Tragedy of Love
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Luke, Noah, and all related characters, plots, and locations are property of As the World Turns, Telenext Media, and CBS Television. No profit is made from this fan creation. No copyright infringement is intended!
Special thinks to ElinaSlavina for help with editing the story.
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Chapter 2
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August 20, 2012.
Noah woke up nervous. His movie that he had worked on for two years is going to be shown in twelve hours with press interviews and he was probably going to see Luke. The last being the most worrisome.
Noah, Mark and his two staff members Blane and Stacey were having lunch at Al's when he saw someone looking in the window at him. It was Luke. He looked worn out, thin and tired. He had bags under his eyes and looked sad.
Noah excused himself and walked outside to talk with Luke.
"Hi Luke." said Noah.
"Hi." Luke replied back.
"How have you been?" asked Noah.
"How do you think, Noah?" replied Luke with a nasty tone in his voice. "You never called me, why?"
"After we ended it the way we did, I didn't think it would be helpful to open up that wound again." Noah said honestly. "It just hurt too much."
"Thanks, I could have really used a friend." Luke spit out. The sadness in Luke's voice shattered Noah.
Before the conversation could continue, Mark interrupted them.
"Guys, I'm sorry to interrupt but you can't do this here." Mark warned and then looked at Noah. "Noah, you're a director that's getting ready to hit the big time. The press is going to be following you around everywhere and reporting on anything you do."
"You're right, I'm sorry." replied Noah. "Come to the viewing tonight. You need to see the film to understand."
"I don't know, Noah." Luke replied with some bitterness.
"It may explain a few things, Luke." pleaded Noah. "Emma has your ticket."
"I'll think about it." Luke said as he walked away with tears in his eyes. Noah was barely holding it together as well.
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Later that day in the auditorium, Noah was pacing nervously back stage as Mark was trying to calm him down. Noah was relieved to see Luke in the audience sitting with his family.
When it was time to start, Noah walked out on stage and introduced the movie.
"Thank you for coming to tonight, to the first public viewing of my movie called 'Tragedy of Love.' It originally started out as a short film but as I wrote the screenplay, I went a little overboard and wrote a full ninety minute film."
"I'd like to thank Mark Smith, my agent, the staff, crew and actors for their hard work and dedication to the movie. I'd also like to thank Kim Hughes from WOAK for her support and suggestion that the first public viewing be held here in Oakdale and to Oakdale University for their support in my education and for hosting us tonight."
Looking directly at Luke, Noah continued, "A great writer said long ago that 'you have to have something to make you write' and he was right. I had the inspiration and it just flowed out onto the computer screen. Thank you for coming and I hope you enjoy the movie."
Noah took his seat while Mark, Stacey and Blane took up places to watch and take notes on audience reaction. They also were taping the reaction with several cameras. They handed out questioners to the audience, at the door, for anyone who wanted to give feedback.
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The auditorium broke out in cheer as the dedication came up on the screen.
This film is dedicated to the Snyder family in Oakdale, Illinois. They took me in with I had nobody and helped me when I needed it. I wouldn't be here today without them. Especially to Luke who gave me love and understanding when I needed it most and did not deserve it and to Lily and Emma who took me into their own homes when I had nowhere else to go. I will be eternally grateful.
Luke and the entire Snyder family were touched by the acknowledgement. Emma was crying before the movie even started.
The auditorium lights were dimmed. The movie starts.
A young girl (Mary) whose father (George) died at a young age and was raised by a tyrannical mother (Beth). Mary falls for a guy (Sam) who Beth doesn't approve of and chaos ensues. Beth tries to kill Sam but Mary is too emotionally weak to stop her mother from shooting Sam.
Sam lives but in order to spare Sam any future problems, she breaks it off with him, which breaks his heart. In the end, Sam kills himself because he lost the love of his life and Mary lives on with the guilt that her weakness caused Sam's death.
Noah's voice was heard at the end of the last scene, right before the credits.
"If you've ever lost the person you love because of your own failings, you know it can be the hardest thing in life. I let someone down and not a day goes by that I don't regret what happened. The only thing I can do is learn from those mistakes and try to move on with life. I have learned but I have not been able to move on yet. The hurt cannot be undone. Only forgiveness will give me the strength to move on."
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Everyone in the audience had been moved to tears by the ending. Everyone sat for a minute or two then stood up and gave a big round of applause. Whispers comparing it to Titanic were heard through the auditorium. Noah thanked everyone for viewing the film and asked that they answer the questionnaire and drop it off at the exits.
"Noah that was great." said Mark. "I think everyone loved it."
"I noticed Luke ran out." Noah said sadly.
"He probably couldn't handle the dying scene or the closing monologue." said Mark after some thought.
"You're probably right." hoped Noah.
Everyone was congratulating Noah on their way out and wanted autographs and to take pictures with him. He obliged even though he was embarrassed by it all.
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All the Snyder's stayed till almost everyone else left. They surrounded Noah and congratulated him. Everyone had been grateful for the dedication and was moved by the movie.
Emma pulled Noah into a hug.
"That was so good, Noah, I'm so proud of you." cried Emma.
