Noah was alone in the den trying to select a video game to play. None of them really picked his interest. He was not having much fun but it was the only thing to do at the moment. He wished he was hanging out with Austin right now instead, to be able to steal a few kisses.
He was getting addicted to those lips real fast. They always tasted so sweet, like home and something else intimately familiar.
He loved that thing Austin did when he bit on his lip gently and how he wrapped his hands around his neck -drove him crazy every time.
He was pulled out from his fantasy by the ringing of his phone. He answered it without looking at the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Hey ...could you ..could you please come over ?" It was Austin's voice and it sounded quite broken up. He instantly knew there was something wrong.
"What's going on?" Noah sat up right and tossed the controller on the couch next to him.
"I really don't know .. I need you," Austin responded, "please come over." He said while sniffing a little.
"Austin, did something happen?" he asked as he jumped over the back of the couch and started heading upstairs.
"I'm so confused right now and ... I don't know who to talk to..." He sounded like he was starting to cry, "He lied to me.. they all lied to me.... they used me and I.. I trusted them. I trusted him!"
"What are you talking about ..who hurt you?" His protective instinct was kicking in and if anyone had hurt Austin, they were going to have hell to pay.
"Are you coming?" Austin responded with a question, not wanting to talk about it over the phone.
"On my way," Noah said. "Give me ten minutes, I'll be right there." Austin hung up the phone first.
Noah's mind and nerves were going crazy at every possibility of what might have happened to Austin. He had never been this worried about anyone before. It was like someone was ripping out his heart and squeezing it while he watched in agony. Every hair on his body was on alert and his hands were shivering violently.
He found Rosa in the living room, vacuuming the carpet. She saw him as he came in and shut it off.
"Hello, Mr. Byrne!" She greeted, her accent thick in her voice.
"Rosa, I asked you to call me Noah," Noah said sweetly, "Mr. Byrne makes me sound really old."
"Of course, Noah. Can I assist you with anything?"
"Actually, yes.. Is there a way I can borrow your car for a little while?" He asked, "I really need to go somewhere."
"You know I can't do that. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson instructed me not to let you drive."
"But..can't you make an exception?" Noah begged, "Please, it's an emergency."
"Don't try to trick me, Noah. I know you can be quite sneaky when you want something!" She insisted.
"I'm not lying, Rosa. A friend of mine is in trouble and I need to go help him..I swear."
"Mmhhm.. Does this friend happen to be very handsome with very beautiful hair and you happen to be in love with him?" She asked while wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
"I'm not in love with him...well, maybe..how do you know about that?" Noah asked curiously.
"Because I'm very wise and I've seen how much happier you are lately than when you first showed up here..What happened?"
"I don't know," Noah responded, "Can I please borrow it? I promise I won't tell... Pretty please!" He said with those cute puppy dog eyes.
"Damn it, why do you have to be so cute! The keys are in the kitchen." She finally caved in, "Bring it back in two hours."
"Thanks Rosa, you're the best!" He said happily before running to the kitchen to get the keys.
"Be careful, Mr. Byrne!" She warned but he was gone in seconds.
Noah drove as fast as he could but making sure to be careful enough to not end up in jail.
He parked the car in the street and ran towards the entrance of Austin's house. He knocked on the door for about thirty seconds before Austin came and opened it.
Austin looked like hell. His hair was a mess and his eyes were all bloodshot and he looked exhausted like he had been crying for quite some time. He left the door open and walked back into the house.
"Austin?" Noah called out as he shut the door and followed him.
Austin had his back towards Noah as he faced out the large window in the living room. It was getting darker outside but the sun was still setting beneath the horizon, not completely down yet.
"Please, look at me Austin... What happened?" Noah asked cautiously. Austin turned slowly and when Noah caught a glimpse of his face, there were fresh tears flowing. He did not say another word, instead just pulled Austin against him and wrapped his strong arms tightly around him.
Austin buried his face in Noah's chest and grabbed his T-shirt in fists, crying his heart out. He was crying because he did not know what to do anymore. Because he was discovering things about himself and the people in his life that he had never imagined.
He was beginning to see everything in a new light and now, more than ever, he was scared.
He just could not understand why all this was happening to him. He was a good person, or at least he thought he was -enough not to have people stabbing him in the back or trying their damnedest to make his life miserable.
Seeing Austin like this, it broke Noah's heart. As he felt the chestal area of his shirt getting wetter, he began to panic. He did not know what to do. "Talk to me, Austin." He spoke but kept his arms tight around Austin, "Can we sit down and talk about it?"
