Through the Screen

Chapter 42

"what time do i wake you up?" noah wrapped his arms loosely around abel 's waist, pulling him closer

just a bit so he could place an affectionate kiss against the back of his head.

"what makes you so sure you'll be waking me up? i'm a grown man," abel rolled his eyes, leaning back

in noah's grip slightly so his back rested against noah's chest as he messily folded a pair of sweatpants

and slumped it onto the growing pile of clothes in his suitcase.

"just to be safe darling," noah laughed lightly, burying his nose in abel 's hair and resting his chin on

abel 's shoulder lazily.

"four thirty,"

it was almost midnight, adrian fast asleep in his room to sleep off all the tiredness that the camp

brought along, and abel doing some last minute packing. they did end up having breakfast but it was

only short because noah had gotten a call from his office about a meeting being rescheduled.

it was nice nonetheless, they caught up with each other, talking about unnecessary topics, making

small jokes and trying not to let the thick air from before sink in. adrian had avoided almost all

conversation about his school life which made abel slightly suspicious, but that slipped his mind once

he was off to work.

after they were done packing the smallest of things, it was a quarter away from one in the morning, and

abel gently pushed open the door of adrian's room, walking up to him and pressing a soft kiss against

his forehead. he pulled the covers up to his chest before he flicked off the lights and made his way

back to noah, who was already in bed.

the patterned duvet was drawn up to noah's chest, a soft smile on his face as he beckoned abel to join

him on the bed. abel returned the gestured lazily, slipping next to noah and shuffling closer to the older

boy.

"i'm so tired," abel 's arm reached across to hold noah, and noah smiled again, allowing abel to rest his

head on his chest so he could lightly twirl abel 's messy hair between his fingers.

"i'll miss you," noah mumbled softly, pressing a kiss to the younger boy's forehead and abel curled his

body more towards noah, nuzzling his face in noah's neck and breathing deeply.

"me more,"

"eat first," noah demanded, a short yawn escaping his lips as he carried two fried eggs to where abel

was frantically going through his things, trying to make sure he doesn't miss anything important.

"yeah, yeah just a minute," the younger boy trailed off, picking up his phone from the bed and scrolling

through it, dialling a number before pressing it to his ear.

noah sat down next to abel 's open suitcase, resting one of his elbows on the pile of clothes and

leaning on it tiredly, running his fingers through his messy hair to smooth it out.

"chris! you were supposed to be here by now where the hell are you? do you know what time we have

to reach the airport? five thirty! and you're here being a lazy—"

"calm your freaking tits, i'm literally in your driveway,"

"hurry up," abel threw his phone on the bed carelessly, attempting to shut his suitcase, causing noah to

move from his leaning position, both his hands holding the plate of eggs as he stared at abel.

it was too early for him to even think about the possibility of something happening between abel and

chris, moreover, he was starting to become less of a prude and accept whatever friendship abel and

chris had developed. all the overthinking that he'd been through months ago was catching up with him,

and he was mentally tired.

he wanted to avoid thinking about all the negative possibilities.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"noah?" abel 's tone was slightly nervous as he lifted the heavy luggage and settled it on the floor,

slumping down next to noah on the bed. the older boy only hummed in response.

"i want you to know that chris and i will not be doing anything inappropriate on this trip, incase your

stupid head gets that idea," abel shuffled closer, resting his head on noah's shoulder, and noah just

smiled reassuringly, settling the plate of food next to him so he could wrap his right arm around abel 's

shoulder.

"don't worry, i trust you," abel nodded lightly against noah's neck, tilting his head so he could place a

kiss on his cheek. "now eat this before he drags you out of here," noah handed the plate to abel who

smiled thankfully, quickly shoving the eggs in his mouth.

"have you packed your toothbrush?" noah asked, and by looking at the panicked look at abel 's face he

knew that he didn't.

"i'll do it, don't worry," noah ruffled his hair fondly, getting up and walking to the bathroom, picking out

abel 's toothbrush and stuffing it into a spare pocket of abel 's suitcase.

on cue, chris pressed the buzzer of their apartment, and noah reassured abel that he'll get it, quickly

walking towards the main door and pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose before pulling the

door open to reveal an equally tired looking boy.

"hey man, is abel ready?" chris smiled, and noah nodded, giving him a small smile in return.

"yeah, would you like a cup of coffee?" noah moved out of the way so chris could walk in, and chris just

shook his head, running his fingers through his hair.

"i would love to but we're really getting late," he scratched the back of his head and noah nodded in

understanding, excusing himself and walking to the bedroom, where abel was stuffing his feet in a pair

of old sneakers.

"chris is here," noah informed him, and abel just looked up, quickly tying his laces and standing up in

front of noah, reaching out and grabbing his hand.

"i'll miss you," abel 's cheeks flushed as he said so, and noah only took a step forward, wrapping his

arms tightly around abel 's waist.

"text me when you reach the airport," he said simply, and abel wound his arms around noah's neck,

nodding softly before pulling away and pressing his lips against noah's in a short kiss.

"abel!" chris yelled from the hall. "we're getting late!"

"i have to go," abel mumbled, resting his forehead against noah's, and noah nodded his head

reluctantly, kissing abel 's lips once again before retrieving his hands from around him and cupping abel

's cheeks between his hands, pressing one last kiss to abel 's forehead before letting go.

"love you,"