The Outside Lines (boyxboy) - Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Nathan's POV
I awoke from what I initially thought to be a short nap, but the sun had already begun to sleep, leaving the city in a purple hue. I was so distracted by the view out of my bedroom window I almost didn't even notice the movement on my lap. Noah was still laid there innocently, deep in sleep. I can't blame him for the exhausting day he had just prior. My hand mindlessly reached for the locks of hair on his head. Not thinking, I brushed my hand through his soft sandy blond hair. This continued for a while i watched his gentle breathing, his stomach rising and falling as he breathed through his parted mouth. His lips look as soft as a peach, bearing the same color as well. I was now being tempted to brush my fingers over them as well, but I just barely fought back the urge.
"Mh." Noah groaned as his sleeping frame became animated. His body hinged up as he pressed himself up off my lap. Still confused he rubbed the remaining sleep from his eyes. "What time is it?" He asked in the cutest, sleep-induced tone.
"Time for us to wake up." I joked, returning my gaze on the purple tinted city painted just outside my window.
Concern swept over Noah as his eyes widened. "We... slept the entire afternoon?" He scrambled onto his hands and needs, joining me at the window.
"Apparently so." I shrugged. "It was probably for the best though."
"I still feel like I could use a few more days of slumber." Noah said, stretching one of his arms to the ceiling.
"The house usually feels so lonely this time of day." I mentioned, scanning the lavender-hued room. The purple seeped from the old glass window, coating the room in a soft glow.
"Are you saying I'm keeping you company?" Noah teased.
"You are." I smiled back. His smug smile faded for a second, returning as a more innocent and wholesome one.
"So, what do you usually do for fun around this time of day?" Noah wondered, waddle-crawling off the bed, still on his hands and knees. "Answer with anything other than masturbating." He teased again, but this time wearing a serious scowl on his adorable mug.
"Geez." I chuckled at his crudeness. "Well, I might pick up my guitar, turn on the radio and read a book, watch a movie, or start dinner."
"Ohh yeah, I forgot you're really good at the guitar." He remembered, waltzing around the room, studying every inch of it as if he were in a museum.
"What's this for?" He pulled something long and stringy from the wall and held it up. "My god Nathan, I didn't know you were into this kind of stuff."
"Hey, that's just a jump rope you dork." I snickered. A wide smile broke out on his face as he became increasingly amused by my reactions.
"What's that smell? Did you already start dinner?" Noah asked, tilting his nose in the air and nearly standing on his tiptoes.
"No. Now that you mention it though, I do faintly smell something good." My curiosity besieged me.
Noah up and left the room with me attempting to follow behind, scrambling off my bed. A dull light emanating from the bottom of the stairs and the faint sound of what I assumed was music from the seventies was playing from the aged radio in the kitchen drew me down. Mom was the culprit. She was happily stood in front of the stove already started on dinner. By the time I got down the stairs, she and Noah were already mid-conversation.
"Thanks again for letting me stay." A bashful smile graced Noah's lips.
"You're more than welcomed." Mom replied, noticing my presence enter the room. "I'm happy to see Nathan is finally making good friends." She chuckled.
"Mom, I've been friends with Taylor for quite a while now." I frowned at her subtle teasing.
"Yeah, well, you know what they say, the more friends, the more fun." She waved her spatula.
"That's... definitely not true." I mentally shook my head at the lousy saying. Noah attempted to stifle a laugh but failed. Mom just smiled at the both of us.
"Sit, I'll have dinner ready in a bit." She pointed to the table centered in the kitchen. Noah obliged, but something was bugging me.
"Why are you cooking dinner? You should take the day to relax." I told her a lick of concern on my face.
"Nathan, I've told you many times. I get a lot of enjoyment doing housework." She held her hips while watching the ground meat fry on the stove. "Now sit and keep your friend company."
I let out a nervous chuckle on my way over to the table, avoiding agitating my mother further. Noah urged me to pull out my phone so we could play a game or something together. He reached over the table, grabbed it from my hands and downloaded an app on it before commenting on how damaged and slow the device was. I couldn't get offended as even I knew it was more ancient than my ancestors.
Noah and I played some sort of matching game against each other. I didn't really understand the concept or the rules behind it but went along with it since Noah seemed to be having much fun kicking my butt. Seeing him light up like this after he'd been so down earlier made my heart swell.
