Section 5

Noah and Luke were walking around Olde Town. Catching some of the after Christmas sales. Noah grabbed Luke's hand and pulled him back to the window display. "What do you think of that sweater?"

"I think you would look hot in it." A voice came from behind them.

Noah and Luke turned around, to find Eddie and Roth standing behind them. "You should buy it." Eddie said.

Noah waved. "Hi Guys. Well, actually I was thinking of it for Luke."

Roth chimed in. "Well, if that's the case. I think he would look hot in it too."

Noah looked at Luke. "I was thinking the same thing."

Luke began to feel uncomfortable with all the attention. "Thanks, but I don't need another sweater."

Eddie shrugged off the comment. "Never turn down gifts."

Luke looked at Eddie. "Can we change the subject."

Eddie got the hint. "Sure. Noah I'm glad I ran into you."

Noah was curious. "What did you want?"

Eddie put his hand on Noah's shoulder. "You said that you would be interested in another game. Well, we were thinking of getting an intramural team together for the spring term. Show those breeders that think that just because you're gay that means you can't be athletic. Would you be interested?"

Noah got excited. "Would I. Sounds like fun."

Eddie looked at Luke. "Luke do you mind if I steal Noah for a minute."

Luke shook his head. "No, go right ahead."

Eddie put his arm around Noah as they walked over in front of the other storefront window."

Roth watched Luke, as he looked at the two men. "The two of them are getting pretty chummy."

Luke looked at Roth. "I know what you are trying to do and it won't work."

Roth frowned at Luke. "Do? I don't know what you are talking about."

Luke glanced in Noah and Eddie's direction. "Noah told me that Eddie said that you were after someone and that you always get what you want."

Roth smiled. "I never hid the fact that I want you."

Luke stepped in closer to Roth. "...and I told you that I am not available."

Roth smiled. "So you think. Let me tell you something. Eddie is not a pursuer of men. Men seek him out. It's just something about him that men want to be with him. I have seen it before and Noah is starting to show all the signs. He is being more and more drawn to him. I'm sure he tells you that Eddie is not his type, but there is something about a man with experience. They can show you things that a man without experience can't and I'm sure that intrigues Noah."

Luke turned away from Roth and pushed his hands into his pockets. "No you are wrong. Noah loves me."

Roth laughed. "What's love have to do with it. Eddie doesn't even have the word in his vocabulary."

Luke turned back. "You don't know what you are talking about." Luke said with a nervous laugh.

Roth put his hand on Luke's shoulder and spoke in a concerned tone. "Luke, I have known Eddie for a long time. We grew up together. I have seen it time and time again. He has had more than his share of virgins. They come to him. Drawn to his charm. He's never turned one away and not one did he give a second look after he had them."

Luke glanced over to Noah and Eddie. Eddie had his arm around Noah and Noah was hanging on his every word. "Noah is not like other guys."

Roth took a step towards Luke. "Then why are you so nervous and why haven't you two slept together."

Luke shook his head and removed Roth's hand from his shoulder. "You don't understand. We have come close, but we keep getting interrupted."

Roth nodded. "Yeah, think what you want. If you really wanted to you would find a way. I think you are both scared that you won't satisfy the other one. I can understand that. The first time can be kind of scary. Eddie and I can show you the way, so that when you are together there will be no doubt."

Luke spoke in a quiet yell. "For the last time I am not sleeping with you. Even if nothing happens between me and Noah. You are the last man I would want to be with."

Roth stepped back. "Your just saying that because you don't want to believe that I'm right. I'm not the bad guy here. I'm just telling you the truth. It's not that I'm just trying to get into your pants, even if I can't think of a better place to be, it's just that I'm trying to open your eyes to what is staring you in the face. The first time can shape all your other experiences. Let me make it easy for you, it could be fun. I promise to be gentle."

Luke let out a heavy sigh and was about to tell Roth again that what he was saying was wrong. When Noah and Eddie came back over and joined them. "What are you guys talking about?" Noah said as he slipped his arm around Luke's waist.

Luke looked at Noah. "Oh nothing important. Just a disagreement on the outcome of some book. So is it a done deal? The team all set?"

Eddie smiled at Noah. "Yeah, with Noah I think we are going to have a pretty strong team."

Eddie hit Roth on the arm. "Well, we better get going. I'll talk to you soon Noah. We'll get together after the first and start working out our strategy."

Noah waved. "Yeah. See you later."

Noah turned to Luke. "Isn't this great? When I first moved to Oakdale I didn't know anyone and now."

Noah pulled Luke into a hug. "Yeah great." Luke once again had a sick feeling in his stomach.
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Luke and Noah were sitting on the sofa in Luke's grandmother's house. Luke had his feet up on Noah's lap and was reading a magazine. Noah was rubbing his feet. "So where is everyone?"

Luke looked over his magazine. "I think the girls and Ethan are at my mother's. My dad is running errands and my grandma is over at Uncle Jack's."

Noah moved Luke's feet and moved towards him. "Then why are we just sitting here?"

Luke hit Noah with the magazine. "We tried that before. Just because we are alone now. Don't think it will last long."

Noah looked disappointed. "Okay, then why don't we go over to my place."

Luke sat up. "I told my Dad that I would hang out here. He is expecting some package."

Noah frowned. "Luke if I didn't know better. I would think that you don't want to be alone with me. What's going on?"
Luke shook his head. "Nothing. Why would you think that something is going on?"

Noah moved closer to Luke. "Honestly, every since I told Eddie that I would be on his team you have been acting distant. You said it was okay. Were you telling me the truth or is there something you aren't telling me?"

Luke avoided Noah's eyes. "I don't know what you are talking about."

Noah put his hand to Luke's face and made him look at him. "I would believe you more if you would look at me. You have never lied to me. So don't start now. Tell me what it is."

Luke let out a sigh and got up from the sofa. "It's just that I don't really like Eddie."

Noah followed Luke. "I told you that he isn't my type."

Luke continued to face away from him. "You say that now, but I can tell that part of you envies Eddie."

Noah put his hand on Luke's arm. "Maybe I do. I've never met anyone as free as he is. He just puts everything out there and doesn't care what anyone thinks. I spent most of my life hiding who I really was. To see someone so open with himself and what he wants..." Noah paused. "It intrigues me."

That was what Roth said, Luke thought to himself. "Intrigues you." Luke looked at Noah briefly over his shoulder and then turned away from him again. "Why don't you admit it? You probably wonder what everyone sees in him and wouldn't mind experiencing it yourself."

Noah didn't understand what Luke was saying. He walked up to him and made him face him. "Where is this coming from? The only person I want to be with is you."

Luke looked down. "Being with me would probably not be nearly as exciting as being with someone like Eddie."

Noah took Luke's chin in his hand and raised his face to look at him. "Is that what this is all about the fact that you don't have any experience. Let me tell you something. I might not have been with a man before, but I have been with a couple of women. My first experience wasn't very good. I didn't really care about the girl. Looking back on it now I really wanted her brother, but what made a difference with the next time was that I did care for them. Although I didn't love her I cared about her and we were good together."

Luke used his hand to remove Noah's. "You mean Maddie."

Noah nodded. "Yeah. That's not important. The important thing is that I love you and when we are together it will be special because we are expressing that love. I'm just another trophy to Eddie. Nothing more. I don't want anything like that." Noah again made Luke look at him. "Luke, even if the first time we are together it is awkward or whatever, our love will help us work through it. But I really don't see it happening that way."

Luke now looked into Noah's eyes with out Noah's assistance. "So you do think about it?"

Noah smiled at Luke. "When don't I? I think about it all the time. All the time you were in the wheelchair. I wanted to be with you in whatever way I could, but I knew that you didn't need that then. You needed to concentrate on getting better. So I just pushed my feelings down. Since you have gotten better. I have thought about nothing else. I have dreams about us being together."

Luke turned away again. Roth's words continued to ring in Luke's ears. "Then why haven't we been together yet? If we really wanted to I'm sure we could have found a way."

Noah walked around in front of Luke. "I don't know where this is coming from, it's not like we haven't tried. We keep getting interrupted. I still think that there is something that you are not telling me, but obviously your not going to. I was going to save this until everything was final, but it seems like you need it now."

Luke perked up. "What are you talking about?"

Noah walked over to his coat and took out a brochure. "I saw this on campus the other day and was going to make reservations for New Year's. I thought we could do something special. Just the two of us."

Luke took the brochure from Noah's hand. "Galena? Snowboarding?"

Noah nodded. "I know you haven't been on your feet long, but I thought even if we just did the bunny hills it would be a chance to spend sometime alone."

Luke now had a big smile on his face. "It sounds great."

Noah smiled. "Great. I'll make the reservations."

Coming Soon: Time away
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Section 6 - Rated R