Strawberries & Cigarettes

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 1: 𝓝𝓸𝓪𝓱; "𝓡𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓶𝓮𝓽?"

hEy y'ALl

guess what

i decided to reupload Strawberries and Cigarattes on this account :^ cuz why not 

Also, the person above is ur ref picture for Noah. Isn't AI so gucci :>

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Chapter 1: Noah; "Remember when we first met?"

A hard red brick dirty wall. At least it could support him. Leaned against the pillars of the main university building, was a messy, black-haired boy, poring over his new phone – a gift at getting accepted into this prestigious university. Propped against himself was a stiff olive green bag – a suiting colour to his demeanour. Only if people knew... Absentmindedly scrolling and refreshing his feed, the boy failed to take notice of the glorious view happening; a vivid red dusk marred by splotches of orange and hints of soft pink. Why was Alex so late?

"Noah!" the said boy exclaimed, running out of the doors and putting his hands on his knees to catch his breath, "I'm sorry I'm late – Lucas and I were held back..."

"Oh...hey Alex, what's up?" looking up from his phone, Noah focused his attention on the pink-haired boy still gasping in between words.

"Did you hear? Lucas hooked up with ANOTHER chick!" Alex said as if a heinous crime had been committed against him, not taking note of the flash of hurt that struck Noah's praised features.

"Oh" lowering his head so Alex wouldn't see, Noah quickly turned off his phone before any unwelcome peeks were taken. Of his account.

"This is like, what? His fourth? Fifth hookup this MONTH!"

"Honestly, I can't believe how Louis keeps up with his shit."

The boy blabbered on, but everything seemed drowned out to Noah. Alex usually was a talkative person and he knew it. He also knew about Noah's gigantic crush on Lucas Dame, the university's golden pupil.

Slowly dragging his feet to the open passenger door of Alex's brand new Tesla (he got it as a present for getting into a prestigious university), Noah flung his olive green bag to the back seat, fastening the seatbelt over him.

Alex got in the driver's seat soon after, flinging his bubble-gum pink – a stark contrast to Noah's – in the backseat. As if realizing his words a bit late, Alex Hope suddenly flinched – causing the car to jolt slightly - and sheepishly looked at Noah.

"Sorry, Noah...it just – slipped out, I guess," he mumbled.

"Whatever – it's fine – I'm getting over him," replied the quiet boy.

"It's NOT fine," said the puppy-like boy opposite him, pulling over to prove his stand, "I feel so fucking guilty and it's because of you."

"Oh?" asked the taller boy, glancing at him.

"Really now?" asked he, a faint smile tugging his praised features.

"Yes," pouted Alex, "So – to make it up for me – come shopping with me?"

"I don't know...my professor gave me some work to do..."

"Which one?"

"Business."

"Oh – that's great then! She adores you – don't deny it – she'll cut some slack – come on bestie – please?"

At his unresponsive reply, Alex further prompted, "Besides, Louis can't be with me today – he's –"

Coughing awkwardly, he trailed off, "Anyway, it's been a while since we hung out.."

Looking at him in wonder, Noah exclaimed, "Dude – we literally share an apartment – WE LITERALLY PLAYED UNO LAST NIGHT."

"Your point?" asked his friend testily, "Yesterday is yesterday – today is today. Come on – I'm not taking no for an answer."

And so, that is how Noah Bradshaw was dragged to multiple fashion outlets, cherry-picking the "hippest" and "sexiest" outfits. It was Alex who ended up wearing them, of course. After leaving a considerable dent in their wallets – Alex paid for the shopping and Noah for the dining – they returned home, both expenses shockingly amounting to nearly the same number.

"Now this is what I mean by a bestie day," slurred Alex, collapsing on the L-shaped dark brown leather sofa. In his left hand, he held a Guinness beer half empty and in his sloppy right hand, he held a fresh piece of the takeout Korean fried chicken they had gotten.

"Darling – you're happy again," slurred the collapsed pink hair.

"...I thought you couldn't understand shit when you're drunk?" said Noah.

"I know you're much happier and much more like the Noah I know."

"Why? I still hate people – except you" he added as an afterthought.

"True – but when you're with the people you're like, you're like a big, fluffy black cat!

"Slow down, bitch," said Noah, grinning, "You can't hold your alcohol, remember?"

He set down his full beer on the glass coffee table before flicking on the TV and sitting down.

"Fuck if I care. What good is a boyfriend if he isn't there when you're really horny and want drunk sex?"

"..."

A pregnant pause ensued.

"...Did I just really that that out loud?"

"Fuck bitch – go to sleep," whined Noah, hands flapping over his ears.

"Sorry Noey," said the other, smiling sloppily and raising his hands in a prayer form above his head to apologize.

Still grinning toothily, he wiped his hands and wrapped them around Noah's lithe waist.

"Damn, how do I get this waist?"

Laughing uncontrollably, Noah flicked the guy resting on a pillow on his lap affectionately. No matter what, he could always rely on Alex to be with him.

"Genetics, I guess?"

A sudden ring of the doorbell interrupted the cherubic buddies in their interchange, its sound imposing and dominating the soft patters of rain against the high glass walls.

"I'll get it," Noah said and walked over to the tall mahogany door before pulling it open with a jerk. He wished. He so wished. That he hadn't.

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WELL IM DONE

I forgot to put a list of warnings before we started, but lets bffr rn, most of the readers in wattpad already know that shit. 

~JemDemon