He felt Austin nod a little and so he led them both to the love seat and they sat down next to each other. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Noah searching Austin's face for an answer and Austin just staring into empty space.
"Sam came over here last night." Austin started, "I found him in my room after I got back home." He took a long pause then said, "He kissed me."
Noah opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't form the right sentence. He was finally able to say, "What!" in a low voice.
"He kissed me and then ran out. That's why he was trying to talk to me all day today but I was too angry and confused to listen to him. But as usual, he preyed on my friendship and trust for him and got me to agree to talk to him. He came over like two hours ago to explain what was going on and... He said.." fresh tears started to threaten to flow
"What did he say, Austin?" Noah asked.
"He said..that ...that he orchestrated this entire nightmare!"
"What do you mean?" Noah asked.
"Of course ..he didn't tell me the entire story while he was still here because... I'm guessing he assumed I would have killed him right where he stood -smart choice. He waited until he was out of here before he called me to try and apologize but I ...I got him to reveal the whole truth to me. I really wanted to see his smug, fucking face when he told me but I just needed to know right away!" He gritted his teeth while saying.
"Apparently, it was his plan all along, together with Colby, to trick me and lie to me. He found out that Colby wanted Lucy and that they were actually involved.. so they came up with a plan to get what they both wanted. That's why they came up with that stupid dare. He even convinced Nicky to take a video of it and send it to him.
"At first,I thought it was just for fun but he had been planning on leaking it anonymously to everyone so that he would later swoop in and save the day as my guardian angel ... that is, of course, until Nicky blasted it by mistake... which made his plan a lot simpler.
"He wanted to start manipulating me and acting like my the best friend I could ever have -which could have been too easy for him since he was already my best friend, until I finally gave in completely."
"But ..why would he do that ?" Noah asked.
"He says he is in love with me." Austin responded.
"What!"
"That's what he said ..he's in love with me. That he's been in love with me since the fourth grade and he just wanted me to see that girls were not what was right for me. That he is the only one that is right for me. "
"Dude, that is really messed up." Noah said as he squeezed Austin's shoulder comfortingly.
"Granted, Lucy is a total bitch but I don't get why he wouldn't just come right out and say it instead of manipulating me into doing whatever he wanted. He was the closest thing to a brother I ever had. This whole stupid plan of his has turned my whole world upside-down so much I'm starting to forget which way is up." Austin slumped back into the seat and looked up at the ceiling, "Do you know my parents are getting separated!"
"Wait, seriously?" Noah asked.
"My mom said it's not because he's a major homophobe but I know it was a huge catalyst in their decision. I know my dad is the most unpleasant pain in the ass but that does not mean I want him out of my life, he's still my dad... And I love him. My gullibility might just have cost my parents their marriage and I feel terrible about it. What makes it worse is the fact that Sam is not so apologetic about it.
"He hates you and he says that he's gonna do everything he can to separate us. He is not going to let you have me, that he swore to me about. What am I gonna do? I mean ...I've already killed someone and been drugged by some psycho I don't even know. Now my family is breaking up and I find out that my best friend might also be a psycho?! How fucking messed up is my life right now!
"I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that Sam is the one doing all this to me. He knew me so well he was able to push my buttons so easily.. and I let him. Now, I don't think I ever knew him as well as I thought I did."
"Wow, I thought that guy was a fake but I never thought he would be straight up cuckoo." Noah commented.
"I just can't believe I could be so fucking stupid to buy his façade!"
"No no no," Noah said. "Don't go there, ok? Don't start putting the blame on yourself. It never ends well. I say, stay strong and fight back."
"You know, the funny part is... I get to say the one thing I never thought I'd say ..my dad was right all along."
"Right about what?"
"About him ...about Sam. I've been friends with the guy all my life but my dad has never really approved. I think he saw something that I never did ..I think he knew Sam saw something more between us than I did."
"Do you regret ever giving in to that dare?"
"I thought that's what I'm doing right now." Austin responded.
"Sorry, let me rephrase that ..do you regret being with me given that you have found out ...the things you just found out?"
"No, not really... I mean.. I don't think so." Austin said.
"Ok." Noah said but Austin caught some disappointment in the tone he used.
"I didn't mean it like that," Austin tried to correct that. He turned to face Noah fully. "I don't regret it at all. Considering all the posers I just discovered I've had in my life, I'm glad I have you. At least, I can trust you... I can trust you, right?"
"Of course, I'm here for you. I know we've known each other a week, which..to be honest seems crazy but ..I wanna be with you, Austin. I want to be with you more than I've ever wanted to be with anyone else in my life and ...I'm not scared. I probably should be, but I'm not.. You've come to mean a lot to me and I wanna be here for you through... everything that's happening to you right now."
