"N-noah?" Charlie stammered, stunned to see him here.
He was, honestly, among the last people he expected on her doorstep, and yet there he stood, staring thoughtfully up at her. For a split second, this bothered her and she forgot why. But by the time she remembered she had an excuse to deliver, it was already far too late to be believable, so she sighed and dropped her head in her hand, laughing ruefully.
"I look like a mess, don't I?" she said. Noah said nothing, the gentlemen that he was, and when she smiled at him, it was a tad more genuine. He hesitantly smiled back, and she instantly felt a tad better. How sad that we've reversed roles- now he's cheering me up instead of the other way around.
Charlie sighed and stepped away from the door. "Come on in." He followed her silently, closing the door behind himself, and as she moved to sit again on the couch, she noticed the boy watching her apprehensively. It was probably a good thing she didn't come up with an excuse- it was doubtful he would have believed it anyway.
When he sat gingerly on the edge of the couch opposite of her, he stared down at the cushion she sat on. Confused, she looked down, and saw dark spots where her tears had splashed on the fabric.
Her hands tightened momentarily, and she did not look up again.
"Sorry you caught me at such a bad time, Noah," she said softly. "It's... been a tough day."