Fic: The Other Side of Us, Part 8
Title: The Other Side of Us
Author: random_nic
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are the property of Telenext and CBS.
Word Count: 1420
Summary: Lives are changed in the wake of a traumatic event.
Arriving at Java after leaving Katie's (and leaving Katie), Chris took a quick look at the menu board. As he stepped forward to order, he was surprised to find Noah behind the register. He hadn’t seen the other man working since Luke’s accident.
“What can I get you?” Noah asked, his previously stoic face infused with warm recognition as he noted who stood at his counter.
“Just a black coffee. I need to clear my head,” Chris explained.
“Coming right up,” Noah promised, turning towards the back counter to fill the order.
“Noah, you can take your break now,” his manager, Shari, cut in.
Noah handed over Chris’ coffee, then untied his apron and grabbed his laptop. He selected his usual break spot since the table was empty. Just as he sat down, Chris approached.
“Want some company?”
“Sure,” Noah replied. “I was just gonna rot my brain on Facebook, anyway. Reid would kill me; he thinks since he fixed it, he owns it.”
At the amiable mention of what was supposed to be Noah’s archrival, Chris’ interest was piqued. They had been sitting together when Chris confronted Reid over his dirty tactics. What was up with that, anyway?
“I thought you two hated each other,” Chris began.
Noah finished the bite of his sandwich before answering. “We do.”
“So why did you have lunch with him?”
“Because right now, it’s easier to hang around someone I hate than people who want to take care of me,” Noah admitted.
“Hang around? That wasn’t the only time?”
Noah looked embarrassed. “We’re not friends. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“I won’t,” Chris agreed good-naturedly. “I can see how you wouldn’t want people thinking it.”
They shared a laugh.
“Can I ask you something? Why do you hate him?”
Chris paused, stifling his reflexive answer to think strategically. “I don’t hate him. I know it must’ve looked that way the other day. I’m sorry about causing that scene at Al’s.”
“Don’t worry about it. I might’ve cause a scene once at the Lakeview by punching his lights out. You were restrained in comparison,” Noah lauded.
“Thanks. I’ll admit I’m angry with him. Pissed as hell, really.”
Noah nodded, relating to Chris’ animosity. “He has that effect on people.”
The wheels in Chris’ mind were damn near spinning off their axis. How the hell had Reid convinced Noah to have lunch with him on an apparently regular basis? Noah, who Reid had treated while stealing his boyfriend away right in front of his unseeing eyes.
“Still, he has a certain crusty charm,” Chris offered, testing the waters.
Noah snorted. “I guess so.”
The response told Chris all he needed to know. Contrary to Noah’s claim, he didn’t hate Reid Oliver - not anymore. Which meant that clearly, Reid didn’t hate him, either.
What the hell was Reid doing with Noah? Was he actually planning to replace Luke with Luke’s own ex? And poor, trusting Noah had no idea. He probably thought they were bonding over their shared loss, but Chris knew better.
The neurosurgeon wanted Noah - which made the younger man the perfect tool to use against Reid.
******
October 10th
“How’s life back at the coffee emporium?”
For the seven hundredth time in a month, Noah glared at Reid from across the booth. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t,” Reid agreed. “But I go back to work Monday, and by Christmas I’ll be running the joint. I figured it would be good to practice giving a shit about people’s boring lives.”
“You’re all heart,” Noah observed.
“I’m all brain,” Reid corrected.
Noah rolled his eyes, but it didn’t stop his smile. “How could I forget? You never stop reminding me.”
“If you had my brain I wouldn’t have to,” Reid pointed out.
“I’ll keep this one, thanks.”
“Of course. I did an excellent job on it.”
Noah consciously held back another eye roll. Sometimes he was sure Reid said such things just to see how many times per hour he could elicit it. Other times, Noah knew Reid was really only giving himself the credit he believed was his due.
“Anyway, I gotta go. I’ll leave you alone with your ego,” Noah teased.
“Hot date?” Reid had the sudden urge to strangle himself for sounding interested in Noah’s life twice in the span of two minutes.
“Hardly. Just catching a movie with Chris.”
Reid immediately withdrew his regret for asking. “Chris Hughes?”
“Yeah. So?”
“Since when do you hang out with Chris Hughes?”
Noah was surprised by Reid’s reaction. The man’s sudden curiosity about his life was inexplicable. “I saw him at Java yesterday. Casey had to cancel on him for today because he and Ali are still packing, so Chris asked if I wanted the extra ticket.” Noah instantly wondered why the hell he was explaining himself to Reid.
“I wouldn’t make it a habit.”
If Noah was surprised before, he was stunned now. “What does that even mean?”
Reid looked so uncomfortable as to be physically pained. “He’s not a good guy, Noah.”
“Wow,” Noah marveled, both at Reid’s judgmental attitude and for the simple fact he’d actually used Noah’s name. “You got the job; isn’t that enough? He’s embarrassed about losing it the other day. Hold a grudge much?”
“Look, do what you want,” Reid told him, suddenly standing. “Don’t bother asking him what he did to Katie. He’ll lie; it’s how he operates.”
