FIC - The Worst Years of My Life (2/6) Original poster: crownroyal_51
Character: Noah Mayer Rating: R Spoilers: Up through June 1, 2007 Summary: Noah must find a place to live in Oakdale before he starts his internship at WOAK. Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They are the property of "As the World Turns" and P&G.
A/N: I'd like to thank rebop13 (Spookything on Vanhasis.net) for her suggests regarding this fic.
Noah picked at his lunch too stressed out to have an appetite. Ever since accepting the internship at WOAK he’d been consumed with trying to figure out how he was going to get to Illinois to find a place to live in Oakdale for the summer. He didn’t plan on telling his father about the internship until the last possible moment. Fear that his father would somehow prevent him from leaving kept him silent.
Of course there was always a hotel, but Noah was going to be on a very tight budget so he really didn’t want to incur the extra expense unless it was absolutely necessary. He’d scrimped and saved ever since he turned sixteen and he wanted to make sure that he didn’t waste a penny of his hard earned money. He had checked into hotels just in case and found his options were limited. The one hotel he did find was pretty expensive. The other motel he discovered on the Internet looked a bit seedy and it was already booked. But if he couldn’t come up with a plan soon he just might be forced to blow a significant portion of his savings on a room.
No… there had to be another way.
“Penny for your thoughts,” a sweet female voice declared.
Noah glanced up from his peanut butter and jelly sandwich to find Lydia Bradford sliding onto the bench across from him. A smile crept to his lips. Lydia was one of the few people who could do that to him. She was one of his few friends at Waynesville High School. And she was also the daughter of General Vernon Bradford, who was a highly respected officer at the base. His father was always trying his damnedest to impress the General whose name was held in the highest regard in the Mayer household.
When General Bradford transferred to Fort Leonard Wood last summer, Noah’s father thought it would be a great if Noah took the General’s daughter out on a date. Noah hadn’t dated too much throughout high school. While most guys his age were focused on girls, Noah felt his energy could be used more productively elsewhere. He had gone on some first dates, mostly to help round out a group. But they never led to a second. Noah didn’t really care, but his father certainly seemed to mind. He was constantly asking about dates or girlfriends and would get frustrated when Noah told him that there wasn’t anyone serious.
So whether Noah had liked it or not, he had a date with Lydia Bradford and he’d better not screw it up. Lydia was beautiful, sweet, witty, smart…everything a guy looked for in a potential girlfriend. But Noah hadn’t felt any sparks during their date. He’d been nervous only because he hadn’t wanted to piss his father off. They’d gone to dinner and then to see Superman Returns, which Noah ended up talking and dissecting to death. Lydia was good sport about it, though. And she was the one, much to Noah’s relief, who decided that they were better off as friends. Noah’s father had been less than thrilled when he heard the news.
Noah glanced up at the raven hair beauty, forcing a smile. “I don’t think they’re worth that much.”
“There you go again…selling yourself short,” she laughed as she reached across the table and grasped his hand. “Come on…talk to me. It looks like you could use a friend.”
“I got a summer internship at WOAK TV in Oakdale, Illinois.”
“That’s great! I know how important working at a TV station is to you. You should be thrilled.”
“I am,” he admitted.
“I feel there’s a ‘but’ in there somewhere.”
Noah folded his arms across this chest, shaking his head. “I can’t get anything by you, can I?”
“Well…” Lydia gently pressed.
Chances were she wouldn’t leave him alone until he spilled the beans. Noah really hated speaking ill of his father. Partly because he was afraid that it would somehow get back to him, but mostly because Winston has done his best to try to raise him on his own. Sometimes he swore he harbored enough guilt that would make a Catholic priest proud.
Noah sighed, “Okay…but this has to stay between the two of us…”
“Promise.”
“The idea of an unpaid internship won’t thrill my father,” he carefully explained, trying his best to sound as diplomatic as possible. “I’m afraid that he might try to stop me from going. I thought I’d just spring it on him at the last minute that way he’d have to let me go but I’m also going to need a place to live once I get there which is going to be a problem since my first day is the day after we graduate.”