That look. That sweet, sincere ...loving and comforting look that Noah had on his face as he looked Austin dead on in the eyes and said those words. It may have been because he was going through a tough time and he was just looking for something assuring to hold onto but right at that moment, looking into those beautiful almond, green eyes, he felt something deeper for Noah than he had felt before.
He didn't know what it was. Perhaps it was a straw he was clutching onto to keep himself from drowning in a sea of self pity and new realizations.
"Thanks, that means a lot."
"And as your ...friend?" Noah said unsurely.
"Friend."
"Ok." He said with a slight smile, "As your friend, I'd have to ask you, could you please not blame yourself for what happened between your parents? .. It is really not your fault."
"But -"
"No buts, Austin. You can't do that to yourself. Your parents probably had other issues that had nothing to do with what you did. So, don't fixate on it, it will only hurt you more and ...I really don't want to see you hurt."
"Then what do I do?" Austin asked.
Noah stood up off the couch and started talking animatedly, using hand gestures, as he looked down at Austin and spoke softly, "Do you know, when you called me and I heard how broken up you sounded, I almost forgot how to breathe.. and then I got here and saw your face. It made me really angry and I just wanted, so bad, to smash the living daylights out of whoever had hurt you... And I don't think I'm over it yet. I still really wanna hurt that stupid asshole for hurting you... I wanna hurt him ten times worse than he hurt you."
"You don't need to worry about that.. He's really not worth it, none of them are." Austin stood in front of Noah, " Although.. seeing you smash in their faces like you did that locker might help." He said in a lighter tone.
"Wait, you liked that?" Noah asked with a small frown, "I was afraid it might have freaked you out ..kind of. I might have come off as some crazy psychopathic lunatic."
"The opposite, actually. I thought it was kind of hot. Especially when you walked over and kissed me immediately after, it was by far the hottest thing I've ever seen."
"Good, I wanna set the bar so high no other guy can catch up." Noah said as he pulled Austin closer by the waist, "That would really suck."
"I don't think you have anything to worry about." Austin said. They were staring fondly into each other's eyes and everything felt right at the moment.
"Oh, yeah?" Noah asked at they brought their faces closer and closer, "Because I hear there's a guy who's sworn to come at me hard."
"He's an idiot if he thinks he stands any chance... You're gonna thrash him."
"That's what I like to hear.." Then he kissed him. Austin parted his lips willingly and let Noah in.
Noah slipped his tongue into Austin's mouth and wrapped it around Austin's. He then put his hand on Austin's neck and slid his fingers gently though his long hair. Austin had his hands on the hem of Noah's shirt and was sliding his hands slowly beneath. Noah bit Austin's tongue softly and started to kiss his way down to Austin's neck.
As Noah's lips settled on his neck, Austin let out a strangled moan. Noah kept nibbling on his sensitive spot and it was driving him nuts. Austin grabbed Noah's face and brought their lips back together, turning it into a very passionate kiss as they desperately groped each other intimately for the next few minutes.
They finally broke apart, but didn't move away from each other.
"Wow.. That was... " Noah started.
"Amazing." Austin finished.
"I agree!" Nicky, who was standing at the foyer by the stairs, spoke, "It was hot!"
That got the two boys to break apart as they were brought out from the spell they had been under. That passionate kiss had helped expunge some of Austin's existing problems -that was the power Noah's lips had on him. Nicky was standing there with two garment bags over her shoulder and a knowing smile playing on her face.
"How long have you been standing there?!" Austin asked her as he wiped his mouth using the back of his hand.
"Long enough to book dibs on maid of honor at your wedding!" She responded while walking towards them gracefully in her four inch heels. She looked like she had been out having fun, which most likely meant shopping, "Hey, Noah."
"Hey Nicky," he greeted back as he pulled her into a hug. "And by the way, I'd like you to be my maid of honor.. This one can find someone else." He joked.
"Can we not start talking about weddings!" Austin cut in, "That is not happening."
"Yea, right." She said as she set the garment bags on the teapoy.
"By the way, I heard what you did to Jesse ..you've got some big balls! Nice job!" Noah said and held up his palm, which Nicky responded to with a high five.
"I just went temporarily insane and whacked him as hard as I could... felt amazing." Nicky said.
"I wish I could do that." Austin commented.
"Wait ...I know your make out session was pretty intense and kind of had my lady parts tingling -"
"Don't say things like that." Austin interrupted her.
"But, Austin, why do you look like you have been crying?" She asked seriously.
