Chapter 2042 - A Weekend With Noah (3)

Chloe thought how that sounds fantastic. The youngsters can stay as long as they need a roof over their heads? Isn't that too convenient? "And kids don't slack off?"

"After living on the streets or with abusive guardians, they have the drive to succeed. Kids who finish their education want to stay in the area and make this a better place."

Noah pointed at the young African-American woman in black uniform who appeared to be around twenty years old. She was in the classroom, talking with one teen. "That is Zariah. Thanks to this program, she left her violent partner and got a degree in journalism six months ago. Since then, she is working for a local newspaper and she comes here on weekends to help with tutoring kids on creative writing, and in the evenings she stays to chat with girls related to relationships."

Noah didn't mention that Zariah also completed the training in the Army of Chaos, like everyone else who is wearing black uniforms.

"You said that these kids escaped the system. No one came to look for them?", Chloe asked.

"There were a few cases where social workers came for the kids, but we have our ways to repel them.", Noah said mysteriously.

Chloe remembered the fighting arena in the Chaos nightclub. Do kids also come out and do their 'hoo-haa' moves to chase outsiders away? "I'm sure you have."

Noah noticed Chloe's sarcasm. "I don't know what you are imagining, Chloe, but some of these kids were in such a bad shape when we found them that they required medical assistance. Some of them knew things that put them in danger, and we gave them new identities. When we find kids on the street, we first confirm their circumstances, and we try to reunite them with their family members. No one is forced into anything. For kids who are left without grownups to take care of them and who were let down by the system, Blanc provides them a chance for a new life. We took in kids only after verifying that they don't have anywhere else to go, and after confirming that kids are willing."

Noah saw that Chloe relaxed a bit, but she was still skeptical.

"How about you see for yourself?", Noah said and before she could respond, he pulled her into the big classroom.

"Sergeant!", one middle-aged man in a black uniform called when Noah and Chloe entered the room. Everyone who wore black uniforms stood in attention, and kids looked at Noah with curiosity and smiles. Well, curiosity was mostly directed at Chloe, and smiles were toward the point where Chloe's and Noah's hands connected.

Chloe totally forgot that they were holding hands. It felt good and normal and in the hallway were just the two of them. However, now she saw two girls snickering and pointing, and Chloe started tugging her hand away, but Noah tightened his hold. In less than a second, Chloe realized that if she continues struggling she will only make a scene while eccentric Noah will enjoy her embarrassment.

He was holding her hand tightly with a small smile at the corners of his lips like nothing unusual was happening.

"Please continue…", Noah said to what people in black uniforms resumed their work.

"Are you here to assist us?", the middle-aged man asked.

Noah nodded in confirmation. "You know what I can do", Noah said and raised his voice, "Miss Long here is good with numbers so if anyone has math questions, she can help you out."

Chloe's eyes widened. Did Noah just turn her into a math tutor?

She squeezed his hand with an intention to punish him or at least to tell him that she disapproves; how can he do that without asking her first? But his eyebrows shoot up and his smile widened, telling her that he was enjoying it.

Noah inched closer and spoke only for Chloe to hear, "When you hold onto me so tightly, I don't feel like letting go. Should I give you my other hand as well, or would you rather hold some other part of me?"

Chloe gulped softly and the heat which invaded her face told her that she was blushing. How was she supposed to respond to this?

"Miss Long, can you help me?", one girly voice came from the side.

"It seems I am needed elsewhere.", Chloe said to Noah stiffly while trying to ignore his mischievous smirk. She wanted to argue and say some mean things because he was shameless, but she didn't want to raise a fuss in front of the kids.

Noah let go of Chloe's hand and tilted his head toward the direction from where Chloe was called from, silently giving her permission to go.

Chloe was not sure what she got herself into. Last night, she had plans to spruce up her apartment over the weekend, but her seniors showed up and messed up everything. She had dinner with Noah and spent the night in his apartment, and now she is a math tutor.

At first, Chloe thought that Noah is putting her mind into a dizzy, but now she realized that her whole life is jumbled up and she was not sure how to get back in control. The man was handsome, eccentric, and unpredictable, and he made her heart race. A horrifying combination.

"What is your name?", Chloe asked the twelve years-old girl who looked at her expectantly.

"Jennine."

"Nice to meet you, Jennine. I am Chloe. How can I help you?"

"Miss Long, can I be next?", one boy asked to what Chloe nodded before focusing on the girl and her math question which included solving multiple-step word problem with Venn diagrams.

Chloe finished helping the third child in her queue and she was approaching the fourth one while looking around the room, searching for Noah.

She found Noah in the area where computers are, and her steps halted, just as she approached her destination, the desk of her fourth math-customer.

Noah was showing something on the screen to a boy who nodded occasionally and took notes. Two other kids stood one step behind them and listened to what Noah was saying.

"You got this?", she heard Noah ask.

"Yes, sergeant. Thank you, sergeant.", the boy responded sincerely.

"Keep up the great work..."

Noah smiled and ruffled the boy's hair before moving to the right, where his next computer-customer was.

Chloe was lost in a daze, as all this was new for her. Everyone was friendly and encouraging, and she saw all tutors (Noah included) giving their attention to the kids and supporting them to succeed. She had on her mind Noah's previous words, how these children were mistreated and abandoned, yet now they were focused and smiling and that told Chloe that these children found their family here.

Chloe thought how it's ironic that her own blood relatives make her want to flee while this group of strangers makes her feel at home. Here, she felt useful and welcome and appreciated, and no one looked at her as a young Miss of the Long family, and that was a new experience for Chloe.

As Noah moved, he turned and met Chloe's gaze. He smiled warmly and the world stopped. It was as the two of them were the only ones present while an inexplicable bond formed, pulling them closer together, and Chloe really wanted to reduce the distance between them and plunge into Noah's embrace, and somehow… Chloe knew that it's going to be alright.

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