You'd think after talking with DJ, Cody would keep his confident persona around Noah, but no, that's not what happened.
After breakfast, Cody avoided Noah like the Plague. He felt terrible, but he didn't know what else to do. He really wanted Noah to like him back, and DJ seemed convinced that he returned Cody's feelings, but there was a shadow of a doubt, and that was enough to terrify Cody. On top of that, he really didn't want to go through another break-up at Camp.
The following week was horrible. The longer Cody avoided Noah, the longer each day felt. Cody knew he had to avoid the bookworm's eyes at all costs. One glance, and he knew he would be doomed. One glance and his feelings were going to pour out into the open, with or without his permission… Or worse! He'd probably kiss him.
On his end, Noah knew something was wrong. Every time he asked Cody if he was alright, the smile he got in response was obviously a fake. However, when Cody flashed a genuine smile, his eyes lit up as well… Even if Cody refused to meet his eyes, Noah knew that the smiles were fake.
His suspicions were confirmed one afternoon when Cody was talking with Trent. They had just got back to the cabins when they saw Courtney and Gwen fighting… again. It was the second time that day! Cody had shaken his head and walked into the cabin. He walked back out with his backpack slung over his shoulder and sleeping bag under his other arm and walked into the forest.
"Where are you going?" Trent had asked.
"If I stay here, I will go crazy," Cody answered, gesturing as best he could to the two fighting girls, "So before that happens, I am going to camp into the woods."
Trent frowned, "On your own?"
Cody nodded, "Don't worry, I'm sticking close to the path."
"Why don't you ask Noah to go with you? I'm sure he won't mind,"
Cody's eyes widened, "No!" He exclaimed but quickly regained his composure, "No, it's ok. I'll be fine on my own! That bear isn't going to come anywhere near me this time!"
"If you say so, man."
With a nervous smile, Cody waved and off into the forest he went.
Cody had told Noah that he was deathly afraid of camping in that forest again… so for him to willingly go into the woods, Noah knew that there was definitely something bugging him, and he was going to find out what. So he waited a few minutes before grabbing his stuff and following Cody into the forest.
Just like he said, Cody stuck close to the path and started a fire right next to a small pond. When Noah reached the campsite, he saw Cody setting up his tent… or at least, he was trying to. But, unfortunately, he instantly saw that he was running the poles in the wrong loops, which lopsided the tent.
'How can someone be this damn cute?' Noah thought to himself as Cody subconsciously stuck out his tongue, trying to get the tent to stay straight. Eventually, Cody just sighed and grabbed a stick and walked into the deformed tent. He heard Cody muttering angrily to himself and a huff as he gave up and walked out of the tent and towards the fire.
"Having trouble?" Noah asked.
Cody's heart instantly sped up as he heard the voice. What was he doing here? He turned around to see Noah standing there, his hands on his hips and a smirk on his face.
"I heard you were camping out here tonight." Noah said, the smirk falling off his face, "You know it's not safe out here alone. Why didn't you ask me to come along?"
"I-I know, it's just—"" Cody started but was interrupted by the tent poles giving in and the material hitting the dirt. He sighed again, his hands trembling. He didn't have the patience to deal with it right now.
"Here, let me help."
Cody turned to him, "T-thanks, Noah."
"Don't mention it," He took out the tent poles and rearranged them to go through the right hoops. He had Cody on the other side of the tent, grabbing the bars and anchoring them to the ground. Cody did as he was told; it was a good distraction from his thoughts and from Noah.
When they finally pinned the rest of the tent down, Cody placed his stuff inside and invited Noah to sit by him at the fire.
"T-thanks again. I-I couldn't do it alone," Cody said.
"Like I said, don't mention it," Noah told him as he sat next to him. "Hope you don't mind company for the night." He gestured to his own sleeping bag.
"Oh, I don't mind," Cody told him, and with a gulp, he continued. "It's probably better that way anyway. No bear will attack the two of us together." He tried to cut the tension with a joke.
"I just don't want you to get hurt," Noah said. He watched as Cody's cheeks darkened, but there, the smile still wasn't there.
Cody reached into his bag and grabbed a bag, "Want a marshmallow?" He asked.
"Where did you find that?"
"Owen," Cody replied, "Apparently, he stole it from Chris' caravan."
"Why am I not surprised?"
He impaled a few marshmallows on a stick and handed it to Noah. As the two boys roasted their marshmallows, it was quiet. As Noah scooted closer, Cody's heart felt like it was going to jump out of its cavity. He didn't know if the heat he felt was from the fire or from the bookworm, but he was having a hard time keeping the blush down either way.
But he also knew that this was the perfect moment to confess. Yes, the ambiance was a little tense, but no one was around them to hear.
He turned to Noah, determination set in his eyes, but without even looking up, Noah talked first, "Did I do anything wrong?"
Cody's eyes widened, "Huh? What?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, of course not! Why would you think that?"
"I'm not stupid, Cody, you've been avoiding me for the past week and flat out ignored me yesterday and today," Noah told him, "If I did something to upset you, I apologize."
