...
...
Noah kicked himself over and over for the rest of the day and part of the next day. What was he thinking, making a move on Kurt like that. Kurt looked completely shocked and sick when Noah had leaned in. He was only going to kiss him on the cheek, but the smaller man face made Noah rethink his actions. He pretended that he didn't really mean to lean in like that, that is was all an accident, and that Kurt had no reason to think he was going to kiss him. But Noah could only lie to himself for so long. He should have waited to tell Kurt his next story before making a move like that. Fuck he wasn't even sure if Kurt was in a relationship with anyone.
Noah paced his apartment, thinking and waiting for his Chinese food to come. When the doorbell rang he was thankful to have something to do. He payed the pimply delivery boy and opened his sweet and sour pork. As he ate his dinner he thought about calling Artie and telling him about Kurt. He knew his friend would have good advice fro him, but he was still unsure of Kurt's situation. Then he kicked himself once again and pulled out his phone which would hold the answers he wanted. He looked up the number Kurt had put in there yesterday and called it. He waited as the phone rang then smiled when the other end picked up.
"Hello," said a voice Noah hadn't heard in years.
"Hey man," Noah said back.
"Uhh, who is this?" Finn asked.
"Come on man, I know it's been a long time but can you ever really forget your best friend?" Noah laughed.
"Holy shit Puck?" Finn almost shouted.
"Yeah man it's me," Noah said.
"Whoa haven't talked to you in ages how are you doing?" Finn asked excitedly.
"Not as good as you apparently," Noah laughed. "What is up with you getting married and having a kid without even telling your best friend?"
"How do you know about that?" Finn questioned.
"Ran into your brother," Noah said.
"Your out in New York?" the ex football player asked.
"Yeah, even have a job, but I'll bet you'll never guess what it is," Noah teased.
"Uhhh, body guard?" Finn guessed.
"Um no but close," Noah was shocked at how close Finn had guessed. "I'm a cop."
"No way! That's great," Finn said excitedly. "How's it going?"
"Pretty good, Have bad days every now and then, but it comes with the territory," Noah said. "So what about you?"
"I'm great, Noah man, you have no idea how great I am," Finn said with a laugh.
"Well no need to rub it in Hudson," Noah grumbled.
"Sorry man but it rocks you know," Finn said.
"What rocks?" Noah asked.
"Being a dad," Finn said. "I don't know if you felt the same when Beth was born but man it's like everything now."
"Er yeah, I know what you mean," Noah lied. Noah then heard a baby crying in the back ground.
"Hey Coleen just woke up, I need to get her," Finn said. "Call me back though okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, will do," Noah promised. "Just one thing before you go."
"Sure," Finn said happily.
"Is Kurt seeing anyone?" Noah questioned.
"Uh I don't think so," Finn answered, confused. "Why?"
"That's great, really great," Noah said back. "Thank man, I'll call you back later."
"Wait Noah, why do you want to know if Kurt is single?" Finn asked hurriedly.
"Well I was gonna ask him out," Noah said bluntly and the baby began to cry louder. "It seems like you have your hands full I'll call back. Bye Finn."
"Wait Noah! Puck! Puckerm-"
Noah hung up on his friend and smiled deviously to himself and waited for the phone to ring like he knew it would. When it rang he answered politely.
"Hello, you've reached Noah Puckerman," Noah said trying to hide his laugh.
"Puckerman what do you mean ask my brother out?" Finn said, firmly saying each word.
Noah just laughed.
...
Kurt sat in the cafeteria at the hospital staring at his phone. Noah hadn't called him since they last met and that was three days ago. His mid was racing, every other moment he wanted Noah to call him then the next he was praying that the phone would not staring ringing. Kurt could not comprehend any reason for why Noah would move to kiss him. After replaying it in his mind for hours Kurt was sure that Noah was going to kiss him. There was no other explanation for why he would make that move towards him. But, the thought that bombarded his mind the most was, Noah isn't gay. Noah was the straightest guy in high school and Kurt thought that would never change. The womanizing teenager could not have changed that much. Kurt was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice when someone sat down across the table from him.
"How can you drink this stuff?" Noah said as he choked down the hospital coffee. Kurt visibly jumped at the voice.
"What are you doing here?" Kurt hissed.
"Well I was going to call but, I know where you work," Noah said with a cheeky grin.
"Okay," Kurt started slowly. "But why are you here?"
"Well," Noah said and leaned back in his seat. His badge shown brightly in the industrial lighting. And Kurt hated to admit it, but Noah looked great in dark blue. "I wanted to see you."
"Why?" Kurt asked instantly.
"I thought that was obvious," Noah said raising an eyebrow.
"No," Kurt mumbled. "Not to me."
"I like you," Noah said bluntly.
"No you don't," Kurt shot back. "Don't joke like that."
"I'm not joking," Noah retaliated. "I do like you."
"But you're not gay," Kurt whispered.
"Things change," Noah whispered back.
"Things don't change that much," Kurt told him.
"They did for me," Noah explained. "And they did for you to apparently."
"It's not the same," Kurt said.
