Noah Clarke

NOAH CLARKE ; THE INTRO

FULL NAME: Noah Jackson Clarke

MEANING: Noah is Hebrew and means rest

NICKNAME(S): N/A

BIRTH DATE: October 26, 1985

AGE: 36

ZODIAC: Scorpio

GENDER: Male

PRONOUNS: He/Him

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Heterosexual

CURRENT LOCATION: Eris

LIVING CONDITIONS: one bedroom, one bathroom mobile home in grandview mobile park

x

She cocked her head as she looked at him. “You don’t have to do that, Noah.” She appreciated it, but she didn’t want to have him do something for her for free. “If you’re sure, but then I’m inviting you over for dinner one night.” If that was the way she could pay him back for that, she would. “I know. And I am for you if you ever need it.” She took a deep breath. “I just get it in my head that I’m a burden and just went to Sunny.” She explained before sighing. “They are. I know some days are harder than others and I’m glad I was able to get through it.” She smiled as he agreed to be her witness for the wedding if she needed him to be. “Thank you. I appreciate it. I figured you’d be the best person.”

“I know I don’t have to do it,” Noah had been drawn to having a habit of going out of his way. It hadn’t always been that way. There had been a past Noah, one that didn’t think about anyone else but himself. That was the Noah he had been trying to make amends for since his release. “You can always invite me over for dinner,” he grinned at her, “I’d never say no to food.” The man found himself to be hungry on almost all occasions. “You are not,” he shook his head, his tone a bit firm about the idea. He knew that was the go to thought for a lot of people struggling with recovery, but he tried to alleviate that feeling. “You are a strong person,” he told her, “and more than your past.” He knew that it might not always seem like it. “I don’t know about best,” he chuckled, shaking his head, “but I’m happy to help out if you need.”

Eddie grinned at his friend while nodding his head. “Yeah, ya can’t fool me anymore, bud.” He told him, poking fun at the other for never telling me the truth about his children. Eddie never blamed Noah for keeping Maggie’s secret. It wasn’t Noah’s place to tell that secret, so Eddie forgave his childhood friend. “It’s been goin’ good. The girls seem to like havin’ me around.” He answered him. Eddie’s eyebrows raised at Noah’s reveal of being with Avery. “Oh, yeah? How’s that been, bud? You never tell me nothin’ anymore.” He said in a teasing tone to his friend. Eddie tossed the free passes onto the table and started to walk away from the booth with Noah. “Shit, anythin’ sounds good at this point. I’m always down for some BBQ, but whatever ya want is fine, bud.”

“I know, I really can’t.” He chuckled with a shake of his head. Though he might not admit it, it was nice to have someone that did know him. Eddie and Maggie knew him better than he knew himself at times. “That’s really good, I’m happy for you.” Noah smiled at the other man. While Noah didn’t think he’d ever be a father himself, the role already suited Eddie better than he could have imagined for his friend. He laughed, shaking his head at Eddie, “Hey, it’s new,” he held up his hands in a mock surrender, “I didn’t want to jinx it by sayin’ anythin’ too early on.” He teased right back, though there was truth to his words. When it came to exploring his relationship with Avery again, the last thing he wanted was to mess it up. “BBQ it is,” he nodded his head, “ain’t Flying Pig got a truck somewhere?”

Eddie laughed a little at the male and gave him a small smile his direction. “Y’know, I bet you would be easy to play in poker.” He joked again, teasing his friend. In honesty, Noah’s expression didn’t get away that he didn’t really want to be there. It was just Eddie’s knowledge of the male. “Well, I don’t know if they’d be avoidin’ us ‘cause of you or me at this point.” He countered him. Most of Fallbrook probably knew the two of them were ex-cons. Eddie never minded that people sometimes turned away when he came down the same aisle in the grocery store. “Been good. Just been tryin’ to soak up much time as I can with the girls between work y’know. What ‘bout you, bud?” He asked him, knowing the two hadn’t hung out for a little bit. “Ya know I’m always hungry.” He stated and laughed a little before adding, “Fuck it, let’s head that way now.”