With that, Reid turned and walked away, leaving a perplexed Noah in his wake.
******
“What happened with Katie?”
“Whoa,” Chris replied, visibly taken aback as they sat down with their lattes at Java. “You don’t mince words, do you?”
“I’m sorry,” Noah apologized. “You guys just really seemed in love when I visited you at the hospital.”
“We were,” Chris confided. “Well, I was. Love’s not enough when only one of you’s feeling it.”
The admission brought to mind the sorry end of Noah’s own relationship. He’d finally swallowed his pride and kicked down all his defenses to ask Luke for another chance. But his open declaration of love had been met with the news Luke thought they’d been a mistake. At the time, Noah had believed the pain that followed was the worst he’d ever feel.
But fate dealt him a greater agony only days later.
“Yeah,” Noah affirmed. He felt like the biggest tool for interrogating Chris about something that was none of his damn business. “I didn’t mean to pour salt in the wound.”
“At this point, I’d hardly notice. What’s a grain more in a full cup? Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks,” Noah replied.
“No, thank you,” Chris insisted.
Noah’s eyebrows shot up. “What for? Sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong? I’m not usually like this. It’s more like something… nevermind.”
Chris considered Noah for a moment. “You were going to say it’s something Luke would do,” he guessed.
“Yes,” Noah admitted. “I shouldn’t say it, though.”
“Why not, if it’s who he was? I think it’s great that you didn’t need him to be perfect,” Chris praised. “You asked me why I thanked you. It’s because you didn’t judge me for the break-up. Everyone else has. They all assume it’s my fault.
Being the son of Oakdale’s most upstanding couple, any mistake I make is like a federal crime. I don’t mind people having high expectations of me, but it isn’t even about me. It’s like I’m supposed to be perfect just because my folks are. And I really don’t know how to do that,” Chris confided.
“I know what you mean,” Noah replied - and he did. In fact, he was probably as guilty as anyone for assuming Chris had led a charmed life. The man had grown up with everything Noah had wished for: loving parents, a large extended family, and a real home with a lifetime of memories.
He’d never considered how difficult it must have been growing up in the shadow of Bob and Kim Hughes. Chris wasn’t exaggerating; from everything Noah could see, the man’s parents were pretty much perfect. Living up to them may not have been as traumatic as trying to live up to the colonel’s standards, but it wouldn’t have been easy, either.
And Noah had stupidly let Reid infect his mind with his own bias against Chris, resulting in Noah questioning the man about something he had no place to. He wanted to slap Reid. More than that, he wanted to slap himself for having listened to him.
Chapter 9
Author: random_nic
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are the property of Telenext and CBS.
Word Count: 1420
Summary: Lives are changed in the wake of a traumatic event.
Arriving at Java after leaving Katie's (and leaving Katie), Chris took a quick look at the menu board. As he stepped forward to order, he was surprised to find Noah behind the register. He hadn’t seen the other man working since Luke’s accident.
“What can I get you?” Noah asked, his previously stoic face infused with warm recognition as he noted who stood at his counter.
“Just a black coffee. I need to clear my head,” Chris explained.
“Coming right up,” Noah promised, turning towards the back counter to fill the order.
“Noah, you can take your break now,” his manager, Shari, cut in.
Noah handed over Chris’ coffee, then untied his apron and grabbed his laptop. He selected his usual break spot since the table was empty. Just as he sat down, Chris approached.
“Want some company?”
“Sure,” Noah replied. “I was just gonna rot my brain on Facebook, anyway. Reid would kill me; he thinks since he fixed it, he owns it.”
At the amiable mention of what was supposed to be Noah’s archrival, Chris’ interest was piqued. They had been sitting together when Chris confronted Reid over his dirty tactics. What was up with that, anyway?
“I thought you two hated each other,” Chris began.
Noah finished the bite of his sandwich before answering. “We do.”
“So why did you have lunch with him?”
“Because right now, it’s easier to hang around someone I hate than people who want to take care of me,” Noah admitted.
“Hang around? That wasn’t the only time?”
Noah looked embarrassed. “We’re not friends. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“I won’t,” Chris agreed good-naturedly. “I can see how you wouldn’t want people thinking it.”
They shared a laugh.
“Can I ask you something? Why do you hate him?”
Chris paused, stifling his reflexive answer to think strategically. “I don’t hate him. I know it must’ve looked that way the other day. I’m sorry about causing that scene at Al’s.”
“Don’t worry about it. I might’ve cause a scene once at the Lakeview by punching his lights out. You were restrained in comparison,” Noah lauded.
“Thanks. I’ll admit I’m angry with him. Pissed as hell, really.”
Noah nodded, relating to Chris’ animosity. “He has that effect on people.”
The wheels in Chris’ mind were damn near spinning off their axis. How the hell had Reid convinced Noah to have lunch with him on an apparently regular basis? Noah, who Reid had treated while stealing his boyfriend away right in front of his unseeing eyes.
“Still, he has a certain crusty charm,” Chris offered, testing the waters.
Noah snorted. “I guess so.”
