Well, not sure I like this chapter too much. It feels like a filler chapter, but I hope you guys like it.

Let me know!

Enjoy!

Chapter Fifteen

Just Friends

Luke and Scott were sitting in Scott's apartment on his sofa. Luke had pretty much just gutted his entire life story to this poor guy. Well, at least his "Luke and Noah Life Story", but he needed to. He liked Scott and he knew that his actions the other night really hurt him. Luke needed Scott to know that none of this was his fault. It was all him and his screwed relationship with his boyfriend or ex or whatever the hell they were.

"I'm sorry to dump all of this on you," Luke said as he wiped his nose with the Kleenex Scott gave him.

"It's ok," Scott mumbled out.

"No. No it's not. It's just, I wanted you to know that none of this is about you. You're great. I'm the one that's screwed up," Luke said as he fidgeted with his thumb nail while his hands rested in his lap. Scott covered Luke's nervous hands with his. Luke looked up and saw compassion on Scott's face.

"It's no one's fault. It is what it is. Thanks for telling me the truth. I'm sorry if I came on too strong too,"

"You didn't,"

"Oh, yeah. You have no idea what I was thinking when we were making out. After hearing everything you just said, I'm glad that you stopped us," Luke looked as Scott with a furrowed brow so Scott continued. "Don't get me wrong. The sex, would have been AWESOME!" Luke could not help but laugh. "But you would have felt guilty and stopped talking to me and then nothing would have come after it. At least now, we can be friends,"

Luke felt like a huge weight had been pulled off his shoulders. Scott wasn't mad at him and he still wanted to be friends. Friends. Luke was excited and relieved that he had someone that he could finally talk to. Even though Luke felt good about what Scot and he were now, he also could feel that he was maybe overstaying his welcome.

"Well, I better go," Luke said getting up. Scott stood up with him and walked him to the door. Scott opened it for him and they stood in silence for a minute. "Thanks again for listening. It feels good to talk to someone about this. You know, someone unconnected,"

"You couldn't talk to anyone at home about this?"

"No one who doesn't have a connection to Noah. Someone unbiased I guess would be right term," Luke said and stepped into the hallway. He got about two steps away and heard Scott call his name.

"Luke?" He turned to face Scott.

"Yeah?"

"Over dinner the other night you said that you were a huge basketball fan. Did you want to come over tomorrow night and watch the Bulls game?" Scott asked and he could see Luke hesitating for a second. "It won't only be me. A few friends are coming over and I thought it would be fun you know, for you," Scott kicked his inner geek, hard. Fun for you? I am an idiot.

"Yeah, what time?"

"About 7,"

"Should I bring anything?"

"No, I think we've got it covered,"

"Ok. I'll see you tomorrow,"

Luke and Scott shared a smile and then went into their respective apartments. Luke felt relief that he was finally able to talk to someone about Noah. Someone that didn't know about their past and could actually have an unprejudiced take on everything. There was also the relief that Scott didn't hate him for treating him so bad.

The next day Luke got to work and was given a great assignment. There were the annual City Council and Mayoral elections in Park Heights. Luke's editor, Sam, asked Luke to interview all the candidates and they were going to run a short feature on each one. Luke was surprised by the assignment, but relished in the opportunity to really show the editor what he could do. He hit the three city council candidates before noon and the four mayoral candidates before 6pm. He hadn't eaten all day, but he didn't even notice that he hadn't. By the time he got back to his apartment, he had time to change into a t-shirt and jeans and walk over to Scott's to be there by the 7:05 tip off.

Luke knocked on the door and a short dark haired guy answered the door. The top of his head came up just shy of Luke eye line. He had his face painted red on one side and black on the other. Luke could see the paint extended under the man's t-shirt collar. Luke wondered if the paint went lower.

"Who are you?" The guy asked and then took a drink of his beer. A loud belch followed right after. Luke was never going to understand straight guys.

"I'm Luke. Scott's neighbor from down the hall," Luke answered back, he tried to keep his attitude at bay. This was one of Scott's friends. Turn the bitchy off until you get inside.

"Luke! Come on in," Luke heard Scott yell. Short, red, and black stepped aside and let Luke enter. There were about three other guys hanging out in front of Scott's huge flat screen. The game had just started and the other men were deeply engrossed by what was going on. Scott was on the phone, pacing back and forth in the kitchen. He nodded to Luke and went back to his conversation. Luke decided to hang out in the kitchen, at least he knew Scott. Scott's kitchen was set up almost identical to Luke's. Cabinets along two walls and an island with bar stools on the other side. Luke sat at a bar stool and watched Scott cradle the phone against his shoulder.

"Hey don't worry about it man. If you can't come, you can't come. That just leaves beer for the rest of us," Scott laughed as Luke leaned against the counter. "All right. Say hi to Kayla for me," Scott hung up the phone and let out a long breath.

"You ok?" Luke asked.

"Yeah. Shit! My brother's not coming,"

"Is this the brother with the controlling wife?" Luke asked, remembering a conversation they had when Luke was last here.

"Yep. She never lets him do anything. Anyways, let me introduce to the guys," Scott walked around the kitchen island and into the living room. "Guys, I want you to meet my friend Luke. He just moved into the building," Scott said and very faint "heys" were said. "That is Michael," Scott pointed to a thin black guy sitting on the recliner. He was leaning forward and his elbows were resting on his knees. "That is Andy," Scott said as he pointed out a muscular white guy with a short cropped hair cut. He was shoving potato chips in his mouth with one hand while drinking a beer with the other. "This is Will," Scott pointed to a slender guy with black spiked hair; he was the only one to even acknowledge Luke's entrance. "And of course, you met Lyle," Scott said as he gestured to short, red, and black.

