𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 (𝘣𝘹𝘣)

three

a/n: double !!

tw: brief mention of cancer

**
Benjamin unlocks to door to his and Gabi's condo. He lets Noah walk in first before closing the door behind him.

Noah looks around. "Well, damn. She's really becoming her parents huh?"

Benjamin smiles, taking off his flannel and setting it down on the couch. "Guess so. She buys sparkling water and canned coffee too."

"Jesus." Noah takes his shoes off by the door before going to sit on the couch. "You guys got anything to drink?"

"You want some water? We haven't gone grocery-."

Noah rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "Nah, like drinks. I need something to calm my nerves."

Benjamin looks at him poker-faced before he nods and walks into the kitchen. "Uhm...We have some whiskey?"

"That'll do."

Benjamin stares at him for a few seconds before nodding and grabbing the bottle, as well as a cup. "You...Want a chaser or anything?"

"Nah. I've gotta really good at this."

Benjamin sets everything in front of him before sitting down at the other couch, bringing his legs up into the seat.

"You've gotten quiet."

Benjamin shrugs his shoulders. "I don't notice it much."

"Hm." Noah finishes his first cup of whiskey, pouring another. "So, what do you wanna know? Any specific questions?"

Benjamin watches him pour another full cup of whiskey. "Oh, uh. Why did, uhm. Why'd you drop out of college? What made you quit? Was it your mom?"

Noah grabs his cup, sitting back. "I didn't drop out, I was kicked out. Once I got my injuries I wasn't playing so I was missing games."

"So? How'd that make you leave?"

"It's a rule or something that you have to play if you're on a sports scholarship. So when I wasn't, they took away my scholarship and that's the only way I was getting through school so I got kicked out."

Benjamin scoffs and crosses his arms. "That's bullshit. Shouldn't there be an-."

"There's not," Noah cuts Benjamin off, "And, I have a long line of medical issues when it comes to my legs now so it was just a matter of time before I got kicked off. It's kinda funny."

Benjamin frowns and looks up at Noah, making direct eye contact. "What?"

"That I ended my basketball career before I started it."

Benjamin clears his throat, sitting next to Noah. "I'm really sorry about everything that's going on. Wanna talk about your mom? Would that make you feel better?"

Noah gulps his second cup of whiskey with no expression on his face, wasting no time to pour a third.

"She looks so different now. The cancer is eating at her. At first, they thought it was...Okay, there's a medical term-."

"Benign."

"Yeah, that. So she went home and didn't worry about it and it got worse. She was vomiting and passing out so we took her back and they ran tests and shit."

"And...It's in both?"

"Mhm. She thought it was regular pain. I guess...Women feel pain there when they're on their periods? And she thought it wasn't anything but..."

Benjamin frowns, thinking of when he saw Noah's mom grab at her chest but play it off like it was okay.

Noah grabs the mug, swishes the liquid around in the cup. He lowers his head, taking a deep breath. "Treatment isn't working. My dad's holding onto hope but I've kinda given up, I guess."

He brings the cup to his lips, taking a few chugs before setting it down.

Benjamin places his hand on Noah's back, running it up and down. "I don't know what I'm gonna do."

Benjamin frowns at him. He pulls his hand away, though, not wanting to step over any boundaries.

"I can't imagine what you're going through. But you have to stay strong for her, Noah. You know if anything happened to her she'd want you to take care of yourself."

Noah shakes his head. "I don't want to. I wanna take care of her."

Benjamin looks at the cup in Noah's hand, nodding. "I know...I'm so sorry."

**
Benjamin wipes off the coffee table, deciding the clean up while Noah slept on the couch. It was a little over ten o'clock and he took Noah's keys so he wouldn't try to drive home.

Gabi walks in with her hair in a sleek ponytail. She sets her purse down on the island, taking her small hoop earrings out. "Benny!"

Benjamin does a small jog into the kitchen, shushing her. "Noah's sleeping."

Gabi's eyes widen. "Noah?!"

Benjamin points to the couch before taking a seat. "It's not like..that. And I would've told you but it kinda just happened and he's super drunk so-."

"Oh...Girl, I was just gonna tell you I ordered some pizza for dinner. We seriously need to buy some groceries though. How about tomorrow?"

"I can't. Meeting up with my parents to talk about my speech."

"Oh yeah! Their big day is soon. I can't wait. I'm helping decorate and everything. Ooh, what're you gonna wear? You've done a total wardrobe upgrade and I'm loving it!"

"Oh uhm. I went out the other day and bought a beige silk button-up with some black pants. Super chill."

"Cute. What's the shoe situation?"

"Uhm...Not sure yet. I hate wearing heels so it's a definite no. Will figure that out later."

Gabi leans over. "So...Why's Noah sleeping on our couch again?"

"We got to talking and...He downed your whole bottle of whiskey."

Gabi takes in a dramatic gasp. "My Macallan?!"

"Yes. I'll buy you some more, Jesus. You've really become your parents, you know that?"

Gabi giggles and sits up. "That's kind of a compliment."

**