NoahTate
Noah Loonis, a seventeen-year-old on the verge of his eighteenth birthday, sneaks out at night to climb the oak tree between his house and his best friend Tate Blu's. The boys have been inseparable since childhood, sharing years of sleepovers and innocent closeness that, for Noah, has become anything but simple. Tate is confident, popular, and undeniably straight, while Noah struggles with his growing romantic and physical feelings for his best friend-feelings he keeps hidden out of fear and heartbreak.
Throughout a night spent together in Tate's room, Noah lies awake, hyper-aware of the touches and affection that mean comfort and friendship to Tate but torment Noah with longing. He battles guilt, confusion, and loneliness, knowing that Tate's affection is unintentional and platonic. Noah's internal struggle is heightened by the everyday routines and rituals that once felt safe but now remind him of the painful gap between what he wants and what he can have.
The story explores themes of unrequited love, the complexities of queer identity, and the ache of loving someone who will never feel the same. As morning comes, Noah resigns himself to another day of pretending, carrying his feelings alone and cherishing moments of closeness that are both precious and heartbreaking.