Lydia rested her chin on her hand as she seemed to ponder what Noah had told her. She was silent a few moments before she finally spoke. “You could always stay in a hotel until you find a place. It probably wouldn’t take too long. I’ve never even heard of Oakdale so it can’t be that big of a town.”
“I had that same thought but the only two hotels I could find were the Lakeview which is quite expensive and some rat trap called the Wagon Wheel which is booked up when I’m supposed to arrive in Oakdale.”
“Hmmmm…that could be a problem,” she conceded.
“Now you know why I’m stressed,” Noah replied, trying to suppress his irritability.
“Let me think,” she said, chewing on her fingernail.
“That’s all I’ve been doing,” Noah muttered. “I just need to find a way to sneak out of town…overnight…which is going to be next to impossible.”
“Hey!” Lydia exclaimed, her emerald eyes lighting up. For a brief moment they reminded him of Kyle’s. Butterflies filled his stomach, which he quickly willed away and focused on what she was saying. “Prom! Our prom is at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Branson and it’s tradition that everyone stay over and go to Splash Country the next day. Instead of going to Splash Country you could head to Oakdale. Your father wouldn’t say no to you!”
“But I’m not going to prom,” Noah informed her. The mere thought of dressing up and dancing in public was enough to give him hives. He wanted no part of it.
“You’re not going to prom?” Lydia was positively thunderstruck. “Off the top of my head I can think of a few girls who’d love to go with you!”
“No…I’m a disaster on the dance floor.” And that was putting it mildly. Noah not only had two left feet, but he lacked rhythm as well.
“I’m sure you’re not that bad.”
“Please…I’d only be so lucky as to have a Ren McCormack in my life to teach me some fancy moves,” he chuckled.
“Is that another movie reference?”
“Footloose…Kevin Bacon’s character, Ren, taught his friend, Willard, how to dance so he’d be ready for their prom. Willard was quite a disaster…just like me.”
“Someday you’re going to find a girl who gets all of your movie references,” Lydia said, slowly shaking her head.
“Not likely,” Noah muttered.
“You will,” she insisted.
“That’s really the least of my worries right now,” Noah sighed, rubbing his temples, hoping to vanquish the pounding in his head.
“Okay…I have an idea,” Lydia said, speaking slowly as if she were formulating her plan as she was talking. “Tell your father that we’re going to the prom together…”
“I can’t ---” he began to protest but was promptly silenced.
“Just hear me out…please,” she persisted, then waited for his reluctant nod before she continued. “I’m already going to prom with Jason Jasinski but your father doesn’t have to know that. All you need to do is get dressed up and tell him that you’re picking me up and we’re leaving from my house. We can even take a few pictures that you can show him later on so he won’t doubt your story. And you won’t have to worry about him talking to my father since my dad is in Iraq right now. Then instead of going to prom you can head to Oakdale spend the night there and find a place to live the next day.”
Lydia’s plan sounded good in theory but could he really pull it off? And if he didn’t…
A chill crept down his spine as he envisioned the ire of Colonel Winston Mayer. “I don’t know…” Noah was hesitant as disaster scenario after disaster scenario rushed through his mind.
“Noah, it’s really the perfect plan,” Lydia insisted. “And I’ll totally back you up on it. I promise to do whatever you need me to do.”
Noah was dumbfounded. He couldn’t figure out why she was so willing to go out on a limb for him. This was a definite first for him. “Are…you…sure?” he carefully asked.
“Completely!” she assured him. “Look…I know how important the internship and going to Northwestern is to you. I want to make sure that you get to live out your dreams.”
“You are truly amazing Lydia Bradford.”
She smiled wickedly. “I know.”
********
The plan was all set so now all Noah needed to do was tell his father about his “prom date”. Noah’s heart was racing. He had to get this right. His father needed to believe that he was really going to the prom.
“I…uh…have some good news,” Noah said, glancing up from his Stouffer’s chicken pot pie.
