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SERENDIPITY - CHAPTER TEN
18 July 2009
“What an amazing film! Mason was right, it is a work of art. The cinematography was remarkable, the lighting just beautiful and the musical score was so haunting that I wanted to cry. Luke, don’t you think that was one of the best films you’ve ever seen?” Noah had been raving about the film for the past forty-five minutes. He hadn’t stopped talking during the walk from the theater to the restaurant. He hadn’t stopped talking the entire time that they’d been waiting to be seated. His three companions doubted that he would stop talking long enough to eat dinner.
“I wanted to cry five minutes after the movie started.”
“Casey! Shhh, don’t be rude.” Maddie whispered back, hoping Noah hadn’t heard their exchange.
“Umm…Well Noah…I’m glad you liked it so much.” Luke forced himself to say.
“I can’t wait to talk to Mason about it on Monday. I don’t know if I can wait that long, maybe I’ll just call him when I get home tonight. I’m sure he won’t mind.. He was so excited when I told him that I was attending tonight’s screening. I’m going to text him to let him know that I’m going to call him later.”
Noah was busy pulling out his phone and seemed completely oblivious to anything else.
“Dude, when you guys invited us to Chicago to see a movie with you, I didn’t realize it was going to be some boring artsy thing with subtitles. I hate subtitles. I can’t be expected to read while trying to watch a movie, I just get confused.” Casey complained. “I thought we might see that Iron Man sequel. I was looking forward to some explosions and shit. Dude, you owe me one.”
“I’m sorry Case. When he asked if he could chose the movie, I didn’t think it would be so…umm, yeah…I thought he’d pick one of the new blockbusters. I’ll make it up to you I promise.” It was one thing for Luke to be subjected to the rather different films that his boyfriend made him sit through, but to force their best friends to do so also was too much to ask.
Luke suddenly felt Noah’s arm slip around his shoulder to turn Luke towards him. Noah then kissed him. Breaking from the short kiss, Luke smiled “What was that for?” Noah didn’t like to kiss in public.
“Can’t I kiss my boyfriend whenever I want to?”
“Of course you can, anytime. You know I like it when you kiss me. It’s just that you rarely do so in front of other people, I was just surprised.”
“Some guy was staring at you, I just wanted him to know that you belong to me.”
“Oh, were you jealous?” Luke attempted to flirt.
“No, why would I be jealous?” Noah just scowled.
“I don’t know, it might be nice if you were.” He said silently to himself.
“I just don’t want some guy thinking that he can look at you like that. You’re mine.":
“Relax, Noah, I don’t want anyone but you, you know that.”
“Hey you two, our table is ready.” Maddie interrupted, before following the waiter.
After placing their orders, Casey and Noah got into a discussion about popular blockbuster movies versus art-house films. Luke tried to remain neutral and not get involved. He really didn’t want to make either his best friend or his boyfriend upset with his opinion. So he left them to their debate and let his gaze wander the restaurant. Soon he was looking into the knowing, blue eyes of someone familiar. Possibly too familiar.
Reid?? To say Luke was shocked was an understatement. It must have shown on his face because Reid raised a single eyebrow daring Luke to acknowledge him. Luke tore his gaze from Reid’s stare and was suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. Unable to stop himself Luke looked at Reid again, this time Reid winked at him then turned back to his companion.
Luke didn’t know how he should react. Should he say something to Reid? Should he ignore him? How would he to explain to Noah who Reid is? Oh god why was this happening to him?
With his appetite gone, Luke just pushed his food around his plate. At the same time he kept sneaking glances at Reid while trying to ignore the fact that they were sitting less than twelve feet apart.
“Luke, is there something wrong with your food? Why aren’t you eating?” Noah asked. Luke glanced around the table. He saw that the others had finished with their meals and were now just waiting on the check and Luke.
“Luke sweetie, are you okay?” the concern evident in Maddie’s voice.
“Oh. Yeah, I’m fine…I’m just not hungry I guess.”
Luke glanced to Reid’s table, it was empty. He looked all around the restaurant, Reid wasn’t there. He stood quickly, startling everyone.
“Luke?”
“Umm…I’m fine…I just need some air…I’ll wait for you guys outside.” He rushed away from the table. Stepping onto the sidewalk, he looked around franticly. There to his left was Reid. He hadn’t disappeared.
