Chapter 6 - Rated PG

Luke and Noah walked through the mall carrying shopping bags. "I can't believe I got so much Christmas shopping done." Luke said.

Noah looked at all the bags. "I'm amazed that there is anything left in the stores. Are you buying for the whole town?"

Luke placed his bags down on a nearby table. "I have a lot of people to buy things for. My Grandmother, Dad, Mom, sister, brothers..."

Noah interrupted him. "Okay, I get it. I've never had to do that much shopping it was only me and my dad." Noah's voice trailed off as he thought about his father.

Luke walked up to him and put his hands around his waist. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be going on about my family. I know that you are probably going to be thinking about your dad, but this is our first Christmas together."

Noah perked up. "Your right. I want to get you something special. What do you want for Christmas?"

Luke placed his hands on both sides of Noah's face. "I've already got what I want for Christmas. You."

Noah smiled. "I don't think I would fit under your tree."

Luke gave Noah a sly smile. "Oh, but I could see you now standing there with a strategically place bow and nothing else."

Noah blushed. "You better be the first one down the stairs. I would hate to have to explain that to your parents."

Luke stepped closer. "Maybe we can open presents at your place."

Noah gave Luke a peck on the lips. "You're a bad boy."

Luke smiled again. "Yes I guess I am when it comes to you. I just can't believe how well everything is going. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would have a boyfriend and be so happy. I would have called them a liar."

Noah grinned. "You think that you would have. Imagine me?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah, I guess you have me beat on that one."

Luke started to pick up his bags. "What do you say we put these bags in the car and check out some of the Christmas windows?"
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Luke was looking at the Christmas displays. Noah stood behind him, his hands around his waist. "I just love Christmas. All the lights and the decorations."

Noah snuggled up. "Me too. Hey that elf over there kind of looks like Prof. Cummings."

Luke giggled. "I think that you are right."

Noah kissed the back of Luke's head. "That reminds me, I ran into Roth the other day."

Luke turned to look at Noah. "Roth? Oh that guy that you were jealous of."

Noah dropped his hands from Luke. "I wasn't jealous."

Luke nodded his head. "Right, that's why you chased him off with the excuse of needing to talk about work."

Noah moved his mouth around trying to come up with a smart reply. "Okay, I was jealous."

Luke turned back to the window satisfied with himself. "Why did you bring him up? Is it my turn to be jealous?"

Noah put his arms back around Luke's waist. "No, he knows that we are seeing each other. He was telling me about the Winter Solstice Dance that is coming up."

Luke was confused. "Dance? Why was he talking to you about a dance?"

Noah step next to Luke. "He said that it is quite the event. He went last year and said that it was a blast. There seems to be a big gay showing there. Do you think you might want to go with me?"

Luke was shocked. "You want to go to a dance?"

Noah smile. Now turning Luke to face him. "Yeah, I'd like to show you off."

Luke smile back. "It would actually be our first real date. We've been to the diner and hung out in the quad, but with everything going on. We haven't really been on a date."

Noah pulled Luke close to him. "So will you go?

Luke nodded. "I'd love to?"

Noah kissed Luke on the lips. "Oh, it is semi-formal. So you will need a suit."

Luke put his hand to his face. "What will I wear?"

Noah smiled and whispered in his ear. "How about a strategically placed bow."

They both laughed. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Chapter 7

Three weeks later. Luke was throwing things around his room. "I can't find my cuff links. I know I put them over here somewhere."

Luke's mother, Lily, smiled at her son. "They are right over here on the dresser."

Luke turned around and walked over to get the cuff links from his mom. "Thanks mom. How do I look?"

Lily shook her head. "For the millionth time, you look great. Why are you so nervous? You and Noah have been seeing each other for months now."

Luke put on the cuff links and looked in the mirror. "I know but this is special. I want to knock his socks off when he sees me."

Lily walked up to Luke and put her hand on his shoulder. "You must really care about him."

Luke nodded. "More than anyone else before. It almost scares me."

Lily had a confused look on her face. "Why would it scare you? You know how Noah feels about you."

Luke shrugged his shoulders. "I guess, but he hasn't really said yet and I'm scared to, because what if he doesn't feel the same way. Things have been so good between us. I don't want to mess it up."

Lily looked at her son. "You're young. You have plenty of time. It's not like you are sleeping together. You're not sleeping together are you?"

Luke stepped back from his mother, shocked. "Mom!"

Lilly looked at her son for some kind of sign. "Well, have you?"

Luke shook his head. "Mom, I'm not going to answer that. That is between me and Noah." Lily took that as a no and was silently relieved. "Well, if you have or do, remember to be safe."

Luke felt the need to change the subject. "Your sure you like this shirt with this jacket?" \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Noah walked into the kitchen. "Hello Mr Snyder."

Holden was sitting at the table reading the newspaper. "Noah, don't you look nice."

Noah smiled. "Thanks. I'm here to pick up Luke. Is he ready?"

Holden shrugged. "I don't know. He and Lily have been up there for hours. I'll go call him." Holden walked over to the stairs and yelled up. "Luke. Noah is here."

Several minutes later, Luke came down the stairs. Noah turned as he entered the room and a big grin came across his face. "You look fantastic."

Luke beamed and nervously pushed his hands into his pockets. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

Noah walked over to Luke. "I wanted to get you something. It's probably kind of corny, but I got you a boutonniere."

