Noah grew up with Charlie. They’d always been friends, if not close. Noah becomes the only friend that sticks around after Charlie practically becomes a hermit. Determined to get through to Charlie, Noah invents an identity on the computer. And while Charlie still keeps Noah at arm's length, he opens up to his new computer buddy. Noah's dream finally comes true when his friendship with Charlie changes to include sex, but each time they are together, Charlie withdraws afterward. Every time Noah tries to get through to him, Charlie grows even more distant. Then Charlie tells Noah's disguised internet persona that he doesn't have a boyfriend, merely a neighbor with whom he has sex. Crushed and heartbroken, Noah thinks it’s time to give up and forget Charlie ever loving him the way he loves Charlie. But is pulling away from Charlie too much for Noah to take?

Pulling Away

Really, he was wasting time and heartache here. No matter how much he might want to bring the dead back, it wouldn’t happen. And he couldn’t pretend some Internet gamer could be something more than typed words on a computer screen.


He’d lived in the dark alone for too long. What he needed was a live, breathing person. He needed to talk to Noah.


Noah waved as Kevin rode off on his motorcycle. These late nights were killing him. He was not the pile of burning energy Kevin had always been.


He glanced at his watch, using the porch light to illuminate it. One in the morning. An early night for Kevin. Noah laughed and turned the key in his front door. He noticed the blinking red light of his answering machine as soon as he closed the door.


Chapter 8