Through the Noise

Unraveling Truths

The tension between Beam and Forth had become undeniable. Every glance, every casual brush of hands, seemed to carry the weight of unspoken words. Forth was no longer the tough, untouchable guy Beam had once thought he could manipulate. No, he was something more now—something Beam hadn’t expected, but something he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle.

Beam couldn’t help but admire Forth, even when he hated to admit it. The same man who had once intimidated him with his fierce gaze and raw power was now someone who could pierce through his defenses with a single look. And worse, Beam had to admit that the power dynamic had shifted. Forth wasn’t just a way to pass the time or another conquest—he was starting to mean more.

Beam leaned against the windowsill of his dorm room, his eyes following the movement of students walking across the campus below. The cool evening air rushed in, and his thoughts were scattered, mostly on Forth.

Forth had been different lately. Not as cold, not as distant. Sometimes, Beam caught him glancing his way in class, or their paths crossed in the cafeteria where Forth would linger just a little too long at the counter, his gaze never leaving Beam. But the problem was clear. They both knew it: Forth was a man of action, not words. Beam, on the other hand, had mastered the art of evasion, especially when it came to matters of the heart.

But Forth had caught him off guard one day after class, grabbing his arm with a surprising gentleness.

"Beam, we need to talk," Forth had said, his voice low but firm, though his expression was soft—almost vulnerable.

Beam remembered the way his heart had skipped a beat, the familiar rush of heat spreading through his body. It wasn’t the same as before. It wasn’t just about winning, or seducing him. There was something real in Forth's eyes. Something that terrified Beam, something he wasn’t sure he could trust.

That conversation had turned into nothing—mostly awkward silences and forced smiles. Neither of them had the courage to address what had been left hanging in the air. But the truth was, Beam knew he couldn’t escape it. Not anymore.

That night, Beam couldn’t sleep. His mind raced with possibilities, questions he couldn’t answer. He reached for his phone, typing a quick message before he could stop himself.

**Beam**: *Can we talk tomorrow?*

He stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity. He had sent it, but he knew the moment he hit 'send,' there was no turning back.

He tried to close his eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. His phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a response.

**Forth**: *Sure. I’ll meet you at the usual spot.*

Beam didn’t bother with a reply. He just tossed the phone aside and closed his eyes, bracing himself for whatever came next.

---

The following afternoon, Beam stood at the edge of the campus, where the quiet park near the library was often deserted. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing nervously, as he waited for Forth. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue across the sky, but all Beam could focus on was the meeting ahead.

Was this it? Would Forth finally ask him the questions that had been lurking in the back of both their minds? Would they confront the truth between them, or would they keep skating around it like they had been?

Finally, Forth appeared, walking toward him with his usual confident stride. His jeans were a little too tight, and his shirt clung to his body in a way that made Beam’s pulse spike despite himself.

Forth stopped in front of Beam and immediately crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze steady, studying Beam.

"You called," Forth said, his voice firm, but there was a softness there that Beam couldn’t ignore.

"I…" Beam hesitated, unsure of how to begin. "I don’t really know what I want to say."

Forth gave a small nod, as though he expected as much. He leaned back against one of the trees, his expression thoughtful.

"I think we’ve both been avoiding this conversation, haven’t we?" Forth said, his tone quiet but direct.

Beam swallowed hard. "I guess we have."

"I’m not going to lie to you, Beam. I’ve been confused," Forth continued. "I don’t know what’s happening between us, and I’m not going to pretend I have all the answers. But the thing is, I can’t keep pretending that it doesn’t matter to me. You—" He paused, looking away for a brief moment, as if collecting his thoughts. "You matter."

Beam’s heart skipped. His mind was racing, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he stood there in stunned silence.

Forth took a step closer, closing the distance between them. "I don’t know what this is, but I can’t ignore it anymore. Not when I’m starting to feel like I’m falling for you, Beam."

Beam blinked, his chest tightening. His thoughts were a mess. He had been expecting confrontation, an argument, maybe even an attempt to push each other further apart, but this was different. This was raw. Honest. And it was terrifying.

"Forth…" Beam began, his voice almost a whisper. "You know I’m not the type of guy to settle down. I don’t do relationships. Not really."

"I know," Forth said with a half-smile. "And neither do I. But that doesn’t mean we can’t figure this out, right?"

Beam hesitated, staring at Forth, trying to read him. Trying to figure out if this was just another game to him. But the look in Forth’s eyes told him that it wasn’t. This was real. This was something neither of them had expected.

Beam took a deep breath, his chest tightening. "Maybe... maybe we can figure this out. I don’t know how, but I’ll try."

Forth’s face softened, and he reached out, placing a hand gently on Beam’s shoulder. "That’s all I’m asking. Just try."

---

As Beam walked back to his dorm that evening, his mind was a swirl of emotions. He had agreed to try, to figure out what this was between him and Forth, but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that it was all a mistake.

Forth had always been a mystery—untouchable, dangerous, the kind of guy Beam had always found irresistible in the worst possible ways. And yet, here they were, taking a step toward something neither of them had ever expected.

It felt like they were standing on the edge of a cliff, and Beam had no idea whether to jump or turn back.

But one thing was certain: whatever happened next, he couldn’t walk away from Forth. Not now. Not after everything.

---
Tbc