Chapter Text
Just as you take my hand
Just as you write my number down
"What the hell are you doing here?" Noah said, staring wide eyed at Alejandro.
With the rain pounding on the roof of the bus stop, Alejandro's voice sounded sing-song, in rhythm to the heavy raindrops, "I was going to ask the same thing, my dear Noah."
Noah rolled his eyes, scoffing as he sized up the taller boy. "Do not call me that, you eel."
"Eel!" Alejandro laughed, flashing his canines. "I have not heard that one in a minute."
Crossing his arms, Noah spoke, "Seriously, why are you here? I thought you lived further North."
Alejandro's expression faltered, eye twitching slightly. "I did, with my roommate, until..." he trailed off, glancing away from Noah.
"Until what?"
"Nothing that concerns you, dear."
"Whatever. Anyways," Noah said, fingers fiddling with his sweater, "where could you be heading that would require public transportation? I'd assume your smugass would be too good for that."
"Ah, my car," Alejandro nodded his head in the general direction of what Noah assumed was the vehicle. "It broke."
Noah gazed at the parking lot across the street. He then noticed how Alejandro was drenched, something he hadn't taken note of previously.
"Hm. I could fix it, maybe," Noah offered, trying to be nonchalant.
"Really?" Alejandro's eyes brightened. "I would truly appreciate that, my dear."
"Quit with the petname. And, uh, yeah. Bring me to the car and I'll try my best."
"Of course, my Noah." Alejandro reached his hand out.
Reached his hand out for Noah to grab. The man was offering Noah his hand...
He reluctantly (not really) took it. Alejandro's warm fingers curled around his own.
The feeling of Alejandro's skin against his sent something–a sensation–through Noah's spine. His heart seemed to hammer in his chest, threatening to break through his ribcage. His eyes softened as he stared at Alejandro, the other boy staring back for a moment too long, causing Noah's breath to get caught in his throat.
"We're going to have to run, alright, dear?" Alejandro said, cocking his head like a curious dog.
"No shit," Noah said, lips daring to smile as he gazed at the other boy.
The two bolted out of the bus stop, rain immediately soaking Noah's hair, heavy droplets pounding onto his cheeks.
Alejandro ran in front of him, hand gripping his even tighter. He looked back at Noah, a wild, carefree smile draped across his wet face.
Noah thought back to the Jumbo Jet as they made their way across the street and through the park.
Alejandro wouldn't have been this careless with Noah then. And Noah would've never grabbed Alejandro's hand then, either. And Noah wouldn't have offered to fix his car. Or willingly talk to him, even. And yet, here he is, doing all those things.
Is that what Alejandro was thinking as well?
"–Noah!" Alejandro yelled, apparently finishing a sentence Noah had completely missed, due to the heavy rain.
"What?! I can't fucking hear you!" Noah tried to holler back as he turned his head in confusion. He had completely spaced out while Alejandro was speaking to him.
Alejandro just looked back and smiled like a dork.
Noah groaned. It'd suddenly hit him that he would have to fix his car in the freezing rain.
Speaking of, they finally made their way to the car. It was some fancy one Noah didn't know the name of. He'd bet Alejandro's rich parents bought it for him without a second thought. He rolled his eyes.
"So," Noah panted, catching his breath. He bent down, resting his hands on his knees. "What's the matter with it?"
Alejandro leaned against the red vehicle, glancing at the hood. "Something in there. I am not exactly sure, I'm not a car expert," he laughed.
Noah trudged over and popped the hood.
(Idk anything about cars but imagine something is broken but easily fixable.)
"Oh, yeah. You see this wire here?" Noah pointed to a blue cord. Alejandro observed. "You just gotta–" he bent the wire in a certain way, before connecting it to a plug. "–Boom. All fixed." He closed the hood, wiping the mild grease on his jeans.
Alejandro just glanced between Noah and the car. "How did you..." he shook his head, as if clearing that thought. "Nevermind. How can I repay you, my dear Noah?"
"You don't have to–"
"May I give you a ride home?"
"Oh, uhm," the question caught him off guard. Noah glanced at the sky. The storm had started to clear up. But it was certainly still raining. And he would've missed the bus by now... "Alright. You can drive me home, I guess," he said with an exasperated scoff, like him being driven home was any of an inconvenience.
"Wonderful, my dear." Alejandro opened the passenger door, gesturing for Noah to get in.
Rolling his eyes, he climbed into the expensive car, admiring the shining wood and expensive looking leather. He could only imagine the pretty penny this thing cost.
Alejandro got into the driver's seat, turning on the ignition, then the heaters.
"Heaters. Yes." Noah sighed as he slouched in the seat. He was honestly so exhausted, he may have fallen asleep.
Alejandro smiled, before handing Noah his phone, which was pulled up to the GPS. "Your address, my dear," he said, eyes glancing at Noah's.
"Right." He sat up, typing in the address for his apartment, before handing the phone back to Alejandro. Their fingers brushed for a moment, sending electricity to spark through Noah's nervous system.
The ride back to his apartment was smooth. It was quiet, but the comfortable type of silence. Looking out the window, Noah saw the trees fly by in the dark night. Glancing at Alejandro, his palms got sweaty.
He desperately wanted to know what happened with Alejandro and his roommate. But he was right, it wasn't any of his business. That didn't stop the damn curiosity from eating him alive.
Noah also wondered what Alejandro had said to him in the rain, the thing he didn't quite catch. All he got from it was Alejandro's stupid-cute smile. Jesus, he needed to quit thinking about that. About him.
