A/N: Okay people, here is the good stuff. Warnings for this chapter: simulated oral, heavy kissing,

A/N2: I realized that I made Rex twenty years old in the first part when I meant to make him twenty-one, so just forget that I did that, I will go back and fix that typo…one day…probably…in the meantime this author's note will have to do.

Say Goodbye

Noah had barely enough time to move his beer bottle away from his mouth before Rex had his blond head under his arm in a lock. "Congratulations!" Rex cheered, grinning widely.

"You keep saying that," Noah pointed out but he still grinned at the EVO.

"I still mean it," Rex said, letting him go. "I mean it's not every day that your best friend graduates from college."

"I haven't graduated yet. I just submitted my dissertation." Noah corrected.

"Whatever," Rex waved a hand in Noah's face. "Just shut up and take the compliment."

"Alright fine," Noah said caving in. He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the fact that Rex had his arm around him that was making Noah feel so warm. It was probably the mix of the two.

"Great. I knew you'd see things my way," Rex squeezing Noah's shoulder in an impromptu hug.

Noah rolled his eyes and took a long draft from his bottle. Despite his sour look Noah was having fun. He couldn't believe after all the pressure he had gotten through, all the sleepless nights and missed meals and headaches and sore fingers from typing up his dissertation were over. The thirty page paper was in the hands of Professor Tully and finally Noah could relax. He wasn't sure how Rex had known his dissertation was due today and had been completely surprised when he had walked across campus toward the student dorm tower and found the Hispanic EVO lounging in his bed playing a game on his phone.

"Rex?" Noah asked dumbly. His stomach tied into a small knot when Rex looked away from the phone to his best friend. It usually did whenever Rex was around him. Although Noah had long since learned how to hide his true feelings for his best male friend there were still times when the sight of Rex made Noah's crush on him feel as though it were a weight literally crushing the breath right out of him.

"Welcome home!" Rex greeted, grinning brightly.

"Thanks," Noah chuckled. "What's brings you to Boston?" He asked and went around the room picking up empty food cartons and research books off of the floor of his small dorm room. He was self-conscious about how he had let the state of his room go from a neat freak to a stressed out college student who didn't care if he wore the same shirt for two days.

"You, of course," Rex answered, closing his cell phone and pocketing it. The EVO got to his feet and bounded out of the bed. "A little bird told me that a certain yellow haired hottie had turned in their paper today and is officially done with school!"

"Yellow haired hottie, huh? So, naturally you thought of me?"

"No, I came to ask you knew anyone who fit that description." Rex said with a wink.

"Ha, ha," Noah replied laughing sarcastically.

"Do you want some help?" Rex offered, reaching out to Noah.

Noah shook his head. "No, I got it," Noah insisted as he picked up an over-do library book and added it to the growing pile in his hands. Soon the books towered so high in his arms that he had to shuffle slowly across the room to his desk. He was halfway there when his foot caught on the area rug between his desk and his bed and he tripped. Books went flying everywhere as Noah landed hard on his knees in front of his bed.

Before he could blink Rex was crouched down at his side. "You okay, Noe?" Rex asked. Noah could hear the amusement in Rex's voice and felt his face heat up.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Noah answered feeling more embarrassed then physically hurt. It always made him feel stupid whenever he did something like this in front of Rex. Which is ironic since I only became a klutz when Rex is around, he thought tersely.

Rex smirked. "Good, that means I can laugh now."

Despite himself Noah felt himself chuckle. No one could make him feel better like Rex could. "You haven't changed."

Rex looked confused. "Why change perfection?" he questioned with a cocky grin.

"Why indeed," Noah rolled his eyes at his friend's comment. He was fairly confident that it wasn't going to be the first time that he would do that tonight.

Noah watched in silent adoration as Rex built a smaller version of his Smack Hands and reached down to help Noah collect his books. "So you know what this means, right?" Rex asked, stacking the books onto his oversized hands.

"No, but I am sure that you are going to tell me."

"We have to celebrate!" Rex explained enthusiastically. "Tonight."

"Oh yeah, and what is it that you have in mind?"

A look came across Rex's face that made Noah blush for some reason. It was clear that the EVO had a plan in mind and was only waiting for Noah to give the okay.

Rex unceremoniously dumped the books onto Noah's bed and formed his hands back to normal. "Put on your best shirt Nixon, we're going bar jumping!" Rex exclaimed rising his arms over his head in celebration.

Noah made a face. "Don't you mean bar hopping?"

"Isn't that what I said?"

"No." Noah said with a shake of his blond head.

"But you knew what I meant so it's almost like I said it and that's all that matters, right?" Rex said with a wink.