Winston raised his eyebrows, skeptically staring at him from across the kitchen table. “Really? What would that be?”
“I’m going to prom with Lydia,” Noah said, managing to keep the fear out of his voice.
“Lydia Bradford?”
“Yes…Lydia Bradford.”
A smile quickly spread to his father’s lips. “That’s great news, Noah! I was beginning to think that you weren’t going to go to your prom.”
“It’s in Branson…at the Grand Plaza Hotel…so I hope it’s okay, sir.”
“Of course it is!” his father happily exclaimed.
Sadly Noah couldn’t remember the last time his father was this pleased…and it was because of a lie. Guilt…guilt…guilt…Noah quickly brushed it aside. This was the only way…he had to do this…he had to lie.
“Usually everyone gets a room at the hotel and stays overnight so they can go to Splash Country the next day…it’s a senior tradition,” Noah explained, hoping that his father would agree to the most critical part of the plan. It was imperative that he be allowed to stay over night.
“I’d be happy to pay for your room at the hotel, Noah,” his father informed him. “I think it’s great for you to spend time with your classmates before you graduate.”
“Prom is a very important milestone for a young man, Noah,” his father said wistfully. “I’m so glad you’re going.”
Noah swallowed. “Me too.”
After their meal Noah washed the dinner dishes, he retired to his room to work on his Trigonometry homework. He was about halfway through it when there was a soft rap on his bedroom door.
“Come in,” Noah said, putting his pencil down on his notebook and sitting up straight in his chair.
His father strolled into the room, hands hidden behind his back. “How is the homework coming along?” he asked.
“Pretty good, sir,” he replied, happy that he could finally truthfully answer a question this evening.
“Do you have a few minutes?”
“Yes…of course.” Noah’s mind raced…what could his father possibly want? Was he going to change his mind?
His father sat down on Noah’s bed, revealing what he’d been concealing behind his back….a box of condoms. Noah felt all of the color drain out of his face. His father wasn’t going to…surely he wouldn’t expect…
“Noah, although we’ve never talked about sex I’m sure you learned all about it in school at some point,” his father said.
“Uh….yes, sir,” Noah stammered, ducking his head so that his father couldn’t see his flushed cheeks. He knew about sex…picking up tidbits here and there growing up along with the formal sex education classes in school. But he’d never had sex. Actually he never really did anything besides kiss some girls. The fact that Noah was still a virgin didn’t bother him though. Getting laid wasn’t one of his top priorities like the guys he sometimes hung around with. Noah figured it would happen when the time was right…with someone he loved.
“Good.” His father gave him a curt nod. “Now I don’t know your sexual history nor do I want to. But I do know that prom night can be very special so I want to make sure you are properly prepared.” He thrust the box of violet box of Trojans toward him.
Noah took it, a bit dumbfounded. His straight laced, by the book father was actually encouraging premarital sex…with the General’s daughter no less. “Thanks,” Noah said, a bit unsure if he should say more.
“I expect you to treat Lydia with the utmost respect,” his father informed him.
“Yes, of course,” Noah quickly replied. “I’d never disrespect her…never.”
“Good.” His father smiled. “Prom night is not only a night for men….it’s also a night for gentleman as well and I expect that you act like both.”
“Yes, sir.”
His father slowly rose from the bed. “I’ll have the money you need for the hotel room tomorrow. Carry on.”
Noah just stared at the box of Trojans in his hands….Trojan Her Pleasure with Warm Sensations Lubricant Condoms. Her pleasure…her pleasure…
Looked like Winston Mayer was still trying to make a man out of him.
He was a man…dammit….he was.
Noah opened the box and tore two condoms off the strip, shoving them into his wallet. A man needed to be prepared.
******** Oakdale, IL
Sure lips met his…kissing him slow and deep…so hot, so erotic…so like nothing he’d never felt before…a gentle hand on the back of his neck…a strong hand stroking his cock…light brown hair…intense green eyes…oh yes…
Kyle!
