The Movie

Chapter 3

“I was under the impression you two were the best of friends. What’s going on?” Mark wrapped his arm around Noah’s shoulder.

“It’s the movie.” Reid returned to the armchair near the sofa. Luke sat on the floor, with his legs crossed, leaning against Reid. “It’s brought up a lot of old, unresolved wounds.”

Looking up into Reid’s eyes, Luke rested his hand on Reid’s knee. “That’s not true. We had dealt with everything. It’s all history.”

“I wish that were true.” Reid shook his head.

Luke’s eyes widened, matching Noah’s as they both looked in Reid’s direction.

“So how did you get so wise, Reid?”

“Look, Mark, unfortunately I watched the final act of this story play out. It wasn’t pretty, but I had a front row seat.”

Noah huffed. “You orchestrated the final act.”

“Noah!” Luke swung his head in Noah’s direction. “We both know, by the time Reid showed up on the scene, our future was sealed. It was just that neither one of us was willing to admit it, or accept the inevitability.”

“Is that so? So while I was dealing with being blind, he didn’t come to Oakdale and make moves on you that I couldn’t even see?”

Mark glared at Reid. “You know I’m a pretty good listener, but it seems like this is a tough one to swallow. What the hell happened between the three of you when you came to Oakdale? I’ve heard the play-by-play, but I’d like to understand the emotional undercurrents.”

“I’ve always known you’re a wise man, Mark. That’s why I recruited you for Memorial. If you don’t mind, while you and I sit here and listen, I’d prefer to hear the nitty-gritty details of the less than stellar Luke and Noah story leading up to my summons to this town. Get it all out in the open. Maybe then these two can come to terms with the reality of their past and deal with it. Then they can make the movie that seems to be causing all these pent up emotions to return to the surface.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” Mark looked from Luke to Noah. “Why don’t you start? I know you were still in the closet when you and Luke met.”

“In the closet and dating a girl. I’m lucky she’s still a friend. Maddie was ultimately pretty understanding after I finally came out. It was all pretty civil.”

“After we kissed,” Luke paused, “let me clarify... after you kissed me, tell them what you did.”

Reid worked his way off the chair and sat on the floor behind Luke, holding his partner close in the V formed by his legs. Having heard this story more than once, Reid was prepared for the anguish it would bring to the surface and he wasn’t about to let Luke forget he had a life and a spouse who loved him unconditionally.

Staring into Mark’s eyes, Noah continued. “I told Luke it was a mistake. It took me a long time to come to terms with who I really am, and without completely realizing it, I strung Luke along.”

“Your father wasn’t about to warmly welcome a gay son into his life. I can understand your fear and confusion.”

Noah lowered his head. “Mark, I really hurt everyone in my life when I came out.”

Pulling Noah closer, it was clear that Mark was beginning to understand this wasn’t going to be anything like the story of a sweet, first romance many had related to him during the past few months. Reid wished he’d given Mark the whole saga, but knew it wasn’t his place, or his story, to tell.

“You made me feel like garbage, especially after surviving Damian’s attempt to send me to fix-the-fag camp.” Reid was glad to hear Luke finally share his honest feelings with Noah.

“I know. But you know my father; you can understand my actions.”

This time Reid huffed. “Know him, he nearly killed Luke.”

Nodding, Mark cupped Noah’s chin. “I know this part of the story.”

“Do you?” Luke stared at Noah, rather than Mark. “Did you tell him you left me because of your ridiculous guilt? Did you tell him how you abandoned me, and our feelings for each other, over and over again?”

“Luke.” Noah’s eyes narrowed.

“You didn’t, did you?”

Reid squeezed Luke’s shoulders, hoping to calm him, but not willing to silence him.

“Yes, I twisted what happened and assumed you wouldn’t want me in your life anymore after what my father tried to do to you.”

“You made it all about you and, once again, hurt me in the process. You rarely seemed to take my emotional pain into account.”

Noah turned away, looking toward the front door. Reid wondered if he would try to escape until Mark cupped his chin again, turning him back. He kissed him softly. After listening to what had transpired, he was impressed with his friend’s tenderness and support.

“Noah,” Mark whispered, “the actions of a college student aren’t the actions of the man you are today. I’d rather have you be honest and let go of all this crap before we’re married, than have it locked inside as some false version of the facts, festering like an infection.”

“Some of what I did wasn’t pretty, but it wasn’t all my fault.”

Luke leaned against Reid’s chest. “I never said it was all your fault. I just don’t want it to look like you were an innocent victim. You never were, and you need to know and accept that, Noah. We were equal participants in the demise of our relationship.”

“Like that whole ridiculous fake marriage. You know about that, don’t you, Mark?”

Mark nodded. “Noah told me.”

“Good. Did he also tell you I was stupid enough to let him do it... and drag me and my family into a huge illegal lie to help him make it look real?”

Continuing to massage Luke’s shoulders, Reid could feel the tension release as Luke said things he’d never confessed to Noah before. “I hated that marriage and I still can’t believe when you asked me if it was okay, I agreed. It wasn’t okay. You and I should have been moving in together, making love every night, and instead we were relegated to random hidden kisses. It sucked. I was hurt, jealous, and wanted a real life with you, instead I had no life at all while I just waited.”

“I know you did.” Noah choked a bit on his words. “I’m not sure why I wasn’t willing to risk more to find time to be alone with you. It just seemed if I was going to go through with the fake marriage, I shouldn’t screw it up.”

“So you screwed me up instead.”

Reid didn’t have to see Luke’s eyes to know how much his gaze was filled with anger and hurt. “How about we all take a deep breath and I grab us some coffees? Luke and I got a great new machine for Christmas.” Although it sounded lame, Reid needed to say something to break the tension.

“That sounds great. Just what this doctor would love.” Mark looked at Noah. “How about you?”

Noah closed his eyes and nodded. “Yeah, okay. Coffee.”

“I’ll get you one too, Luke.” Reid tried to distract Luke, but it clearly wasn’t working.

Luke continued to stare at Noah.

As the two doctors stood up to get the coffees, Reid looked over his shoulder.

Noah moved to the floor and sat opposite Luke. He took one of Luke’s hands in his. Luke remained silent. “I never meant to hurt you.” Reid knew he had nothing to be jealous of, but his concern for Luke escalated, feeling the intensity of the confrontation growing.

Without looking Luke’s way, Reid could well imagine the increase in the level of rage and anger there would be in the look Luke was directing Noah’s way.

“But you did hurt me, over and over. And when Ameera was out of our lives it got worse instead of better.”

Once Reid closed the kitchen door, Mark turned to him. “Was Noah ever the cause of Luke’s drinking?”

“Luke takes full responsibility for his drinking.”

“Reid, that’s not what I asked.”

“I know it’s not. That’s a question you need to ask the man you’re about to marry, although I have a feeling it won’t be a secret for long.”

“Okay.” Mark added cream to his coffee, leaving Noah’s black. “I love him -- no matter what. I just don’t want this to destroy our friendship.”

“I hope it won’t destroy any friendships.” Reid rolled his lips inward, hoping they’d all get through this day in one piece.

[TBC]
 

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