Choose-your-own-adventure 1

The boys are filming the third series and something unexpected happens to Noel. Noel isn’t happy and he ends up at a party.

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Shock

Contents

Shock

Author’s Notes: Readers choose “A: Go home with Julian”

I realy wish I owned Noel and Julian and made money from them… but alas one can but dream

A big thank you to Silvaa for her great beta-ing


With Julian’s arm placed protectively around Noel’s shoulders to stop him from falling over again, he led Noel down the road towards where he had parked his car. Once there, he opened the passenger door and helped him in.

Julian got into the driver’s seat and glanced over at Noel who was leaning his head against the window. Julian fastened his seatbelt and put the key in the ignition.

A few minutes of silence ensued, punctuated only by the rumble of the car. Julian glanced at Noel periodically, concern playing across his face. Still leaning his head against the cool glass of the window, his hand resting on the door, Noel stared blankly. Pale light flashed sinisterly across his face with each streetlamp they passed.

“Noel?” Julian ventured.

Silence.

“Noel?” Julian tried again, “Are you ok?”

Still Noel said nothing.

“Noel?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Noel snapped.

Julian waited a few moments before continuing.

“How’s your neck?” he said softly, ignoring Noel’s bad mood.

A moment passed in which Noel took a deep breath.

“It’s… ok, a little tender. It would’ve been a lot worse if you hadn’t been there,” he conceded in a calmer voice, rubbing his neck gently.

“If I hadn’t taken him by surprise it would have been much, much worse, for the both of us,” Julian replied reproachfully.

Noel mumbled incoherently.

“Why on earth did you react to him? He could have easily crushed you… He could have easily crushed me!” Julian sounded more concerned than angry, and perhaps a little tired.

“I dunno,” Noel said, shrugging, “I didn’t like what he was saying.”

“But, Noel, honestly, does it really matter what some drunk twat said to you? Is it really that important?” Julian said, somewhat exasperated.

“Well you don’t know what he said,” Noel shot back defensively.

“I heard some of it,” Julian muttered.

There was a short silence as both men remembered the large, pig like man and his snide comments.

It was Noel who broke the silence.

“You’re not ugly, you know.”

“I… er… What?” Julian fumbled.

“The man, he said you were my ugly boyfriend… well you’re not,” Noel said awkwardly.

“Um, thanks,” he managed.

They continued along the broad, but dimly lit road in a strange silence.

“Julian?”

“Yeah?”

“I… I’m sorry.” Noel’s voice was small and anxious.

“Hey, it’s ok little man,” Julian said in a soft, warm tone.

Reaching across to squeeze Noel’s knee reassuringly, Julian looked at him just in time to see the car run a red light and crash into them.


There was a loud bang and a shudder, then a strange stillness, a complete absence of noise, like they’d been sucked into a black hole.


Noel?

Noel!

Oh god!

Noel, are you ok?

Oh Christ!

He just came out of nowhere!

Fuck!

Noel!?


Julian paced up and down, his footsteps echoing through the deserted corridor. The florescent light cast a harsh, sickly glow across the white walls and discoloured floor. Giving up on his futile attempt to get his mind off things he sat down on the cold, hard bench.

He stared at the pale green doors in front of him, the stainless steel handles and the large, red “emergency” sign above it.

Julian rested his heavy head in his hands. He felt numb and yet his mind was buzzing with bright flashes of green, white and red. Images of the crash danced across his vision.

Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly, trying to purge himself of the horrible images that clung to every recess of his mind.

He heard footsteps and the doors in front of him open. Julian suddenly felt very sick. He looked up at the young, frizzy haired nurse.

“Your friend’s alright, luv,” she said in a friendly, calming voice, “ ‘ee ‘ad a bit of a bump on the ‘ead and needed a few stitches, but ‘ee should be right as rain in a couple o weeks. He may ‘ave a concussion, so I would keep an eye on ‘im, if I was you.”

A wave of relief washed over Julian.

“Can I… can I go see him?”

“Sure ya can, luv. Follow me,” she smiled.

The nurse, Margaret, Julian reminded himself, led him through the doors and past a few empty beds. She reached the end of the row and pulled back the curtains.

“You take ‘im ‘ome as soon as you’re ready, you boys ‘ave ‘ad a rough night” Margaret gestured towards the bed.

And there lay Noel, his eyes closed peacefully, a small gash above his left eye held together with a few stitches.

Julian walked over to the bed and sat uneasily on the edge.

“Noel?” he whispered tentatively.

Noel opened his eyes slowly and, catching sight of Julian’s stricken face, smiled.

“Hiya, Ju,” Noel said dozily.

“Oh, Noel!” Julian cried, his voice filled with emotion.

Scooping Noel up in his arms, Julian buried his face in Noel’s neck and squeezed him tightly as hot, wet tears trickled down his face.

“It’s ok, Ju. I’m fine, really,” Noel said, rubbing Julian’s back comfortingly.

“I tried to wake you up, but you just wouldn’t, and there was all this blood running down your face,” he sobbed desperately.

Noel made soothing shushing sounds in an attempt to calm Julian down.

“It’s ok,” he murmured, “Shhh, everything’s fine now.”

Noel rocked Julian gently back and forth, until his sobs subsided.

Julian disentangled himself, wiping his eyes roughly trying to regain his composure. Noel smiled at him.

“Let’s go home, yeah?”


With a click, Julian unlocked his door and walked in, followed by Noel. Julian began to relax now that he was back in familiar surroundings. Glancing around the undisturbed room, the black leather couch, the glass coffee table, the record and CD collections, the white kitchen counter and the dirty mug in the sink from the coffee he’d had before he left for the party, made the nights happenings seem unreal.

Julian was shaken from his musings as Noel pushed past him, heading straight for the bathroom, desperate to see the damage that had been done.

Noel watched the mirror image of himself touch his forehead with fascination. He softly traced his fingers over the tender skin around the stitches. Noel caught sight of Julian leaning against the doorframe.

“Ju, do you think there’ll be a scar?” Noel asked, his voice filled with concern.

Julian moved to stand a few inches behind Noel and examined Noel’s face with furrowed brows.

“I’m not really an expert, we’ll just have to wait and see. I doubt it though,” Julian reassured Noel.

Noel took a small step back and lent his tired body against Julian’s chest. Julian wrapped his arms around the smaller man’s fragile frame and squeezed him gently. Gazing into Julian’s soft eyes through the mirror, Noel smiled contentedly. Noel closed his eyes and tipped his head back to rest on Julian’s shoulder. Julian inclined his head towards Noel’s and watched the steady rise and fall of Noel’s chest between Julian’s arms in the mirror.

“You can sleep in my bed,” Julian yawned eventually.

Noel rubbed his eyes sleepily.

“Thanks Ju.”

Julian led Noel into his bedroom.

“My head is pounding,” Noel groaned, collapsing onto the bed.

Sitting at Noel’s feet, Julian pushed Noel’s tight, black drainpipes up and slowly unzipped the pink cowboy boots and slipped them off Noel’s slight feet.

“Where are you gonna sleep?” Noel asked, suddenly feeling apprehensive about being left alone.

“On the couch,” Julian answered, just as Noel had predicted.

Looking at Julian sitting on the edge of the bed, Noel’s heart gave a flutter that was both familiar and distant.

Julian stood up and looked down at Noel.

“G’night little man,” he said, affectionately ruffling Noel’s hair.

Should Noel:

A: Let Julian sleep on the couch

B: Ask Julian to stay

C: Pull Julian onto the bed with him