"Sure, why not?" Noah huffed a chuckle and shook his head. "It's not like you actually said it though," he added with a smirk.

Rex waved a hand, dismissing Noah's words. "Details," he said and leant down to pick up a light blue tee shirt. "Is this clean?"

"Not really."

Rex shrugged. "Close enough," he said and held the shirt close to Noah's chest as though he were imagining the blond wearing it.

Noah blushed and grabbed the shirt. "I have clean clothes," Noah protested and threw the shirt into the overstuffed laundry hamper in the corner.

"Well, you can't go out wearing that," the EVO said looking up and down the blond's body.

Noah's blush returned and intensified the longer Rex looked at him. "What's wrong with what I am wearing?"

Rex stared at him as though Noah had grown a second head. "I know that green is your favorite color, but how about you change it up a little bit?"

"Why? I happen to like the way things are. There is no need to change." Noah stated proudly.

Rex opened his mouth ready with his reply but the words seemed to die on Rex's lips and the EVO snapped his mouth shut.

Noah gave him an odd look and tried not to read too much into the EVO's reaction, because if he didn't know any better Noah could swear Rex looked sad, as if he had been rejected. Noah turned and looked through his limited wardrobe, replaying the conversation in his mind. He was fairly certain that he hadn't said anything that could he didn't mean. But the way Rex had grown quiet and still only to suddenly be more active than before. Noah had known Rex long enough to know that he only did that when he was trying to hide something.

"I don't see how anyone can resist you." Rex teased as they headed to the dorm stairs.

"You're just saying that because you're happy you were able to bully me into wearing this shirt."

"Maybe, but for the record I'd buy you a drink in the hopes that I would go home with you."

Noah rolled his eyes even as the heat rose into his face. "You ARE going to buy me a drink and will be going home with me."

"Well, there you go then," Rex winked and stepped out into the cool night air.

They've been doing this for years, the back and forth banter that sometimes bordered on flirting. It was one of the things that Noah both looked forward to and dreaded when he and Rex hung out. It was a struggle to stop himself from indulging in the fantasy that this was how they would be if they were a couple, except maybe they would hold hands and stop for impromptu make out sessions.

Noah managed to pull himself out of one of those fantasies before they reached the first bar. It was their favorite place The Golden Snapdragon mostly because it was a fifteen minute walk from the dorm.

Noah didn't think twice about walking through the door as Rex held it open for him and as they entered. Noah's eyes went to the booth at the far end of the room. It had become their booth when they came here. It was empty and Noah made a bee line for it to claim the booth as theirs while Rex went to the bar to place their order.

The worn green leather of the booth squeaked softly as Noah slide towards the middle. Once he was settled he looked around and saw there wasn't much of a crowd yet. He habitually checked his phone and saw that it was only 9 o'clock. The bar usually didn't start to pick up until 11.

Rex came back with two bottles of a dark imports beer and proudly set them down on the table as he gracefully slid into the sit next to Noah. Noah felt his body tense as Rex's side bump into his. The Hispanic EVO passed him a bottle and held his up for a toast.

"Here's to the first round," he said.

"The first round?"

Rex nodded. "I started a tab."

"I thought we were going bar hopping?"

Rex shrugged. "I just said that to get you to go out. I like this place and I know that you do too. So stop acting all upset about it. Cheers," he shrugged, and after clinking the bottom of Noah's bottle with his own, he took a drink.

"Cheers," Noah grinned and did the same, taking a long draft of the dark foamy liquid.

After three hours and four beers Noah was feeling pretty good about himself and the world. They had played a round of darts which he won and a few rounds of pool which he lost. By then a decent sized crowd had formed and Rex, being the social creature that he is, had managed to become the center of attention. He was recognized by a small group of sorority sisters and after signing a few autographs they insisted on seeing him in action. Knowing that Rex was unable to turn down a pretty face Noah saw Rex hop up onto the stage on the left side of the bar and put on a short display of his EVO abilities. Noah leaned against the table of their booth, idly drinking his beer as he watched Rex juggle steel tables with his Smack Hands and cut off the tops of a dozen beer bottles with one swing of his BFS.

There was a round of applause as Rex bowed, ending the show and before he could be assaulted by the sisters again Rex quickly made his way over to Noah and put him in a headlock and congratulated him for submitting his dissertation.

Rex flexed his arm around Noah's head once before letting him out the lock and motioning to the bar that he wanted a new round of beer he flopped onto the faded green bench.

"Nice show," Noah said, rubbing his neck. "It was entertaining."

