him grin. She faced forward and headed towards her sister-in-law’s SUV.

Pittsburgh may not be so bad.