Noah Armstrong

“Nah–” Shaking her head playfully before she tossed the towel to him. “So is this just what we’re doing today? Hanging out in the pool and doing nothing?”

“Wow. I see how it is,” He chuckled, moving to plop down next to her on the lawn chair, wrapping his arms around her, so that she’d intentionally get wet in the process. “I mean, we don’t have to just do nothing, but pretty much. Why? You got any better ideas?” Noah asked, sitting up in his seat.

“Sure.” Grabbing his towel from a near by chair, she handed it over to him. “I’m guessing you forgot our plans to go pick out paint and furniture.”

“Forget? No... Get mildly distracted? maybe. But, let me just get changed and we’ll go. I promise,” He said, flashing her an apologetic smile.

lounging at one of the pool side chair, cori glanced over when someone called over to her. “making me move from my spot. i guess you’re worth it.” she teased, as she grabbed his towel. walking over to him she gave a smile, “anything else you need?”

“You guess, huh?” He chuckled, smiling over at her as he took the towel from her. “No- nope. I can’t think of anything that comes to mind. But, what about you? Is there anything I can do for you? Repay the favor?”

“Yeah, dude, catch–” Tae said, tossing the towel towards Noah. “That was your best time yet: Four laps in a minute thirty!”

“Guess vampire speed really does work in water, huh?” Noah chuckled, catching the towel in the air as he climbed out of the pool. “I didn’t splash you too badly, did I?” He asked as he began to dry off.

She wasn’t too sure on why she chose to be at the pool that day. But when Brianna heard someone speak, she turned towards the person and nodded her head before looking for the towel. “ Sorry, here you go.” She told him as she handed him the towel in question. 

“Thanks,” He told her with a warm smile as he took the towel from her. “And you know, you don’t have to apologize. I mean you were doing me a favor so, if anything, I should be the one saying sorry to bother you.”

Noah’s voice brought Caitlin back down to earth, her blue gaze snapping over in his direction. “Here you go”, she tossed the towel his way.

“Thanks, Cait,” He grinned, catching the towel from her, before giving her a cheeky smile, “What would I do without you?”

“Towel would be good.” He reached over and grabbed the other man the towel. “Surprised the pool isn’t closed yet. Considering it’s September.”

“Thanks, man, and that’s cause we’re in the South. Gotta love 90 degree weather late into fall, huh?” Noah chuckled at the thought. 

Andrea laughed, shaking her head as she handed Noah a towel. “You enjoy your swim?”

“I did actually,” He chuckled grabbing the towel from her hand and beginning to dry off. “You enjoy the land?” He teased.

Kelsie had been lounging on one of the pool chairs when she heard him.  She smiled slightly and handed him the towel.  “Here.  Please don’t drip on me though I’m almost completely dry.”

“I’ll try not to, but no promises,” He chuckled, pulling himself up onto the pool deck as he began to dry himself off. “How you been, Kels?” He asked, as he dried off his hair just a bit.

“I came out here to have a good time and you makin’ me your towel boy. I should be offended,” Damien said in jest as he haded Noah the towel. “It’s been a while, Noah. How you been?”

“Oh please. You love the fact that I still need you,” Noah joked, taking the towel from Damien and beginning to dry himself off. “And I’m getting by. Trying get my life back together and all that, I guess. But, what about you, big guy? How you been holding up? The kids haven’t ruined your high score at laser tag again have they?”

“Hey, yeah, hang on a sec,” Pax said, putting his book down at Noah’s question and looking around for the guy’s towel. He loped over to grab the towel and then made his way to Noah to hand it to him. “Kinda late for the pool to be open isn’t it? It’s September.”

“Thanks, man,” Noah smiled warmly over at the kid as he took the towel from him. “And yeah? But, then again we live in the South for a reason,” He said, giving Pax a little shrug as he started to dry himself off. “Whatcha reading by the way?”

“Well, try to stick to crowds. I hear they usually take to the woods to get us alone,” James offered. It was the only advice he could think of. He and his brother were more distant than ever due to their own respective decisions, but James didn’t want his brother to die or suffer, no matter how difficult things were between them. But he didn’t know much about this new underworld Noah was a part of. “Maybe stay at a club or something until sunrise. Increase your odds.”

James stopped in his tracks when Noah started listing off the worst names he could have said: The Mathesons, the Hamilton Pack… The Mathesons who turned him and ruined his standing in their pack and then the other pack in town whom James had a treaty with. Treaty or not, wolf code was pretty universal: if someone is cast out from one pack, the allied pack shows solidarity. Apparently loyalty meant nothing to Natalia, but he never thought she’d be such a snake in the grass. Taking his own brother when he wasn’t even a wolf seemed just like a move to piss off the Armstrongs, to flex on him.

“Please tell me this is you being sarcastic.” James said evenly, taking a deep breath before launching into a reaction. Surely Noah wasn’t this stupid that he would jeopardize a truce between two powerful packs. That he wouldn’t run into bed for a second time with the vampire who despised their family and literally killed him on a whim. That he was so naive and indecisive that he would claim loyalty to three different groups: The Lovell Clan, The Hamilton Pack, and the Mathesons. “You’re joking. Right?”

