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. :)

◆◆◆

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!