Noah bolted upright in the bed, sweat dripping down his forehead. No…no…no…no…what the hell was going on?
His cock was hard…his cheeks were flushed…he couldn’t catch his breath or stop trembling. Noah got out of bed, trying to steady himself on wobbly legs. He couldn’t shake the images from his dream. Worse yet…the feeling of desire...feelings for…
Shaking his head, he stumbled toward the bathroom in his dingy motel room. After seeing his room at the Wagon Wheel, spending the night in his truck suddenly seemed more appealing. But Noah wasn’t about the waste the thirty dollars he spent on the room so he stuck it out. The bathroom was right out of Psycho. Noah locked the door in fear that Norman Bates might interrupt his shower with a knife. The water was cool....just what he needed to quench the fire that was still burning in his groin.
Usually this did the trick but on this particular morning his dick remained hard. Reluctantly he wrapped his hand around his penis and began to stroke it. Noah kept his eyes open afraid of what or who he’d see if he allowed them to close. Faster and faster he pumped his cock, the intensity building so close to release…
Yes…yes…that’s it…
Ropes of cum spewed from his dick, hitting the dull, shower tile. Euphoria was quickly replaced by shame…and guilt. Masturbating was wrong…it was for the weak…it wasn’t for men. And Noah had to be a man…needed to be a man.
His father forbade such an act. And if he knew…
Noah pulled back the shower curtain and stepped out of the tub, quickly seeking out the ratty sad excuse for a towel and wrapping his body in it. Dammit…here he was in another state and his father was still in his head. But it was impossible to forget what had happened when his father had caught him in the act…
Noah and Kyle were sitting in Kyle’s room listening to his new Nickelback CD one unseasonably warm fall afternoon. Noah enjoyed just hanging out with his friend. They talked about so many things…school, film, football. Any topic that Kyle brought up was the Holy Grail as far as Noah was concerned.
However, they’d never talked about sex…until then. Kyle was telling him about how he liked to beat off at night…what a great stress reliever it was and how it helped him sleep. Kyle even showed him the “Playboy” he had stashed underneath his mattress, pointing out which women the thought were the hottest. Noah could only sit there, nodding and agreeing with him. He couldn’t let Kyle know that he was speaking Greek to him…that he’d never jerked off…and that staring at all of those naked women didn’t elicit the same response from him.
“And it’s even better when a girl does it for you,” Kyle added. “But it still doesn’t replace actually having sex.”
“Right.” Noah nodded.
Kyle grinned. “It’s okay if you’re still a virgin. I didn’t lose it until I was sixteen.” Noah blew out a large sigh of relief which didn’t go unnoticed by Kyle. “Hey…you don’t have to try to pretend to be something that you’re not. We’re buds because I think you’re a cool kid. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Kyle leapt up, tearing his t-shirt off over his head. “Damn…it’s hot in here. I love this song!” he exclaimed, proceeding to play air guitar and sing. “I like your pants around your feet…I like the dirt that’s on your knees…And I like the way you still say please while you’re looking up at me…you’re like my favorite damn disease.”
Noah watched in awe as his friend sang and danced around the room. Why couldn’t he be confident like Kyle? Would he ever have a nice defined chest like his? Would he ever be anything like Kyle? Could anyone ever be more perfect?
His father wasn’t home when Noah returned from Kyle’s. The house was still and quiet but, most importantly, all his. Thoughts of his afternoon at Kyle’s were still fresh in his head…the laughing, the joking, the talk about doing that to yourself, and Kyle…singing, dancing, shirtless…
Noah lay down on his head, closing his eyes. His cock was slowly coming to life. He unzipped his jeans, wiggling them down past his hips so that he’d have easier access to himself. Concentrating as hard as he could, Noah tried to remember the visions of the naked women he’d seen in the magazine a couple of hours earlier. Women were what he was supposed to be thinking about, women were what aroused men. But images of his shirtless friend flashed through his mind…he could hear his laughter…kind words…
Unconsciously Noah had begun stroke himself, his dick so hard. Noah shoved his underwear down so he could get better access. Much better. Pushing thoughts of his friend aside he forced himself to think of the breasts he’d seen…soft round curves…pussies waiting to be filled with a hard cock…asses…cock….
