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October 2017
By Halloween, everything between Luke, Eli, and Noah had settled into a rhythm that felt almost too good to be real. The three of them had become practically inseparable—sharing lunch every day, walking to class together, and even having their own little group chat where they roasted each other relentlessly and made plans for the weekend.
Noah fit in like he’d always been there. People at school didn’t seem to give him any grief about being the headteacher’s son, which surprised everyone—including him. He was easygoing, nice without being annoying, and funny in a way that always caught Luke off guard. Luke, of course, adored him from the start. Eli had been more cautious, but Noah had proven himself over and over, showing up when it mattered and never making things weird.
Tonight, the three of them were crammed into Luke’s bedroom, putting the finishing touches on their Halloween costumes.
“I still can’t believe we’re doing this,” Luke muttered, tugging at the fuzzy green sweater that made him look like a human tennis ball.
Eli, already bouncing around in his bright red hoodie, grinned from ear to ear. “Dude, it’s iconic. Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Come on, it’s perfect.”
“Perfect for you maybe,” Luke said flatly. “You get to be the cool one. Noah gets to look smart. I get to look like a literal stuffed toy.”
From the corner, Noah adjusted his fake round glasses and gave a small shrug, trying not to laugh. “You’re just mad because you’re the shortest.”
Luke threw a pillow at him. “That’s literally the only reason I’m Theodore!”
Eli snorted. “Exactly. It’s called accuracy.“
“Shut up, Alvin,” Luke grumbled.
“You look cute, shut up,” Noah said, trying and failing to put the store-bought facepaint on the tip of his nose to make himself look like an actual chipmunk.
Luke ignored his comment and sighed, walking over to him. “Give me that before you ruin your face,” he mumbled, snatching the paint out of his hands.
“Lifesaver,” Noah said, sitting on the edge of Luke’s bed and angling his head upwards so that Luke had access to his whole face.
“Don’t scrunch your face,” Luke ordered.
“Trying not to,” Noah mumbled, relaxing his face muscles.
Eli glanced over at them from where he was stood at Luke’s mirror but said nothing.
Luke gently brushed the paint over Noah’s nose and some on his cheeks. And whilst Luke kept his eyes on his art work, Noah kept his eyes on him. They were close enough that putting facepaint on each other wasn’t weird, which Luke liked.
“There,” Luke said after he had finished. “Now you look like a real-life smart chipmunk.”
“Thanks,” Noah grinned, standing up and rushing to the mirror, pushing Eli out of the way.
“You look like a dork,” Eli said.
“Again, thanks,” Noah said sweetly.
They spent the next ten minutes bickering about who looked the most ridiculous before finally piling into Noah’s car. It was cold out, the kind of crisp October night where you could see your breath in the air, and the streets were littered with jack-o’-lanterns and fake cobwebs. As they drove toward the party, the excitement started to build. Music blasted from every other house they passed, and the dark sky glowed faintly orange from the city lights.
Eli was practically vibrating in his seat. “Okay, ground rules,” he announced over the music. “If we get separated, meet by the drinks table. If anyone tries to make you drink something sketchy, don’t. And if either of you hook up with someone—”
“Not happening,” Luke said immediately.
“Speak for yourself,” Eli grinned.
Noah threw him a sharp look. “Don’t you have a boyfriend?”
“That’s what my phone is for,” Eli said nonchalantly.
“So when you say you’re gonna hook up with somebody at the party, what you actually mean is that you’re gonna find an empty room and have phone sex with Nate,” Noah said flatly.
“Exactly,” Eli said dreamily.
Noah grimaced. “You’re disgusting.”
“And yet, you begged me to be friends with you when you first started at our school,” Eli shot back.
“Begged is a stretch,” Noah said monotonously.
Luke laughed quietly at their bickering.
Eventually, they arrived at the party. The house up ahead was glowing with orange lights, fake fog spilling across the front lawn, and a crowd already spilling out onto the porch.
“This is gonna be insane,” Noah said.
“Insane or terrible,” Luke muttered.
“Same difference,” Eli replied, already unbuckling his seatbelt before the car even stopped.
They got out, and the music hit them instantly. It was some deep bass rattling the ground beneath their sneakers. People were everywhere, dancing and laughing, shouting across the yard. Luke tugged at the hem of his green sweater again, feeling both ridiculous and strangely alive. He glanced over at his friends—Eli in his red hoodie and backwards cap, Noah with his glasses and navy blue sweater. He couldn’t help but smile.
If anyone had told him a year ago that he’d be dressed as a chipmunk, going to a party with two of his closest friends, actually happy to be there… he would’ve laughed in their face. But right now, as they pushed through the crowd and disappeared into the chaos of flashing lights and thumping music, he felt like a whole new person.
