Tap, tap, tap. Space bar, enter, shift key. Cap lock, tab, question mark. Tap, tap, tap.
Repeat. Tap, tap, tap. Got to finish soon. Due date is so near. I'm so tired. Tap, tap, ta-
The apartment was dark and quiet. Only a small light was lit and it was from the computer screen. A figure was leaning over the keyboard, lightly snoring. A small alarm clock shone next to the person, neon green flashing 3:18AM. Another figure came up to the person, lightly shaking him.
"Noah? Wake up."
Noah woke up with a start, blinking rapidly. He groaned, stretching his back. He glanced at the small clock on his desk and frowned.
"Cody, go back to bed." He grumbled, rubbing his face with his hands.
Cody scratched the back of his head, lightly yawning. "Do you want me to make you some coffee or do you want to go to bed?"
Noah thought about it for a while and then shook his head. "Coffee, please."
Cody frowned, but nodded his head. He headed to the kitchen, turning on the light. He yawned again as he started up the coffee machine. Noah continued typing on the computer, forcing himself to stay awake long enough so Cody can bring him his coffee. He had a book to finish and nothing was going to stop him.
Eight years has gone by. Noah and Cody were no longer the stereotypical teens that were on a once-famous reality TV show. Eight years has gone by, and the two had enough time to tell each other their true feelings about other. To be true to themselves and their families. Now older and a bit wiser, they were now young adults living together in a small, but yet big apartment in Toronto.
Noah has become a novelist, since of his love of books. He has already written two books before and now is currently working on his new one. He was able to become a writer, thanks to the help of a friend of his family, which was a publisher. His novels are mostly about fantasy. Since Noah's first two books were such a hit, his publisher begged him to write a new one. Noah agreed, but since old habits are so hard to break, he put it off until last notice. Noah had only a month to finish a 20-chapter novel. Every night, he sat by the computer, typing endlessly. So far, he had finished 6 chapters. If he kept up in this pace, he could be finish before his due date.
Cody is now a full-time worker at a local store near by called Tech Center. He is one of the tech supporter that helped people with their problems with their computers. He enjoys working and helping people, smiling along as he does. Unlike Noah, he does get the job done and quick. Every once in a while, a customer would recognize him from "Total Drama Island" and ask for a picture and an autograph. It flatters Cody that he still has fans from such an idiotic reality show, but it bothers Noah when people only view him from that show instead of his writings. Cody doesn't mind though.
It took them a long time to finally move in together in a place they can call their own. Noah had it with living with eight siblings, and even though some of them were old enough to live by themselves, they enjoyed visiting anyway. Cody told his parents he was old enough to be independent and move out. There were arguments over the idea, because they knew Cody was planning to move in with Noah. Unlike Noah's family, who were supportive of Noah's open lifestyle, Cody's parents took a long time to get used to the fact that their son's "life partner" is a male. Especially Cody's father. Cody's father and Noah never, ever got along well. He blames Noah for "poisoning" his son and Noah backfires with his harsh, sarcastic tone.
But, now they were together and happy. Well, sort of happy. Since Noah's cramming, Cody hadn't been able to be with him for a while. When Noah gets straight to work, he won't stop for anything expect bathroom breaks and to eat. He would get bags under his eyes, his hair would be in a slight mess, he would stop shaving so he would grow a stubble, and he would smoke. Noah started smoking when he first started becoming a writer. He tells Cody it calms his nerves, but Cody would try to make him quit. Noah would just sit there, in front of the computer, typing away with his rimless glasses on the tip of his nose. Every night, Cody would always find him asleep on the keyboard. And every night, Cody would wake him up and give him an option of either going to bed or having another cup of coffee. And, every night Noah would choose the cup of coffee over going to bed with Cody.
Cody returned with a mug of coffee, to find Noah asleep again. He lightly smiled and gently shook Noah awake again. Noah jolts back awake, groaning. Cody places the coffee mug on the desk.
"I'm going back to bed. Good night."
Noah grumbled again, waving Cody away. Cody looked away, but before returning to the bedroom, he placed a kiss on top of Noah's head. Noah lightly smiled, but it disappeared as he took a sip of his coffee and went back to typing. Cody walked back to the bedroom, yawning and closing the door behind him. Once Noah heard the sound of the door clicking, he went into his pocket and pulled out his pack of cigarettes. With his other hand reaching for his tiny set of matches, Noah placed a cigarette in his mouth. He lit the cigarette up, putting away his matches. He blows out the smoke and he sighs. Rubbing his face, he continued typing on the computer.