Rex looked up at him and Noah could see the blush forming on Rex's face. "Shut up Nixon," he said looking embarrassed.

Noah laughed, he couldn't help himself and once he started he couldn't seem to stop. He quieted down somewhat when a pretty blond bartender came over to deliver their drinks. Noah moved away from the table to sit in the opposite from Rex.

"Are you done?" Rex asked with a shy grin.

Noah waved at him. "Just about," he giggled, the sound making him giggle even more.

Rex gave him a mischievous look before his gaze dropped to Noah's new bottle and then back up to him. And Noah could tell what the EVO was going to do and knew that Rex was going to succeed before Noah could stop him. Rex lifted his bottle and quickly tapped the top of Noah's beer.

"Shit!" Noah yelled as his beer started to foam up. Acting quickly Noah put the beer bottle into his mouth and sucked, trying to drink the beer before it slipped all over his hands and the table. He could feel the cold foamy liquid splash at the back of the throat, and unable to groan out loud in his annoyance he hummed around the glass bottle and did his best to swallow the beer. He managed to keep most of the beer in his mouth and when he felt some of the liquid start to leak out the sides of his mouth.

When he glared over his bottle at Rex he fully expected to see the tan twenty-one year old grinning as Noah barely managed to keep his beer from overflowing, and was surprised at the look on the EVO's face. Rex was staring at him. His jaw was dropped open and his eyes were wide and completely focused on Noah's mouth. The severe look made Noah think of what he must look like with his lips wrapped around the bottle and his cheeks hollowed from sucking the foamy dark beer down. The mental image made the top of Noah's ears burn. He swallowed the last of the beer and pulled it from his mouth. It left with a loud slurping sound and Noah pressed his lips together in embarrassment as he set the glass bottle down on the table. He looked away unable to believe that he had pretty much sucked off a glass bottle in front of his crush. The blush that had continually crept over him all evening came back with vengeance and Noah wanted the booth to open up and swallow him whole like an old horror movie death.

Rex made a sort of strangled sound in the back of his throat. The blond looked up and gave him a questioning look.

"I'm going to get you another drink," he announced and snatched Noah's mostly empty bottle and left the booth before Noah could say anything.

Noah watched his best friend slink away from him and leaned forward to bang his head against the table. This was supposed to be a celebration and instead it was turning into one of Noah's most embarrassing nights ever; prom wasn't as awkward as this night out with his best friend was becoming.

"You okay?" Rex asked, setting a new bottle down on the table. Noah could hear the concern in Rex's voice and lifted his head.

"Yeah, I was just thinking about…" he quickly scanned the bar for something to say. He eyes landed on the jukebox in the corner and felt a grin spread over his face. "Which songs to play."

Rex seemed just as eager to change the subject as he was and latched onto the idea. "The usual?" he suggested with a shrug of his red leather clad shoulders.

Noah grinned and reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar. "You know what to do."

Rex mirrored Noah's grin and grabbed the dollar. Noah watched him stalk over to the touchscreen jukebox and insert the money and make a selection. There was a laughing cheer that went through the crowd as the first notes of their favorite song played. Rex made it back to the booth and they sang along with the rest of the bar as Journey blasted over the digital jukebox.

Noah enjoyed listening to Rex try to make the high notes and felt that things were back to normal, or as close to normal as they could be. When "Don't Stop Believin'" ended there was a gasp in the crowd as a man got to his knees and drunkenly proposed to his girlfriend. They were tears in the couple's eyes as she accepted and they kissed and although Noah had never met them before he had no problem joining in with the crowd as a round of applause and laughter as the man swept her up into a hug.

"Tequila shots for everybody!" the man declared and pulled out a large wad of cash. Noah and Rex laughed as the bartenders ran back and forth preparing shots of tequila.

When the bar tender got to them Noah held up his hand. "No thanks."

"Oh, don't listen to him," Rex said and held out his hands for the tiny glasses. "Gimme."

To the bartender's credit she gave the two of them a wide grin and nodded her head. Noah made sure he tipped her generously as he accepted the small glass. He turned to clink his drink with Rex only to find the EVO had disappeared. Noah looked around the bar for the bright red jacket that his best friend wore.

"Hey!" Rex's familiar voice resounded throughout the bar. The EVO had climbed onto a table in order to get everyone's attention. "I just want to say one thing. To college and marriage! And best friends and lovers…and me being awesome and just everybody in this bar being awesome!" Rex declared and raised his glass to the crowd before tilting his head back and downing the clear liquid in one go.

If Noah had been more sober he would have been completely embarrassed by the EVO's toast. Instead he laughed and cheered in agreement and raised his toast to Rex and followed the EVO in drinking his tequila.