Taking a calming breath, Luke walked over to him.
“Hi…” Luke was rather nervous now and didn’t know what to say.
“Hey there.”
“You weren’t going to say hello or anything? You were going to just leave? Again.” Luke accused him.
“I got the impression that you didn’t want me to come over. You were doing a pretty good job of ignoring my presence.”
“I was…I was shocked to see you and…I didn’t know what to tell my…”
“Boyfriend?”
“Uh…yeah…my boyfriend. So…do you live in Chicago?” Could he really have been this close all this time?
“No.”
“Wow…you haven’t changed, it’s still difficult to get any information out of you.”
“If it’s working why change it?”
“Did you tell your boyfriend who I was?”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Oh…your date then.”
“He’s a friend. We’ve known each other a long time. He asked me to come to Chicago with him, so I did.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Have you been with your boyfriend for very long?” Oh god Oliver, why did you ask that? What are you? A thirteen year old girl?
“Umm yeah…uh Noah-”
“Noah?? That’s Noah? You’re back with him? Really Luke, Noah?? After everything you told me, you got back together with him? Seriously? Damn, why am I surprised?” Reid runs a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Stop that! He loves me.”
“Oh yeah I’m sure he does. That’s why he’s so territorial and gets jealous when another guy look at you?”
“Wait a minute…you were the guy that was staring at me?”
“It wasn’t actually staring, per se. I thought I recognized you, I may have looked a bit longer, just making certain that I was seeing who I thought I was seeing, just making sure I wasn’t mistaken.”
“You’re babbling.”
“No I’m not. I’m telling you what happened when I saw your boyfriend get jealous and get all domineering on your ass. He was occupied with his phone and completely ignoring you until he saw me take an interest in you and then he just had to stake his claim with that kiss.”
“He just wanted to show me that he loves me.”
“Yeah I’m sure you think that’s love…Ignore then overcompensate, nothing insecure about that.”
“You don’t know anything about our relationship.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I do know, you told me all about it. Don’t you remember Luke, because I do, I remember…everything.”
“Luke?”
Luke jumps and turns to face his boyfriend. “Noah.”
“Are you okay? You left rather quickly.” He looked between Luke and Reid, not sure what was happening here.
“Uh yeah…I’m good now…I just needed some air.”
“So you found some strange guy to talk to?” Noah’s arm slides around Luke’s shoulders. He looked at Reid suspiciously.
“No…No he’s not a stranger. This is Reid…Reid, this is Noah. Reid and I met a few years ago in…”
“Boston.” Reid said helpfully.
“Yeah, Boston. He was at a conference or something and I was there for a couple of foundation meetings. We were staying at the same hotel and ran into each other a couple of times.”
“Oh-okay.” Noah said doubtfully, scowling at Reid.
“Yeah…so that’s how I know Reid. What a surprise it was to see him today.”
“Oh do you live in the city?”
“No.”
“Well…Reid was it? It was nice to meet a friend of Luke’s but we really need to get going. We have a long drive and I don’t want to get home too late. I have an important call to make. C’mon Luke, everyone is waiting on you.” He points at Casey and Maddie waiting near the restaurant’s entrance.
“Noah, you go ahead. I’ll be right there.”
“Don’t take too long. We are in a hurry.” Noah said before walking away.
“Everyone is waiting on you Luke. Your boyfriend has an important call to make. Can’t keep everyone waiting Luke.”
“Reid don’t be a jerk.”
“Oh I think your boyfriend has that covered all on his own. God Luke really? That’s the guy you want to be with? Can you say controlling? Or how about possessive? Jealous? Territorial? Demanding? Self-absorbed?”
“Reid…please. Stop…just stop. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, Noah loves me, I know he does. Besides it’s my life to live, and it’s not up for discussion.”
“Fine. Luke, I’m sorry if I upset you…I-I just want you to be happy.”
“Thank you.” Luke held out his hand “Good-bye Reid.”
Reid wanted to pull Luke in for a hug and show Noah how a real man would kiss Luke. He wanted to grab Luke’s hand and runaway with him but he settled for the handshake.
“Good-bye Luke.”
*******
“Reid? Who was that guy?”
“No one…Just someone I thought that I knew. I was wrong.”
“Your conversation looked rather heated. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. Drop it Jason. I plan to forget it ever happened.”
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