“James,” Noah stopped his brother, his voice soft as he spoke. “This isn’t my first full moon like this. I’m good. I’m promise. I figured it out,” He said with a little shrug. He appreciated his brother’s advice, he did and a month ago? He would have been lapping it up, clinging to every word. But now? He wasn’t the little boy following in his brother’s shadow anymore. He was thankful that James was trying. That’s all he had ever wanted, to know in some way or another that his brother cared. But, no matter how much he appreciated it, the advice itself was just a little bit too late. “You little brother is all grown up now, so-”

As he watched James’ react, Noah just gave his big brother a simple shrug. He knew his brother would probably be pissed or disappointed in him. Not that, that was really anything new, but the little kid that used cling onto the hope that maybe things between them might be different, wasn’t really around anymore. Noah loved James, he always would. James wasn’t just a brother to him. For most of his life, he was a role model. But, now? Noah was done looking for anyone else’s approval, but his own. “No, I’m not,” Noah told him, lifting up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal the Hamilton pack insignia over where the Armstrong Pack’s once was. “Look- you’ll always be my brother. And if you want to get to know me? I mean the real me? Not just the guy who worked as your right hand? I’ll be here. But, the pack’s yours. Not mine. You have a family. And until you allow me to fit in it, I’m gonna to support the people who want me. Who are proud of me.” He didn’t say he was sorry, because he wasn’t. But, there was something apologetic in his tone all the same. 

Ryker nodded, understanding where Noah was coming from. “I back the idea of my face on your body a thousand percent,” he said, laughing. “I’ll even pose for it. How about a big smile with a thumbs up?” He asked, demonstrating what he meant, knowing how goofy he had to look. The wolf was laughing again as he picked the two of them trying to sleep on the couch, only for Jacen to see and demand they make room for him. “We may have to look into getting a second couch so we can shove them together for the three of us to use.”

“Oh yes! Perfect. It will look so great on my lower back too. Just you wait,” He laughed, the corner of his eyes crinkling as he spoke. He didn’t say it, but he was more thankful for this than the other man could ever know. Pack or not, he had Ryker and the two of them could joke around just they used to, like the past hadn’t actually happened. “That is definitely one option. But, you know what we could also do? Invest in a pull out. That way we can all snuggle up together in a bed,” He joked, flashing the other a goofy smile.

Amanda let herself be pulled into the hug, her body shaking against Noah’s as the tears came rolling out. “It’s all I have and it’s gone. She’s-” The blonde took a shaky breath and buried her face against him. “I’ve looked everywhere.”

“I got you,” Noah whispered, holding Amanda tight to her side. He knew there wasn’t much he could say or do except continue to search and be someone for her to lean on. But, he wanted to know that he was here- for anything she needed, anything at all.

“No, no I probably should have locked the door. It wasn’t anything important. Just…something I have to do to stay alive.” She looked down at her feet and then back up at him. “This is…really awkward and I know it’s awkward because it’s me and everything I do is awkward, but this isn’t like cute awkward and I know if any other person walked through the door it wouldn’t be…I wouldn’t feel this kind of awkwardness. But it’s you so…it’s different?” She was trying to make a point and yet somewhere in there she feel like she might have lost it. “I really am sorry you had to see that.”  

“Hey,” He said softly, taking a step closer towards her as she spoke. “It’s okay,” He told her honestly, taking her hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I know what you are. I’m not judging. You’re not the only one who has to do things to survive. See?” He said, opening his mouth and pointing to his fangs. “Don’t apologize,” He told her quietly. Sure- this situation was awkward and weird but- how could judge her when he literally had to eat people to get by?

“I’m pretty sure that’s how most people look when they have to have a war of words with me. Here this bitch comes. Because you let the store not accept my coupons…I will stand in that line all day arguing about my right to use all of my coupons. So I wish a receptionist would try me.” She shook her head at his words. “Normally, I am all about consent. But when you’re just being stubborn and it’s life or death, I’m going to force you because I like having you around. But that’s enough mush for one day. And I might never say that again, so enjoy it.”

“Awww. You love me, don’t you?” Noah chuckled, giving Jasmine a light nudge. “And remind me never to give you an expired coupon ever.”

“Well if it makes you feel better, I know how old you are so I would never think that was accurate, unless you’ve been lying to me this whole time and your cute as a button self is actually sort of ancient.” She smile when he said that he was going to be going back to work at the station. “Oh that’s great, does that mean your fake IDs and travel papers days are numbered too? What are you going to be doing?”

“Damn I wish. That would be one hell of a plot twist,” He chuckled at the thought. “And I- I honestly don’t know. I don’t want to stop. But, I also don’t want to let the station down. I just wish the law reflected more what was right, ya know? But, I guess that’s all a matter of perspective, huh?”