Rex jumped down and nearly lost his balance. Noah stood up in alarm and started to make his way over to the EVO but he was beaten to it by a girl that was standing closer to the table. Noah hurried over before Rex could flatten her with his hefty weight. Although it didn't show, Noah knew that Rex's active nanites made him denser, but because those same nanites also made him strong so the weight evened out. Unless he was not in complete control of his body; like when he had been drinking.

Noah reached out and grabbed Rex's wrist. Looping Rex's arm over his head Noah draped it over his shoulders while he placed his own arm across Rex's back, holding him up. "Easy there." Noah said, making sure most of Rex's weight was on him.

Rex grinned at him. "Oh, hey, Noah! Did you like my toast? This is…"

"Jeanette," the woman replied. "I liked your toast," she said, giggling.

"You liked my toast?"

Jeanette nodded and giggled again.

Rex smiled at her and hugged her briefly in thank you. Noah felt his temper flare at the sight. "She liked my toast," Rex repeated to Noah with a satisfied grin.

"It was memorable," Noah agreed, eyeing the brunet suspiciously. She still hadn't released Rex. "I'm sorry. Is he bothering you?" He asked Jeanette. He was looking for a way to get Rex away from her as politely as his slightly fuzzy mind could think of.

"No man," Rex answered for her. "She liked my toast." He looked at her and frowned. "You're very pretty," he said suddenly as if she had played a trick on him because he hadn't notice before now.

Jeanette bristled under the attention. "Thank you. I'm glad you think so."

"Okay," Rex replied in a matter of fact tone and grinned when Jeanette giggled. Noah could see Rex grow distracted by the sound of the ice hitting the glass in her hand as she tried to balance her drink in one hand and Rex in the other. "What are you drinking?" he asked her.

Knowing what Rex was thinking Noah spoke up before Jeanette could answer. "Mixing your alcohol is dangerous Rex. You've already had four beers and a shot of tequila." Noah glared at the Jeanette, challenging her to answer Rex's question. She blinked in confusion and Noah saw her quickly look at him and Rex and then back to him. Her confusion melted away into surprise and then sly understanding.

"That's true." Jeanette agreed. "You should stick to beer."

Noah felt like stabbing out his eyes with the little pink plastic sword in Jeanette's drink as she gave him a little apologetic smile and removed her hand from Rex's side. He was being a possessive jerk and he knew it. But he couldn't help it. He was in love with his best friend and got upset whenever Rex looked at anyone else. He tried to make up for his behavior by returning Jeanette's smile. It wasn't her fault that he was jealous.

"It was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night." Jeanette said and raised her glass up in salute.

"I plan on it," Rex slurred and held onto Noah.

Jeanette giggled once more. "See ya around." She said with a wink at Noah.

Noah blushed. "Yeah, sure," he replied awkwardly as Jeanette went back to join her friends. Noah looked away from the brunette up to the clock that hung above the bar door. It was one in the morning. The time had flown by without him noticing. It was time to get Rex home.

"It's time to go," Noah said

"Okay," Rex replied as Noah steered them towards the door.

There was a couple coming into the bar and the guy held the door open for Noah and Rex to stumble through together after his girlfriend walked in.

"Thanks," Noah slurred and waved at him. The guy gave him a grin and a manly nod in acknowledgment of Noah's gratitude.

"The cool air feels nice," Rex commented craning his head back and breathed in deeply through his mouth Noah watched as the muscles in Rex's jaw flexed and swallowed in unison with the Hispanic EVO.

Rex moved his arm from Noah's shoulders and placed a hand on his head, making Noah face him. Rex pressed their heads together. "I'm so proud of you," he said lowly.

Noah felt himself blush at Rex's words. "Thanks."

"And I think you're very pretty, too" Rex abruptly said.

"I'm what?" Noah chuckled, recalling that he has called Jeanette pretty too. "Dude, you're drunk. That's not something a guy tells another guy."

"I know it's wrong," Rex pouted. "But it's what I think."

Noah felt his heart clench as Rex looked away from him. After wishing he'd hear Rex say something like that for years it was hard for Noah to accept that it was real. "Hey, did I say it was wrong? All I meant was that it was unexpected." Noah could feel a speech forming in his head when Rex's voice cut through his thoughts. Just shut up and take the compliment. Noah swallowed his speech and once again took Rex's advice. "Um, thank you." he finished instead. "And may I add, for the record, I think you're pretty good looking, too." he cleared his throat and turned his head away from Rex in embarrassment; it was the closest he has ever come to telling Rex how he really felt.