And then Noah cried out…his pleasure ringing off the walls of his bedroom…hot cum poured from his dick.
“What the hell is going on in here?” his father’s voice boomed.
At that moment Noah wished the earth would open up and swallow him whole. Anything would be better than what was happening to him. He was yanked off his bed and thrown into the hallway. Noah quickly scrambled to pull up his pants but his father smacked his hands away.
“The time for humility has passed,” his father sneered, snatching his wrist and dragging him into the bathroom.
“I’m…s-s-sorry,” Noah stammered.
Still keeping one hand wrapped around Noah’s wrist, his father turned the hot water on the sink on full blast. He waited until steam rose from the tap and then grabbed Noah’s other hand, forcing both into the scalding water.
“We have to wash the filth from your hands…rid them of their vileness,” his father ranted. Noah screamed, trying desperately to pull his hands out of the inferno. He fought to keep the tears from spilling from his eyes as he was sure his hands were going to melt right off his body. “Please…please…” he desperately cried. “I’ll…be…good. I’m s-s-s-sorry.”
Finally his father relented, shutting off the water. He marched over to the shower, turning on the cold water. “Strip…now!”
Noah knew better than to protest, which would only make things worse…if they could even get worse at this point. Once Noah was naked he was forced inside it. At first the icy water felt good on his hands, but as it continued to pour over his body he was reduced to a shivering mess. Desperately he tried to warm himself with his achy hands but it was no use. He was freezing…he was going to freeze to death.
“Out!” his father said, yanking open the shower curtain.
Quivering, Noah managed to step over the tub and onto the cool white tile. He wrapped his arms around himself, praying for some heat to return to his body.
“Look at me!”
He lifted his head, fearfully meeting his father’s disapproving gaze.
“You will never touch yourself in that manner again! Real men don’t masturbate! It’s for the weak…for the deviant…and my son will be neither of these things! Is…that…clear?!?” his father commanded.
“Yes, sir,” Noah replied, his body still shaking uncontrollably. He was certain that he’d never have any problem with this because he wasn’t likely to live to see the next day. He was so, so, cold.
“Get dressed, strip down your bedding, and then you will wash it all out by hand.”
“Yes, sir.”
His father turned on his heel and marched out of the room. Noah quickly got dressed, but his clothes did little to warm his body. It didn’t matter though. There were orders that needed to be followed. Delaying wasn’t an option. As he stripped the bedding off his mattress Noah vowed that he’d do everything in his power to try to be the man his father expected him to be.
Even after that tirade Noah had still found ways to pleasure himself. When he did it was always very quickly in the shower when his father wasn’t home. And it was always followed by massive amounts of guilt and shame that lasted for days. But that hadn’t stopped him.
After Noah dressed he grabbed his list of apartments he had found on the Internet had headed toward town, hoping to find a place to get a good cup of coffee. Noah stumbled upon a quaint little oasis called Old Town. He spotted a place called Java and parked his truck nearby. With a name like Java he figured that they must have excellent coffee. He stopped at a newspaper box so he could pick up a copy of The City Times. One thing his father did teach him was to always have all of his bases covered.
There was something about Java that made him feel at ease. Whether it was the aroma of the brewing coffee or the way the patrons casually lounged at the tables reading or typing away on their laptops, Noah couldn’t be sure. But he was positive this was the place to plan his attack.
Over a cup of coffee Noah searched the rental section of the newspaper hoping to find a something cheaper than the list of apartments he’d found online. A small ad for an upper flat “within walking distance to Old Town” caught his eye. The price was very reasonable...only $250 a month. Noah wondered what the catch was…it couldn’t be any worse than his sad excuse for a motel room that he’d suffered through last night. He decided that he’d call the number in the ad to see if he could see it right away because the sooner he got back on the road to Fort Leonard Wood the better.