Cody went back under the sheets of the bed, yawning. He turned to his side, his arm laying the left side of the bed. The side Noah sleeps on. He frowns, but shakes his head. Noah was just a room away. Nothing to get so upset about. As soon as he finishes his novel, they'll be like before. Cody closed his eyes and went back to sleep, listening to the tapping of Noah's fingers hitting the keyboard.
The next morning was bright and sunny. Noah groaned in displeasure of this, squinting his eyes. He had finished another chapter, and now he had only thirteen more chapters to go. He moaned, stretching out his arms. He reached over to grab his coffee mug, only to find it empty again. Noah frowned at this and he placed it back down. He checked the alarm clock on his desk, flashing '6:58AM'. Noah sighed, shaking his head. Another all-niter. He felt so tired; all he wanted to do was lay down on something soft. The clock stuck seven and Noah heard Cody's own alarm clock going off. He heard Cody waking up, yawning and groaning. Cody stepped out of the bedroom, rubbing his eyes. Noah lightly smirked on how cute Cody always looked when he wakes up in the morning.
"Hey, good morning." Noah greeted. Cody smiled at him, brushing back his hair.
"Hey yourself. Did you get any sleep?" Cody asked, walking to the kitchen.
"I think so. I don't really remember." Noah answered, yawning.
Cody tsked at Noah, putting water inside the tea kettle for himself. He placed the kettle on the stove and walked back to Noah, grabbing his empty coffee mug.
"Can you try to catch some sleep while I'm at work? You know no sleep is unhealthy."
Noah rolled his eyes, giving Cody his 'Duh, I know that.' Look. Cody giggled, smiling a bit. He walked pass Noah, petting his messy head. Cody entered the bathroom, and Noah chuckled a bit. He yawned again, and he shook his head, trying to get rid of his sleepiness. The sound of the kettle screaming gave Noah a jolt start, looking around. Cody walked out of the bathroom, still brushing his teeth. He turned off the stove and walked back to the bathroom. Noah shook his head, feeling stupid. Cody was right, he did need some sleep.
Cody walked out the bathroom, got his tea ready and went back to the bedroom to change his clothes. Noah yawned and decided to use the bathroom also. He just remembered that he needed to pee anyway. Lack of sleep is messing with him right now.
After Cody changed, he got straight to the kitchen, and started cooking breakfast. He hummed a small tune as he started making scrambled eggs with bacon. Noah came out of the bathroom, yawning and scratching his chin. Cody gladly put a plate for Noah and himself on the kitchen table. As Cody sat down, sipping his tea and eating his food, Noah simply grabbed his own plate and went back to the computer. Cody frowned a bit, but covered it up with his mug.
"Noah, I might be working late today." Cody called out.
Noah mumbled something and waved his hand, as he gobbled his food and started typing again.
"So, you might have to cook dinner for yourself." Cody said again.
Noah just nodded his head, not really paying attention.
Cody pouted, hating when Noah ignores him when he was trying to tell him something important. He sighed again, shaking his head. He placed his empty plate in the sink and grabbed his coat. Cody grabbed his cell phone and his keys and headed for the door.
"Bye, Noah! Please try to catch up on some sleep! I left a pot of coffee for you!"
Noah nodded again and heard the door close. He sighed, getting up to fetch himself another mug of black coffee.
The day was normal. Just like all the other days. Having the whole apartment to himself, Noah would gladly drink as any cups of coffee as he wanted and smoke until he gets sick of the nicotine. Of course, having the advantage of being home alone, Noah would forget that he was typing a book and end up crashing on the couch, catching up on his sleep. At least he kept his promise to Cody. So, on this normal day, Noah was dead asleep on the couch, a forgotten coffee mug hanging on the tips of his fingers. Suddenly, the phone started ringing and Noah groaned in his sleep. The phone rang again and Noah opened one eye, glaring. Grumbling, he sat up, placing the coffee mug on the floor. He reached over to the phone, grabbing it slowly.
'If this is a telemarketer, I'm going to be so pissed.' Noah thought as he picked up the phone to his ear.
"Who is this?" Noah asked roughly over the phone, not caring if it sounded rude or not.
"Oh, Noah. I-I'm sorry, this is Cody's mother. Did I c-call at a bad time?"
Noah was a bit surprised to hear from Cody's mother. They haven't been talking with Cody's parents since last year because Noah and Cody's father got into another argument again. He cleared his throat, feeling a bit nervous to be talking with Cody's mother.
"No, Mrs. Booker, this isn't a bad time."
"Oh, good. I-Is…Is Cody around by any chance?"