Luke looked at the flower. "I don't think it's corny. I think it is sweet." He gave Noah a peck on the cheek. "Thank you."

Noah opened the container. "Shall I put it on you?"

Luke nodded. "Yes, please."

Lily beamed watching her son. "I need to get a picture before you guys go."

Luke shot a look towards his mom. "Mommm."

Holden held up his hand to stop his son's protest. "Luke, you know your mom. The sooner you let her take her pictures. The sooner the two of you will get out of here."

Lily nodded at Holden. "He's right. Now the two of you stand over there."

Luke stood with a half smile. Noah stood behind him. "Okay. Let's get this over with." Luke said.

Lily took the picture. "Okay, just one more and this time at least try to look happy."

Luke finally smiled as Lilly took several more pictures. Noah finally stopped the proceedings. "We probably should get going."

Lily put down her camera. "Okay, you boys have a good time."

Noah took Luke's hand and led him out of the kitchen. "We will." They said in unison.

Once Luke and Noah were safely away from the farmhouse. Noah pulled Luke into a deep kiss. "God, you look sooo good. I don't think I'll be able to keep my hands off you tonight."

Luke smiled at Noah. "You promise?"

Noah opened the car door for Luke and went around to get in the other side. He gave him one last kiss before driving off. "I promise." \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Chapter 8

Luke and Noah arrive at the dance. "Wow this is quite the event. There are tons of people here."

Noah nodded. "I see why Roth had so much fun. With so many people anything could happen and I don't think anyone would notice." Noah reached out his hand for Luke. "What do you say we try out your legs. Do you want to dance?"

Luke took Noah's hand and they made their way to the middle of the dance floor. The two of them where having fun dancing, when Roth came up behind Luke. "Hey you guys made it. A bunch of us are at a table over on the other side of the floor. Why don't you join us."

Luke and Noah nodded at each other approval and said. "Sure."

They followed Roth through the crowd. "Hey guys look who I found. Luke and Noah, this is Kenny, Bob, Steve. Over there are Lisa and Beth. The guy in the corner is Eddie."

Steve moved over a chair. "Come sit down. You guys having fun?"

Luke and Noah sat between Steve and Bob. "Yeah, great music. I'm glad Roth told me about it." Noah said.

Eddie chimed in. "I've seen you guys around campus. So are you two seeing each other exclusively?'

Luke looked at Eddie. "Yeah."

Eddie leaned back in his chair. "That's a shame."

Kenny waved off his friend. "I think it's sweet. You have to excuse Eddie. He is the resident slut. I wish I could find someone like that."

Eddie chimed in. "You did - it's called your hand."

Steve the voice of reason interjected. "Okay, you two. You are giving a bad impression. Ignore them. They don't get along very well. Different points of view. They had a little thing and things let's say haven't been the same between them. I'm sure they will behave from now on." Steve said looking at Eddie and Kenny.

Roth walked up to Noah. "Noah do you mind if I steal Luke away for a dance?"

Noah looked at Luke. Luke didn't seem to object. "No, have fun."

Roth led Luke onto the dance floor. Kenny watched them as they left. "You better watch out for Roth. He has had his eye on Luke for some time now. He wasn't happy when you interrupted their coffee break."

Noah looked at the two men on the dance floor. "I'm not worried. I know how Luke feels." \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Roth danced with Luke. "So are you having fun."

Luke nodded. "Yeah. I can't believe there are so many people here."

Just then the music slowed. Roth move in towards Luke. "Shall we continue."

Luke stepped back. "I better get back to Noah."

Luke turned and walked back to the table. Luke sat next to Noah and put his hand on his leg. Noah looked at him. "Did you enjoy the dance."

Luke looked at Roth as he approached. "Yeah, it was nice. You know the music is starting to get to me. Can we go outside for a bit?"

Noah nodded. "Sure. Hey guys we're going to go get some air. We'll be back." Noah and Luke got up and made their way through the crowd.

Roth sat at the table. Steve looked at Roth. "What did you do?"

Roth shook his head. "Nothing."

Steve had Roth's number. "Right."
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Luke and Noah stepped outside. Luke took a deep breath. "It was starting to get to me in there."

Noah put his hand on Luke's waist. "Is this too much for you. It's probably too soon for such a big event."

Luke turned towards Noah. "No, I'm having a wonderful time with you."

Noah smiled. "Me too." Noah looked up at the sky. "It's a beautiful night. Fairly warm for late December."

Luke crossed his arms across his chest. "Yeah. It is."

Noah looked at Luke. "Are you cold? Do you want to go back inside."

Luke shook his head. "No not yet."

Noah opened his coat. "Here come next to me."

Luke stepped inside Noah's coat and he wrapped it around the two of them. "This kind of reminds me of 'Bridget Jones Diary'. Luke said.

Noah kissed the top of Luke's head. "I love that movie."

Luke looked up at Noah. "I do too. I always kind of felt like her. Seemed like I never would find the right man, but just like her in the end I did." They kissed. A song started playing.

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

Luke listened. "I love this song."

Noah motioned. "Do you want to go inside and dance?"

Luke shook his head. "No. Let's just do it here."

The two danced under the stars.

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

The song finished. Luke looked up at Noah. "I love you."

Noah smiled back at Luke. "I love you too."

The two men kissed gently and held each other tightly.

Noah broke the silence. "You ready to go?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah."