Chapter Nine
Noah: Text me when you get to class.
Ellery: Just sat down!
Ellery: Thanks again for the ride.
Noah: No problem. Thanks for breakfast.
Noah: I’ll pay you back soon.
Ellery: I’m not keeping a running tab of every time I spend money on you. Lol.
Ellery: We’re together. It’s normal.
Noah: Right… still not used to it, I guess.
Noah: Text me after?
Ellery: Need to talk to me about something?
Noah: No? What do you mean?
Ellery: Oh. Nevermind. :)
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Ward: Yo Noah
Noah: Sup Ward
Ward: How’s it hanging
Noah: Good man good
Ward: Was wondering if you wanted to hang out this weekend?
Ward: Maybe grab a few beers and shoot the shit
Noah: I’ve got lots of homework.
Noah: Should probably stay in and catch up
Noah: Don’t wanna get kicked off the team lol
Ward: Damn
Ward: Sometime soon then, yeah?
Ward: Feel like we haven’t hung out in ages
Noah: Yeah. Sorry
Noah: I’ll let you know when things calm down for me
Ward: Yeah let me know
Ward: I’m up for whatever
Ward: You can invite that Ellery guy if you want
Ward: He seems cool
Noah: Yeah maybe
Noah: Gotta go class is starting
Ward: What time is
Ward: Oh okay
◆◆◆
Ellery: Done. Ugh.
Noah: Hey! Y’okay?
Ellery: Yeah. But whoever thought having classes before noon was a good idea should’ve been shot. Lol
Noah: Agreed. Especially when they’re as long as yours.
Ellery: ???
Ellery: Wait you don’t have any three hour courses?
Noah: Of course not.
Noah: I assumed that was a film major thing.
Ellery: Oh. Maybe it is. Lol
Ellery: How long are business classes?
Noah: Still too long.
Noah: To be honest I don’t really pay attention in ‘em.
Ellery: Why not?
Ellery: Don’t like your major?
Noah: I could take it or leave it.
Noah: Guess I just haven’t stopped hoping that I’ll be drafted.
Ellery: Drafted?
Noah: Into the bigs. NBA. College basketball’s more popular, but I don’t get paid to play.
Noah: At least if I signed with someone, I could make a living off it.
Ellery: Wow.
Noah: I know.
Noah: Go ahead, lemme have it lol.
Ellery: “How dare you follow your dreams while ensuring you have a way to make money in case it doesn’t pan out!”
Ellery: How was that? :)
Noah: Aww, c’mon. Stop.
Noah: I know I’m being silly, fantasizing about it.
Ellery: Oh, yeah.
Ellery: Waking up at 5 every morning even when you’re hungover or exhausted so you can go run and lift weights TOTALLY sounds like you’re not taking your goals seriously.
Noah: That’s just conditioning!
Noah: Everyone does it.
Ellery: You couldn’t pay me enough.
Noah: ...all athletes do it lol.
Ellery: Lol. I still think it’s really impressive.
Ellery: I swear I thought you were sneaking off to go home this morning.
Noah: And leave you without your car?
Noah: What kinda person do you take me for? I know I’m an ass sometimes but wow
Ellery: I dunno!!
Ellery: I thought maybe you
Ellery: Like
Ellery: ...Regretted it or something.
Noah: Ellery.
Noah: Never.
Noah: Last night was incredible.
Ellery: Really...?
Noah: I wouldn’t lie about that.
Noah: My only regret is that we didn’t do more lol. Our shower left me totally drained.
Ellery: I noticed. ;)
Noah: Oh geeze lol
Noah: I’m in class, man!
Ellery: What?! I thought you were getting lunch or something!
Ellery: Stop texting me and pay attention!
Noah: Nope. I told you I don’t pay attention in here anyway. :P
Noah: And if I were having lunch,I would have invited you.
Noah: Ellery?
Noah: Hey wait a second
Noah: You can’t ghost me just cause I’m in class
Noah: Come baaaaack
Noah: I’m so bored Ellery please
Ellery: Would you really have invited me to eat with you?
Noah: Yaaay you’re back
Noah: Duh, babydoll.
Ellery: Really?
Noah: I mean…
Noah: ...Maybe.
Ellery: I’m not trying to make you feel bad if you need to say no.
Ellery: But
Ellery: I dunno.
Ellery: I felt like something changed last night, Noah.
Ellery: You seemed really happy.
Ellery: And I thought maybe
Ellery: If something HAD changed
Ellery: Then you wouldn’t mind being seen with me in public anymore.
Noah: It’s just lunch, Ellery. Not like we’d be making out on the quad lol.
Ellery: I guess.
Noah: What’s wrong?
Ellery: There’s something I think you should know.
Noah: Wait did I say something wrong
Ellery: No.
Ellery: One of my neighbors saw us getting in your truck this morning. He recognized you. His name’s Rick.
Ellery: He’s a student here.
Ellery: We had freshman orientation together.
Ellery: I ran into him in the art building today and he mentioned seeing us.
Ellery: Together.
Ellery: I… I denied anything was going on.
Ellery: But people are gonna see us sooner or later.
Ellery: I just thought I’d put that out there.
Ellery: Noah?
Ellery: Are you okay?
Noah: Sorry
Ellery: You alright?
Noah: I just threw up
Ellery: Omg you puked in class???
Noah: No
Noah: Made it to the bathroom
Ellery: Holy shit
Ellery: Noah…
Noah: Wait
Noah: Before you say anything
Noah: I’m sorry, Ellery
Noah: I really like you
Noah: It’s not about you
Noah: It’s. I’m so scared
Noah: I didn’t know I was gay.
Noah: I had everything figured out
Noah: And then you came along
Noah: I’m still getting used to it, you know?
Noah: I’m so scared of people knowing something about me that I didn’t even know until recently
Ellery: I know, dude. I’m not upset.
Ellery: I was there once too.
Ellery: Gay ain't a bad thing to be.
Noah: I know that, logically
Ellery: I know
Noah: Maybe it was the way I was raised? Not that my parents were hateful, but they weren’t exactly accepting either. I’ve seen some of the shit gay people have gone through
Noah: And I
Noah: I don’t think I’m strong enough to handle it.
Ellery: For what it’s worth, Rick seemed happy for us, even though I told him he was mistaken.
Ellery: Not everyone is going to be hurtful about it.
Ellery: Most people will accept you, actually.
Ellery: ...Or at least they won’t be shitty to your face.
Noah: Fuck.
Noah: How did you come to terms with that?
Ellery: It’s part of who you are.
Ellery: You don’t come to terms with it. It comes to terms with you.
Ellery: It’s a facet of living your life.
Ellery: You can either repress the things you feel for others, or you can accept that you won’t be your happiest until you embrace this aspect of you.
Noah: You make it sound so easy.
Ellery: It’s easier for some than it is for others.
Ellery: Not trying to make it sound like you have to be okay with it right this second. You can be gentle with yourself. Ease into it.
Ellery: ...But you gotta start easing somewhere.
Noah: Yeah
Noah: Yeah. You’re right.
Noah: I’m sorry, Ellery.
Noah: You shouldn’t have to deal with my shit. You’re not a therapist.
Ellery: I “deal with it” because I like you, Noah. And I want you to be okay with yourself, too.
Noah: I like you a lot too, Ellery.
Noah: Can I tell you something?
Noah: Maybe as a sort of “thanks” for being understanding?
Ellery: Like I’d say no to that.
Noah: I’m nuts about you.
Noah: Everything about you turns me on like crazy, and it’s more than just your body. Your laugh, how kind and thoughtful you are. You’re magnetic.
Noah: Not to sound like a sappy anniversary card, but
Noah: You make me a better person.
Noah: And
Noah: And I don’t want this to be a fling.
Ellery: ...
Ellery: Say more?
Noah: I want to be brave so I can show you off.
Noah: Want people to know you’re mine. That you’re with me.
Noah: If I can catch a guy like you? Everyone should know. I’m proud of my trophies lol.
Noah: I hope you know I’m not using you to learn how to fuck guys so I can bounce after.
Noah: For fuck’s sake I’m sitting in the bathroom floor wiping vomit off my face, I like you so much.
Noah: And I’m so thankful that you’re willing to stick around while I figure myself out
Noah: I want to call you “my boyfriend”
Noah: And I want to be yours.
Ellery: Please.
Ellery: Please ask.
Noah: Ellery
Noah: Can I call you my boyfriend? Will you be that, for me?
Ellery: Only if you’ll be mine, too.
Noah: Fuck yes.
Noah: Hahahaha
Noah: Okay. Gushy mode off lol.
Ellery: Noah, I’m literally eating pad thai and trying not to cry.
Noah: Aw don’t cry!
Noah: I ain’t worth crying over, babydoll. Not even happy tears.
Ellery: Tell that to my extra salty noodles. Lol
Ellery: Boyfriend…
Ellery: You’re my boyfriend.
Noah: I am.
Ellery: How’s it feel?
Noah: Weird, but… I really like it.
Ellery: :) I’m glad. I like it too.
Ellery: So, I know you’re busy with practices over the next few days, but what about Saturdays? Are you busy?
Noah: Not too busy for you. ;)
Ellery: Omg there’s something SO strange about you using smileys. LMAO
Noah: JERK
Ellery: Seriously though, are you busy next Saturday? Got plans??
Noah: I do, actually.
Ellery: Oh
Noah: Yeah, I’m gonna hang out with my tiny cute new boyfriend.
Ellery: Awwww omg
Ellery: ...Wait I’m not tiny
Noah: Sure, doll.
Ellery: :(
Noah: Lol what did you have in mind?
Ellery: I have tickets to a show.
Ellery: You wanna come with?
Noah: Yes!
Ellery: You said yes before I finished typing! You don’t even know what we’re seeing! Lol
Noah: Well, what are we seeing?
Ellery: A band I like is playing nearby. It’s a 21+ show, should be fun.
Noah: Cool. What’s the band?
Ellery: Not to be that person, but…you’ve never heard of them. Lol
Noah: You sure you wanna invite me then? You could find another friend who likes them.
Ellery: I would, but see
Ellery: I just asked you. Sooo
Ellery: :)
Ellery: I wanna go with you, Noah.
Ellery: Wanna take my boyfriend to a show. You got a problem with that, punk?
Noah: Oh please. Like you could even PRETEND to rough me up lol. Tiny.
Ellery: Don’t underestimate me!
Ellery: I’m NOT tiny
Noah: Whatever you say.
Noah: I’m lookin’ forward to it.
Ellery: Yay!