"What! ...Crying?" He asked dismissive in a slightly high-pitched voice, "That doesn't sound familiar!"
"You're a terrible liar." She told him and turned to Noah, "What did you do Noah?"
"Why would you assume that?!" Noah asked defensively.
"Gotta cover all my basis." She said.
"I didn't do anything ... Sam did." He said the last part carefully and bitterly.
"Wait ..what?!" She questioned, "Are you talking about the kiss from last night? ..because even I did not see that coming. I'm starting to lose my grip on reality if my lady instincts did not catch on that much ...much earlier."
"It's worse than that." Austin said as he and Noah sat back on the love seat and Nicky sat on the coffee table in front of them.
"What's going on?" She asked, now more concerned.
"Sam set Lucy and Colin...or Coby -or whatever his fucking name is- up and planned to break Austin up with her so that he could manipulate him into 'admitting' he was gay so that Austin would fall in love with him."
"I don't understand." Nicky said.
"You remember the video he made you take and then send to him?" Austin continued, "It was gonna get leaked either way. He was the one who was supposed to leak it anonymously, on purpose but you kind of beat him to it when you accidentally sent it to everyone within a five mile radius."
"He did what!" She screamed, standing up, clearly enraged.
"You heard me.." Austin simply responded.
"That impertinent charlatan! ...He just got onto the list of people I'm planning on dismembering... That list is getting longer by the day."
"No, Nicky...you don't need to worry about it." Austin tried to calm her down.
"Oh..but I do! ..I am going to kill him!"
"Ok ..I think Austin and I can handle him. You ..have a lot on your plate, you know ..the whole Michael situation and all." He said, treading lightly. She was pretty heated.
"How about.. We change the subject. I've had.. yet another bad day."
"I'm so sorry Aussy." She said as she hugged her brother.
"Hey, why do you have garment bags with you?" Austin asked, trying to change the subject.
"Oh..that. Were leaving town." She said casually.
"I'm sorry, we are leaving town?" Austin asked abruptly.
"Oh no..not we. I meant, mom and I."
"Where are you going?" Noah asked.
"Florida.. Mom has a work conference and I got her to take me. She's looks so depressed I just wanted to go with her to make sure she gets to have at least some fun. Of course, I had to go shopping, hence, the merchandise."
"That's great, but I know it wasn't your primary reason."
"Wow, your mom's cool.. You get suspended and she takes you on vacation. I gotta get her to adopt me." Noah noted.
"Yes, I'm a great mother," Allison said from the kitchen doorway. None of them had seen her come in, which startled them. "Figured I would relax some sense into her big head.. Isn't that how it works!" She said as she came closer towards them.
"Hello, Mrs. McNamara -"Noah greeted.
"Call me Allison.. And then, tell me what you did to my baby boy."
"What?" He asked.
"Austin, why have you been crying?" she turned to her son.
"It's not crying ..I think I ran into pepper spray. It's a real epidemic. Nobody ever recognizes it but it is a major problem in our society."
"You're seriously the worst liar on the face of the earth." Nicky told him.
"What's the truth version?" Allison asked. Austin was hesitant and Noah noticed it.
"Allison?" Noah called, "It's just a little disagreement with someone, I'm helping him through it so.. You don't have to worry about it. I'm taking care of it."
"Aren't you just the sweetest!" Allison said, "Make sure you take care of it or I'll be forced to swoop in.. And somebody's gonna be missing eyeballs when I do." She threatened and something in the way she said it made it sound like she was not joking.
"Thanks mom," Austin said. "But are you guys leaving me here alone? ...how long?"
"It's three or four days..and I don't see how you'll be alone, I see a perfectly capable candidate right here." She motioned for Noah.
"What?" Both boys asked in unison.
"Noah, is it ok if I ask the Dawsons to let you stay here for the rest of the week?" Allison requested.
"You don't need to do that..I can call them and ask them personally. I'm sure they won't have a problem. And, I'm flattered that you trust me enough to let me do this."
"Don't be too quick..I have one rule."
"Uh-ow!" Austin and Nicky both said.
"No having sex in my house!"
Noah choked up a bit on his saliva,"Wh-what?"
"You heard me young man..and if you do, I'll find out."
"That won't happen," Noah assured her while blushing a bit.
"Good, now go make out ..I gotta cook diner." Allison said and started walking away before she stopped and turned, "Oh, and Austin, I'll leave your father's new address in case you want to go visit him some time." And then she left.
"Wow, we're spending the week together!" Noah said excitedly.
"Yea..I guess so." Austin responded.
"You lucky bastards." Nicky said as she picked up her bags.
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