"So, are you a fag too?" Lyle asked without even looking away from the TV.

"LYLE!" Scott and Will both yelled at him and he just shrugged.

"Yes, as a matter of fact," Luke answered and left it at that. He then went into the kitchen and grabbed a root beer out of a tub of ice on the counter. Luke turned back in time to see Scott smack Lyle in the back of head. Followed quickly be Will doing the same thing. Scott came up to Luke as he hid in the kitchen. "I'm really sorry about that. Lyle's an asshole,"

"It's ok. Maybe this wasn't a good idea," Luke said. He wasn't the sort to get uncomfortable very easy, but he was now. It wasn't used to it being discussed so openly in front of people he just met. It wasn't the first thing that people found out about him. It's not exactly a conversation starter.

Hi, I'm Luke Snyder, homosexual. Nice to meet you.

"Just ignore him. I always do," Luke heard Will say as he grabbed a beer and went back to the game. Luke looked to Scott and smiled. He did invite him and he really wanted to be friends. Luke decided to play it by ear. He and Scott joined the rest of the guys.

"Ah, come on. There is no way that's traveling! He only took one step!" Luke yelled at the TV. The second quarter was about two minutes in and Luke was really starting to enjoy himself. He had put Lyle in his place over Bulls trivia. Andy and Michael agreed that Luke was good to have around when Lyle started getting to obnoxious. And Will. Well, Will just thought Luke was hot.

Luke's cell rang and his dug to get to it before his voicemail picked up.

"Hello?" He didn't even bother to check who it was. Only his family, Casey, and work called on this number. All of whom he would want to talk to.

"Uh, hi Luke,"

"Hi Noah," Luke said. He was trying to sound casual, but he was so glad to hear from him. Noah actually called him. This was a very huge and very good first step. Luke got up and walked into the kitchen as far from the action as he could. Scott heard Luke's excitement that it was Noah and his heart stung just a bit. He knew that Luke was taken, but he was still harboring a crush on the hot blonde. Scott knew that these feelings would go away, but it was still hard to see him that happy when he didn't cause it. And Luke was so happy over just a phone call.

"How are you?" Luke heard on the line as he leaned against the counter in the kitchen. He was standing as far away from Scott and his friends as he could and still be considered in the apartment.

"Good, tired, but good. You?" Luke was trying to keep the conversation going. He didn't care what they talked about…they were talking. That was all he cared about.

"I'm fine. Why are you tired?" Noah inquired.

"Work. I've been busy covering a local election here,"

"Sounds important," Luke was fidgeting. He was nervous and he was wandering in the kitchen, straightening things as he went. He put dirty dishes in the sink; folded a couple hand towels; and wiped down the counter near the sink. He didn't even realize that he was doing it.

"Well, it's different, but I am really liking it," Luke volunteered and then they both grew quiet. Luke was searching his mind for things to say. Anything. He knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to tell him that he loved him and living without him was unbelievably unbearable. That he was miserable all the time and could not wait to come home.

"I miss you," Noah said in a soft voice.

"I miss you too. SO much," Luke said back and he felt his heart clench at the declaration. His hands started to sweat and started to feel dizzy. He had this same feeling the second time he kissed Noah. They were standing in the intern office at WOAK and Noah had just told him thank you for helping him come out. When he knew it was coming and Noah was looking at him with such anticipation on his face.

"I just wanted to call and make sure that you were all right. I better go, I'm real tired and I have a big day tomorrow," Noah rushed out and Luke felt like the floor fell out. He didn't know what to say. But he decided to say nothing.

"Oh, ok. I, ah, I'll talk to you later then. Make sure that you take care of yourself, ok. Or I'll have to come home and make sure you do," Luke said with a laugh.

I want to come home.

"Yeah, good night," Noah said and the line went dead. Luke looked down at his phone and saw the time.

12:37.

They talked for 12 minutes and 37 seconds. They were the best and worst 12 minutes and 37 seconds of his life.

Scott watched Luke's shoulders slump slightly and he slowly slid his phone shut. He pushed the phone his pocket and let out a long breath. Scott got up and met him by the island.

"So, was that him?" Scott was fidgeting with his beer bottle. Pulling and twisting at the label.

"Yeah. I think I better go,"

"You don't have to. Come on the game is only half done. And they're only down by 12,"

"I'm not really in the mood. I kinda just want to be by myself. Thanks for asking me. I had a lot of fun," Luke sounded so down, like he had just lost his best friend. Maybe in Luke's mind he did. Luke said his goodbyes to the guys, called a truce with Lyle, and Scott walked him to the door.

"Call me tomorrow?" Scott said and Luke nodded in the affirmative before he walked down the hall and disappeared into his apartment. Scott went in the kitchen to pour more ice into the tub and Will came up next to him.

"When did he move into the building?"

"Last month," Scott said and then looked at his friend. Scott recognized that look. Will always gets this predatory, the-cat-that-ate-the-canary look; especially when a hot guy is mixed in. "No. No, you will not seduce my neighbor!" Scott said in a harsh whisper.

"Why not?"

"Because he a friend of mine. A friend I want to keep. Besides he is taken, really really taken," Scott said.

"Right and you don't want anything to happen. Between you too," Will wasn't buying it for one second.

"We're just friends," Will heard what he was saying and just shrugged before he went back to the game.

Luke shut the door to his apartment and leaned against the door. He couldn't believe it. Noah actually called him. He made a point to reach out to him; unless he missed dialed.

NO!

Luke was going to take this as a good sign. He changed for bed and was asleep before he could talk himself out of his good mood.

Well, do you guys hate it?

I hope not. I had writer's block a bit and this chapter shows.

Anyways, I am so glad that you guys keep coming back. I hope to have a chapter up on Friday or Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by!

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