“You’d know better than anyone,” he laughed, knowing that they were at least joking with one another. Noah didn’t poker often but when he did, his poker face was better than the one he was putting on at the festival and even that one wasn’t that bad. Another chuckle left his lips. Leave it to the two ex-cons to be friends with one another, though their friendship had spanned long before either of them were put away. “Yeah, how’s that been going?” Since the large reveal, Noah had been worried their friendship would change but he was grateful the man didn’t hold a grudge when Noah had known for a long time about Eddie being a father. “Things are good, yeah, been looking up with Avery,” it had been a long time coming, something Noah never thought he would get a second change at, though. Noah let out a laugh with Eddie, nodding his head. “Deal, I’m always hungry too.” They were alike that way. “Whatcha in the mood for?” 

  Isla had her hues locked onto the screen of her phone when she heard a familiar voice call out her name. Looking up, she quickly hit send on the text she had been writing, before shooting him her signature smile. “Noah! Hey!” She grinned, approaching him while her eyes danced between him and the glass in between his lips. “I would love one! But only if you are buying!” She chuckled and tilted her head sweetly to the side. Since returning to town, she had run into him whenever she had ventured out to the local bars and conversation had always been light and playful, but nothing more. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you about recently?” But then again she had been working a lot and been spending most of her free time in Williamsburg with the guy she had been seeing.

“Of course,” he chuckled, nodding his head. “I offered, so it’s the least I can do. I thought we agreed that I wasn’t a total asshole,” he teased her in return. Noah knew people didn’t think highly of him with his past, knowing that he was even less deserving of Isla’s attention with her beauty, but they had come to the agreement it was for fun - for keeping their minds distracted when their hearts yearned elsewhere. “I’ve been good, yeah,” he nodded his head, “things, are uh, actually looking up with Avery,” he reached up to rub the back of his head, “so that’s really nice.” Noah wasn’t big on emotion, wasn’t good with it but he knew that the woman made him happy. 

Eddie glanced around at all the people just walking past the booth and wondered if he’s supposed to be hollering out to them. He figured it didn’t matter. Enzo would take over soon enough and get all the attention of the locals. Eddie laughed at Noah’s sarcastic answer. “I figured so, man. It was just written all over your face.” He teased him. Eddie had a few of the free day passes to still hand out and looked down at them when Noah asked if he was almost done. “Yeah, just about. I don’t think my boss wants me handin’ out these things too much longer. I’m probably just encouragin’ people to not come to the gym.” Eddie answered and chuckled a bit at his own words.

“I’ve got to get better at hiding that joy and excitement.” Noah teased, knowing that really wouldn’t be happening any time soon. It’s not that he didn’t enjoy his time at the festival, it was that he didn’t particularly feel as enthused about it as some of Fallbrook’s natives. Noah laughed, “Nah, I don’t think that for a second,” he told his friend, “I’m sure you are encouraging people just fine,” he looked around, “though if you’re seen hanging out with me for too long, that might start to deter people.” He teased, knowing, that even after three years of his record being cleared, people still tended to avoid him on the streets. “How’ve you been, otherwise? Up for a bite to eat when you’re done?”

WHERE: Cherry Blossom Festival, Rage Cage MMA Gym’s booth WHO: @noahxclarke​

Eddie promised his boss he would help for a few hours handing out free day passes and talking to anybody that came by the booth. Talking to people definitely wasn’t the male’s strongest quality, but he definitely tried his best. Eddie saw Noah and gave him a small smile, waving slightly at him. “Hey, bud,” He greeted him. The two knew each other from both growing up in the Eris district. They both hung in the small crowd during high school, and sadly both spent time in jail for various reasons. In a way, the two were quite similar. “You havin’ the best time of your life or what?” He jokingly asked Noah, figuring the festival wasn’t really his kind of atmosphere as much as it wasn’t really Eddie’s.