The response told Chris all he needed to know. Contrary to Noah’s claim, he didn’t hate Reid Oliver - not anymore. Which meant that clearly, Reid didn’t hate him, either.
What the hell was Reid doing with Noah? Was he actually planning to replace Luke with Luke’s own ex? And poor, trusting Noah had no idea. He probably thought they were bonding over their shared loss, but Chris knew better.
The neurosurgeon wanted Noah - which made the younger man the perfect tool to use against Reid.
******
October 10th
“How’s life back at the coffee emporium?”
For the seven hundredth time in a month, Noah glared at Reid from across the booth. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t,” Reid agreed. “But I go back to work Monday, and by Christmas I’ll be running the joint. I figured it would be good to practice giving a shit about people’s boring lives.”
“You’re all heart,” Noah observed.
“I’m all brain,” Reid corrected.
Noah rolled his eyes, but it didn’t stop his smile. “How could I forget? You never stop reminding me.”
“If you had my brain I wouldn’t have to,” Reid pointed out.
“I’ll keep this one, thanks.”
“Of course. I did an excellent job on it.”
Noah consciously held back another eye roll. Sometimes he was sure Reid said such things just to see how many times per hour he could elicit it. Other times, Noah knew Reid was really only giving himself the credit he believed was his due.
“Anyway, I gotta go. I’ll leave you alone with your ego,” Noah teased.
“Hot date?” Reid had the sudden urge to strangle himself for sounding interested in Noah’s life twice in the span of two minutes.
“Hardly. Just catching a movie with Chris.”
Reid immediately withdrew his regret for asking. “Chris Hughes?”
“Yeah. So?”
“Since when do you hang out with Chris Hughes?”
Noah was surprised by Reid’s reaction. The man’s sudden curiosity about his life was inexplicable. “I saw him at Java yesterday. Casey had to cancel on him for today because he and Ali are still packing, so Chris asked if I wanted the extra ticket.” Noah instantly wondered why the hell he was explaining himself to Reid.
“I wouldn’t make it a habit.”
If Noah was surprised before, he was stunned now. “What does that even mean?”
Reid looked so uncomfortable as to be physically pained. “He’s not a good guy, Noah.”
“Wow,” Noah marveled, both at Reid’s judgmental attitude and for the simple fact he’d actually used Noah’s name. “You got the job; isn’t that enough? He’s embarrassed about losing it the other day. Hold a grudge much?”
“Look, do what you want,” Reid told him, suddenly standing. “Don’t bother asking him what he did to Katie. He’ll lie; it’s how he operates.”
With that, Reid turned and walked away, leaving a perplexed Noah in his wake.
******
“What happened with Katie?”
“Whoa,” Chris replied, visibly taken aback as they sat down with their lattes at Java. “You don’t mince words, do you?”
“I’m sorry,” Noah apologized. “You guys just really seemed in love when I visited you at the hospital.”
“We were,” Chris confided. “Well, I was. Love’s not enough when only one of you’s feeling it.”
The admission brought to mind the sorry end of Noah’s own relationship. He’d finally swallowed his pride and kicked down all his defenses to ask Luke for another chance. But his open declaration of love had been met with the news Luke thought they’d been a mistake. At the time, Noah had believed the pain that followed was the worst he’d ever feel.
But fate dealt him a greater agony only days later.
“Yeah,” Noah affirmed. He felt like the biggest tool for interrogating Chris about something that was none of his damn business. “I didn’t mean to pour salt in the wound.”
“At this point, I’d hardly notice. What’s a grain more in a full cup? Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks,” Noah replied.
“No, thank you,” Chris insisted.
Noah’s eyebrows shot up. “What for? Sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong? I’m not usually like this. It’s more like something… nevermind.”
Chris considered Noah for a moment. “You were going to say it’s something Luke would do,” he guessed.
“Yes,” Noah admitted. “I shouldn’t say it, though.”
“Why not, if it’s who he was? I think it’s great that you didn’t need him to be perfect,” Chris praised. “You asked me why I thanked you. It’s because you didn’t judge me for the break-up. Everyone else has. They all assume it’s my fault.
Being the son of Oakdale’s most upstanding couple, any mistake I make is like a federal crime. I don’t mind people having high expectations of me, but it isn’t even about me. It’s like I’m supposed to be perfect just because my folks are. And I really don’t know how to do that,” Chris confided.
“I know what you mean,” Noah replied - and he did. In fact, he was probably as guilty as anyone for assuming Chris had led a charmed life. The man had grown up with everything Noah had wished for: loving parents, a large extended family, and a real home with a lifetime of memories.
He’d never considered how difficult it must have been growing up in the shadow of Bob and Kim Hughes. Chris wasn’t exaggerating; from everything Noah could see, the man’s parents were pretty much perfect. Living up to them may not have been as traumatic as trying to live up to the colonel’s standards, but it wouldn’t have been easy, either.
And Noah had stupidly let Reid infect his mind with his own bias against Chris, resulting in Noah questioning the man about something he had no place to. He wanted to slap Reid. More than that, he wanted to slap himself for having listened to him.
Chapter 9