Noah endured the first ten minutes of his creative writing class. He thought that for a creative writing class, it was somewhat boring. On the bright side, he got to see Luke fore another hour and a half each day. Besides that, the class was anything special.

Then things got more interesting as the teacher went along.

“For the next few weeks, you’ll be with a partner, and you’ll be doing writing assignments, some together some not. So right now, you have twenty seconds to find someone…and…go!”

Noah immediately looked up and Luke and Luke automatically looked at Noah. They smiled as their eyes met, and silently confirmed that they were partners. That was the great thing about Luke, Noah didn’t have to say anything and Luke just knew. Which is a good thing, because Noah was horrible with words and sometimes saying how he felt.

“Ok…and do we all have partners? Good. Moving on. Today we will be…”

Noah faded in and out of the lecture. He should have been paying attention in case it was about an assignment, but he knew he could always ask later.

The bell rang which meant that Boresville a.k.a. Mr. Schultz’s class, was finally over for the day. Noah gathered his things and waited as Luke came up to his desk. He liked how they shared an everyday ritual.

“So, you are going to the library next block, right,” Luke asked as they walked out of the room.

“Yep, It’ll be my first time there I think.”

“Oh…a library virgin. I’ll take care of that,” Luke said with a wink.

“You’re so concerned about my well being,” Noah said smiling and rolling his eyes.

“That too.” There was that impish grin again Noah loved.

They continued walking and discussing various things, and Luke went towards where his next class was and Noah started walking to his, but then Luke turned around.

“Did…did you just walk me to class,” Luke asked in a low whisper.

“Um, I think I did. Is that weird should we stop?”

“No, no! It’s just…I never thought of it that way. Ok, I’m going to class. See you at the library.”

“See ya.”

All Noah could think about the next block was what he and Luke were going to talk about and possibly do in the library. As soon as he started getting lost in these thoughts, the bell rang again. It’s funny how much time goes by when Noah starts thinking about Luke. Maybe if he thought long enough, he could fast forward through all the things he still has to do to be with Luke, and just live like he did in his dream.

Noah got directions to the library from a guy that hardly ever talks, even less than Noah. Noah was trying to be more outspoken, and hanging out with Luke definitely helped in that factor. Plus, he kind of knew what the kid was going through, even though that guy had been there longer than Noah. He knew better than anyone that if you’re shy, it helps when other people talk to you first.
As he was walking up the steps, he thought about exactly how many school libraries he’s been in. He used to know, but he lost track after he lived in Montana for a while.

“Noah! I’m over here,” Luke said in a loud whisper, causing some girl reading a book to say ‘shh!’ at him. Noah didn’t know people did that in real life. He thought that only happened in the movies.

“Hey, Macy chill, I was just getting Noah,” Luke said to the girl. Her response was just simply rolling her eyes and getting lost in her book again.

“Causing commotion in the library are we," Noah teased as he sat down.

“Yeah, that’s me. Mr. Troublemaker.”

“Well, I’ll make sure you’ll behave.”

“Oh, but the dark side is so much more fun!”

Noah tried his best to hold in his laugh, and only a slight chuckle came out.

“So,” Luke began, getting closer to Noah, “I need to talk to you about something real quick.”

“Ah…ok.” Noah was pretty sure the smile went off his face in two seconds flat after hearing that.

Luke lead Noah over to an empty part of the library, a section titled ‘Adult Fiction.’

“Why do they have adult fiction if we’re just in high school?”

”What? Oh…that’s not what it’s really called. Someone put it up there once because a few kids did it right about two feet from where you’re standing.”

“Gross! Why are we over here then?”

“Because a lot of kids have the same reaction as you and they don’t like to go over here, making it the perfect place to talk to you.”

“Oh. You really thought this through haven’t you?”

“Yeah. Anyway, I was thinking and…you never told me when you were planning on coming out.”

“Oh well…I don’t know. Is it important right now?"

”Well, no. But like I said, I was thinking and…if you decide to come out close to when I do, people will think we’re going out.”

“…we are.”

“I know, but…I don’t know. I think I just want them to get used to the idea first.”
“What do you mean ‘them’? Your parents, or your friends?”

“Both! I just want to do it all on that weekend and get it over with.”

“Sounds like you’ve figured it out.”

“Not really,” Luke said making a weird, confused face. “I just…I want it to be like Branson all the time, but I’m scared of what will happen.”

“I know me too. That’s why we’ll get through this together ok?”

“Noah, how can you be so perfect about this?”

“I’m not perfect, trust me.”

“Well, you’re handling it extremely well.”

“Putting on a brave face is a pro and con of living with my father.”

“Speaking of, how are you going to tell him?”

“I honestly have no clue.”

“Well, let me know when you do. I just…I need this to go over the right way. No more drama than there needs to be.”

“Good luck with this being Oakdale and all,” Noah joked.

“Ugh, don’t remind me.”

“Hey, it’ll be ok. I will also most likely suck on the way, but it’ll be ok.”

“Mmm…my voice of reason.”

“I try.”

Noah and Luke were inches away from each other, and they wanted contact so bad, but they knew they couldn’t. It took every ounce of Noah’s being to not kiss Luke right there in the library where someone could walk in at any given second.

“I think we should head back,” Luke said. Noah could feel Luke’s breath on his lips.

