RAPID FIRE UPDATE! Woot. I figure it'll take me awhile to update again, so I'd kill two birds w/ one stone. I equate this chapter to chapter 3, sort and clearing up some points. So, here ya go.
Oh, and it's entirely in Luke's POV
The lit TV flickered like an out of time strobe light, illuminating and darkening the room at irregular intervals. Noah's flannelled knee had inched closer and closer to mine during the course of the film. I folded my hands tightly around the coffee mug I was working on. The weight of the couch shifted as he scooted over, connecting our shoulders. I allowed myself to lean into it. Catching a glance at him, I smiled, he was completely engrossed.
We'd attempted to watch "Citizen Kane" over eight times, but I always ended up straddling his lap while he strained his neck, laughing, trying to see around me. Now we sat side by side and I was anywhere but on this couch watching an old black and white.
…White sofa buried under assorted chips and pretzels, work clothes loosened and ties shed atop the table…
I stared at the same corner of the wall, burning a hole in it as the coffee grew tepid in my hands, Classic films never held the same rapture for me as they did for Noah. They soothed him though. It worked into the happier snippets of his childhood. The rowdy bars, sunset oceans, and wild western horse rides were home to him as the farm was to me.
…Reid smirking his smirk between my arms that I placed on either side of his head. My knees grazing his hips and ass on his thighs, "—two balls; two strikes. Pitcher winds up—" the Cubs announcer dictates in the background. He would say something sly. I would lock with his steely eyes, watching them until our lips met…
"Luke."
…his hands tucking into my back pockets, urging me close, to feel his hardness against mine. Our moving against one another so hotly…
"Luke," my pupils focused and flashed over to Noah's face which had peeled itself from the shenanigans of Kane.
"Yeah, what?" I said quickly, concealing my thoughts as though he could read them.
"I was just saying this reminds me of before," he nodded at the screen, "watching movies together."
"Yeah." My responses to Noah had developed into monosyllabic quirks whenever he and I tried to reminisce.
"Even though you never really wanted to watch them, you still did," he said distantly with a smile. I felt a one sided smile of my own curl up too.
"You knew I didn't like them?" I laughed.
"Of course, you were looking anywhere but the TV," he nudged me.
"I was watching you," it slipped out.
He grinned broader, "What?"
No use playing that one off, "You would get so into it. Watching you go along with them was better than the movie," I admitted with a wave in the air. His eyes followed my hand back down to my knee before he clasped it with his own.
"I loved it," I stared at him concerned, "and I love you," he followed lowly.
"Noah," I said with a sigh, trying to withdraw my hand, but he held on.
"No. I do love you, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for blaming you and pulling away—"
I cut him off, "It was my fault," my voice echoed coldly in my head, "You had the right."
"Luke, I know you were just trying to make me feel safe. I shouldn't have…I mean…" he looked pleadingly at me, like I could decode what he was attempting to say. But I couldn't.
"It's fine. I'm fine."
He closed his eyes, placing himself back in a time of darkness, and said regrettably, "I could feel you, getting close enough to kiss me. My eyes were open, but couldn't see your face when you pulled away." My eyebrows knit together, "and your hands were always there, guiding me," he laced his fingers between mine, rubbing his thumb over my first two knuckles.
"And I hated that," his eyes snapped open, "I hated the fact that those had to be pitying hands and 'oh, poor Noah' lips, but I never hated you."
The still in the air that followed was stifling. He gazed at me. Although he hadn't asked a question, he was waiting for the answer. Why don't I kiss him anymore? Why aren't I touching his hands, his neck, his shoulders, like I used to? Why has the word 'love' become so strange? The absence of sound remained, punctured only by the stream of end credits as the movie went through its closing stages.
"Uhm, the movie's done," I averted my eyes but I could still feel his on my face, "I should turn it off." Even with that said, I remained seated.
"Luke."
I marveled at how different my name sounded coming from Reid's mouth. Noah's strong 'u's, bold and pronounced.
…"Luke," Reid would say, ending with a click in the 'k' and tasting so new…
I unwillingly met with his somber expression, "Have your feelings changed?" he asked. The wheels in my head turned, attempting to crank out an answer that wouldn't hurt him…or me. Sooner than I could procure an answer, his arms pulled me into a kiss.
My lips clamped shut, unyielding to his cautious nips at my bottom lip. I couldn't feel the butterflies in my stomach.
…Hot lips moving skillfully against mine, fingertips grazing my scalp, tongues clashing…
Then the pressure was gone. I creaked open my eyes when Noah's hand left mine. He focused, clearly disturbed, on the floor.
"So they actually have." His words dredged through the new quiet.
"Yeah," I mumbled, "They have."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
I know, I know, you don't want Noah. But it would be totally lame if I just cut him out completely, soon he will be outta here.