"How is it not the same?" Noah asked. "Because you are defiantly not the kid I knew in high school. The Kurt in high school was way different, he was the reason I was able to come out."
Kurt's mouth hung open. Once again Noah Puckerman sent his mind racing.
Noah hadn't been expecting to reveal that information to Kurt that day, but after seeing his face he did not regret it.
"What are you talking about?" Kurt questioned quietly.
"When I came out, I was only able to do it because of you," Noah said honestly.
"I don't understand," Kurt confessed.
"Well then I do believe it is time for the next installment of my story." Noah sighed. Kurt nodded in agreement. "Well I had been with the Cleveland department for about a year when I told Artie then Ken, the cop I had been partnered with. And most everyone I told was cool with it. A few of the guys weren't happy about it and stayed away from me but other then that I was fine. I was lucky, really lucky." Noah admitted. "I think I knew long before though, I mean, in high school after I got Quinn pregnant I really didn't want anything to do with girls. I chocked it up to fear of getting them preggers, but after a year I realized that wasn't it."
"What are you talking about?" Kurt grumbled. "You were chasing after Zizes for the rest of our years there."
"Yeah, man, Zizes," Noah laughed. "That should have been everyones first clue!"
Kurt pondered this for a moment then realized that Zizes had never actually let Noah have sex with her. Then again with this new information Kurt wondered if Zizes had just been Noah's beard. Noah was smiling at Kurt, Kurt glared back.
"Did Zizes know?" Kurt asked wanting to know.
"I don't think so," Noah said with a chuckle. "Though if she did she hid it well."
"I still don't think I am believing this," Kurt admitted.
"It's a lot to take in I know," Noah laughed.
"No I mean you came out because of me?" Kurt asked. "That I don't understand."
"Oh well that's easy," Noah said. "When I was all stuck in the closet I was jealous of you. You were able to come out in high school, possibly the worst place to do it, but you did. And better yet you did it proudly. Sure you were bullied about it, and I know some of that bulling was my fault and I do apologize for it, but you survived it. When I came out all I could think about was how you did it with your head up, so I did the same. I came out and wasn't one bit ashamed of myself. So mostly thank you."
Kurt had his mouth hanging open. Noah kept on surprising him. Had he really one that for him? It did make him feel a bit special, that the reason Noah was so secure with himself was all because of him, but on the other end of his brain he was still doubting the Noah as actually gay.
"Well, your welcome," Kurt muttered out.
"You still don't believe that I'm gay do you," Noah said like he was reading Kurt's mind.
"Yes, it's just that last time I saw you, you were so not gay," Kurt said.
"Well if it helps I have had boyfriends," Noah said. "Three actually." Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Okay fine three serious boyfriends, I did have flings." Noah stuck his tongue out at Kurt.
"What were there names?" Kurt asked, trying to figure out of Noah was lying. Noah sighed.
"Adam, Ari, and Nick," Noah said quickly.
"How long did you date them for," Kurt interrogated.
"Me and Adam were only together for about six months, we broke up when I left for New York. I was with Ari for three years, then Nick and I broke it off a couple months back." Noah said. "Do you believe me yet?"
"Yes," Kurt answered.
"Finally," Noah said as he let out a breath. "I thought I was going to have to bring out the photo album and call them up to make you believe me."
"That would have worked to," Kurt smiled.
"So..." Noah dragged out the word. "Do you believe that I like you yet?"
"No," Kurt said, the followed it up with, "Well not really."
"Well then we will just have to go out on another date," Noah said.
"Another?" Kurt questioned. "We haven't even been on one."
"The cafe? Now?" Noah reminded him.
"Those weren't dates!" Kurt said his eyes widening. "Those were...were, casual meetings of old school mates!"
"Alright, alright," Noah held up his hand in defense. "Those weren't date."
"Right," Kurt huffed.
"So how 'bout it?" Noah asked with a charming smile. "Go on a date with me?"
"No," Kurt said bluntly, and right to Noah's face. Noah fell back in his seat.
"Really?" He asked a little stunned.
"Yes," Kurt said and got up to leave. Noah got up as well.
"Why not?" Noah persisted.
"I don't date," Kurt responded as he took off from the cafeteria.
"You don't date?" Noah questioned and followed Kurt. "What? Like at all?"
"No," Kurt said somewhat hesitantly. "No, I date."
"So you just only date certain people?" Noah tried to reason. "Like a type?"
"Yes, sort of," Kurt said, not giving any real information.
"And you're saying I'm not your type?" Noah snorted.
"I'm pretty sure you aren't," Kurt said with less gusto.
"Well I can try to be," Noah said.
Kurt stopped. He wiped around to face Noah, his face white and set in a frown.
"Stop, Noah," Kurt said. "Just stop. We can be friends. I would actually like that if we could. But that's it, nothing romantic is going to happen between us. I'm sorry if I led you on in any way, but it's not going to happen."
Kurt walked away from Noah, leaving him standing in the doorway of the cafeteria trying desperately to think of something to shout after Kurt to make him come back. Not even a whisper was able to pass his lips.
