Chapter 20 Midnight Confessions
1526 Words
The house was quiet by evening.
Too quiet.
Rain tapped lightly against the windows, the sound soft and steady, like a heartbeat slowing after a long day. Noah sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket Liam had handed him earlier, staring at nothing in particular. His body felt better—stronger—but his mind was still fractured.
Liam returned from the kitchen carrying two plates.
“You should eat,” he said gently.
Noah nodded. “Thank you.”
They ate together at the small dining table. The food was simple but warm—comforting. Neither of them spoke much. Their silence wasn’t awkward; it was careful. Like both of them were afraid one wrong word might shatter whatever fragile balance they were holding.
When they finished, Liam collected the plates.
“You can sleep in the guest room,” he said. “Or… if you don’t want to be alone, you can stay here. On the bed. I’ll keep my distance.”
Noah hesitated.
The thought of being alone made his chest tighten.
“I’ll stay,” he said quietly.
Liam nodded, understanding more than Noah said out loud.
12:00 A.M.
Noah woke to the sound of his name.
Soft.
Careful.
“Noah.”
He stirred, eyes opening slowly. The room was dark, lit only by the faint glow of the city outside the window. He realized Liam was sitting on the edge of the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Noah murmured, heart instantly alert.
Liam exhaled shakily. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Noah sat up, the blanket sliding down slightly. “Did something happen?”
Liam hesitated, fingers curling into the fabric of his pants. “I shouldn’t do this. I know I shouldn’t. But if I don’t say it now, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
Noah’s heart began to race.
“Liam…”
“I know you’re with him,” Liam said, voice low. “I know what this looks like. And I swear—I’m not trying to trap you. I just… need you to hear me.”
Noah swallowed hard. “Okay.”
Liam looked up at him then, eyes dark, vulnerable, stripped of all arrogance.
“I didn’t just like you,” he said. “I didn’t just fall for you. You changed something in me. The way you think. The way you speak when you’re pushed. The way you stay gentle even when the world isn’t.”
Noah’s breath hitched.
“I’ve lived my life like nothing sticks,” Liam continued. “People come, people go. I never cared. Until you.”
Noah shook his head slightly. “Liam… I just said yes to someone else.”
“I know,” Liam said softly. “And that’s why this hurts.”
He stood slowly, stepping closer to the bed—but not touching.
“I’m not asking you to choose me,” he said. “I just want you to know that what I feel is real. That if circumstances were different… I would’ve fought harder.”
Noah’s chest ached painfully.
“Why tell me now?” Noah whispered.
“Because watching you collapse made me realize how close I came to losing you without ever being honest,” Liam replied. “And I couldn’t live with that.”
Silence swallowed the room.
Noah looked down at his hands. “I care about you,” he admitted. “But this—this feels wrong.”
“I know,” Liam said. “And I’ll stop if you ask me to.”
Noah looked up.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment—tired, emotional, raw—everything felt too heavy to carry alone.
Liam leaned in.
Slowly.
Giving Noah time to pull away.
He didn’t.
Their lips met—briefly, softly, trembling with shock and confusion rather than desire. The kiss was gentle, almost painful in its restraint.
Noah pulled back immediately, eyes wide, breath uneven.
“Oh God,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have—”
“I’m sorry,” Liam said instantly, stepping back. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Noah pressed a hand to his mouth, heart pounding. “I feel like I just betrayed him.”
Liam’s expression tightened with guilt. “You didn’t ask for this.”
“But I didn’t stop it,” Noah replied, voice breaking.
Liam looked at him for a long moment, then turned away. “Get some rest. I won’t cross that line again.”
He lay down on the far edge of the bed, facing away, giving Noah space.
Love.
Loyalty.
Mistakes.
He didn’t know which hurt more
Noah was still awake when the phone lit up.
The room was silent, the kind of silence that presses against your chest and refuses to let you breathe properly. Liam was asleep on the far edge of the bed, his back turned, shoulders tense even in rest—as if his body knew he wasn’t allowed peace.
