miracle (miracle) wrote in luke_noah, @ 2007-12-07 04:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | -[luke/noah]-, fanfic, fanfic: [atwt], fanfic: rating: teen&under, » by: dedebee |
"The Next Level," Chapter Three
Original poster: dedebee
Author: dedebee
Characters: Noah and a mystery person
Rating | Word Count: PG, 1440
Spoilers | Warnings: Up-to-date with the show and current storyline
Summary: Noah asks one of his friends for a favor.
Notes: This chapter is all about Noah and a mystery person, who I will not reveal because I want to keep it as a surprise (it's not a huge surprise, but still, I don't want to spoil the "revelation"). I'm trying to write this story in the same universe as the show, so it probably will never go past a PG-13 (I'm terrible with the R-rated details anyway), and this chapter is probably a PG. Anyway, enjoy Chapter Three and please let me know what you think!
"The Next Level," Chapter Three
In a town where it was so easy to unexpectedly run in to the one person you were hoping to avoid, Noah found it completely frustrating that he couldn’t find the one person he was searching for. He only had a small window of opportunity, as Luke was currently at the doctor’s for a check-up. Since the semester finished, the two had been spending almost all their time together. Noah had become a regular fixture at the Snyder farm, and Luke even asked him to stay there over the break, as the Oakdale University dorms would be vacant. Noah hadn’t given him an answer yet, not because he didn’t want to, but because he wasn’t sure if Luke’s family would be okay with it.
He had been lurking around the Lakeview for 20 minutes already. He looked at his watch again. It was two-thirty in the afternoon, and he needed to be back at Oakdale Memorial around three o’clock to pick Luke up. Where are you, Dusty? Noah thought.
Noah probably could have made it all a lot easier on himself. He could have called the Lakeview, asked for Dusty’s room, and arranged a meeting by phone, rather than stalking him and randomly hoping to cross paths with him. He could have also waited in the lobby for Dusty, as he was sure to pass by sooner or later, rather than having to be constantly on the move. However, the meeting had to happen without the knowledge of Lily Snyder, Luke’s mother and the owner of the Lakeview. She could have spotted Noah waiting as she made her rounds, and there was no way she could know about what he had planned.
After doing one last lap around the hotel, he gave up and left. Noah decided to stop by Al’s Diner to pick up a cup of coffee before heading to the hospital. He walked in the door and immediately spotted Dusty, alone at a table, sipping a cup of coffee.
“Dusty!” Noah shouted from the door. “Hey!”
Dusty turned his head, nodding upward to acknowledge Noah. “Noah,” he replied, as the young man made his way over. “How are you, buddy?”
“I’m doing good. Do you mind if I sit?”
“By all means, go ahead. So how did your exams go? I hope you didn’t fail anything.”
Noah sat down across from Dusty. He ordered a cup of coffee to go when the waitress came over to the table. “They went great,” Noah said. “It’s funny that you’re here. I was waiting at the Lakeview, hoping to run in to you, but I didn’t have any luck.”
“I’m just taking a quick coffee break before heading over to Oakdale Memorial for a meeting.”
“Really? I’m headed over there too. I’ve gotta pick Luke up after his appointment.”
“How’s he doing? Lily told me he’s out of the wheelchair.”
“Yeah, he’s doing well. He’s on crutches right now, and he said the doctor might give him the OK to ditch those for a cane soon.”
“That’s good to hear. I’m happy for you guys.”
“Uh, thanks,” said Noah. He was thrown off by Dusty’s comment. He knew Dusty and Luke’s mom were involved, but he didn’t know how much Dusty knew about his and Luke’s relationship. Whatever he did or didn’t know, Noah had sought out Dusty for a reason, and he needed to get to it.
“Anyway, uh,” Noah continued, “like I said, I was looking for you at the Lakeview.”
“Well, I’m here now,” Dusty responded. He took a sip from his coffee. “What can I do for you?”
“I, uh, have a…a favor to ask you.” Noah was nervous. His father had drilled him into becoming so self reliant that it was difficult for him to ask anyone for help.
“Shoot.”
