As the sun begins to set on the residents of Oakdale, Illinois one resident is just pulling into town; to be more specific, the Lakeview Hotel. His black truck might seem ordinary, however he hoped one resident in particular would recognize it.
Climbing out of the truck, Noah Mayer couldn't help smiling. So far his plan was running smoothly. It was going so smoothly that not even his current boyfriend knew of it. Glancing over at Mason Jarvis, Noah remembers all the pain the man had caused, but that was all in the past.
Before walking in the front doors, Noah grabs Mason by the arm and pulls him in close. The two men kiss passionately, as if the world was theirs alone. When a slight drizzle begins to fall it makes the kiss that much more cliché. Neither Noah nor Mason care about getting wet; for both were getting what they want.
Finally Noah pulls away in order to breathe and the two enter the hotel. Upon reaching the front desk, Noah sees that Lily Snyder is manning it. Her presence further proves Noah's plan's eminent success. One glance at her takes Noah back to his tumultuous relationship with her son. It had been his very first relationship as a gay man and when they had split up some months ago it had been hard for Noah to move on with his life.
"Hello Mrs. Snyder." Noah warmly greets the woman who would always be like a second mom to him.
"Actually it's Ms. Walsh and has been since Holden married Molly." Lily smiles meekly.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I always thought you guys would make it." Noah empathizes.
"Well after Luke moved into an apartment with Dr. Oliver I realized that he had given up on ever being with his first true love again. So I did the same, I gave up." Lily explains as she pulls up reservations on the computer.
"Well, Mr. Mayer your reservation seems to be in order. Here is your key and if you need anything just call." Lily returns to her professional air, but she still emphasizes the word 'call'.
"Okay. Thanks again, Mrs. Sny- I mean Ms. Walsh." Noah smiles as he takes the key and grabs his bag.
Turning to Mason, Noah grabs his hand and they head to the elevator. Once inside the elevator, Mason turns to Noah and places his left hand on Noah's right cheek. Noah doesn't relax into the touch, a fact which goes unnoticed by Mason.
"Noah you can only imagine how surprised I was to find you back in my life." Mason says in a low gruff voice.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Noah says somewhat distractedly.
"Especially after how I was treated by Mr. Snyder the last time I was here in Oakdale. What happened with you guys anyways?" Mason insistently continues the conversation.
"We, uh, broke up, like months ago." Noah responds turning out of Mason's gaze and touch.
"I see." Mason simply replies.
The two men fall silent for the remaining two floors of their journey. At the fourth floor the elevator doors open with a small ding. Noah quickly strides from the constricting box and strides up the hallway not even bothering to look and see if Mason was keeping up. At room 404 Noah stops and pulls out the key card to open the door.
Five minutes later both men were safely tucked away in their room and Mason was sitting watching the television set. Noah was grabbing extra linens from the closet and was making up the cot bed that he had asked room service to bring up. Mason glances over at the cot bed and stands up.
"Why did you ask for them to bring an extra bed up?" Mason asks a devilish look in his dark eyes.
"Did you think we would sleep in the same bed?" Noah asks a little irritated by even the smallest implication of such a thing.
"Well, yeah" Mason says enthusiastically.
"Mason! We hardly know each other! It took Luke and me a year and a half to get to that stage in our relationship. I am not about to jump into bed with the next hot body I find." Noah turns on Mason and says vehemently.
"I thought that you wanted to be in that type of relationship with me, a fun one." Mason retorts, his voice rising in anger.
"NO!" Noah screams before turning on his heel and slamming the door shut behind him.
Noah storms out of the Lakeview and walks angrily to no place in particular. In fact, Noah had no idea where he was going until he looks up and sees that he is standing outside of Java. With a smile Noah remembers all the happy times he shared inside the four walls of the local coffeehouse. It was where he had worked his first real job upon first arriving here. It was also where he spent many hours studying and just hanging out with Luke.
Now that Luke and Noah were separately seeing other people Noah is sort of afraid to step inside for fear of being sucked into the past. If Noah could have his way in life, he would fully allow himself to get sucked back in time. However, as luck would have it he couldn't go back because the other party involved no longer wanted any relationship with him.
With a huge sigh Noah enters Java. It is like literally stepping back in time. The atmosphere of Java would never change no matter how much time passed. It would always have that unmistakable feeling of warmth and security. Noah had always loved Java because he always felt like every dream was possible whenever he is there.