"No, Cody's at work right now. He won't be home until late today…"
"Oh. Ok then…"
For some reason, Noah sensed something was wrong with Mrs. Booker. She sounded scared and sad over the phone, very unlike the happy woman she is. Sure, Noah and Mr. Booker don't get along, but Noah did like Mrs. Booker.
"I can give you his cell phone number, if you want it." He suggested.
"No, thank you dear. I'll just…call later." She answered.
"Uh, is everything OK, Mrs. Booker?" Noah asked, feeling nervous for even asking.
"Everything's fine, dear. I'll just call later. Good bye."
The sound of the phone hanging up and Noah did the same. He frowned, deep in thought. If there was something he knew, is that when someone is lying to him. And, Mrs. Booker told a huge lie there. He felt he should call her back, just to make sure if everything was alright, but he decided to forget about it and get back to his writing. He shouldn't be poking his nose into other peoples' businesses.
It was late in the afternoon, and Noah only had finished writing half of the next chapter of his book. He groaned, coughing a bit. He placed his cigarette in the ash tray on his desk, along with five or six more other smoked up cigarettes. His stomach growled, reminding him that he had yet had dinner yet. Noah sighed, rubbing his empty stomach. He got up, going to the kitchen. Checking inside the fridge, he heard the door being unlocked and Cody walking in. Noah checked the kitchen clock, and was surprise to see how late it was. Cody walked into the kitchen, tired and sleepy. He smiled at Noah, and then frowned to see him poking his head inside the fridge.
"You didn't eat yet?" Cody asked.
"Uh, yeah. I forgot I was hungry." Noah answered, grabbing some leftover pasta from the fridge.
"Oh, Noah. Did you at least get some sleep?" Cody asked, putting away his coat.
"Don't worry, I did." Noah said, popping the leftover pasta into the microwave.
From the mention of sleep, Noah suddenly remembered Mrs. Booker's call earlier today. As he grabbed something drink, not coffee this time, he mentioned it to Cody.
"Your mom called earlier today." He said, waiting for his pasta.
"Really? She did?" Cody asked, sitting down on one of the chairs in the kitchen.
"Yeah. She wanted to talk to you for some reason." Noah said, grabbing his plate out of the microwave and sitting across from Cody.
"Did she say it was important?" Cody asked again.
"I don't know. She said she'd call later." Noah answered, eating his dinner.
"Well, if it was important, I'll call her right now." Cody said and got up to grab the phone in the living room.
Noah shrugged, and continued eating. He overhead Cody dialing the numbers and waiting for his mother to pick up. Noah suddenly felt some tension in the air. He didn't like this feeling, but tried to ignore it and went back to eating.
He heard Cody greeting his mother but then some hushed voices were soon followed after. Noah fidgeted around, clearing his throat. The tension got higher as the voices got lower. Noah could tell, something was wrong. A silence was followed, and then the sound of Cody hanging up the phone. He walked back to the kitchen, looking suddenly pale. Noah looked up, concerned.
"Cody? What's wrong?" he asked.
Cody didn't say anything at first, only looking like he was on the verge of tears. He was breathing lightly, looking around the room as if he was seeking for the answer. Noah frowned, so he asked again.
"Cody, what's wrong?"
Cody let out a shaky sigh, looking at Noah with his sadden, doe eyes.
"Noah, my father is sick."
Noah blinked, feeling somewhat shocked. He cleared his throat, feeling nervous again.
"Is it serious?" Noah asked quietly, looking away.
"Yeah, he's in the hospital right now. Mom said that he's getting weaker every day. Noah…I think my dad is dying."
A silence between them. Noah felt the tension getting higher and higher. Cody stared at him, almost pleading him for some sort of comfort. Noah was still looking away, feeling awkward about this. How do you comfort someone about a person you really despise? Noah got up, placing his plate in the sink. Cody watched him, fidgeting a bit. He hasn't felt this scared in a long time. Noah stared at Cody and sighed. He grabbed his coffee mug and walked back to the computer. Cody watched as Noah simply ignored him and went back to work. He let out another shaky sigh and walked straight into the bedroom, not looking at Noah. Noah typed away on the keyboard, not even seeing the heart-broken look on Cody's face as he closed the bedroom door.
Author's Notes: Hullo all! This is my first Noah/Cody fanfic, so I hope you all like it. I'm sorry if the characters seem a little OOC. But, I wanted to portray them to be older and a bit wiser than their teen-selves. c:
Originally, this was going to be a one-shot, but it got too long to be one. So, I was like, "Oh, whatever. It's a chapter-story now." XD Note, Cody's last name and his parents are made up by me and a close friend. So, don't be confuse and be all, "WHUT?" XDD
I hope you all liked the first chapter! ^_^