Chapter 2: Hidden Love

Noah’s father is none other than the most famous baseball player in the whole of Oaken Hills. As a teenager he used to play for a very well-known team and received a lot of sponsors. It was right before he went up to bat that he slipped down a flight of stairs and broke his leg. His leg had healed but he was never able to play again due to the severity of the injury.

This had broken him more than anything and he gave up on the sport he loved and destroyed anything to do with it. He became a well-known banker as a backup and it made him quite rich in Oaken Falls. When his son was born, he was overjoyed. This was his chance to play sports again and he was so happy he didn’t even care what sport so as his beloved son grew up, he was taught to play every sport there was.

Noah was now a sophomore and captain of the football team and the basketball team. He also filled in for the baseball and tennis teams for competitions. There was never a more athletic guy in the school than him and he was well on his way to getting a sports scholarship so you would never guess what he might be hiding. Every day after clubs were over at around half 4, he would sneak his way into the drama club’s costume room. They were always the first club to finish so they would have all left by now. Why would a sports star like him be sneaking into an empty room at the same time every day after school? 

The lights were never switched on instead Noah pulled a lantern out of his bag and switched it on so he could see where he was going and it seemed whoever he was meeting had already gotten there first.

“It’s 4:32 you are late you know.” The voice spoke.

“It’s difficult to navigate this room in the dark, especially now with a fresh play coming up. The drama club keeps moving things around here.” Noah whispered. 

The one Noah was talking to was none other than Dylan Tyne. He was the main drummer in the school’s marching band and took his role very seriously. He was a good kid and never dared get into trouble with anyone. His parents were killed in a car accident when he was a baby and his grandparents who raised him have always been strict.

They wanted him to be like his father and get into music so they pressured him into joining the marching band. Dylan knew they did it out of love and because they just wanted to hold on to their memories of his father so he has always done whatever they asked so why is he hiding out in the school’s costume room with Noah?

“How was band practice?” Noah asked.

“I love music but this is ever so tiring and repetitive. I get the importance of timing and teamwork but I am so bored. I love music but this is not my future. How was sports today?” Dylan asked.

“I wish I could tell my father I couldn’t care less about any sports and the more I am forced into it the more I hate it but that is the reason I exist.” Noah replied.

“One more year and we graduate and our grand plan can come into fruition. No more hiding in creepy closets.” Dylan said.

“The worst part is that we’re in a closet so our families don’t find out what we’re planning.” Noah said, holding Dylan’s hand.

“Let’s ignore the now like every day and focus on the future. I’m going to be the greatest composer there is. You will hear my music in so many films it will blow your mind. It’s a good thing I can play drums, guitar, flute and piano so well. You are going to be the greatest architect this world has ever seen. We’ll conquer this place together just like we planned.” Dylan explained.

“Every week we will match our schedules to see when we’re free and we’ll book in time for each other.” Noah said.

“When someone tells us, a great opportunity comes up, we will apologise but have to re-book.” Dylan replied. “Do you remember why?”

“There will always be other opportunities but there will never be anyone like him so I thank you for your gracious opportunity but I’m afraid I already have love scheduled for that particular moment. I do hope you can understand and I would love to re-book at a later opportunity if that suits you.” Noah recited.

“It still sounds corny when you say it out loud but it’s true. Once we graduate even if we’re apart we will always be together. Plus, we have that hidden diary app on our phones that we fill in every time we get an update on anything important.” Dylan laughed.

“From the moment you threw a rock at me when we were kids, I knew it would just be us against the world and I’m ok with that.” Noah said.

“From the moment you dressed as a possessed oak tree to terrify me so much that I threw a rock at you I knew I would be able to face anything with you by my side and I’m ok with that.” Dylan replied.

This was their secret. Dylan and Noah loved each other so much but the lives they wanted did not match the lives their families wanted for them so they would meet in secret each day and talk about the day they would be done with school and start their grand plans into the future. Some people however had secrets that were not known to anybody which could easily be taken as suspicious.

There was Jill the bookworm who spent most of her time at the library or at home with curtains shut. At least people thought it was her home and there was Wren the outcast who appeared to be living all alone in the junk-yard on the edge of Oaken Hills. This didn’t seem to be a good idea with such a powerful storm on its way.