"Aw, thanks buddy," Rex hugged Noah's neck and hummed his reply. Noah could feel the EVO's voice vibrate on his cheek and it made goose flesh appeared on his neck, despite it being a warm night. Noah closed his eyes at the sensation. He heard Rex inhale deeply. "You smell like home." Rex suddenly said and licked the pulse point on Noah's neck.

Noah eyes snapped open and his body stiffened in shock. The sudden lick caught him off guard and he took a misstep. Luckily Rex's grip on him helped correct his stride before Noah could stumble into the street. He opened his mouth to say something but then quickly closed it when he felt Rex's weight slacken in against. The EVO was falling asleep on his feet. He needed to get Rex home quickly and to his alcohol drugged brain talking would only slow them down.

They walked in silence as they turned into the alley and Noah knew they had reached the mid-way point between the bar and dormitories. He thought it would be the best time to try again with Rex.

"Rex?" his whispered, too scared to move his head. He was afraid of the look he may see in his best friend's eyes.

"Hmm?" Rex answered and nuzzled into the spot he'd licked moments before. Heat rose all over his body at the touch.

"Why did you lick my neck?"

"Because it was there," Rex replied with drunken truth.

"So you licked it? What made you think that was a good idea?"

When Rex didn't answer right away Noah thought the EVO had finally fallen asleep, but since Rex had gotten any heavier he assumed he just didn't want to talk about it.

"Because I really wanted to kiss you, but know you don't."

A shiver ran through Noah's body at the EVO's confession. He couldn't believe the words he was hearing. Rex wanted to kiss me? This time he did turn to look at Rex. He swallowed down the lump in his throat. "And what made you think I don't?"

The entire right side of his body hummed with Rex's chuckle. "You never have before."

"So, because I've never kissed you before that means I have never wanted to and because of that you think you have to lick me instead?"

Rex shifted in Noah's grip as he thought. "Yes, no, I don't know. My head hurts."

"I know how you feel," Noah said half hoping Rex would catch his double meaning. His gaze lowered from the top of the EVO's spiky dark hair to the slight pout of Rex's lower lip. "What a pair we make." Noah said absently and focused his attention to where they were going.

They were nearing the end of the alleyway when Rex suddenly grew heavier as more of his weight landed onto Noah, causing the blond to run into the brick wall.

"Ow, dammit Rex. Watch were you are-"

Noah was cut off as Rex pressed his lips to Noah's. It was a sloppy messy kiss but it was good enough for Noah to know that he wanted more. He placed both hands on Rex's shoulders and pushed back, hefting most of the EVO's weight off of him.

Rex seemed to sober up at the push and he retreated back, a look of terror on his face as he realized what he had done. "Oh, god Noah."

Noah immediately reached out toward his crush and pushed him across the alley and up against the dark brick wall on the opposite side of the alley. "Rex. Do you know what you just did?"

The EVO didn't resisted Noah's hands on him. "Yes, I kissed you," he slurred with a quick nod.

"Did you mean to?" Noah studied Rex's eyes, searching for any sign that Rex was playing a trick on him or was too far gone in the drinking to understand what he had done. The eyes that stared back at him were uncommonly clear.

"Yes."

That was all Noah needed. He surged forward placing both hands on the tops of Rex's shoulders he pushed the EVO up against the wall on the opposite side of the alley and kissed his best friend. His lips moved over Rex's with a purpose of exploring every inch of the Hispanic EVO's lips. He kept his mouth closed as again and again he pressed his lips to Rex's. Noah backed away a little to angle his head when Rex's tongue ran over his lower lips before retreating back into his mouth. Noah deepened the kiss by following Rex's tongue with his own and gently caressed the warm inside of Rex's mouth.

Saliva spilled down the sides of their faces and Noah couldn't get enough of it. And judging by the pleading sounds coming out of Rex Noah was pretty sure Rex couldn't get enough either.

Noah's hands released Rex's shoulders and traveled down his chest and fisted into this shirt, holding Rex in place. The kiss broke and they stood there drunkenly staring at each other with ridiculously wide grins on their faces.

"You are so hot." Rex said. "I nearly came just watching you suck off that bottle."

Arousal pulsed through Noah at Rex's words. Noah's hands released Rex's shoulders and traveled down his chest. Rex shivered and moaned at the blond's touch. Emboldened by alcohol and Rex's response Noah fisted them into his shirt and held Rex in place. Panting heavily Noah leaned in. "Let's go home." He said and moved his hand from Rex's chest to grab his hand.

"Yes." Rex agreed and allowed Noah to lead him out of the alley and toward the dorm.