Chapter 8: LATE NIGHT BEACH VIBES

Noah has woken up with a splitting headache. He stays in bed until afternoon, when he ventures into the kitchen for a belated breakfast. His stomach growls, but he winces when needles stick behind his eyes. The sun is still strong in the skyline, and the apartment is bright with light. Rose is nowhere to be seen, probably working.

His breakfast is cut short when nausea brings him to the bathroom. His hands tremble with the effort as he takes enough painkillers to numb his whole being, or to ulcer his stomach, maybe.  He curses at his own reflection, his eye bags dark, and his eyes half closed in a dazed gaze that looks without really watching.

Then, he spends the next hours napping in a sweaty state of half consciousness, slipping in and out of nightmares that involve a chase. However, this time, it's him who's being chased. But it doesn't matter how much he runs, it always catches up with him.

He dreams of Rune next. They are in a beach, sitting in a cement statue. Noah feels the nostalgia of seeing a long lost friend. They stroll on the sand, their feet sinking in the sun. Noah says to Rune, "I missed this." When he tentatively opens his eyes, the headache is gone, but the lingering memory of the dream stays with him after he's fully woken.

He finishes the half eaten bowl of cereal while the sun is setting down, Rune will soon close the bookstore. That gives him a wild idea. He retrieves the contact book from Riley's desk, and saves the contact in his phone.

At the second ring, Rune picks up with a cold "Hello."

"I'm Noah. Pick me up when you close the store." He hangs up without waiting for an answer, and runs to the shower.

He goes to the grocery store, and buys wine and bagged nachos... Noah regrets not learning to cook, but this'll have to do.

At home, he packs everything in his messenger bag. And some apples. He is anxious. There's a possibility Rune won't come. Maybe he's not the type of guy to like improvised midnight plans. What if he's busy? He should've ask first if he had other plans. Maybe he should cancel the plan...

An hour later, the night has settled, and the doorbell rings. Rune announces his presence in the intercom with a cold "I'm here." Noah runs down the stairs, and he is waiting outside. He's leaning on the bike, a second helmet placed on the seat. His stance is relaxed, but vigilant. His arms are crossed over his chest, demanding, threatening. Daring anyone to get closer to a predator.

"I had a dream", Noah says breathless, "and now we absolutely have to go to the beach."

Rune has this helmet on, so Noah can't really see the expression behind it. He sees his eyes traveling Noah's disheveled clothes. At least his hair is fluffy, he thinks crossing his arms across his chest, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

After a few seconds, Rune gets on the bike and waits for Noah.

Noah smiles, and silently gets on the bike.

Riding across the city at night hits different, Noah thinks as he looks at the blurry lights. People are having drinks in bars, or dining at fancy restaurants. The streets are not as busy as in the middle of the day, so it's easier to maneuver. And the emptiness of the outskirts brings a melancholic vibe to the city. As if the world is ending, and they only have each other.

The night gets colder on the bike. Luckily, he brought the parka. Also, the warm body that he's holding onto helps...

The beach at night is a bottomless pit of void. Some waves crash on the shoreline, the only sign that there is indeed a body of water beyond the darkness. Even if he concentrates, Noah can't distinguish the horizon. The lights of the far away port reflect on the sea.

"A starry night on the rhone," Rune says.

Noah whips his head to look at him, his mouth partly open in a side smile of appreciation and surprise.

"God damn, you're good." He opens his backpack, taking out the wine and chips. "I brought this."

They sit on the sand. The beach is almost empty, save for a small group far away, and a couple that is walking hand in hand. The sand is packed and humid, and Noah feels a goosebump in his back.

The sea breeze caresses Rune's hair, and strands of red and black dance over his forehead. He looks like a wild creature that might disappear on Noah at the slightest movement. He is hugging his knees, the talon of his boots sinking in the sand, and the sleeves of his jacket lifting enough to show the ends of the tattoos on his forearms. Noah distinguishes the white line that the black ink is covering, but he doesn't say anything. Rune's looking at the sea, and Noah takes advantage of his distraction to look a little bit more, to run his eyes along his profile. The background lights cast a glowing line that outlines his straight nose. His face is serious, but he lets his bored mask slip for a second, and Noah sees something. There is something there that he can't identify.

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"Why are you different?", he asks without looking. Noah is taken aback, and he quickly turns to look at the sea.

As the time before where Rune asked the same thing, Noah tries to give him as much of a truth as he can, "We leave regrets when we die, but I think I left too many. Could I have met more people for the first time? Could I have made people a little happier? Could I have loved a little better?"

Rune stays silent, so Noah talks about Noah, "I realize the many unsaid things I left behind. Sometimes, you are lucky enough to have a second opportunity. Sometimes, you don't, and people don't get to understand."

"Does it matter if they understand?", Rune asks.

Noah bumps into Rune in a playful gesture, "Of course it does. What about all the possibilities, of what could've been."

"But you're here," he says, still facing the sea, "You can make it into something real."

Noah considers this. "Yes, you're right." He opens the wine, and offers the bottle to Rune. He takes a quick swig before returning it. "Do you know the story of the Little and Big Bear?", ha asks pointing to the sky.

The stars shine. The sky is clear, a dark canvas in which the sparkles write their stories. Rune shakes his head.

"A goddess was turned into a bear, and his son almost hunt her down. Another god sent them both to the sky. The mom and the son, the Big Bear, and the Little Bear." He sees Rune is silently looking at the sky. "Sometimes I feel like the Big Bear. Like a part of me is trapped, and no one sees me."

Rune turns to look at Noah. Noah looks into Rune's dark eyes, two piercing black eyes that threat to devour everything at their path. Noah smiles.

They drink half the bottle of wine, and they empty the bag of nachos in peaceful silence. The sound of the sea relaxes Noah's tense shoulders, the salty smell floods his nostrils. It's a good smell, that brings him a memory of laughter, and being hold in his father's arms. He forgets the anxious journey to find answers, and his eyes get droopy. After a while, he lies down on the sand. Rune follows him. Their arms are brushing, separated by a few layers of clothes.

Noah turns his head to Rune, and sniffs. "I don't like your new shampoo," he whispers, "I liked the smell of vanilla on you."

Rune doesn't respond. Noah's cheeks burn, and he concentrates on the sky.

"Is it like your dream?", Rune asks.

"It's much better."

Tomorrow, he'll have to look for Riley's relative. He wonders how they are doing, and hopes his negligence hasn't put them in danger. Riley's an orphan, Rose told him surprised to hear about his family. She said he didn't have much contact with anyone outside of Duncan's group, so Noah suspects it's someone close. Rose promised to look with him. At least, he won't do it alone.

If he could ask Riley's friends, it would make things easier. However, Noah's starting to suspect that not even his friends knew about the patient. Maybe Riley got caught up in something else, and that just happened to be connected to Sam.

He closes his eyes. He's tired after that deadly headache, and now he feels so refreshed that he's getting sleepy. "I wish I could stay like this forever," his voice is heavy. Rune moves at his side, but Noah doesn't open his eyes to look at what he's doing. He takes out two apples, offers one to Rune.

Noah hears Rune munching on the apple.

And that makes Noah happy.

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