LOCKWOOD: EPISODE 11

NOA POV ❤️❤️

Khalil looked at me like I was a little puppy when he saw me on his porch. His eyes were wide open when he saw me crying under the rain. He didn't have time to react when I hugged him sobbing even more.

"Please can I stay with you tonight." I said quite desperate. I looked up at him and he nodded. Khalils house was comfy, it was just a family size house but you could feel that it was a home where mother and son lived comfortably and even though I didn't know? I would say happy as well. He turned and looked at me standing at the door still soaked and red eyed.

"My mum has a night shift so she won't be back for a while, don't worry. And even if she was here she would be happy about another female in the house." he said and I smiled.

"Are you that bad?" I chuckled.

"Nah, I guess she's always wanted a girl after she had me, unfortunately my dad died". he said solemnly 

"I'm sorry." I said.

"It's okay, I'm over it, when Claire came they got along quite well, mum liked Claire but now she's gone." I didn't know what to say after that so the silence rang out until he broke it.

"We better get you some dry clothes." He said and I nodded.

We went up to his room, as I expected it was neat, tidy and mature. Not like a hormonal teenage boy would usually have done his with posters of naked women and boy bands. He brought out a dry shirt for me to wear and led me to the bathroom where I changed. Luckily, I was wearing shorts underneath and they didn't get wet so I didn't need any bottoms. I got out of the bathroom and Khalil sat looking at me in a come hither way. I knew I would have to tell him why I was crying on his porch sooner or later. I walked towards him and sat next to him on the bed, he looked at me expectantly.

"So, what happened?" he sighed.

"My dad" I laughed dryly. I didn't think that was what he wanted to hear so I got straight to the point.

"Things got out of hand at home, he was quite upset about me coming home late. Words were said, actions were made and here I am" I chuckled.

"Noa, what did he do?" He peered into my hazel eyes trying to find something more from me and I guess it propelled me to talk more" 

"He hit me." Khalil shut his eyes but I wasn't done.

"My father has always blamed me for my brothers death." He looked up shocked.

"You had a brother?"

"Yeah, I did. He was my twin, he died when we were 6, it was raining outside and I wanted to go to the park so bad." I said crying all over again.

"Dad wouldn't let us go so I got upset, my brother was the more rational one, he told me it was raining heavily and dad was right but I just wouldn't listen. I walked up to the driver and told him that dad said we could go, Alex knew I was lying but he came with me anyway. On our way a truck slammed into the car, Alex and the driver didn't make it." I said crying.

"But I got away with a stupid heart damage that needed replacement. The doctors suggested Alex heart, dad didn't want to do it until mum forced him to. My brother was buried without a heart Khalil and I feel so angry that it went to someone as undeserving as me." I said and he looked at me. 

"And it was my fault, I killed him and dad never forgave me for it, he made it clear everyday how much he loated me. He would bury himself in work just to avoid me and when he was around, he treated me like shit." I said and I hated the look he gave me. It was the same look Claire gave me when I told her. Pity.

"Do you know what my dad told me today Khalil?" He shook his head

"He said, he wished I died instead and maybe he was right, I'm a murderer Khalil, I don't deserve the second chance I have." I said sobbing. Khalil held my crying form and stroked my hair." Don't say that, you're not a murderer, you were just a kid, you didn't know anything Noa, your dad has no right to hold it against you, I'm so sorry." 

After a while I looked at him and he gave me that same look, the one from the children's day party and the police station. I got out of his embrace immediately.

"Khalil, don't look at me like that please." I said.

"I'm sorry about earlier at the police station, I shouldn't have tried to kiss you, I wasn't thinking straight. Its just I've been thinking about you a lot Noa and ever since we started talking and solving this case I just liked you more and more." I knew it would come up sooner or later, before he could keep talking I interrupted him. I held his hand and looked up at him.

"I've been having the same feelings Khalil." His eyes lit up 

"But,Non your part it's different, you don't like me." He looked confused as I said this. 

"I remind you of Claire, what you feel is a sense of attachment to a piece of your girlfriend, you feel that through me you can feel close to her, you can feel like she's there, but I'm not her." I said

"No, Noa that's not.." I put my finger on his lips before he could continue.

"Khalil, think about it, it's been just been 3 months since she died, you haven't moved on yet. You're still mourning even though you think you're not, you still love her. To you I'm an easy fix to your broken heart, a reminder that's all". Khalil looked down with a sad expression on his face.

"Let's say you do have feelings for me, this isn't the right time to act on them Khalil, think about what you want really carefully, if it truly is me. I'll still be here. I just want you to fully process before you and I make a decision that would harm us. If its meant to happen, it will. You'll find your way back to me and I'll find mine back to you." I touched his cheek. 

"I want you to be happy Khalil. I want you to be with me because you truly like me and you've gotten over Claire and not because you want to use me to get over her." 

"Okay, I understand Noa, I'll wait, I'll do as you say. If its meant to be, it will be. Right?" He said letting out a dry laugh.

"Yeah." I said my eyes roaming around, until I saw something on his table, it was peanut oil. Suddenly I remembered what Detective Walters said about peanut oil on the murder weapon".

"Khalil, where did you get that?" I said pointing at the oil.

"Oh, I bought it from Megan, remember she said we should pay her for all the trouble by buying her new hair oil, well I bought it, it's quite nice." He said.

"Khalil, the detective said something about peanut oil being on the murder weapon, and didn't you find it strange that somehow Megan knew about Claire's pregnancy even though they weren't even close. Why would she tell Megan of all people about that?" I said and Khalil looked at me figuring out that I was right.

"Noa, I overheard Megan talking with Aria and Stacy about her parents getting a divorce once, she said it was because her dad was a cheating scumbag." he said.

"Do you think?" I said

"It's worth a shot." He said. We called the detective immediately.

"Lockwood police station, how may I help you?" The detective said.

"Detective Walters, it's Noa Martinez and Khalil Hernandez." I heard him sigh on the phone.

"What is it Martinez?" He said 

"We think we know who killed Claire but we want you to meet with us first. Please detective, this is really important, I plead with you to trust us." I said. I heard a pause then he spoke.

"Tomorrow, 3pm don't be late." Then he cut the call. I looked at Khalil, he had so much hope in his eyes, I only hope that we were right.

To be continued...