Thursday, September 03, 2009

Nuke Day: Thursday in the Park with Noah

Today was a Nuke day on As the World Turns. Luke, tired of staring at the clock and waiting for Noah's flight to arrive, showed up at Grimaldi Shipping, where he's still technically employed, though he hasn't been working since Holden's 'death'.

He chatted a bit with Damian about not being quite ready to come back yet but not wanting to be completely lost once he did. Luke sat down to look at some shipping manifests, but still seemed more intent on staring at his watch than anything else.

At the same time, Noah was arriving in Old Town with Mason, thanking him for the ride. Mason said that he'd just wanted to make the trip last as long as it could and Noah agreed that it had been amazing. Mason suggested they get some coffee, but Noah thought he should call Luke first. Mason pointed out that Luke didn't even know that they'd caught an earlier flight back after some wild party they'd attended at a house in the Hollywood Hills.

They discussed how Jude Law passed on Noah's script, which is just completely shocking. Never saw that coming. Mason noted that Jude wanting to meet Noah was still impressive and that maybe the next time Jude needs a writer, he'll think of the random college student from Illinois. Mason further advised that Noah should make sure all the actors he's interested in for the role know that Jude was interested, and then told Noah to buy him some coffee and he'd tell him all about this casting idea he'd had.

In other words, Noah didn't call Luke and Mason can't seem to get enough of Mr. Mayer.

Over coffee, Noah mentioned how surreal all of this seems (you think?) and Mason told him that believing he was in the business was three quarters of actually being in the business, or something like that. I was distracted by that fact that Mason was pretty much having his way with Noah with his eyes while they talked.

Mason told Noah that he'd a great time, that Noah was a fun guy to hang out with. Noah agreed that the same was true about Mason, and it almost seemed like the two were experiencing a real connection there for a moment, before Mason said he had to go.

Noah gave his professor a hug goodbye, which of course Luke walked up just in time to see. Noah was thrilled to see Luke and wanted to tell him all about their trip, while Mason looked decidedly unhappy at Luke's sudden appearance.

Noah began talking about the trip and how he'd met Jude Law and Seth Rogan, not seeming to notice at first that Luke wasn't exactly responding to the tale with genuine enthusiasm. Gee, maybe that's because he buried his father while you were off partying, and you haven't even asked how the funeral was or how your boyfriend is holding up? Just a thought.

After Mason left, Noah told Luke how much he'd missed him and Luke said that partying with all those actors had probably helped ease the pain. Noah finally caught on and asked Luke what the problem was. Luke mentioned that he'd been planning to take a Grimaldi car to the airport to meet Noah, and that Noah hadn't even called to tell him he was coming in early.

Noah apologized for spoiling the surprise and Luke insisted that he was okay with it. Noah suggested that Luke prove that to him some place private.

Luke took Noah for a walk in the park instead and remained a bit distant. Noah asked how long it was going to be before Luke told him what was really bothering him. Luke finally pointed out that his father had just died and sarcastically apologized for not being good company.

Noah quickly said that he hadn't meant it like that and that Luke knew how much Holden had meant to him. Not enough to go to his funeral, Luke countered. Okay, Noah was being a total ass for the way he was acting after his return, but since Luke insisted that Noah go meet Jude Law, it's not fair of Luke to throw that in his face.

Noah pointed this out and Luke said that Noah could have tried to resist a bit harder. Noah replied that if Luke had wanted him to stay, he should have told him so, and that Noah is not a mind reader. Noah further declared that Luke's mood had nothing to do with the funeral, it was about the fact that Noah had a good time in LA, with Mason: Luke was jealous.

Luke asked how he was supposed to compete with all of that and Noah told him that he doesn't have to compete with anybody, that he is the person he cares most about in his life, the person he's in love with. The scene turned lighter as Luke told Noah how much he'd missed him and they hugged.

Noah finally asked about the funeral and Luke told him how bad it had been. Noah apologized for not having stayed and Luke told him that he hadn't known what he wanted himself, so how could Noah have known? They hugged again, just as Mason rode by on his bike and loudly told them to get a room.

Noah was amused by this, but Luke looked like he'd just smelled something truly awful. Even though Mason had just gone past them at a decent speed without any sign of stopping, the next scene was of the three guys standing together on the trail and talking. Noah was telling Luke, who continued to look like he'd rather be anywhere else than standing there with Mason, about the professor's great ideas, including casting over the Internet. Noah said that being in LA had been very motivating and Mason added that they'd also had a blast.

Luke not so subtly broke in to say that he should probably go see how his mother and the rest of his family was doing, and Mason took the hint and left them alone, though not without a final longing glance in Noah's direction. After he was gone, Luke half jokingly asked Noah if Mason had any other students.

Alone together, Luke and Noah had a little idle in the grass. This was actually a beautifully shot scene that was somehow very sexy. Their body language and the overall chemistry between these two was in full effect, making it quite clear, without even the need of words, that this was a couple who were very much in love.

Luke claimed to be able to read Noah's mind and suggested that Noah wanted to take him home. After they talked a bit more about how the family was coping with Holden's 'death' and Luke told Noah again how much he'd missed him, they walked off together, headed for that apartment we'll never get to see.

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