The house was packed, the air thick with sweat, laughter, and the sharp sting of cheap alcohol. Luke didn’t even know whose party this was. He just knew there was music shaking the walls, too many people in one place, and the kind of chaotic energy that made everything feel a little electric. Eli had somehow managed to find a bottle of tequila within five minutes of arriving and was already pouring shots into mismatched plastic cups.
“To senior year!” he shouted, grinning like a maniac.
Luke and Noah clinked their cups against his, shouting the same words before downing the shots. The liquid burned all the way down, and Luke winced, sticking out his tongue. “That’s disgusting.”
“Yeah, and it’s working,” Eli said with a laugh, already pouring another.
They took a few more and then blurry pictures followed soon after with Eli forcing them into ridiculous poses and Noah rolling his eyes but secretly smiling for the camera. Luke looked at one photo afterward and couldn’t help but grin. They looked like idiots, but happy idiots.
At some point, a group of guys called for a beer pong game, and Eli dragged them over before either could protest. The room was crowded, lights low, and the air heavy with music and shouting. Luke and Noah were a team, though neither of them had any coordination left. Half the time, Luke was laughing too hard to even aim properly, and Noah kept missing on purpose just to make him laugh harder.
When they lost miserably, Eli threw his arm around both of them. “You guys suck,” he said proudly. “I taught you everything you know.”
“You didn’t teach us shit,” Luke said, shoving him lightly.
“I taught you how to have fun!” Eli announced before pulling out his phone. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go call my favorite long-distance boyfriend and make everyone jealous.”
“Go do that somewhere private,” Luke said, wrinkling his nose.
Eli winked and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Luke and Noah standing side by side amid the chaos.
“More drinks?” Noah asked, nodding toward the kitchen.
“Definitely,” Luke said.
They each grabbed another red cup, filled it halfway with something fruity and suspiciously strong, and slipped outside for air. The noise dulled behind them as they stepped into the yard. The night sky was clear and endless, dotted with a thousand glittering stars.
Luke plopped down on the grass, not caring that it was damp and his bum would get a little wet. Noah followed, sitting beside him. For a few quiet moments, they just stared up at the stars, sipping their drinks.
“This is nice,” Noah said softly.
“Yeah,” Luke murmured. “It’s like the world stopped spinning for a second.”
“I know right. I think Eli’s a bad influence.”
“He is,” Luke said immediately.
“I’m very drunk right now,” Noah mumbled, laying down on the grass instead.
“Fucking same,” Luke laughed, his head spinning as he too did the same thing.
Noah hummed in agreement. “So, have you thought about college at all?”
Luke exhaled, his breath visible in the cool air. “Kinda. I mean, I wanna get out of here, obviously. But I don’t know. Maybe something with writing. Maybe English. Or I could do art. I like drawing. Whatever keeps me away from math.”
Noah chuckled. “Fair. I think I wanna do architecture. My dad’s been hinting at it forever, and I actually like it, so… maybe I’ll just go with it.”
Luke rolled onto his side to face him. “You’d be good at that. You’re like… meticulous. Organised. Not a total disaster like me.”
“Don’t say that,” Noah said with a frown. “You’re not a disaster.”
“Thanks,” Luke muttered, tilting his head up a little so he could sip from his cup without choking. His head felt pleasantly fuzzy. The alcohol had softened the edges of everything. Like the cold, the noise, and even his thoughts. “Honestly, though,” he said, staring up at the night sky again, “Im excited for college and all that, but I’m mostly just waiting till I can get top surgery. Then maybe I’ll finally stop feeling like a fraud in my own skin.”
The words slipped out before he even realised what he was saying.
For a few seconds, there was only silence. Then Noah’s head snapped toward him. “Wait,” he said carefully. “Top surgery?”
Luke froze, staring at the stars like they might offer him an escape. He hadn’t meant to say that. God, not tonight, not like this. He could feel Noah’s eyes on him, curious and confused. “Yeah,” Luke said finally. “Top surgery.”
“Uh, why…I mean, why would you…?”
Luke swallowed thickly and kept his eyes trained on the clouds above. “I’m trans,” he forced out, hoping the words sounded normal and not awkward.
Noah didn’t say anything right away. Luke’s heart pounded in his ears. The tipsiness was fading fast, replaced by a sharp awareness of how exposed he suddenly felt.
Then Noah said softly, “I didn’t know.”
“I figured,” Luke muttered.
Again, Noah stayed quiet.
Luke cleared his throat, trying to fake nonchalance. “I mean, it’s not something I go around announcing. Most people already moved on from it last year.”
Noah shifted slightly, propping himself up on his elbow so he could look at Luke properly. “People at school know?” he asked.
Luke scoffed. “Of course they know. I started off high school with long hair and a different name. Come sophmore year, all that changed. I rebranded,” he said dryly.
“Right,” Noah mumbled.
Luke risked a glance at him. “You’re weirded out, aren’t you?”
“No!” Noah said quickly, almost in an offended tone. “No, I’m not weirded out. I’m just surprised, that’s all. You don’t…I mean, you don’t look… Sorry. I’m just surprised. I swear. Not weirded out. Just surprised.”
“You look it,” Luke mumbled.
Noah looked hesitant when he asked, “what was your old name?”
Luke swallowed thickly. “Why? It doesn’t matter anymore, does it?”
“No, I guess not,” Noah said.
Luke looked at him again. “You are weirded out,” he said again, sharper this time.
“No,” Noah said, shaking his head firmly. “No, I’m not. I swear. Not even a little.” He smiled faintly. “If anything, I’m impressed. You seem… really sure of who you are.”
Luke let out a breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding. “You don’t know how wrong you are,” he said softly, but he was smiling now too. For a moment, they just looked at each other. Then Noah lay back down, and Luke did the same. “So, does this… change things now? Are you gonna look at me differently now that you know?” Luke asked.
Noah immediately shook his head. “No. Why would I?”
Luke shrugged, eyes darting away. “People just do. They say they don’t, but then they start acting weird. Like they have to think twice before saying anything, or they stop treating me like a regular guy.”
Noah frowned. “Luke,” he said, his tone firm but gentle, “I don’t see anything about you that looks like a girl. At all.”
That caught Luke off guard. “You don’t?”
“No,” Noah said simply. “Honestly, part of me still thinks you’re lying. You look like a fucking guy. A nice one.”
Luke’s heart thudded. He wasn’t sure why those words made his throat ache, but they did. “It’s probably the testosterone,” he mumbled. “I’ve been on shots for over a year now. Voice got deeper. Jawline changed. Internal grossness…halted. My body just fits better now, I guess.”
Noah nodded slowly, like he was processing everything with care. “That’s actually really cool,” he said after a moment. “I mean, I don’t know what that’s like, but… it’s cool that you get to be who you are.”
Luke gave a small, crooked smile. “Yeah. I mean, it’s a lot of needles and mood swings and acne, but worth it.”
Noah chuckled quietly. “I can imagine.” There was a comfortable pause between them before Noah’s expression turned slightly sheepish. “I’ll be honest,” he admitted, “I just assumed you were gay. That’s why you’re in the GSA, right?”
Luke blinked, then laughed softly. “Well, yeah,” he said. “Because I am gay.”
Noah raised his eyebrows. “Oh. That’s actually kind of perfect then.”
Luke tilted his head. “Perfect?”
“Yeah,” Noah said, smiling now. “I mean, you being yourself completely, Like, open about everything. I think that’s brave as hell.”
Luke huffed a small laugh and ran a hand through his navy hair, feeling warmth bloom in his chest that had nothing to do with the alcohol. “Thanks,” he said, voice soft. “That means a lot.”
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Luke took another sip of his drink, still watching Noah out of the corner of his eye, trying to figure out what exactly was happening in his chest. Whatever it was, it didn’t feel bad. It felt… safe. Noah caught his eye and grinned. Luke swallowed hard, tearing his gaze away. The warmth spreading in his chest started to feel dangerous. Something he didn’t want to name.
Noah’s straight, he reminded himself firmly. He literally said it when we told him about the GSA when we first met. Don’t start being pathetic again, Luke. Not every guy who’s nice to you is flirting. Some people are just… kind.
He sat up too quickly, brushing grass off his jeans and muttering, “I need another drink.”
Noah blinked, startled. “Uh, yeah, sure,” he said, scrambling up after him. “Let’s go before all that jungle juice disappears.”
Inside, the noise hit them like a wave. Luke pushed through the crowd toward the kitchen, his heart still beating a little too fast. He wasn’t sure if it was from the alcohol or from how close Noah had been lying beside him a minute ago. But either way, it was dumb and pathetic. He poured himself another shot (maybe two) before sliding a plastic cup across the counter toward Noah. “Here. To surviving high school,” he said, raising his glass.
Noah grinned and clinked cups with him. “To that.”
They both drank, grimacing at the burn. Luke felt a little steadier after that, a little more like he could keep his thoughts from running off cliffs.
A few minutes later, Eli came bounding down the stairs, his red “Alvin” hoodie half-unzipped, phone still in his hand. “Okay!” he announced, loud enough for half the room to hear. “Nate says hi, and also… who wants to play spooky truth or dare?”
Groans and cheers erupted at the same time. Someone killed the music, and a crowd started to gather in the living room, the lights dimmed to a ghostly orange from the string lights taped along the walls. Luke and Noah exchanged a look.
Noah smirked. “You in?”
Luke hesitated, then shrugged. “Fuck it. Why not. What’s Halloween without regretting something later on, huh?”
“That’s the spirit,” he grinned. “Little Lukey’s got a backbone, huh?”
“Little?” Luke spat.
“Oh, so you’re annoyed I called you little, but not that I called you Lukey?” Noah cocked his head to one side.
Luke flushed but rolled his eyes. “Shut the hell up and get moving, Lowthorp.”
Noah grinned wider but did as he was told.
They joined the circle on the floor. Eli was to Luke’s left and Noah was to Luke’s right. A bottle was then placed in the middle. Someone dimmed the lights further, candles flickering on the coffee table. The atmosphere shifted, and laughter took over.
“Okay,” Eli said dramatically, rubbing his hands together. “Let’s make this interesting. Truths have to be brutal, and dares have to be stupid.”
The bottle spun.
People hooted and cackled.
Luke tried to relax.
The bottle in the middle of the circle stopped spinning and pointed straight at Amber who was wearing cat ears and glitter eyeliner. She giggled, already knowing what was coming. “Dare,” she said confidently, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Eli grinned wickedly. “Somebody give her a good one.”
“A good one?” another senior asked. “I got a good one.”
“Lay it on me,” Amber challenged.
“I dare you to kiss the gayest person in the room.”
Laughter rang through the air. Eli sat up straight and pointed at himself. “That’s clearly me!” he said, almost in glee.
The senior snorted. “Glad you said it and not me.”
The whole room erupted into laughter, whistles, and mock gasps. Amber shrugged, leaned forward, and kissed Eli full on the mouth. It was quick, a little sloppy, but Eli didn’t flinch or hesitate for a second. When they pulled apart, he wiped his mouth and said flatly, “Yep. Still gay.”
The laughter doubled.
Amber pretended to swoon dramatically. “You wound me, Alvin. I thought you were supposed to be a player!” she said, pressing her hand to her chest.
Eli just grinned, looking proud of himself, and the bottle was already spinning again. It whirled and slowed until it pointed at Noah. The cheers started instantly. “Dare!” someone shouted before Noah could even think.
Noah shrugged, leaning back. “Fine. Dare.”
The room quieted as people conspired. Then some guy from the football team smirked and said, “Strip.”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Eli interjected, half laughing. “It’s not that kind of party.”
Noah rolled his eyes but stood up anyway, tugging his blue hoodie over his head in one smooth motion. His glasses also came off. His shirt beneath was tight enough to show the outline of his arms, his collarbones sharp in the soft light but he pulled that off too without a thought.
“That’s all you’re getting,” Noah said simply, tossing the hoodie and shirt onto the couch before sitting back down in the circle.
Luke tried not to stare. He really, really did. But the faint muscles along Noah’s neck, the way his hair fell into his eyes, the curve of his smile, and his fucking muscles?? God, it was almost unfair. His mouth went dry, and he tried to look anywhere else. Unfortunately, that meant his eyes were flickering around the circle and Eli caught his gaze instantly. His best friend gave him a knowing grin and mouthed, I see you.
Luke cursed him under his breath, but his face was warm, and he knew it was too late to play it cool.
The next spin landed on Eli himself. He stretched his arms, clearly ready to cause chaos. “Truth or dare,” someone asked.
“Obviously dare,” Eli replied, the crowd cheering.
It took a few seconds before someone shouted out, “I dare you to teepee the school!”
That was all it took. The room erupted with excitement, and suddenly everyone was on their feet. Someone grabbed rolls of toilet paper from the bathroom, another person yelled about getting the pumpkins from the porch, and within minutes, the entire group and some had spilled out into the street like a wave of laughter and energy.
Luke stumbled after his classmates, his chipmunk ears flopping as he ran. Eli was leading the pack, waving a flashlight in the air like a sword, and Noah stayed right behind him after he had grabbed his blue hoodie off the couch.
By the time they reached the school, the night air was cold and crisp, the moon hanging low above the building. Everyone split into groups, tossing rolls of toilet paper high into the trees and over the flagpole, the white streamers catching the light like ghostly ribbons.
Luke found himself beside Noah, both of them breathless from running. Noah tore open another roll and handed it to him.
“This is insane,” Luke said, trying to catch his breath.
Noah laughed, the sound bright and unguarded. “It’s perfect. I’ve never done anything this stupid in my life. My dad will honestly kill me if he finds out.”
“Gotta make sure he doesn’t find out then.”
“Does the school have cameras?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
Noah still looked unsure.
“Don’t worry,” Luke said quickly. “The most that’ll happen is a slap on the wrist. There’s too many of us here for us all to go down.”
“That makes me feel better.”
Eli suddenly ran past them, shrieking as someone threw a roll that hit him square in the back of the head. The entire group dissolved into chaos after that. Someone started singing the school anthem off-key while others climbed trees, draping branches in white. For the first time in what felt like forever, Luke’s chest loosened. He wasn’t thinking about anything other than FUN. Right now, he was just another dumb teenager under the stars, laughing with other teenagers until his sides hurt.
Noah turned toward him, his face flushed from running, his hair sticking to his forehead slightly. “This is actually kind of amazing,” he said.
Luke smiled, small but real. “Yeah. It is.”
“You don’t seem like a teachers pet now.”
“Hey!” Luke said in offence.
“It’s a good thing,” Noah said. “It’s nice to see you let your hair down for once.”
“Is that a trans joke?” Luke cocked his eyebrow.
Noah burst out laughing. “No! Oh my god, no. I didn’t mean it like that!”
Luke smirked. “Sure you didn’t.”
“I didn’t!” Noah insisted, still grinning. “You just…you’re always so composed, like you’re allergic to fun or something. It’s kind of refreshing seeing you be a little reckless.”
“Reckless?” Luke echoed. “We’re literally throwing toilet paper at a building. We’re basically domestic terrorists.”
“Hey, it’s a victimless crime,” Noah said with a shrug. “Except for the janitor, I guess. Sorry, janitor.”
Luke laughed despite himself, the sound slipping out before he could stop it. Noah looked at him with that stupid soft smile that made Luke’s stomach twist. He wanted to say something back, maybe something equally dumb or teasing, but before he could, someone screamed.
“COPS!”
The word rippled through the crowd like an electric shock. People started scattering instantly, dropping toilet paper rolls and bolting for the streets. Luke’s heart lurched into his throat. He turned toward the noise, just in time to see flashing blue lights at the end of the road.
“Shit,” Noah breathed. “Come on!”
They both took off running. Luke’s sneakers slapped against the pavement, his lungs burning as laughter and panic tangled together in his chest. Ahead of them, Eli was sprinting toward the fence, red hoodie flying behind him.
“Eli!” Luke shouted, but his voice was lost in the chaos. A cop’s flashlight caught Eli mid-climb. There was yelling, something about stopping right there, and Luke froze for a split second, helplessly watching his best friend get caught. “Noah, we can’t just leave him to—”
“Luke!” Noah grabbed his wrist, yanking him back before he could move toward the lights. “If we go out there, we’re screwed too!”
“But Eli—”
“He’ll be fine,” Noah said sternly, pulling him hard enough that Luke stumbled. “Come on, we have to go!”
“No! He’s going to get arrested!”
“We have to go, Luke!”
Luke didn’t have a choice and let himself be dragged away from the sight of his best friend being pinned to the gates and being handcuffed. The two remaining chipmunks sprinted across the field, the cool night air slapping against their faces. Luke’s lungs screamed, and his heart hammered as Noah dragged him toward the bleachers. They ducked underneath just as the flashlight beams swept past, voices echoing through the open field.
“Hide,” Noah whispered, crouching low behind a stack of metal supports.
Luke tried to steady his breathing, every inhale too loud in his own ears. He could still hear shouting from across the field. His stomach twisted. “We should’ve gone back for him,” Luke whispered harshly. “We can’t leave him. Oh, my god. We should’ve—”
“Luke.” Noah’s voice was low but firm. “He’s smart. He’ll talk his way out of it. He always does.”
Luke pressed a shaking hand against his forehead. His palms were slick with sweat, and his heart wouldn’t slow down. “I can’t believe this is happening,” he muttered. “We’re literally hiding from the police under the bleachers. I’m gonna throw up.”
Noah shifted closer, his hand brushing Luke’s arm in a small, grounding gesture. “Hey. You’re okay. We’re okay.”
Luke swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet Noah’s gaze in the dim light. Noah’s expression was too goddamn calm, like he was trying to absorb all of Luke’s panic and shoulder it himself.
“You trust me, right?” Noah asked quietly.
Luke hesitated, breath still ragged. Then he nodded. “Yeah. I do.”
“Then breathe,” Noah said. “We’ll wait till they’re gone and then we’ll figure it out.”
Luke let out a shaky exhale, the sounds of chaos fading slowly into the night. They sat there for what felt like forever, the air thick with tension and the smell of wet grass. Every few seconds, Luke would hear a voice in the distance or the faint crunch of gravel under boots, and his heart would jump straight into his throat. But then Noah would start talking quietly and casually, and the noise in Luke’s head would start to fade.
“So,” Noah murmured, his voice low but steady. “How’s it feel to officially become a criminal?”
Luke let out a weak laugh. “Terrifying. And cold. And itchy. I think I’m allergic to grass.”
“Tragic,” Noah said, pretending to sound serious. “I’ll make sure to tell the judge that when they give us community service.”
Luke snorted. “You think they’d actually arrest us for toilet papering the school?”
Noah tilted his head, considering. “My dad’s the new head. So… probably not me. But you? Yeah, you’re totally screwed.”
“Wow,” Luke said flatly, turning his head toward him. “Way to make me feel better.”
“I’m kidding,” Noah said, smiling. “He doesn’t even know I’m here. He thinks I’m at some Halloween movie marathon.”
Luke blinked at him. “Is he gonna kill you when he finds out?”
“Absolutely,” Noah said without hesitation. “He’ll probably ground me till graduation. Maybe send me to boarding school just to prove a point.”
Despite everything (the panic, the adrenaline, the ache in his chest from worrying about Eli) Luke found himself huffing out a small laugh. “You’re the worst liar I’ve ever met.”
Noah shrugged. “And yet, somehow, you’re the one hiding under bleachers with me, giving me your undying trust.”
“You’re trying to distract me.”
“Yeah,” Noah admitted easily. “Is it working?”
Luke hesitated for a beat, then nodded. “A little.” The distant voices started to fade, the flashing lights growing dimmer as the cops moved toward the parking lot. Luke leaned his head back against the cool metal and sighed. “You think Eli’s okay?”
Noah’s tone softened. “He’s probably fine. They’ll scare him a little, maybe call his dad. But he didn’t do anything serious. He’s not gonna end up in a cell.”
Luke’s stomach twisted at the thought. “We should go to the station anyway, just in case.”
Noah glanced at him. “You sure you wanna do that tonight?”
“I can’t just go home and sleep knowing he’s sitting there alone,” Luke said quietly. “He’d do the same for me.”
Noah studied him for a moment before nodding. “Okay. Then we’ll go. But we’ll wait a little longer to make sure the coast is clear.”
“Thanks,” Luke said, voice low.
Noah gave a small smile. “What are partners in crime for?”
Luke chuckled, though the sound came out tired. He hugged his knees to his chest, the adrenaline finally starting to ebb away. “This is so stupid,” he muttered. “We were supposed to just go to a party. Not end up fugitives.”
“Hey, at least we’ll have a cool story for graduation,” Noah said.
Luke glanced at him. “You really think I’m gonna tell anyone about this?”
“You should. You’d be the most memorable valedictorian ever.”
Luke groaned and shoved his shoulder. “Don’t remind me about that.”
Noah suddenly looked like he had a lightbulb moment. “Oh. Speaking of school. I’ve actually been thinking about some new stuff for the GSA.”
Luke blinked. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” Noah said, his eyes brightening a little. “We should do more things outside school. Not just sit in that tiny classroom talking about queer representation and watching Eli doodle hearts around Nate’s name. Like, what if we did a movie night somewhere, or maybe went bowling? Something fun. Something that makes people want to join.”
Luke tilted his head, a little surprised. “You’ve been thinking about that?”
“Yeah,” Noah said, smiling a little, like he was proud of himself for the idea. “I just think it could be cool. We could rent out a lane, wear those ugly bowling shoes, get matching snacks, maybe even fundraise a bit if we make it official.”
Luke looked at him for a moment, the corners of his mouth twitching up. “You’re taking this whole ally thing really seriously.”
Noah looked a little startled, or maybe sheepish, at Luke’s comment. He looked down for a second before saying, “I just want to make you happy.”
Luke’s breath caught before he could stop it. He felt his heart skip a beat, pounding in a way that made him both excited and completely terrified. Noah didn’t even seem to realise what he’d said, because he just looked up again with that same easy grin, his hand brushing through his hair like nothing happened.
“Anyway,” Noah continued quickly, like he could sense Luke’s brain short-circuiting, “we should get to the station before Eli’s dad find out. He’d never forgive us if he had to deal with that alone.”
“Right,” Luke said, his voice slightly uneven. “Yeah, totally.”
Noah stood and reached down, offering his hand. “Come on. I’ll drive us.”
Luke didn’t think, he just reached up and the moment their palms met, something small and hot sparked in his chest. Noah’s hand was warm and solid. For a brief second, Luke didn’t want to let go. But then he remembered that they had been drinking and his stomach dropped. “Wait,” he said quickly, pulling his hand back. “We can’t. You’ve been drinking. I’ve been drinking. We’re not driving anywhere.”
Noah frowned, like he hadn’t even considered it. “Oh. Right. Yeah. I guess that’s… a problem.”
“Kind of a big one,” Luke said, managing a small smile despite everything. “Let’s just take a cab. It’s safer. And you won’t have to deal with the principal finding out you wrecked your car.”
Noah groaned softly. “You’re never gonna let that go, are you?”
“Not a chance,” Luke said. “Come on, let’s get to the main road. I’ll call one.”
They started walking across the field, their shoes sinking slightly into the damp grass. Noah stuck close beside him, their arms brushing every few steps.
By the time the cab pulled up outside the police station, it was well past midnight. The air was cool and sharp, cutting through Luke’s hazy tipsiness. He stumbled a little when he got out, and Noah steadied him with a hand on his elbow. The street was quiet except for the faint hum of traffic and the flickering glow of the fluorescent “POLICE” sign that buzzed weakly above the door.
Luke swallowed hard. “This is bad,” he muttered.
“It’s fine,” Noah said, though he didn’t sound totally convinced. “It’s not like they’ll keep him overnight. It’s just a stupid prank. No one got hurt.”
Luke glanced at him. “You’ve clearly never met Eli’s dad.”
Noah’s hand brushed the back of his neck awkwardly, but he didn’t argue. Together, they pushed through the doors into the harshly lit lobby. The place smelled like old coffee and disinfectant. A tired-looking officer sat behind a desk, flipping through some paperwork until he noticed them.
“Can I help you two?” he asked.
“Uh, yeah,” Luke said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “Our friend Eli got brought in. He’s kinda tall, curly hair, loud as hell? Red hoodie. He was caught up in, um, the toilet-papering thing at the high school.”
The officer sighed, clearly already aware of what they were talking about. “You’re not the first ones to show up,” he said, tapping his pen against the counter. “We’ve already called some parents. Most of the kids are being processed and released. If your friend’s parents have been contacted, they’ll probably be here soon.”
Luke felt his stomach twist. “Right. Yeah. Okay.”
He turned slightly to Noah, who was standing beside him, hands in his pockets, looking more uncomfortable than Luke had ever seen him. The officer eyed the two of them again. “You’re not drunk, are you?”
“No, sir,” Noah said immediately, his voice steady.
Luke blinked. “Yeah. Nope. Totally sober. Just… tired.”
The officer raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. “Take a seat, then. I’ll check to see if your friend’s paperwork is through yet.”
Luke muttered a thank you, then followed Noah to one of the plastic chairs along the wall. They sat in silence for a bit, the sound of distant phones ringing and shoes squeaking on tile filling the space between them. Luke leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. “I feel so bad,” he said finally. “This was supposed to be fun. And now he’s gonna have a record or something.”
Noah shook his head. “He won’t. They’ll just give him a warning. They always do for dumb stuff like this. Trust me, my old school had way worse.”
Luke glanced sideways at him. “You ever been arrested?”
Noah gave a half-smile. “No. I just… hung out with people who did. There’s a difference.”
Luke huffed a small laugh, but it didn’t last. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling tiles. “Still. I should’ve stopped him. He gets wild when he’s drinking, and I just let it happen.”
“Hey,” Noah said quietly. “You don’t have to take care of everyone all the time, Luke.”
Luke turned to look at him. Noah’s expression was gentle but firm, and for a second Luke felt something shift in his chest again. That strange mix of safety and heat that he didn’t know how to name.
Before he could say anything, the door at the far end of the hallway opened and Eli came out, hair a mess, eyes glassy but very much alive. His dad was right behind him, looking somewhere between furious and relieved.
“Luke!” Eli called when he spotted him, voice hoarse but bright.
Luke jumped to his feet, relief flooding him. “Holy shit, are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Eli grinned weakly. “Got a warning. No record. But I’m grounded until I’m, like, thirty.”
“Fourty,” his dad barked.
Luke winced but pulled his best friend into a hug, squeezing hard. “You’re an idiot.”
“I know,” Eli said into his shoulder. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Noah said as he stood a few feet away, hands shoved into his pockets again, smiling softly at the scene. “You’re not the one who came up with the dare.”
“No, but I’m the genius who thinks I can get away with murder,” Eli said.
Luke let go of Eli, shaking his head. “Yeah, maybe you need to calm down a little.”
“What’s the fun in that?” Eli pouted.
His dad smacked him upside the head. “Listen to your friends! They’ve clearly got their heads screwed on, unlike you.”
“OW!” Eli snapped, glaring at his father.
Eli’s dad sighed, rubbing his forehead before looking between the three boys. “Alright, enough of that. You two—” he nodded at Luke and Noah, “—need a ride home? It’s late, and I’d rather not have you walking around after all this.”
Luke nodded quickly. “Uh, yeah. That’d be great, thanks.” He glanced at Noah. “You can crash at mine if you want. It’s closer, and my parents won’t care. We can pick your car up tomorrow.”
Noah hesitated for half a second before nodding. “Yeah, okay. Thanks.”
Eli groaned. “So you two get to hang out, and I get grounded? Fantastic.”
“You toilet-papered the school, Eli,” his father snapped.
“It wasn’t my idea!” Eli shot back.
“Enough. Get in the car before I ground them too.”
The car ride to Luke’s place was quiet, the streetlights washing the inside of the car in soft golds and blues. Luke could feel the exhaustion creeping in but Noah sat beside him with a faint smile on his face, eyes half-lidded as he stared out the window. When Eli’s dad dropped them off, he gave them a quick nod before driving off again.
