And It's Not Easy To Be Me

I’m Noah Devin, a twenty-two year old English education major at Portland State. I moved to Portland in 2015, but I grew up in Bell Canyon, California. I guess I'm just trying to see what kind of life I can make for myself here.

[mrnoahjeffery]

saradevin‌:

“They didn’t think a Devin should learn many practical life skills,” Sara said and rolled her eyes, getting out of the car with a huff. “Noah, I can’t be late to this audition!” she whined. “I need a job - and a background for Juilliard to accept me even though I’m practically a fossil now,” she took deep breaths, clearly stressed out. “I’m calling a cab. Are you coming or are you going to fiddle with this thing?”

“Yeah, and unfortunately I haven’t learned enough to make up for that yet.” he said, making a face before sighing. “I know, I know. I totally get it.” he assured her, shutting the hood of the car and moving away. “Of course I’m coming! I’ll just ... I’ll call somebody to fix this later. Hopefully it won’t take long to fix it, Lorelei will be frustrated if I’m having to use public transportation to get everywhere.”

[mrnoahjeffery]

dieternolan‌:

“There’s always something better, we just have to find it” he shrugged. It couldn’t be that hard to find something, he just needed an idea of where to start looking. “Lying to moms is easy, you’ll have it down in no time” he smiled, “Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom, she’s my best friend. But there’s some things she really doesn’t have to know about”

Noah pondered that statement for a moment, trying to decide if he really believed that. ‘There’s always something better’ seemed awfully optimistic. “How is it easy?” he questioned. His mom was a lawyer, so even if she had the slightly suspicion of something, she was very good at getting the truth out of him. “I understand that, definitely. I love my mom too, even if ... I like the distance. But she definitely doesn’t need to know everything.”

[mrnoahjeffery]

veritysinclair‌:

Verity shrugged. “No worries, I hope you get it sorted.” She told him. Her uncle was normally the easiest person she had to deal with in her entire family. He was a nice guy, always willing to help. “Yeah, Verity.” She confirmed. “Nice to meet you too Noah.”

“Thank you.” he said again before nodding, “It’s nice to meet you too.” he added before trying to figure out what to say next. He had never been good at socializing, but he was trying. “So you have family in town, did you grow up here then?”

[mrnoahjeffery]

charlescyoung‌:

Charles shrugged. “I am sure she will, at least until the next time you mess up.” He teased him, taking another sip of his drink. “Well, not exactly. I mean my ex, whom I have not seen in a loong time, decided to show up unannounced.” 

Noah nodded, “Yeah, but maybe I can get some temporary peace.” he said carefully, knowing the other man had no idea what exactly the situation was. He winced a bit as the other answered his question, “That ... definitely doesn’t sound like a good situation. I mean ... at least the unannounced part. Sounds like something I’d want to prepare for.”

[mrnoahjeffery]

harmonyandrews‌:

“That’s fair. I think I was lucky to never have overbearing parents, even though I am an only child. They let me move to an entirely different country at fourteen, so I really lucked out that they. I am sure that your mother means well.” Harmony replied, sending the man a small smile. Most of the time when mothers did things it was only because they cared, but granted she had also seen bad mothers first hand. “Fair enough. I’ve never been much of a reader, but maybe I should try.”

“Oh, wow.” Noah said. “My parents almost had a heart attack when I moved one state away for college...” he said, impressed that there even were parents out there who let their kids do things like that. “I know she does, she’s just ... a lot.” he said, thinking that she was very hard to explain without experiencing her. “It definitely couldn’t hurt!”

[mrnoahjeffery]

dieternolan‌:

“We’ll have to find you something better” he noted, figuring it was something he could look into for his friend later on. “I don’t think I look like how my dad looked- I mean, as far as I can tell from the three or four pictures I’ve ever seen of him from when he was alive” he shrugged, thinking for a few moments before looking back at Noah. “Uhh-…” he hesitated, “A lot of things, I guess. You think I tell my mom that I smoke pot? Of course not, I have to lie” he threw out as an example, though most of what he lied about was nothing like that. How do you tell your friend that you’ve lied to him about how you were feeling for over three years?

Noah gave a small shrug, “Maybe? I honestly don’t know what would be better though.” he said. He wasn’t sure how well he could relax at all lately, not with the situation he’d managed to make for himself with Lorelei. He could admit to himself now that he had a serious problem, but he also had no idea what to do about it. “That makes sense, I guess. And since I mostly just need to get better at lying to my mom, that sounds like good experience.”

