Through the Noise

Blurred Lines

Beam was in his dorm, flipping through notes, when his phone buzzed with a message. It was from Forth: “Outside.”

Brief and to the point, just like Forth. Without a second thought, Beam grabbed his jacket and headed out, wondering what could be so important.

He found Forth waiting by his motorcycle, looking uncharacteristically serious. “Got some time?” Forth asked, motioning to the empty seat behind him.

Beam raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “Depends. Are we going somewhere interesting?”

Forth gave a small smirk. “Guess you’ll have to trust me.”

Beam shrugged, accepting the challenge, and climbed onto the bike behind Forth. It wasn’t the first time he’d ridden with him, but this time felt different somehow. There was a charge in the air, an unspoken tension that made his heart beat just a little faster.

As they sped through the city streets, Beam found himself enjoying the thrill of it, the sense of freedom that came with being behind Forth on the open road. He almost forgot that they were supposed to be on a ‘business’ arrangement — it was easy to forget when he was with Forth.

Eventually, they arrived at an overlook, a place where the city lights stretched out below them, twinkling against the dark sky. Forth parked the bike and got off, leaning against the railing as he took in the view. Beam joined him, silently waiting for Forth to say whatever it was that had brought them here.

After a long pause, Forth finally spoke. “Ever feel like you’re living a life that’s not really yours?”

Beam blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Sometimes,” he admitted, leaning on the railing beside Forth. “I feel like I’m supposed to be this certain person, you know? Like people expect me to be the Casanova, the guy who doesn’t care about anything except having a good time. But…” He hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. “Sometimes, I think maybe there’s more to me than that.”

Forth was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “I get it,” he finally said. “Everyone looks at me and sees this… headstrong, unbreakable leader. But sometimes, I wish I could just let go of all of it, just be someone else for a change.”

Beam watched Forth’s profile in the soft moonlight, surprised by the vulnerability he saw there. It was a side of Forth he hadn’t seen before, a side that made him feel strangely protective.

“So why don’t you?” Beam asked, his voice gentle.

Forth shook his head, a slight smile on his lips. “Because that’s not how life works, Beam. We all have our roles to play.”

Beam fell silent, thinking about Forth’s words. He’d always admired Forth’s strength, his confidence, but now he realized that there was more to him than he’d ever imagined. There was a depth to Forth that made him wonder what else he didn’t know, what other secrets Forth was keeping hidden behind that stoic facade.

They stayed there for a while, neither of them speaking, just enjoying the quiet companionship. Eventually, Forth broke the silence with a sigh.

“Come on,” he said, pushing away from the railing. “Let’s get back.”

Beam nodded, following him back to the bike. As they rode back through the city, Beam found himself feeling strangely at peace. There was something about that moment, that shared vulnerability, that felt almost… freeing.

---

**A New Routine**

In the weeks that followed, Beam and Forth settled into a comfortable rhythm. They continued their ‘arrangement,’ but it was clear to both of them that something had shifted. Their interactions were no longer just about convenience; there was a genuine bond between them, a connection that neither of them could deny.

Beam found himself looking forward to their meetings, to the late-night rides and quiet conversations that had become a part of his life. It was as if Forth had become his anchor, a constant presence that kept him grounded.

And yet, even as their relationship deepened, Beam couldn’t shake the feeling that he was playing with fire. He’d always prided himself on his independence, on his ability to keep people at arm’s length. But with Forth, he found himself wanting to let down his guard, to trust someone in a way he never had before.

One evening, as they were walking back from class, Beam turned to Forth with a grin. “You know, people are starting to talk.”

Forth raised an eyebrow. “About what?”

“About us,” Beam replied, smirking. “Apparently, we’re the new campus power couple.”

Forth snorted, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Is that so?”

Beam shrugged, his grin widening. “Can’t say I blame them. I mean, look at us — two strong, handsome guys with an air of mystery. We’re practically a legend.”

Forth rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smile on his lips. “You really don’t take anything seriously, do you?”

“Oh, I take plenty of things seriously,” Beam replied, his tone playful. “Just not the things that don’t matter.”

Forth shook his head, chuckling softly. “You’re something else, Beam.”

They continued walking in comfortable silence, the sounds of campus fading into the background as they headed toward Beam’s dorm. As they reached the building, Beam paused, glancing at Forth with a sudden seriousness.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “Thanks for tonight. I… I needed that.”

Forth looked at him, his expression softening. “Anytime.”

Beam watched him for a moment, feeling a strange warmth in his chest. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

---

**Complications**

Things took a turn one evening when they ran into Ming and Phana at a campus event. Ming, ever the observant one, picked up on the tension between Beam and Forth almost immediately.

“So,” Ming said, raising an eyebrow as he looked between them. “You two seem… close.”

Beam rolled his eyes, but Forth just shrugged, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “We’re friends. Is that a problem?”

Phana, however, was watching them with a thoughtful expression. “Just friends?” he asked, his tone teasing.

Beam opened his mouth to reply, but Forth beat him to it. “What we are is our business,” he said, his voice firm.

There was a moment of silence as Ming and Phana exchanged glances, but they didn’t push the matter further. Beam felt a flicker of relief, grateful that Forth had stepped in before things could get too complicated.

After the event, as they walked back to their dorms, Beam turned to Forth with a smirk. “Nice save back there.”

Forth gave him a sidelong glance. “Figured it was better than letting them start a rumor.”

Beam chuckled. “Yeah, probably. But for the record, I don’t care what people think.”

Forth stopped, turning to face him. “Neither do I,” he said quietly. “But I care what you think.”

Beam’s breath caught at the intensity in Forth’s gaze. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say, his usual confidence slipping in the face of Forth’s honesty.

Finally, he managed a soft smile. “Well, in that case… I think you’re doing just fine.”

Forth returned his smile, and for a brief moment, Beam felt as though they were the only two people in the world.

---
Tbc