Noah wandered around the festival, Maggie twisting his arm in coming. It didn’t matter, though, as he did, in part, hope that he would at least run into Avery. Perusing around the vendors, he spotted Eddie, giving the man a small smile as he was greeted by him in return. “Hey yourself,” if he had to guess, working the vendor booth wasn’t exactly something that he was enjoying. “oh, the best time.” Noah let out a laugh as he shook his head. The festivals in town were hardly the man’s cup of tea, but he entertained them, typically due to the want of hanging out with someone else. “You almost finished up here?”

Noah had already taken a grand liking to where they were serving alcohol. He had gone to many Cherry Blossom Festival over the years. In the last, almost four years, that he had been released from prison, he had gone, mostly on account of someone else pushing him to go. Noah had just grabbed a drink from the bar when he turned to spot a familiar face. “Isla,” he greeted in a lower gruffness, though he was holding a smile on his lips. She had spent many evenings flirting with Noah, though he rarely could figure out why she would waste her time. “need a drink?” He offered to the woman. 

…

Jay nodded his head at the man and turned around. He began the lock up process before walking out of the garage. He pulled the door down and locked it up, dropping the key into his pocket and lifting his eyes up towards the other man. “Yeah, ready to go.” He cleared his throat and walked over towards the truck that was parked out front. “Uh I’ll go to either but Barnyard has been more packed lately it seems so we might have more luck at Pit Stop.”

“Pit Stop it is,” he nodded his head. Noah didn’t particularly care for going to a bar that was going to be busier than normal, plus he frequented the Pit Stop often. “You have a pretty busy day?” Noah had only come into the shop to work on a few vehicles that he was finishing up and not the entire day. “Finally finished up putting that engine in that truck today, myself,” he got into his truck as he awaited Jay, “That was one project I could go without doing again.” He chuckled with his admittance as he started up the old beater truck he had since he was in high school.

Avery dipped her head in wordless thanks as she picked up her glass of wine and took a sip. It was impossible for anything but butterflies to fill her stomach when he smiled at her, even after all this time. And the butterflies turned into blushing ever so slightly as Noah kept talking. The vet nodded, trying to focus her attention on the glass in her hand as he moved closer. All she really wanted to do was reach out for him but it was hardly the appropriate moment for that. Restraint. Avery had always been good at practicing it. But Noah made it more difficult than almost any other situation. Taking another sip to try and steady herself before speaking, the vet nodded. “Very good. I think. I-I’m happy.” She murmured, smiling back at him. She wanted to badly to take the jump, to be them again, but standing on the ledge looking out at what could go wrong, it was daunting.

“Good,” he nodded his head to her words. She was happy. Noah had only ever wanted that for the woman before him. It was why he broke up with her as they graduated high school. Sure, anyone that heard what he did was far from his biggest fan but when he found out that Avery was considering staying in Fallbrook with him and not going to college, he couldn’t let that happen. He knew that he couldn’t convince her to stay. So, he broke up with her. It wasn’t one of his finer moments in life. To him, it was worse than being framed for the car thefts ten years ago. Noah set down his glass on the table, reaching out as he tipped her chin with his fingers, “Avery, I’ve missed you.” He mumbled, closing his eyes a moment before opening them to meet her own. 

“I am glad to hear you find it a lot more amusing than my foot does the next day!” She quipped with a chuckle back at him. It was easy to be around Noah, as he was so relaxed. In a lot of ways he was like the older brother she never had. “Oh I highly doubt I would ever be able to teach someone if I am honest with you, but if I do I am sure I will see where you are coming from.” She had laughed. “Sure! I only have for a few things myself, but if you want we could always meet at the Pit Stop or something in an half an hour or so?”

“It doesn’t find you as amusing?” He chuckled softly, shaking his head. Not that he could particularly blame her foot. The surfboards were not so forgiving of being kicked. “You never know,” he shrugged his shoulders at the woman’s response. “I didn’t think I’d be capable of teaching people.” Considering he was the kid that was tutored in high school for classes. He didn’t think people would even want him to teach them, but here he was. “I don’t really remember how I got to into teaching it,” he told Verity, “it’s not really an official class or anything.” Word of mouth just got around in Fallbrook. “That sounds great,” he nodded his head. “I don’t have much to grab either.” He told her, tapping the handle of his cart lightly. “I’ll see you in a half hour.” 