"Thanks." said Noah. "The sex scene wasn't too much?"
"It was a little more than I'm used to but it was tastefully done." Emma replied with some thought.
"Good, because I was thinking of you when I wrote it." Noah said honestly.
Emma blushed and Noah realized what he said could have a double meaning.
"Oh god no, I meant that I wanted you to feel comfortable watching it." Noah said in fear.
Emma started laughing as she pulled him into another hug. "Ok, that sounded a little strange at first."
"God, I miss my grandmother." Mark chuckled. "I'll have to give her a call when I get back." Noah and Emma laughed.
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Lucinda walked up to Mark and said "That was a good investment, Mark."
"What? You were the investor?" asked Noah in shock.
"Of course, my dear, I am a business woman. I've put money in film projects before." said Lucinda. "This was a no brainer. Since I get percentage of gross back, I'll end up with a good chunk of change."
"I have to say that I'm not very happy that I didn't know about this, but this isn't the time to get into that." Noah said as he glared at Mark.
"Don't be hard on him Noah; would you believe that people think I'm intimidating?" Lucinda said innocently. Mark and Noah started to laugh.
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Noah pulled Holden to the side. "Luke ran out right after the movie ended." Noah said with concern and he told Holden about their run in at Al's, "Can you go look for him to make sure he's ok?"
"Sure, Noah." replied Holden. Holden grabbed Jack and they started making calls as they left.
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Noah stayed and had his press interviews that lasted over an hour. He felt his phone receiving a text message but ignored it until after his interview was over. It was from Holden; Luke was at Lily's house.
After he was finished, he went over to Lily's house and knocked on the door. Lily opened the door and told Noah that Luke was up in his room.
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Noah knocked on Luke's door. "Luke, it's Noah, can I talk to you please?" asked Noah calmly.
Luke opened the door and Noah walked into the room. He could see that Luke had been crying.
"I'm sorry the movie upset you." replied Noah. "That's not what I wanted."
"No, it's not that. It was great." asked Luke. "Is Mark you boyfriend, Noah?"
"No, he's just my agent. He's married." replied Noah. "I haven't been with anyone since you, Luke."
"Why didn't you ever call me?" asked Luke with pain in his voice.
With tears in his eyes, Noah replied, "You told me that you didn't want me and that you loved someone else. It hurt then and it still hurts now."
"I was hurting too. Did you ever think about me?" Luke replied with anger.
"Of course, I did. Every day." replied Noah just as angrily.
"Well, I heard nothing for two years." responded Luke. "I ended up with nothing. Nothing I wanted anyway."
"I'm sorry, Luke but that's not entirely my fault." Noah replied.
"Whose fault is it then, Noah?" Luke asked angrily.
"It's all of our faults, Luke. Nobody is innocent and everyone is to blame." replied Noah.
"I'm just so tired, Noah, so tired of feeling like shit." Luke said with his head down.
Noah lifted Luke's chin up with his finger. "I was able to sink most of my emotions into my movie but you've had nothing. Why didn't you write any of your emotions down in a story or something?" Noah asked with concern.
"I was grieving for all the loss in my life and I was busy at Grimaldi Shipping and the foundation." replied Luke. "I had to shut myself down emotionally in order to deal with it all. Writing would have just brought it back."
"Writing used to be your dream, your coping mechanism. What about your dreams, Luke? Aren't you tired of doing what someone thinks you should be doing and not doing what you want?" Noah asked.
"What do you know about my life? You've been gone for two years." yelled Luke.
"I'm not judging you Luke." replied Noah quickly. "Remember how excited you were about being a writer. Where did that Luke go?"
"He's still here. It's just buried underneath all the obligations I have." replied Luke.
"As hard as it was to leave and go to LA, I followed my dream. I had at least one thing in my life that I hadn't screwed up." Noah said with regret. "Don't put it off anymore Luke. Following your dreams can make you happy again." Luke just looked at him with surprise.
"Who are you and what did you do with Noah Mayer?" laughed Luke.
"I left him in therapy and in my movie." laughed Noah back.
"That ending monologue was for me wasn't it?" asked Luke.
"Yes." replied Noah.
"So, I should follow my dream, huh?" Luke said as he walked and stood in front of Noah.
"Yes, you should." replied Noah.
Luke moved himself in front of Noah and raised his hands to Noah's tie and straightened it out. Both men had flashes back to WOAK. Luke moved his hand behind Noah's head and pulled him into a passionate kiss.
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When they came up for air; Noah asked in anguish, "Why did you choose him Luke, why?"
"Because I was hurt, Noah." replied Luke. "You pushed me away and I was afraid of getting hurt again, so I chose the safe bet. I loved him but I wasn't in love with him, like I was with you. Little did I know that fate would tell me that I made the wrong choice."
"You were meant to be with me, Luke. I'm sorry I screwed us up. I love you, Luke. I've never stopped." Noah whispered as tears ran down his face.
"I know. I've always known, but I was blinded by the pain, Noah. I'm sorry." replied Luke.
They pulled each other into a deeper kiss and continued kissing for a few minutes.
After the kisses ended Luke said, "Noah, I want you."