“So, you know, Luke and I are…uh…y-you know, we’re—“
“I know about you and Luke,” Dusty interrupted, trying to put Noah at ease. He breathed a sigh of relief. Even though he had found the courage to kiss Luke in public the other day, he still was afraid to put his feelings into words, especially to other people.
“And it doesn’t bother you?” Noah asked, just to make sure.
“Why would it bother me?” Dusty said, nonchalantly.
“I don’t know…I guess I’m still new to all of this….” Noah shook his head, slightly embarrassed that he even asked that question.
“Well, if you’re looking for advice, I’m probably not the right person. Lily could probably—“
“No!” Noah jumped in. Dusty was taken aback by his strong response. “I mean,” Noah went on, “I didn’t come to you for advice. Like I said, I have a favor to ask. I wouldn’t even be asking in the first place, but the other day…you said we were friends, right?”
“I did,” Dusty replied.
Noah grinned. It was comforting to know he had friends. “Great,” was all he could say in response.
“So you said you had a favor to ask me?”
“Oh…yeah.” Noah had forgotten for a second why he wanted to see Dusty. “Well, you know what happened with, uh, my father and, um, Luke….” Noah went speechless for a moment. He was a little uneasy bringing his father up in front of Dusty, given the fact the Colonel had shot him and tried to frame him for murder.
“Anyway,” Noah sighed, “I want to do something special for him. He deserves it after everything he’s been through. The thing is, he and I, we…uh….”
“Noah, I do have to get going soon.” Dusty was slightly amused by Noah’s shyness, but his impatience was paramount.
“Right.” Noah tried to get his thoughts straight. “Well, the thing is, we don’t really have any, uh, privacy. You know his family lives at the farm, and everyone comes in and out all the time, and I can’t stay in the dorms over the break, and—“
“So where do I fit into this?”
Noah took a deep breath. “I was wondering, um…I was wondering if you could get me a room at the Lakeview.” He said the words rapidly, as if he were ripping off a band-aid.
“You want me to pay for you to stay at the Lakeview during your break from school?”
“No, no, that’s not it. I’d pay you for it, of course, and it wouldn’t be for the whole break. It would be…just for one night.” Noah looked down as whispered the last four words, afraid of hearing them out loud and seeing what Dusty’s reaction might be.
Dusty nodded and squinted his eyes, realizing what Noah was asking of him. “Well, if you have the money, why can’t you just get the room yourself?”
“That’s another thing,” Noah said. “I don’t want Mrs. Snyder to find out about it.” He looked over at Dusty looking at him. Noah perceived his expression to be judgmental and had the need to further explain himself.
“Look, Dusty, I really care about Luke, a lot, and he feels the same way about me, and I just—“
“Kid, you don’t have to explain yourself,” Dusty countered.
Still, Noah went on. “I just figured that you probably have some connections there, other than Mrs. Snyder, and you could make sure she didn’t—“
“Noah,” Dusty interrupted again. “I said you don’t have to explain yourself to me. I’ll be glad to help you out.”
“Really?” Noah was surprised. He had expected Dusty to turn him down all along.
“Yeah. I told you, kid, we’re friends. And I look out for my friends.”
“Thank you,” Noah said earnestly. “Thank you so much.”
“No problem,” Dusty replied. “And for the future, Noah, if you need something, don’t be afraid to come to me. I’ll help in whatever way I can.”
“That really means a lot to me.” Noah smiled again. Even though he had said it to Noah many times, it finally sunk in that Dusty didn’t hold Noah accountable for his father’s actions.
“Well, I’ve got to get to the hospital for my meeting,” Dusty said. “You’re meeting up with Luke, right? Why don’t we work out the details on the way over?”
“Yeah, sure.” Noah went to the counter to get his coffee while Dusty took care of his bill and the pair exited the diner afterwards.
“Dusty?” Noah asked, as they walked in the direction of Oakdale Memorial Hospital. “I just want to be sure…you’re not going to tell Luke’s mom, right? I’d just be too embarrassed if she—“
“Of course not,” Dusty stepped in. “Like I said, I look out for my friends.” He patted Noah on the back, and Noah smiled once more, as he was reassured yet again that he truly wasn’t alone.
END OF CHAPTER THREE