x

“That’s kind of you to offer, but I don’t want for you to have to go out of your way. Besides, its not as big of a deal as her mother is making it seem. She’s twelve and she has free range of the house for a couple hours. She’s perfectly fine.” Brady often refused to meet his ex-wifes demands when it came to dealing with their child or anything else. They weren’t married any more so he made a point of not allowing her to have that control over him anymore. Let her boss around her new husband. His brows raised with interest. “Oh. Well, perfect timing. Maybe I’ve seen you there before as thats where I usually go. I was probably due for a change anyways. But you know how busy life gets and these things get neglected.” he admitted. “How long you been there?” he asked.

Noah nodded his head. The man didn’t think it was going out of his way, not when that was kind of the point for him. Ever since his release, his wrongful conviction being overturned, Noah wanted to go out of his way. for people. It had only been three years since he started doing it and well, it had become quite a habit. Though, most people didn’t know that about him. As most people didn’t take the time of day to talk to him. People avoided him on the streets where they could, pulling their kids closer as he might have something on him that would transfer to them if they walked by him. “Well, if you change your mind,” he shrugged his shoulders. The last thing he was going to do was pressure the man, respecting his decision. “Life does get in the way,” he chuckled softly, knowing that was the excuse of most. “about three years now,” he told Brady, “I, uh, got into the job pretty late in life.” Which wasn’t a lie.

x

“Hey, you’d bring it on yourself.” She teased him a little before smiling at her coworker who brought them their drinks and she took a sip. “I’ll have to do that once i figure out how to get it over there. I know I could have it towed, but money.” She shrugged before smiling. “I’m not too bad at cars myself, but I couldn’t figure out what was going on when I looked at it.” Ashlyn explained before taking a deep breath. “I’ve been okay. I had a rough day last week and had to fight the urge to relapse. It was the first one I’ve had since I was out of rehab and it was difficult.” She explained to him. “I went to sunny and for a moment, he was upset I went to him at work, but we talked and things are okay.” She bit her lip. “Speaking of the wedding, though, we were kinda thinking of doing a small thing and if I need a witness and in case my brother can’t make it, I was curious if you would be that for me.”

“Consider a complimentary tow,” he told Ashlyn, “I can get somethin’ set up and get it over to my place at the very least.” It was a favor he could do for the woman, considering she had become a close friend in his life. “I won’t even make ya get it to the shop.” He figured if it would be a stretch to spend money on towing, it might be a stretch to fix it but Noah was fortunate to like his job. Noah nodded his head as the conversation turned toward her addiction, “You know I’m just a phone call away.” He told Ashlyn, not wanting her to feel like she was alone in her recovery. After all the mistakes he made growing up, he had started helping recovering addicts with Pope before the man left town. “I’m glad things are okay,” he’d hate for them not to be, she didn’t deserve that. When Ashlyn brought up the wedding, asking if he’d be a witness, his jaw parted and nearly hit the table. “I - Ashlyn, I’d be honored. If you need me there, I’ll be there.”

x

“Perfect.” She said before getting it in and then coming back to join him before laughing. “It definitely is. Otherwise I’d sick my fiance on you.” She teased him before listening and glad that he was doing good. “Right. I still need to get my car looked at so I don’t have to keep doing things around Sunny’s shifts.” Ashlyn shook her head. “At least it’s consistent, though, right?”

“Oh no,” he held up his hands, “don’t go doin’ that, I’d hate to go back to bein’ the town trouble maker if people found out you stuck your fiancé on me.” Noah teased Ashlyn. Though, the man didn’t doubt that people still saw him as that kid. He grew up feeling unloved by his parents. While he knows now that they did love him, they just weren’t ready for him, he couldn’t change the past. And his past was what led his life to being what it is. Even now, in his mid thirties, his relations with his parents were still strained. “Bring in it on in, or I can swing by anytime to take a look at it,” he told Ashlyn, “cars happen to be my specialty.” Nodding his head at her words, “Consistent it is,” he chuckled softly. “You’ve been good, yeah? Any wedding planning happening?”