“Hello,” an elderly voice answered the phone.
“Hi, I was calling in inquire about the flat you have for rent. I’d like to come by and take a look at it if it’s still available.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Good. I’m at Java right now I’d love to swing by now if it’s convenient for you, ma’am.”
“Yes, you can come by now,” she said and the proceeded to give him directions to her house.
About ten minutes later Noah was knocking on the door of an older two story tan home with a tidy yard in what looked like a historic neighborhood. A petite gray haired woman answered the door, introducing herself as Mrs. Betcher.
“I’m, Noah Mayer,” he said, gently shaking her hand in fear that he might break the frail elderly lady.
She stepped out onto the porch. “The entrance to the upper is around the back. It’s a studio apartment that is fully furnished,” she explained. “Will it just be for you?”
“Yes, I have a summer internship at WOAK. I’d only need it for a few months.”
“Oh…I just love Oakdale Now! That Brad is such a cutie and Katie is so beautiful!”
“I’ll have to check it out sometime,” Noah replied. He briefly remembered reading something about the show on the station’s Web site. It had looked like a local version of Live with Regis and Kelly.
“So you don’t plan on staying in Oakdale long?”
“No, I’ll be attending Northwestern in the fall,” he told her.
“Good for you,” she said, unlocking the back door and slowly escorting him up the narrow staircase. “Now…I don’t allow any loud music, wild parties, or shacking up with girls. Of course you’re allowed to have female visitors but I won’t condone living together out of wedlock.”
“Don’t worry,” Noah assured her once they reached the top. “It’s just going to be me, ma’am.” Mrs. Betcher smiled warmly at him. “You seem like such a nice boy, Noah. It’s so rare to encounter someone of your age with such impeccable manners.”
“I was raised in a strict military household.”
She escorted Noah into the room which smelled liked moth balls. “This is it. It’s not too much…but it would be a roof over your head.”
Mrs. Betcher was right. The place was hardly a palace but it was clean and furnished even if the furniture looked thirty years old. And he couldn’t beat the price. Hopefully he was gaining Mrs. Betcher’s approval so he could rent this place for the summer.
“I don’t need too much,” Noah replied. He never had too much growing up so why start now.
“The sofa pulls out into a bed,” she explained. “The TV is color and hooked up to basic cable. The refrigerator is small but it keeps everything ice cold. And the oven is in good working order as well.”
Noah poked his head into the small bathroom which consisted of a standup shower which he just might be able to cram himself into, tiny sink and toilet. The lime green fixtures and tile might be dated but the room was clean.
“It’s nice,” Noah said, joining her in the kitchen nook which was in the far corner of the flat. Next to the kitchen was an old wooden table with four mismatched chairs.
“There is an air conditioner too,” she said, gesturing toward the old window unit that looked almost as old as the furniture.
“Great. I’d love to take it if that’s all right with you.”
“Yes, I would be happy to have you here,” she kindly informed him with a smile. “When would you move in?”
“June 1st.”
Mrs. Betcher nodded. “June 1st it is then.”
“Is there a lease you need me to sign? Or did you need a deposit?” Noah asked. It couldn’t be this simple. Nothing in his life was easy.
“You seem like a nice, respectable young man,” she decided. “How about a simple handshake?” She held out her hand, which Noah took sealing the transaction.
“It’s a deal,” he said.
Noah had planned on hitting the road but Mrs. Betcher insisted on fixing him lunch. She was such a sweet lady he hadn’t the heart to turn her down. Over chicken salad sandwiches and strawberry pie, Mrs. Betcher gave Noah a brief history of Oakdale, which for a small town it sounded like it had a lot going on.
When Noah left he was excited about his future…everything was in place. For once in his life he didn’t have that feeling of dread gnawing in his stomach. In just a few weeks, Noah would be living his dream.
And when Noah returned to Fort Leonard Wood his father was none the wiser.