Noah, in shirt sleeves and Connor in his robe, are sitting on the couch drinking coffee. Connor notices that Noah is wearing yellow suspenders. Jude is beside himself, watching them.
"Are you alright? You look nervous, upset."
"What can I tell you? It's been tough." Noah says, looking at his thighs. "Hell, you know, it still hurts so much." Noah says as he "poses sadly". "Then on top of it all... it's the responsibilities. They've given me some of your accounts to take care of, just until you come back, but I've had no time to adjust. My mind has been reeling so much, and that's only because Jude was my friend."
Connor reaches out and pats his arm. There is an awkward pause.
"Where were you this morning? I thought you were coming to the bank to sign those papers."
"I uh- I didn't have time. I went to the police, Noah."
Jude looks at Noah, amazed. Noah, on the other hand, stiffens. He laughs nervously.
"You're kidding. Tell me you're kidding."
"Nope."
"You really did it? I don't believe... What did you tell them? What did they say?" He asks Connor, slightly frightened.
"You were right, you know. I felt like such a fool. They brought out a file on this psychic woman ten inches thick. It was awful."
"A rip-off artist, huh?" Noah wonders, clearly relieved.
"Connor, no." Jude says. "She's the real deal."
Connor sighs.
"Let it out buddy." Noah encourages.
"The sad part is that I believed her. I believed her, Noah. It was all a sham. I don't know what to think or what to do anymore."
"Sometimes we need to believe. There's nothing wrong with that Connor." Noah reassures.
"Why?... I was a fool. I don't believe in anything anymore. Why would people do such things?" Connor asks sadly.
Jude is devastated.
"It's hard to face reality, Con, the hard cold facts of it." Noah says, milking it. "What you have to remember is the love you felt. That's what's real. You have to remember how good Jude was. How much he loved you."
Connor holds back tears. Noah reaches out tenderly and strokes his hair.
"You were everything to him, Connor. You meant the world to him. You were his life."
"I feel so alone." Connor says, finally letting his tears fall.
"You're not alone. You're still young. You've got so much talent. You're fantastically gorgeous."
"Oh God, I don't know what's real anymore." Connor says, appreciating Noah's words. "I don't know what to think."
"Just think about Jude. Think about what he meant to you, the years you had together, how wonderful they were." Noah says as he glides his hand slowly, lovingly across Connor's cheek.
"Let your feelings out, Con." Almost imperceptibly, his hand moves down to the nape of his neck. As he moves, his robe opens slightly. Noah notices, glimpsing his nakedness beneath it. Jude notices, too. He freezes.
"Life turns on a dime, Con." Noah continues. "People think they have forever, that they'll always have tomorrow. But it's not true because tomorrow is never promised. Jude taught us that. We have to live for now, for today."
Connor can barely contain his tears. Noah moves toward his moist cheeks and kisses them gently. Slowly, he guides his lips to his neck and kisses it, too. It is all hateful and sensual at the same time. Jude turns away. Connor feels Noah's tenderness, needs it. He does not notice Noah's hand reaching for the cord on his robe and slowly pulling it toward him. With a little tug the cord unravels and the robe falls open. Connor is confused, aroused, not sure what to do. He starts to pull it close, but Noah's hand reaches for Connor's member. He starts stroking Connor at a steady pace and Connor moans. Noah keeps going at it for a while. Then his fingers reach for his ass and Connor's body quivers. Noah feels his openness and pulls closer, his hand rising gently up Connor's naked body. Connor's eyes close.
"Oh, yeah." Connor moans deeply.
"Let it out." Noah says as he continues, stroking Connor even harder and faster. That is until he starts sucking Connor. Jude is beyond pissed at this point. A few minutes later, Connor is trembling.
"Noah, I'm about to-" Connor says as he almost reaches his climax, but Jude's blood boil.
"NO! HANDS OFF! HE IS MINE! HE'S MINE! MINE!" Jude yells angrily.
Jude charges wildly at the couch and begins flailing uncontrollably at the two of them. Unexpectedly his foot kicks out and hits a framed photograph of him and Connor that's sitting on their coffee table. The picture crashes to the floor with the glass shattering. Connor jumps up, the mood suddenly broken. He sees the photo and recoils quickly. Noah backs away. Jude is stunned by what has happened. He jumps up and tries kicking over another picture but nothing moves. His foot goes right through it. Connor looks at Noah, drying his tears.
"I can't. I'm sorry. I can't. It's too soon... You, your hand and your mouth have been really great Noah, but... I need you to leave. Please. I need you to." Connor says as he closes his robe.
"Sure. It's okay. I understand. I really do." Noah says, crestfallen. He reaches out and takes his hand.
"Look, what if we have dinner tomorrow night? Just talk. Can I interest you in that?" Noah asks.
"NO! DON'T TRUST THIS MOTHERFUCKING BASTARD!" Jude yells towards Connor.
Connor hesitates a moment and then nods his head. Noah smiles.
"Until tomorrow, Con." Noah says as he exits the loft.
"I need to find that subway ghost, ASAP!" Jude says.