Cody shook his head, "No! You didn't do anything wrong."
"Then tell me what's going on."
Cody looked at his marshmallow, watched as it caught on fire. His heart was racing, and his stomach felt queasy, but it was now or never, "We're friends… right?"
Noah nodded, not liking where this was going.
Cody continued, "I'm glad we are... After what happened during the first season, I never thought we'd be this close."
Noah furrowed his brows, "What do you mean?"
Cody blushed, "The Awake-A-Thon?"
Oh right, Noah forgot about that. "I never did apologize for that, did I?'' he said, but Cody cut him.
"It's alright, there's no need to apologize…." Cody interrupted him. He had to pause to take a deep breath, "Besides. If it something like that were to happen today…" He trailed off. He looked up to see that Noah was already staring at him. His breath hitched. He looked almost angelic by the firelight, his brown eyes reflecting the flames beautifully.
Noah's heart was racing as well. This conversation did not go where he thought it was going to go, but he was excited. The following few words were going to possibly change his entire approach to his plan.
But Cody wanted to hide. He didn't know if he could go through with it, but he was almost there. All he had to say is… "I wouldn't mind it."
He felt like a complete idiot, confessing to Noah this way, but that didn't last long. It only took a moment for Noah to lean forward and guide Cody into a gentle kiss.
But before Cody could react, Noah pulled away. "I wouldn't mind either," he whispered.
Cody blinked, "Huh?"
"As soon as you asked to read that book. I thought maybe, just maybe you liked me back, but after you and DJ talked in the kitchen… I got worried. And then you started avoiding me…" Noah trailed off. "I thought I had read this wrong. I thought I hurt you in some way."
Cody couldn't believe it. DJ was right!
"I have never been so glad to be wrong in my life."
Cody smiled, "But your first guess was right."
Noah smiled back, "Very true," He said and leaned in, obviously wanting another kiss, but he didn't go any further. He wanted to be sure this is what Cody wanted.
Luckily for him, it's precisely what Cody wanted. He leaned in and connected their lips. Fireworks going off for both of them. Slowly, Cody brought his arms up to wrap around Noah's neck, pulling him closer. But as you can imagine, it's not very comfortable to kiss like that, so Noah brought his partner onto his lap, where he could quickly wrap his arms around his waist.
What felt like minutes but was actually hours later, the two boys put out the fire and walked into the tent. They ended up completely opening one of the sleeping bags, laying it on the ground, and using it as a mattress. The other sleeping bag acted as a blanket. Turns out this system was great to cuddle in! Cody was honestly surprised to find out that Noah was a cuddler, but he wasn't complaining.
In the morning, Cody's eyes fluttered open, but he was so warm and comfortable, he didn't want to wake up. Snuggling back into the warmth, he sighed contently.
What he didn't expect was the shaking under him, and a laugh. He shot up, eyes wide, only to see Noah. The memories of last night rushing through his mind, and he blushed. They had actually kissed and cuddled last night!
"Seems like the roles were reversed this time," Noah joked, "How'd you sleep?"
"Good. You?"
"Pretty good. You're really warm," Cody blushed again, and Noah smirked, "Still blushing?"
"I'm just happy, alright?" Cody pouted.
"What happened to the confident Cody we all know?"
Cody smiled, "He feels different, but in a good way."
"I can see that," Noah said, leaning in to kiss him again.
Cody kissed him back, "I still can't believe you actually like me." He breathed out.
"Why's that?"
"Well... I didn't think you liked guys."
'You think I didn't have the same doubts?" Noah asked him.
Cody smirked, 'I'll have you know that I am a men's man."
Noah nodded, a disbelieving look on his face," Hm."
"Hey! It's true!" Cody exclaimed.
He laughed, "Yeah, I believe you."
"I hope you do!"
Noah just wrapped his arms around him, pulling him back onto his chest. He was so warm, "… Cody?" He asked after a while.
Cody glanced up, "Yeah?"
Noah took his hand, "Can…." He paused. How was he supposed to say this?
"What is it, Noah?"
Noah sighed, "Can we keep this a secret? Just between the two of us, just for a little bit."
"Sure…" Cody trailed off, admittedly a little confused, "But why do you want to keep it a secret?"
"I haven't come out to my dad yet," Noah admitted, "He isn't the most open-minded, and I don't trust Chris not to tell him if he found out."
"It's alright, Noah," Cody told him with a hug. "I'm sure Chris wouldn't say a word, but I understand. I promise I won't tell anyone."
Noah hugged him back tightly, relief flooding his system, "Thank you, Cody."
They stayed like that for a few more minutes, occasionally stealing kisses until eventually, they knew they had to get up. So, with a few stretches, they got up and started packing up their stuff.
When that was done, the two boys walked back to Camp. But before they took that last turn, Noah turned to Cody, "I do love you, Cody," He said.
Cody smiled, "I love you too, Noah."
Cody didn't mind keeping it a secret for now. As long as they knew they loved each other, that was the important thing.
But one thing was on his mind… How long did they have to keep their relationship a secret?