Behind the counter stands a young college girl with wavy blonde hair. Her nametag indicates that her name is Kylie. Noah approaches her and gives her a smile.
"I'd like to order…" Noah begins telling the girl before he is distracted by a conversation occurring nearby.
Noah turns around and finds himself looking at none other than Luke Snyder and Dr. Reid Oliver. The two look cozy with their fingers intertwined over the table and their heads close together.
"What do you say we take this back to the apartment? We'd be alone." Dr. Oliver mutters mischievously, his eyes undressing Luke.
"Uh…" Luke hesitates, thrown by Reid's sudden implication of sex.
"Luke," Noah steps in, staring Luke down with much intensity.
"N-Noah, w-what are you d-doing h-here" Luke stammers as he nervously glances over at Reid.
"Just getting a coffee," Noah answers nonchalantly.
"Then get your coffee and go" Reid sneers, grabbing Luke's hand tightly.
"Uh, Noah why don't you join us?" Luke asks nervously, pulling both his hands off the table.
"I don't have time. I should get back to Mason. It was nice seeing you again, Luke." Noah says with a smile before leaving JAVA, without a coffee.
Noah continues walking towards the square in Old Towne. At the square's bench, Noah stops and mutters a countdown, from five, under his breath. At the utterance of number one, Noah hears hurried footsteps behind him.
"Noah wait! I need to talk to you." Luke calls out breathlessly.
Noah turns and sees Luke hanging over the bench armrest, trying to catch his breath. For a second, Noah is thrust into the memory of a much happier time for the two of them. Back then Noah felt like the whole world was his for the taking. Luke's simple way of loving him made him believe true love did exist. More than anything Noah wanted that back, which is why he came back to town.
"So, you're dating Mason now?" Luke asks, still out of breath.
"So, you're with Reid now?" Noah answers with a question.
"Umm…sort of" Luke responds sheepishly, looking down at his feet.
"Wow, you sure move fast." Noah scoffs.
"You're one to talk. 'I gotta get back to Mason'" Luke retorts, becoming slightly angry.
"What about you? Practically jumping Reid's bones back there" Noah shouts.
"Are you saying I shouldn't be 'jumping his bones'?" Luke asks, glaring at Noah.
"I'm saying you don't even know him! It's not like you to just jump in bed with someone you hardly know." Noah screams, getting in Luke's face.
"Now you're really one to talk, Mr. I'm gay but sleep with girls Mayer. I figured it must be fun having hot random sex, after all you seemed to enjoy it that time I walked in on you and Maddie at Branson." Luke hisses angrily.
"Oh so you can sling Maddie in my face but, I can't tell you that what I think you are doing with Reid is wrong? Look I will admit that I was wrong to make you suffer like I did, but at least I don't constantly bring up your mistakes! Is the real reason why we waited over a year to have sex because you couldn't trust me; or was it because you truly wanted the moment to be special, Mr. I believe in love not just sex Snyder." Noah asks his face red with anger.
"You have no right to judge me! You have no claim in my life anymore. You broke up with me, remember?" Luke steps back in frustration.
"NO! You gave me an ultimatum, I had no choice." Noah says equally frustrated.
"You had a choice! You could've had me or nothing. You chose NOTHING!" Luke's voice rises once more.
"I needed you but, I also needed my freedom." Noah explains, starting to calm down.
"So that's why you treated me like a leper? You needed me and your freedom? That makes me feel that much better!" Luke yells, stepping a little bit further from Noah.
"I'm sorry you couldn't trust that I'd get better and in extension treat you better! I thought we could get through anything." Noah starts out angry and finishes soft and caring.
"So did I." Luke steps towards Noah, placing his hand on Noah's.
"I'm sorry." Noah says as he kisses Luke's cheek before turning and walking away.
"So am I" Luke mutters to the retreating figure of Noah.
That night Luke chooses to sleep at the farm with his grandma, dad, and step-mom, which leaves Reid alone at the apartment; alone wondering what he did wrong.
Luke enters his old childhood bedroom and heaves a sigh. He closes his eyes and lets his crazy thoughts run wild.
How could Noah even think that I would betray him like that? Sex with Dr. Reid? No way! I'm totally not ready for that. What is Noah doing with Mason? I thought he hated the guy. I guess that's just him moving on. If he's moving on then why did he kiss me? And why did he care what I'm doing with Reid? This is all so confusing! Why do I even care? He broke my heart and I've told myself that I'm over him. But am I really?