Noah’s phone vibrated once.
Then again.
He turned his head slowly.
Aiden.
His heart dropped.
For a moment, Noah didn’t move. He just stared at the screen, the glow illuminating his face in the dark. His mind raced—too fast, too loud.
Now?
Why now?
Guilt crept up his spine, cold and sharp.
He carefully slid out of bed, making sure not to wake Liam, and padded quietly into the hallway. He leaned against the wall, steadying himself, then answered.
“Aiden…”
Noah’s voice cracked instantly.
Aiden exhaled on the other end, the sound shaky and tired. “Hey.”
Hearing his voice like that—far away, strained, unfamiliar—made Noah’s chest ache.
“I didn’t wake you, did I?” Aiden asked softly.
“No,” Noah lied. “I was… awake.”
There was a pause. Noah could almost picture Aiden, probably sitting somewhere alone, lights dim, thoughts spiraling.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Aiden admitted. “Everything feels unreal here.”
Noah swallowed. “How’s your dad?”
“Stable,” Aiden said. “Still unconscious. Doctors are hopeful, but…” He trailed off. “I hate not knowing.”
“I’m really glad you called,” Noah said quietly. “I was worried.”
Aiden let out a small breath, almost a laugh. “I figured. You always worry.”
The familiarity almost broke Noah.
“Listen,” Aiden continued, voice lowering. “There’s something I need to hear from you.”
Noah’s pulse spiked.
“Are you okay?” Aiden asked. “Really okay.”
Noah hesitated.
Too long.
Aiden noticed immediately. “Noah.”
“I… I fainted,” Noah said finally. “At school.”
Silence slammed into the call.
“You what?” Aiden said sharply.
“I’m okay,” Noah rushed. “I promise. Stress. Too much pressure. They checked me.”
“Where are you right now?” Aiden asked, voice tight with fear.
Noah closed his eyes.
“I’m… safe.”
“That’s not an answer,” Aiden said.
Noah leaned his forehead against the wall. “I’m at Liam’s place.”
Another silence—but this one felt different. Heavy. Alert.
“…Why?” Aiden asked carefully.
“He brought me here after I collapsed,” Noah said quickly. “The hospital said I needed rest. That’s all.”
Aiden didn’t respond immediately.
Noah’s heart hammered.
“Are you alone?” Aiden asked.
Noah’s throat tightened. “Yes.”
It wasn’t entirely true.
But it wasn’t entirely a lie either.
Aiden exhaled slowly. “Okay.”
Noah could hear the restraint in his voice—the effort it took not to ask more, not to push.
“I hate that I’m not there,” Aiden said. “I hate that I can’t protect you right now.”
“You don’t have to,” Noah whispered. “I’m strong. I just… forgot for a moment.”
Aiden’s voice softened. “You don’t have to be strong with me.”
That was it.
Noah’s eyes burned.
“I miss you,” Aiden said quietly.
Noah closed his eyes. “I miss you too.”
There was a long pause—one filled with things Noah didn’t know how to say.
Then Aiden spoke again.
“Noah… promise me something.”
“What?”
“Promise me you won’t disappear while I’m gone,” Aiden said. “Promise me you won’t carry everything alone.”
Noah’s chest tightened painfully.
“I promise,” he said.
Aiden breathed out, relieved. “Good.”
They stayed on the call for a few more minutes—talking about nothing important, just the sound of each other’s voices anchoring them.
Before hanging up, Aiden said softly, “I love you. Don’t forget that.”
Noah pressed his lips together, guilt clawing at his chest.
“I won’t,” he whispered.
The call ended.
Noah stared at the dark screen, his reflection faint and distorted.
Behind him, a floorboard creaked.
He turned.
Liam stood in the hallway.
He hadn’t heard the words—but he saw the look on Noah’s face.
And he understood enough
- Writer