Inside, the house was dark except for the dim glow of a lamp left on in the hallway. Luke kicked off his shoes and tried to walk quietly, but both of them were still giggling under their breath like kids sneaking in past curfew.
They climbed the stairs to Luke’s room, and once the door was shut behind them, the quiet felt heavier but comfortable. Luke tugged off his ugly green hoodie, not caring that his white shirt underneath almost came off with it. Then he shuffled out of his jeans too, leaving himself in a pair of boxer shorts which were kind of concealed under his shirt which was a few inches too long. Then he crawled into bed. Noah followed suit. Luke watched as the boy pulled his hoodie off and tossed it somewhere near the desk chair. Then he shuffled out of his jeans too and Luke swore he felt drool run down his chin at the sight of his friend in only his boxers. He definitely wore them better than Luke did.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The only sound was their breathing as they lay next to each other, slow and steady, the warmth of the blankets and the faint scent of detergent filling the air. Luke stared at the ceiling, the night still replaying in his head.
Then Noah’s voice came softly through the dark. “You know,” he said, turning slightly toward Luke, “this is probably the best night of my life.”
Luke blinked, surprised. “Seriously? After all that?”
“Yeah,” Noah said, his tone sure, but quiet. “I don’t know… it just felt real, you know? Like… I actually belong somewhere for once.”
Luke felt his chest tighten in that strange, confusing way again. He turned on his side to face him, their faces just a few inches apart in the dim light. Noah’s hair was still a little messy, his expression open and sincere. “Yeah,” Luke murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I get that.”
Noah smiled, small but genuine. He too turned on his side so that they were facing each other. “Thanks for letting me stay.”
“Anytime.”
“You’re the best.”
Luke felt his heart rate pick up. “You keep saying stuff like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like flirting.”
Noah froze, his hand halfway tucked under his pillow. The room felt smaller suddenly, heavier with something unspoken. His eyes flicked over Luke’s face, like he was trying to read if it was a joke, but Luke’s expression stayed steady—nervous, yeah, but not teasing.
“Flirting?” Noah echoed after a moment, his voice softer than before.
Luke swallowed. “Yeah. You do it all the time.”
“I don’t—” Noah started, then stopped himself. His mouth closed. His jaw flexed. And then he looked down, the tips of his ears turning pink. “Okay,” he said quietly. “Maybe I do.”
Luke’s heart thudded once, hard. “What?”
“What?” Noah shot back quickly.
“Wha…I mean, what does that mean?”
Noah’s eyes darted back to him, uncertain but honest. “I don’t know.” He hesitated, then sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I just… I mean, sometimes I look at you and I think… maybe I wouldn’t hate it if we kissed.”
Luke’s stomach flipped. His mouth went dry, but he still managed a shaky laugh. “You don’t say that to someone unless you’re sure, Noah.”
“You’re right. I’m not sure,” Noah admitted. “I just… feel things I don’t have words for sometimes. Especially around you. I don’t know why.”
For a second, Luke didn’t breathe. The air between them buzzed, close and electric. Then, before he could overthink it, before he could talk himself out of it, he said quietly, “Then maybe we should just try.”
Noah’s eyebrows rose, and his eyes widened slightly in the dark. “Try?”
“Yeah,” Luke said, voice low but steady. “Because clearly you’re not one hundred percent straight, and if you’re gonna say stuff like that, I think we should find out.”
There was a long silence, so long Luke started to wonder if he’d gone too far. But then Noah exhaled, a nervous laugh catching in his throat, and his lips twitched into a half-smile.
“Luke…” he murmured, almost a warning, almost a question.
Luke met his gaze, heartbeat in his throat. “Just try.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” Luke asked quickly.
“Because we’re friends,” Noah said.
“And we’ll still be friends after,” Luke assured him.
“But…”
“You don’t wanna?” Luke asked, trying not to sound too dejected.
“I do,” Noah said instantly. “I really… I do.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” Luke whispered.
Noah hesitated for only a second more before inching closer, the warmth of his breath brushing against Luke’s skin. The air between them stilled, then their lips met. It was soft and uncertain, like both of them were terrified to move but couldn’t stop now that it had happened. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t even really a kiss, not at first. Just a quiet press of mouths, shy and shaky, but it sent something sparking through Luke’s chest that he didn’t know how to name. When they pulled back, both of them were breathing a little faster, eyes wide, faces barely inches apart.
Noah swallowed, his voice hoarse when he finally spoke. “Okay,” he said. “So maybe not one hundred percent straight.”
Luke smiled faintly, his heart hammering in his ribs. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Maybe not.”
authors note:
somebody commented on one of my other stories saying “oh i’m a silent reader but wow your book is amazing I hope it gets more recognition!”
like???? it won’t get recognition if people don’t vote and comment on the chapters. that’s how stats work. grrrrr. anyway, do the poll <3
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