Noah & Navid

Chapter 2- Second Thoughts

"No way Noah! First, they don't get down with dick. I'm pretty sure they kill you for that over there," Erik, my best friend, stated angrily when I'd told him about my morning class crush.

I'd pulled up the app on his phone and showed him Navid's pics.

He ignored me and continued,  "Second, I really don't see the attraction. Hairy guys with too much cologne. I mean he's not horrid looking, but you can do better. What about Miguel? You know he is into you and I heard he's super hung and knows how to lay it down. Trust me, these foreign guys are just friendly. They don't mean anything by it and I'm pretty sure you would get seriously hurt if you made a move on him."

"I'm not going to make a move. It just felt like it was more than friendly," I sighed and looked around the coffee place Erik always made us go to because he was obsessed with the pierced, tattooed guy behind the counter.

"It's how Middle Eastern guys are, Noah..." He sighed at me knowing my heart was set. "They grow up showing friendly affection between guys. They even hold hands. They don't mean anything by it. It's not gay to them. He probably thinks of you as a younger brother."

"It felt like more. What if he does mean something by it and he wants to do more with me?" I was hopeful.

"Maybe he does, but what if he just wants sex? I had my own experience with one. It was pretty hot. He was really dominant and he knew what he was doing. I came so hard and then again when he finished. I thought he was really into me, but once he fucked me he never called again."

"So he did mean something by it, at least until he got something from you." I shot back and sipped at my green tea.

I was getting defensive. Erik rolled his eyes.

"I just don't want you getting hurt. It's High School all over again. You followed Dillon around like a puppy and never got anywhere because he's straight and told you that a thousand times," Erik reminded me sharply that we'd been friends for a long time and he knew me well.

"It's not like that," I shook my head. Dillon just liked attention.

"It will be if you keep at it! You're cute, Noah. I'd do you if we weren't like brothers and you didn't have a crazy, overprotective father!" Erik laughed.

He and my dad didn't get along too well since High School when Erik's parents would let him out for parties and pretty much anything. They even got him a nice car when he turned 16, and then another one when he wrecked the first. Erik didn't understand why I wasn't allowed the same freedoms.

He wasn't entirely welcome in my house, but my father understood I needed friends who were like me. Erik was tolerated, and had learned to be more respectful with my dad. The two of them rarely said more than hello and nodded when they crossed paths.

"Just don't get too into him, Noah. Even if he does want to do stuff with you, he'd never be out about it. You'd either be his one time shot or his secret shame. I don't want you getting hurt. That's not what you deserve. If you do like him, be his friend but take care of yourself first," Erik implored though his look said he knew it was a losing battle.

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I woke up the next morning and Erik's words made more sense.

Friends. I could do that. I got to class early and sat in the same spot and saved the seat next to me. That was the friendly thing to do. Save a seat for my friend, buddy, chum.

Only he didn't show up on time. Class started and I looked around for him anxiously.

The rest of his crowd had filed in, but he wasn't with them. I thought about asking them where Navid was, but friends aren't thirsty like that. No, that wasn't what a friend would do.