Section 4

Christmas was over and New Years was fast approaching. Noah was at the gym for a quick workout. He loved hanging out at the Snyder farm, but Grandma Emma and Mrs Snyder constantly feeding him was making him feel sluggish. Noah was tying his shoe, when he heard someone call him.

"Hey, Mayer." Eddie called.

"Am I glad to see you"

Noah got up from the bench. "Me? Why?"

Eddie pointed around the corner. "A couple of us were getting a game together and Kenny got a better offer. Some hot number from his acting class. Needless to say we are short one. You want to shoot some hoops with us. Shirts vs Skins. You can be on my team. We're the skins." Eddie said while removing his shirt. "Any excuse to show off my body. You never know who may be looking." He said with a smile.

Noah grabbed his towel. "Sure, I'm up for a game."

Eddie led the way. "Cool"

Eddie and Noah walked into the gym. "Hey guys look who I found in the locker room." Eddie turned to Noah. "You already know Roth and Bob. This is Dave and Jim. I don't know if you met them at my place."

Noah waved. "Hi."

"Hey" the four guys replied.

Eddie threw Roth the ball. "Noah's on my team. Why don't you guys take it out first."

Roth took the ball and looked at Noah. He was looking forward to showing Noah up. "Okay. Hope your up to this. We play for keeps."

For the most part the game was uneventful. There were a couple of fouls, but nothing out of line. Eddie was a good athlete. He and Noah did most of the scoring for their team and worked well together passing and moving down the court. Roth was obviously good too. Bob, Dave and Jim were pretty good on defense, but not as good at scoring. Especially on the more agile Eddie and Noah. As Noah and Eddie found their rhythm, their team started to run a streak. Roth's team was missing shots. It was starting to show that Roth's team just wasn't up to Eddie's. Roth wasn't liking the way things were going. He decided he needed to do something before the other team got too far ahead. All of a sudden Noah went up for a rebound and Roth barrelled into him knocking him into the wall.

Eddie ran over. "Roth what was that all about?"

Noah got up. "Don't worry Eddie. I'm fine."

Roth looked at Eddie. "Sorry, lost my footing."

Eddie didn't believe that Roth had hit Noah by accident. He knew that Roth didn't like Noah, because of how he felt about Luke. The game got a little rougher after that, more steals, bumping under the baskets and more hitting the floor. Roth shot a basket, Noah went up for the rebound and swiped the ball before Bob could get to it. He passed to Eddie who started down the court. Noah followed. Dave started to block Eddie just shy of the three point line so that he wasn't able to get a shot. Noah caught up with Eddie and Eddie bounce the ball past Dave. Noah took the ball in stride and headed for the basket. Roth had caught up and was blocking the basket. Noah went for a lay up over Roth and was just over Roth's hands. The ball rolled around the rim and fell into the basket. Eddie's team finally won. Eddie jumped up at mid court. "That's game."

Roth was even more furious. Which he didn't try to hide. He turned around and kicked the wall.

"Great game, Noah" Eddie said. Coming over and patting Noah on the back.

Noah leaned on his knees. Breathing heavily. "Thanks."

Roth finally got his emotions in check. "Yeah great game."

Eddie finished the last of his water. "What do you say we hit the showers?"

Noah nodded. "Sounds good."

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Everyone was showering. "You were pretty good out there Mayer. I always knew you had a good body, but didn't know you were so athletic."

Noah began to blush. "There were hoops set up on the base. The kids would get a game together sometimes."

Eddie noticed Noah's medallion. "Hey what's that?"

Noah held up the medallion. "It's for St. Jude."

Eddie thought for a second. "Isn't that the saint for hopeless people?"

Noah nodded. "Causes not people."

Eddie looked at Noah sideways. "Why would you have that?"

Noah smiled as he remember receiving the medallion on Christmas. "It was a present."

Eddie nodded. "Oh. Cause looking at you and the way you just played that game, you are far from hopeless."

Noah blushed again. "Thanks, I guess."

Eddie noticed him blushing and waved him off. "Don't worry. I'm not coming on to you. I flirt with everyone. You'll get use to it, but if you were interested I certainly wouldn't turn you away." Eddie said giving Noah the once over.

Noah smiled. "I'm glad to hear that."

Roth chimed in. "Yeah, Eddie doesn't like a challenge. Unlike me the more the guy protests the more I seem to want him."

Eddie started to wash his hair. "That's true once Roth sets his sights on you, you better watch out."

Noah finished his shower and grabbed his towel. "This was great. Anytime you guys need another player, I'm in."

Eddie was drying his hair with his towel. "I'll remember that. We were going to head over to Al's for some chow. Why don't you come along."

Noah wasn't sure. "I don't know. I told Luke I would stop by later."

Eddie smiled. "That's right I forgot you've got a wife. Come on, one celebratory drink, after wiping the floor with Roth, Dave and Bob."

Noah shook his head. "He isn't my wife!"

Eddie put his hand on Noah's shoulder. "Then you don't have to check in with him every 5 minutes do you?"

Noah put on his shirt. "Well, I didn't say what time I would be there, so I could hang out with you guys for a little while."

Eddie finished putting on his shoes. "That's what I like to hear."
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Noah walked into the Snyder kitchen. Luke was making a sandwich. "Hi Luke."

Luke looked up at Noah. "Hi. I was just making a sandwich. Do you want one?"

Noah shook his head. "No, I'm stuffed. I was just at Al's."

Luke took his plate over to the table. "Why didn't you call me? I could have met you there."

Noah sat down next to Luke. "I was with Eddie, Roth, Bob and a couple of other guys."

Luke pressed his lips together tightly. Stopping himself from saying what he really wanted to. "Oh really." He finally let out. "I thought you were at the gym."

Noah nodded. "I was. They were there and asked me to join in a basketball game, because Kenny had bailed on them. Then we went out afterwards."

Luke began to eat his sandwich. "I see."

Noah looked at Luke. "Your not mad are you?"

Luke drank some of his milk. "Me? No." Luke said shaking his head.

Noah smiled. "I'm glad. It was a blast. Bob and Eddie were taking turns rating cute guys as they passed. Who they would do and not do. I think Eddie had already done a couple of them. It's amazing, they are just so free and open about everything. They're really fun to be around."

Luke continued to eat. "Did they ask for your inpu?."

Noah shook his head. "No, they know that I'm seeing you."

Luke nodded his approval. "I see. What did Roth do?"

Noah thought. "Not much. He was kind of quiet. I don't think he likes me. From what Eddie said, it seems like he has the hots for someone and he is currently in pursuit."

Luke almost choked on the last bite of sandwich. He coughed. "Really did they say who?"

Noah shook his head. "No, but according to Eddie, Roth always gets what he wants."

Luke just sat and stared.

Coming soon: Talk to Me
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Section 5