“Yeah…we probably should.” They stayed like that for a few more seconds, then took a few steps away from each other before Noah asked Luke one last question.

“Hey Luke?”

“Yeah?”

“What you said before about giving people time…they’re going to know about us eventually. I mean, Casey already mentioned something to me,” Noah said with a grin. “Why don’t we just tell them when we come out?”

“That’s true…I’ll think about it ok? I really do have to work on that report now.”

“Alright.”

Noah and Luke headed back to their table, and surprisingly, no one stared. Noah was impressed that either people here didn’t like to get into other people’s business, or that they’re so good at eavesdropping and gossiping, people don’t even notice it.

The rest of Noah’s day was long and dragged out. Even at home, making small talk with his dad at dinner, which was really sitting at a small table in an awkward silence, seemed to last longer than usual.

When Noah was in his room, he decided to use his mirror for the good and practiced telling his dad.

“Dad, I need to talk to you. Dad, can we talk? Hey listen Dad I was wondering if we could talk…”

He tried several variations, none of which he really liked.

He was mid Dad can we talk about--, when his dad opened his door. Noah was stunned. Again, he thought that only happened in the movies and didn’t know what to do.

Noah stood there, his hands still in place from where he was waving them pretending to talk to his dad. Winston just stood there with a confused look.

“What are you doing son? What do you need to talk about?”

“Uh…”

Crap! What could Noah think of? What?!

“Well…” his dad said waiting.

“I…I just wanted to talk to you about…directing! I mean, directors,” Noah said making the second directing sound more controlled.

“What about them?”

“Well…I want to be one.”

“A director? Why? It’s not a real job.”

“Yes it is!” Noah saw the look on his dad’s face and tried saying it again with a more respectful tone. “I mean, yes it is, sir.”

“No it’s not! You’re not wasting your time with that nonsense!”

“But I already have a school that I want to go to and it’s only an hour away from here. It has a great teaching staff, and I could learn a lot about—“

“You are not wasting your time with that junk. You’re going to join the army remember?”


“Dad,” Noah said softly, “that’s what you want, that’s not what I want.”

“You don’t know what you want, you’re just a kid!”

“I do know what I want!” Noah was losing the control of his voice, and right now, he didn’t really care either.

“No you don’t! You’ve just got these pictures in your head about what you want life to be like, but it’s not going to be that way!”

“I could if I tried hard enough, and if anything, you’ve taught me to try to go above and beyond standards!”

“It’s not going to turn out that way! You’re just a kid with too much spare time and a wild imagination!”

“I know what I want,” Noah said evenly.

“And what is that exactly?”

“I want…I want to be a director, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Yes there is! It doesn’t make any kind of a future for you!”

“It will.”

“Says the seventeen year old child!”

“I am not a child!”

“Then stop acting like one!”

“I’m not!”

“You really are just a kid filled with what you want life to be like, you know that?”

“Like I said, I know everything I want, and I’m going to get it.”

“What else is part of your elaborate scheme in life pray tell? Because, I would just love to know the secret!”

“Nothing,” Noah said clinching his jaw.

“Oh, there’s something young man, and you’re going to tell me this instant!”

“I said nothing.”

“Noah Mayer you tell me right now or…”

“Or what? You’ll draft me?”

“Don’t change the subject. C’mon tell me.”

“You’ll…”

“I’ll what?”

“You’ll never…”

“I’ll never what Noah?! Just say it! be a man!"

“I’m gay!”

Noah just snapped, and he couldn’t believe he just did that. He watched as his father’s face went into a state of shock.

“No you’re not.”

“Yes, I am,” Noah said closing his eyes and in an even voice.

“No you’re not! I can’t have a son that’s…like that!”

“Like what? Gay? Yeah, you can say it. It took me so long to finally confront it, I’m not holding back anymore.”

“Get out,” Win said in a quiet tone.

“What?”

“I said get out! I don’t want you in this house ever again!”

“Fine!”

Noah grabbed a bag and put some clothes, his laptop, iPod, money he’d been saving, and everything else he needed, in under a minute. He grabbed both sets of his keys and his coat as he walked out the door. He opened the door, and sat in the driver’s side of his truck.

Noah didn’t swear before, but that night, he said every word there was to say. He didn’t cry though. He wanted to so bad, but fought it back. He was mad, not sad.
But now, he didn’t have anywhere to go. He thought of people that might let him stay over. He knew Luke wouldn’t be comfortable with it. That’s when he remembered how great of a friend Casey was. Noah dialed the number in hopes Casey would pick up. Luckily, he did.

“Hey Noah! What up bro?”

“Nothing.”

“Doesn’t sound like nothing. Are you sure?”

“Listen, I know this is a little short notice and rude, but can I stay at your place tonight? My dad…my dad and I had a big falling out and I need a place to stay for tonight.”
Those words were harder for Noah to say than he excepted.

“Uh, Yeah, sure dude! Of course! Do you need me to pick you up?”

“No, I have my truck. So just go to your house?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you here.”

“Ok.”

“And Noah?”

“Yeah.”

“When you get here, we’re gonna talk about this, 'cause I'm lost. But I’m here for ya man, ok?”

“Thanks. You’re…you’re a really great friend Casey.”

“You’re not so bad yourself Mayer. Alright, I’ll let you drive. See you in a few.”

“Bye.”

Noah hung up his phone and headed for Casey’s house.