Soon enough the table was being set with plates as mom finished her meat and veggie stir-fried rice. I could see Noah's eyes light up as the smell graced his nose.
"Did you use Panser's tomatoes in this?" Noah asked with the curiosity of a child, his eyes practically beaming with light, perking up in his chair.
"I did indeed, how'd you know?" Mom raised a brow at Noah's assertiveness.
"It's something my nan uses in her sauces. I can always smell it. It has a lighter, more sweet scent to it than most other tomato brands." He impressively pointed out. This wasn't something either of my mom or I could've have distinguished. We just looked at each other, wearing the same expression, impressed by the sharpness of Noah's nose. It made me happy to learn new things about him. After a while, there's only so much you can learn by spectating someone.
Dinner was fantastic. Mom's food was just as good as ever. Noah seemed to enjoy it a lot too, though there were moments when he would sit perfectly still in his seat wearing a sorrowful expression on his face. If I had to make a guess it was cause of his grandmother he'd mention that's in the hospital.
I brought a set of smaller clothes to my room for Noah in case he wanted a shower. I set them on the foot of the bed along with some extra blankets to keep him warm and comfy to combat the rising cold of the night. Him and my mother were still downstairs chatting. I think she's trying to find out what lead to Noah having to stay here. She gets the gist of it, but I think she's interested in the extra detail if she can get it. I rejoined them on the couch to watch mom's soap operas. I made sure to get the seat beside Noah.
We shared some laughs and giggles at the silly melodramatic show. It was a good time. Mom eventually retired to her room while Noah and I remained on the couch.
"Are you gonna sleep down here again." The concern in his voice was very noticeable.
"What, you want me to steal my bed back?" I chuckled tossing a couch pillow at him as he rested on the opposite end of the couch from me.
"No... it's just." He hesitated, lightly gripping the pillow and lowering his gaze.
"Really, it's fine." I assured yet again. "C'mon, go get some sleep. I'm taking you jogging with me early tomorrow." I decided for him, waving my hand his way.
He pouted, wrapping both of his arms around the pillow, entrapping it in a paling hug. "Fine."
He removed himself from the couch and we said our good nights while he trudged across the worn wooden floor of the kitchen. I tossed up a wave with a large smile following along as I watched him begin his trek up the stairs. He paused for a moment at the bottom step and glanced back at me, A shy smile flashing on his face when he noticed me staring back at him.
Noah's POV
Sunday was yet another sunny day, just like its name. It was as if the sky had wished away the snow. There's only so long it can hold out for though. I'm counting on seeing a white wonderland out the window as I'm waking up one of these days.
Nathan pressed me to go to bed early so he could take me jogging with him. There was a slight tingly feeling swirling in my chest knowing that he wanted me to accompany him. If it wasn't for that dark lingering anxiety eating at my stomach I wouldn't hesitate to leave the house. The idea of stepping out that door made me realize I'm going to have to face the world, and that scared me.
"Noah, are you up?" An excited and overly handsome boy asked, peeking into the room. He gripped the top of the door frame and snuck his head in wearing a bright smile. It was so charming and infectious I couldn't help but return it.
"I'm up." I chuckled, stepping out of the warm, comfy sheets.
"Are you ready?" He eagerly asked, entering the room and standing there.
"Can we have breakfast first?" I said almost as a groan.
"Right." He raised a finger and turned around to face the door. "We should probably eat first."
I snorted at his dorkiness and followed him downstairs for breakfast. June lent me a spare toothbrush before I fell asleep last night, so I sat on the counter watching Nathan cook sausage and pancakes while I brushed my teeth.
We scarfed down the delicious meal in the peacefulness of the living room. While I did end up eating a nice portion Nathan ate the majority of the food.
"How are you gonna run after eating all that?" I raised a brow at him, both of us stepping out the front door and into the brisk seven AM weather.
He shrugged, glancing back at me. "It doesn't really bother me." What, is his stomach made of iron or something?
"Don't come complaining to me when you can't go on because of a cramp." I replied snarkily, a smirk eating at my lips. He chuckled, beginning to stretch. He bent over reaching for the tip of his sneakers, but that's not where my attention was. My skin turned a bright shade of cherry red, my eyes stuck to his butt. What the heck. Does he like... do a gazillion squats every day? My eyelids rose and my mouth parted as I unintentionally admired the glorious sight.