"Noah, if you'd like, you can turn on some music?" Alejandro asked, eyes quickly landing on Noah's as they turned.
Noah laughed. "You sure? I'm not confident you'll like my music taste."
"I'm sure I'll love it, my Noah."
With a mumble of something along the lines of, I'm certain you won't, Noah connected his phone to the bluetooth and opened Spotify.
He scrolled through multiple of his favorite albums, In Rainbows by Radiohead, IBYMBYBMYL by My Chemical Romance, The Bends by Radiohead (again...)
He finally settled on Be the Cowboy by Mitski. Not his top pick, though he loved Mitski, but he thought it was something Alejandro would tolerate, despite him having no clue on what Alejandro even listened to.
A few moments passed before Alejandro spoke, A Pearl humming in the background. "Mitski. Heather liked Mitski, believe it or not."
"Heather?" Noah's voice nearly cracked. "God, I tried to forget about her. Wait, why do you know her music taste? She never talked about her personal life on the show?" He turned in the car seat, now sideways facing Alejandro (and certainly breaking some safety rules.)
"Well, my dear–"
"Could you stop calling me that?"
"Noah, Heather was, well... my roommate, after the show. Because we were, er, dating. We broke up a month or so ago and she sort of, well, kicked me out, per say." Alejandro admitted, fingers gripping the steering wheel so tight they started to turn pale.
"She..." Noah stared, mouth agape as he struggled to find the right words.
After a couple seconds, he spoke again, carefully placing his words. "After the show, you moved in with Heather, the two of you... actually dating," Noah paused, Alejandro nodded.
"I thought the whole romance between the two of you was for show. For the drama. For the fans. I didn't think it was real." Noah finally finished, chewing the inside of his cheek.
"Not everything on that show was for an act, my dear Noah," Alejandro hummed, smirking as they pulled into the parking garage of Noah's apartment.
The drive ended too soon, he needed to know more about this whole Alejandro/Heather-secret-dating-and-roommating situation.
With the click of a seatbelt, Alejandro got out of the car and opened Noah's door.
"How manly of you," Noah teased as Alejandro jokingly offered his hand.
"I try, my dear." Alejandro replied, a smile plastered on his face.
Noah stood in front of the other boy. Awkward silence filled the atmosphere.
"I'm sorry to end our rendezvous so early, Noah," Alejandro pouted, cocking his head.
"Well I'm glad." Noah said, hands on his hips.
"Hm," Alejandro grinned. "I'd love to get your cell number, if that's alright, my Noah. I've enjoyed talking with you today."
Noah paused. Get his phone number? Alejandro was his worst enemy on the show, why would he need his number? For next time his car breaks down? Noah suppressed a chuckle at that last thought.
"Sure. I mean, I guess," Noah said, pulling out his phone from his pocket. Repeatedly tapping the screen, it remained black. "It must've died in the car. How unfortunate. Guess you can't get my cell number after–"
A hand grabbed Noah's before he felt the tip of a ballpoint pen on his skin.
He looked down, at his hand, seeing that Alejandro was writing down his phone number. He looked up at Alejandro, who looked at Noah's hand, pen cap sticking out his mouth, of which Noah's eyes lingered for a moment.
A moment too long, that is. Alejandro's eyes looked up and met Noah's. He could've sworn he saw his cheeks get a bit dusty, blush dappling his skin.
"I'll text you when I am home, alright, Noah?" Alejandro said as he capped the pen.
"Uhm, alright," Noah glanced at his hand, inked with Alejandro's writing. "I certainly won't be looking forward to it." He half-joked, as Alejandro got back into his car.
"I hope we see each other soon, my Noah!" Alejandro said as he drove off.
Noah just stood there, as if his legs were glued to the floor.
—
Kicking off his shoes, Noah slumped on the old couch in his living room. He shoved his phone into the charging cable.
He grabbed his copy of Lord of the Flies from the coffee table and flipped to his bookmark.
He wasn't looking forward to Alejandro's text. He wasn't glancing at his phone every few minutes, waiting for a message.
Twenty minutes passed.
Thirty.
Forty.
Fif–
Ping!
10:56 PM - Unknown Number
Hello my Noah! I hopr you are well. I apologize the text is so late, traffic got rough. I hope to see you soon!
"Fina-fucking-ly," Noah sighed, trying to muffle his excitement. He quickly changed Alejandro's contact name to Eel, mostly as a joke.
10:58 PM - Me
hello alejandro
Almost immediately, the three dots indicating Alejandro was typing appeared.
10:59 PM - Eel
Are you free sometime this weekend? I would lovw to catch up!<3
11:01 PM - Me
an emoticon. seriously? and yea im free this weekend.
He hesitated sending the last bit. Hanging out? To catch up? With his old worst enemy?
11:01 PM - Eel
Yes, an emojicon. It is simply a form of expression. And wonderful news!! I will pick you up Saturday at noon, is that alright, my dear?
11:02 PM - Me
12s fine i guess. and wait, if you just got kicked out by Heath, ur new in town right?? where r u even staying?? actually nvm that. i have a good coffee place we can go to.
11:04 PM - Eel
Ah, that is a story for Saturday! And a cafe sounds perfect. I can't wait for our date!<33
Noah's hands froze, nearly dropping his phone. A date? No, this was merely a hangout. Nothing more, nothing less.
11:05 PM - Me
it is not a date. and yea ill see u sat
He closed his phone, tiredness catching up to him. He may as well just fall asleep on the couch. What better to do?