[mrnoahjeffery]

dieternolan‌:

“I don’t really count that as you relaxing. You’re going to have grey hair by the time you’re 30, I swear” he shook his head, looking back over at him. “I can definitely teach you how to lie, I lie all the time” he shrugged. “Now cars, I know how to fix. Phones, I don’t know anything about, so we need someone else to look at that”

Noah shrugged, his other methods of relaxing when he was younger weren’t as easy to come by here. There were no stables with the family horses, and there was no piano in his and Lorelei’s apartment. “Well, it’s the best I do. I guess I’ll look more like my dad then. I’m not sure how I feel about that.” he added, frowning slightly. “What do you lie about?” he asked before realizing that might not have been an appropriate question. “Yeah, the phone. I will have to find somebody to look though.” he added quickly.

[mrnoahjeffery]

dieternolan‌:

“You’re ridiculous” he said with a laugh. “Well we have to teach you how to relax. You lived with me for a while, I’m surprised you never picked up on how to chill from watching me for so long” he said, but of course he was never really that relaxed, he just hid his stress well and buried himself in his job. The only moments when he let his stress get to him was when he was alone on shift; he didn’t want anyone knowing how overwhelmed he could’ve been. “I guess we also have to teach you how to lie better. Or try to get her off your back, but that seems too difficult”

Noah shrugged, “I read. Sometimes it was even stuff that wasn’t assigned! Or, well, more than sometimes really. That’s ... that’s as close as I get to relaxing.” he admitted with a small shrug. Though he wasn’t sure if it was really relaxing so much as a method of escape from real life. “Yeah, ah, I think the teaching me to lie better has a higher chance of success. And making sure she hasn’t actually bugged my phone cause suddenly that really seems like something she would do...”

[mrnoahjeffery]

dieternolan‌:

“You’ve got to find something to occupy your summer with now, for you I suggest actually slowing down and having some fun” he smiled, “Sometimes I think you forget how to relax, it’s okay to not be completely busy all the time” he shrugged. “We’ll plan some beach days or something” he said before letting out a small laugh, “You can always lie to her, you know”

“Fun? What’s that?” Noah joked. He did actually know how to do things he enjoyed, but for the most part there was always some level of stress associated with it, except with he got the chance to read something of his own choice. “You say forget, but I know you’ve met my parents... unfortunately. You act like I ever knew how. My days were scheduled to the minute in preschool.” he shared, shaking his head softly. “I can try to lie to her ... but that’s the kind of thing she just always seems to know. Like some kind of mom-magic.” he said before frowning, “Or she’s got some kind of stalker-ish stuff installed on my phone.”

[mrnoahjeffery]

harmonyandrews‌:

“My husband’s schooling mostly, it was a big change but I’ve learned to embrace adventure.” Harmony replied, sending the man a small smile. At this point, she would go to the ends of the world if it meant being near Connor. “I think in a few of months I am going to be so busy that I won’t know what to do with myself. I should just enjoy the free time while I can.”

Noah nodded, “That makes sense. I came here for school too, and ... well, honestly to be somewhere that was harder for my mom to obsessively worry about me. She means well, but she’s probably much more productive as a lawyer when she’s not constantly coming to check if I have clean socks or I need extra soccer practice.” he explained with a small smile. “I guess that makes sense. Reading has just ... well, also always been how I enjoyed free time. So it’s kind of my suggestion for everything.” he admitted, blushing softly.

[mrnoahjeffery]

dieternolan‌:

“Lately uhh…” he thought for a few moments, “Mainly just working, honestly. I’ve had a lot of doubles so I haven’t had much of a break recently- not that I mind, I love working doubles” he shrugged. “Went on a few dates with this girl I met at work but I don’t think that’s gonna work out so” he said, looking back over at Noah, “So I guess nothing’s really changed for me, just up to the same stuff as usual”

Noah grinned at that, “Sounds like me during finals and then ... well, still like you.” he teased lightly. “I’m still trying to figure out what to actually do over the summer. I don’t have any classes, it’s weird.” he admitted. He wasn’t used to not having a laundry list of commitments. “If I don’t find a way to stay busy, my mom’s gonna try to make me visit.”

[mrnoahjeffery]

veritysinclair‌:

Verity shrugged her shoulders. “Depends. I mean my uncle own one in the North East are, I am happy to give you the address if you want.” She told him. “If you say you know Verity, he might give you a small discount as well.”

“Oh, that would be great actually, thank you.” he said with a sincere smile. If it was family then he was going to assume the man was trustworthy. Verity seemed trustworthy, anyway. “I’m Noah, but the way. It’s nice to meet you ... Verity, you said? I like that.”

[mrnoahjeffery]

charlescyoung‌:

Charles looked over at the guys. “Yeah well, I guess it could be a lot worse, right?” He told him before he gave away a half smile. “Women.. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them, am right?”

Noah smiled, “Yeah. I guess so.” he said. “Hopefully she’ll be over it by the time I head home though.” he added before deciding to change the subject. “Was, ah, your bad day along the same lines?”

[mrnoahjeffery]

harmonyandrews‌:

“I am from Eastern Canada originally, but I’ve been living in New York City off and on for the last ten years. The public transit there is the best way to get around because of all the traffic.” Harmony explained, shrugging at the man once more. “I can understand that. I like being busy too, and lately I’ve had to slow down.”

“Oh, wow, that’s a pretty big difference too.” Noah said, “What brought you here?” he questioned, wondering what kind of things caused others to move so far away from home. “Maybe you can find other things to stay busy with?” he offered, “Personally I’ve always felt reading is a great option, if nothing else. But I am studying to be an English teacher.”

[mrnoahjeffery]

dieternolan‌:

“Awesome, just let me know so I can set an extra spot at the table if she’s coming” he smiled, “And good news, mom’s making her spaghetti with meatballs” he added, that being one of his favorite foods that his mom would always make for him. “It’s no problem, man, I’m glad to help. You’d be so lost without me sometimes I swear”

“I will!” Noah agreed with a smile. He was never entirely certain how to feel about the announcement of the food, he had to be careful to stay in shape for soccer. Even though he wasn’t on his school’s team anymore, he was looking for some other way to keep playing, to keep in shape. Usually if he was careful about it that day, he didn’t have a problem with it. He would never want to offend Dieter’s mother. “I’m not ashamed to agree with that.” he said, shrugging lightly. “So, what have you been up to lately other than coming to my rescue?”

[mrnoahjeffery]

dieternolan‌:

“Every mom thinks she’s cool” he laughed softly, turning to his friend. “She definitely is- speaking of, she wanted me to invite you to dinner on Saturday. She said you could bring Lorelei. I’m pretty sure she’s just using it as a way to point out that I’m still single, but offer still stands” he offered, looking back at the car. “I’m just pretty awesome? Dude, I’m incredible, never forget it” he joked. “Yeah it’ll be an easy fix, there’s no reason for her to get her panties in a bunch, you’ll make it home on time” he nodded, looking back over at Noah. “Yeah, you can just go to any auto parts store and get a new radiator hose tomorrow, you’ll be fine”

Noah smiled, trying to decide how he felt about Lorelei being included in the invite. He knew that he should like it, but part of him was hoping Lorelei would be busy. He really enjoyed those dinners with Deiter and his mom, they felt ... normal. More normal then his own family dinners usually had. It was safe, it was happy, it wasn’t stressful. It wouldn’t really be that if she was there. “Yeah, awesome! I know I can be there, but I’ll ask Lorelei in case she has plans.” he said as casually as he could before nodding, “Okay, good. Thank you again, I really do appreciate it. I was clueless about this.” he repeated. 

[dieternolan]

mrnoahjeffery‌:

Noah grinned, “Yeah, your mom is definitely cooler than my mom.” he agreed. Noah’s mom was still attempting to play helicopter parent from fifteen hours away and had been for four years, so he felt this was a well established fact. “Honestly, it probably is something really dumb. I don’t have a clue what I’m even looking at. I should probably use my research skills for that at some point.”

“That’s not very hard to do, though, your mom isn’t exactly the coolest” he said, which they both knew was true. “It looks like you just have a hose leak, dude” he said, stepping back from the car for a second. “All I really need to fix it temporarily is some insulating tape and coolant, normally I’d say I needed a screwdriver too but I can just use my knife” he said, pulling his knife out of his pocket.

[mrnoahjeffery]

“My mom thinks she’s cool though.” he said with a grin, “But yeah, your mom really is awesome.” He added before giving a sigh of relief, “And you’re pretty awesome too! I really didn’t want to have to tell Lorelei that I might be late tonight! I can get that stuff for you and then ... it’ll hold until I can get it ... non-temporarily fixed tomorrow?” He questioned.