"It's good to know I'm worth checking out." Nathan's words and the cheeky smirk on his face snapped me out of my entrancement. If skin colors could mix I'd be a solid purple with how blue and red I was turning right about now. He just caught me... studying his bum as if it were a school subject.
"W-what, I-I." I stumbled over my words, desperately trying to form a sentence. In the end, I failed, I failed miserably. "W-whatever." I gave up and ran ahead hoping to avoid further embarrassment.
"Hang on." Nathan called out in between his giggles.
I didn't even know which direction I was heading in, but Nathan did very little to stop me, so I assumed it wasn't too far off from the park he had mentioned. After some time running I looked back to see if Nathan was still in sight, and to my surprise, he was much closer than I was expecting. Every time I see him run he's always substantially faster than the last. It was exciting, and yet very worrying. I want to hold my claim as the fastest kid in school. It's probably what I'm best known for. Well either that or all the crazy crap I've pulled in school.
"Hey, if you can catch me before we reach the park I'll do whatever you want for the rest of the day." I proposed to Nathan, turning around and keeping my pace while running backwards.
"Oh yeah? What do you get out of it if I fail?" He asked through huffs of air, raising a brow in suspicion.
"Mmm." I held a finger to my bottom lip. "You have to do whatever I say for an hour, how 'bout that?" I made a fair wager. I already knew he wouldn't be able to catch me. Knowing this, it probably makes it unfair then, huh.
He smiled. "Deal." He accepted knowing full well of what I'm capable of.
"Well alright." I snickered, turning back to face the street in front of me. I didn't increase my speed, I wanted to give him a little hope before taking it away at the last moment. He was doing well to keep up but he couldn't have predicted what I had planned.
What I assumed was the park grew into sight. I glanced back at Nathan wearing a knowing smirk readying to make a mad dash to the short chain fence gating the asphalt from the dry looking grass. But all of a sudden... Nathan, he... he... came at me like an enraged bull. I could almost feel the ground shake with every step bounding closer. My legs grew week and my eyes wide. It was like one of those nightmares where you're being chased by some abomination and your legs give out from under you. Only this time before I fell to the ground I was being swooped up in Nathan's large arms, my eyes and mouth still agape.
"Y-you-" I stuttered, looking up at him, staring down at me with a smirk.
"I knew exactly what you were up to, so I took advantage of that." He chuckled. "I wasn't expecting you to make it this far though." He raised his brows, looking just ahead of us.
"No way." I whispered to myself, realizing I was literally three feet away from winning our bet.
"I'm still faster." I made sure to let it be known, frowning at the smug creature cradling me in its arms.
"I know." He replied, not changing his facial expression in the slightest. "I hope you remember our bet."
"I know." I mimicked his response only I was wearing a pout. "Curse you and your hypno-booty." I mumbled under my breath, but he still seemed to hear it. He finally set me back on my feet as he began to burst out in laughter.
(Play the song)
I scoped out the park. It was pretty small and dry looking, but very peaceful nonetheless. It looked pretty barren but was sprinkled with trees and flowerbeds here and there. I stepped over the chain fence, my feet stepping into the crunchy grass. A strong gust of wind washing over the area prompted me to cover my eyes.
"So what'll your first command be now that you're sitting in the king's chair?" I narrowed my eyes at the devious boy who was joining me on the other side of the fence.
"Are you sure you're ready for it?" He smiled innocently, but I could see something sinister behind that look of his.
"I'm ready." I stood confidently, pose and all. It was fake confidence but I didn't want to look like a wimp in front of Nathan.
"Alright then." He said and suddenly began to approach. With every step he took forward I traded one step back. But to my dismay, I quickly ran out of room for my retreat. I was pinned between a tree and a hard place. The latter being Nathan of course. He grabbed my wrists with his large hands and pinned them against the bark of the tree on either side of me. I swear, his soft stare looked through the window of my soul. This situation was all too familiar.
That's right, it's just like what happened on Friday night when he-
"Kiss me." He demanded, wearing the most attractive and wanting expression I'd ever seen on his face. I attempted to swallow down the growing lump in my throat, but it was fruitless. Before I knew it he was closing the distance between our mouths. My eyelids shut as his breath tickled my lips. Shivers shot across my skin when our lips connected. The warmth, the softness, his smell, it was all pure bliss. It lit the fire of desire in my stomach. I kissed back more aggressively the more heated our kiss became. It was like two people rowing a boat. He still held most if not all the dominance over the kiss though. It left me with a warm, cozy feeling. The way he pressed his chest against mine, the way our skin connected, it was almost as if I was being wrapped in a hundred blankets.
After a solid minute make-out session, Nathan pulled away, studying the tomato red expression washed over my usually pale face.
Just when I thought he was finished with me he landed a quick peck against my lips. "Gosh, you're so freaking cute." He whispered, his wide smile nearly splitting into a grin as he brushed his thumb over my cheek.
I pulled away from the pin he had me in, embarrassed. "N-no I'm not." I disagreed, taking a few steps towards the small dirt road navigating the park.
"Stop being so cute. You're gonna make me kiss you again." He chuckled, a wide smile on his face.
I wanted just that, but my embarrassment wouldn't allow it. "No!" I yelled, preparing for him to rhino charge my way. He noticed, prompting him to do just that.
Crap...
A yelp escaped my mouth as I jerked my body in the opposite direction of him.
"Stay away!" My continuous yell soon becoming laughter as he hunted me through the park like a hungry bear. I hid behind anything I could find. Benches, trees, food carts, you name it. And yet somehow he still had the upper hand. Sure I was faster, but I needed a clear escape route to be sure he wouldn't catch me. The whole time he didn't speak a word, he just wore that goofy smile of his.
We were at it for nearly an hour before Nathan's surprising amount of stamina had finally run out. I watched him hunched over and out of breath, heaving for as much oxygen as humanly possible. We were stood in the middle of the empty street shaded by the line of buildings behind us.
"Truce?" I proposed, raising a brow at him. He glanced up at me opening one of his shut eyes to get a view of me.
There he goes with that smile again.
"Truce." He accepted, extending a hand while dropping his head back down. I cautiously gripped it, but my caution didn't turn out to be enough. He pulled me towards him and locked an arm around my neck. He laughed, rocking the both of us back and forth with the motion of his body. As much as I wanted to keep my frown I couldn't help but partake in the laughter.
"C'mon, I'll show you around the neighborhood." He nudged his head down the open street. I nodded and followed along. He showed me places where he likes to spend his free time, places he just thought were cool, and places he'd never been to before. It was a wild journey with the two of us parading through the streets. Every minute passed I felt myself growing closer to Nathan. He was just so easy to get along with.
Evening fell and we ended up climbing some abandoned building in the neighborhood. My eyes grew twice their original size in excitement. The danger and thrill of climbing the crumbled stairs and the broken halls filled me with excitement. I was tempted to run ahead, but only Nathan knew our destination. I trailed behind him, but my attention was on the beams of evening sunlight casting through the many crack of the old structure.
"Here, it's right up here." He announced, snapping my attention back to him. He was stood next to a dingy red ladder leading through a broken trap door and to the roof. Without hesitation, I climbed the bars like I'd eaten a few hundred bananas. For a second you could've convinced me I was a monkey. My lack of body hair and the inability to grow any was a stark reminder that I was still little ol' human Noah.
I stepped up onto the rooftop after climbing the ladder. "Whoa..." I exclaimed, marveling at the sight. The vast sky was visible in almost every direction. The soft blues and purples of the sunset encapsulating the atmosphere left me near breathless. I was inspired to pull out my notebook and draw away, but of course it was left in my bedroom back home. I used to attend art class a few years back, but it became stressful and not fun, which was ironic since the only reason I decided to join in the first place was cause I found it fun, so what was the point? I eventually had them replace it with something else on my schedule.
"It's nice, right?" Nathan said as he reached my side.
"Heck yeah it is." I agreed, staring at the sky. Despite its beauty, it wasn't the first thing that caught my attention when I stepped up here. The sharp air embodying every corner of the city struck my nose. It wasn't the freshest air, but it definitely had a pleasant scent to it.
"I wanna spend the entire night up here." I told Nathan, laying my back against the floor of the rooftop.
"I'd join you." He let out a breathy laugh, laying down next to me. I rolled my head over in his direction, studying the side of his face as he looked up to the sky. I scooted closer to him. At first I didn't think he'd notice, but he extended an arm beneath my head and pulled me closer towards him. I was left flushed by his sudden actions. My head was comfortably rested on the edge of his chest, still looking at him. He lowered his gaze to meet my own, wearing a cute smile, our faces only inches apart. While his features were still in sight my eyes wandered them, almost longingly. We both eventually turned our sights back to the dimming sky, enjoying the last of the sunlight.