Grew up to tech mogul parents who were killed when he was 12.
He and his sister went to live their grandma but between grief and old age she died within 2 years.
Sad times bad times mad times, Noah and his sister are relocated to an estranged aunt on their mom’s side in Lockwood Springs, living with cousins Frankie and Ezra, though Frankie was already off by the time they moved in.
Now 14, he starts HS and is a bit of a bully as he deals with grief and change
Vvv athletic, it makes him popular and he plays a bunch of sports before rediscovering his passion for ice hockey (he’d played as a kid in ny)
Goes to Minnesota for college/hockey before getting into the NHL
in 2018 his ex gf @lily-dupont is involved in a scandal and bad press rubs off on him/he doesn’t get resigned
gets signed 6 months later and keeps on his best behavior until an injury keeps him from the 2022/2023 season.
back in lockwood and on the mend, doing ots of pt and part time snowboard instructor (volunteer)
HEADCANONS
The St. James’ company went public in 2017, with Noah and his sister having large shares
In HS he did football, swim team and ice hockey before switching to ice hockey as his focus but he also ended up spending a lot of time climbing and enjoys speed climbing.
Has tattoos of his parents death date and his grandmas
Great at pop culture reference – you definitely want him on your team at trivia night
Friends call him Saint and in hs all his unofficial player gear said Saint
CONNECTIONS
NYC childhood friends he stayed in contact with
NYC childhood friends he lost contact with
People he bullied in HS (circa 2008 – 2012)
Old football teammates / swim teammates / hockey teammates / rock climbing friends
Someone with an unrequited HS crush on him
Unexpected friendship from HS that lasted (since he’s a jerky jock ya know)
Hookups / One Night Stands (he’s bi so come one come all)
Lily smiled up to Noah before her gaze fell back ahead, taking a sip of her drink as she hummed in agreement about her father. Andre was like a father to many, he could easily warm people to him and melt a lot of icey hearts in the process. Lily wouldn’t have had her keen sense of awful puns if it wasn’t for Andre, either. She ended up laughing louder to Noah, wanting to prod her finger a bit closer just like the good old days of annoying one another. She barely even thought her nickname sounded strange, all she thought was that she had missed hearing it. “Mhm, that’s exactly what happened.” she agreed in jest. “It’s not even called a blond expresso anymore, it’s a St. James blend. I even heard some people call it the Tall Blond Hot Shot.” she teased.
Liliana nodded because it seemed they were in the same boat. The idea on paper seemed great but they both knew the reality, an awkward evening consisting of them dancing around a topic that neither of them knew how to approach. “Yeah, right. Samesies. But I’ll probably try and make it, if nothing pops up.” she said quickly, trying to sound as carefree as possible. “Well, it’s been nice…” Lily paused, almost saying how it had been nice to see him around but she was happy to catch herself. “I bet it’s been nice to get to see Hazel a lot more.” Phew, saved. “How is the injury? It’s your shoulder, right?” In a way Lily hoped she was wrong because it wasn’t as if anybody told her what happened, and she didn’t want to make it obvious that she checked up on his career. “Or back or something? Knee?”
•
Noah’s lost a lot in his life. More than most people should. But he’s never dwelled on it. Rather, he’d just get angry and take it out on someone else. He couldn’t get angry about how things ended with Lily, though. Because it wasn’t anyone’s fault. Things tipped too far off the axis to be set right and no matter what they tried, the ended up further from where they began. And now here they were, years gone by and he still feels that strange feeling like he should say something but the words never come, so he takes it as a sign, smiling along with Lily like they were friends. They could be friends. He could do that. “Really? Maybe it’s named after someone else then. Haven’t dyed my hair blond since that one time during spirit week,” he grins at the memory, having bleached his hair with the intention of dying it Walcott colors before they’d run out of time and he was stuck looking blonder than Danny Anderson.
“Right, yeah, same.” He agrees, thinking that she was probably of the same mindset as he was: that picking at their food across from each other didn’t exactly sound pleasant. “It has been,” Noah nods as they walk, taking another sip of his drink, “she’d visit but...it’s nice living so close.” A floor apart rather than a flight away. He felt better being in the same city as his sister at the very least. “Yeah, shoulder. Rotator cuff. I was dumb and jacked it up again back in February.” That stupid fight with fucking Franklin. “I’ve been doing PT and taking it easy....for the most part. I’ll be assessed for pre-season in July. But, uh, sorry, you probably don’t wanna hear all that. My shoulder’s fine,” he finishes after all that, feeling stupid for rambling.
Lexi’s laughter was forced immediately, as if Noah and her didn’t have a sour history. “I’m not saying you can’t, I know you’re a capable man, Noah. I just wanted to be nice, you know? Call it an olive branch, then?” she smiled at him as her hand brushed over his, pretending to reach for the money at the same time as he did. It was a short pause before she pulled back again to force an awkward laugh. Her eyes worked to look over him, every attempt to read the thoughts going on inside his head. He obviously still thought she was hot, that was an obvious one but she could sense a hint of remorse. He realized he fucked up? Good. But it was no worry, she was right there. “Sounds fun. How is Haze these days? I’ve not spoken to her for a while. She was so fun to hang out with.” Lexi asked, despite the other St. James not being her biggest fan. Jealousy probably, a hot Sister in Law wasn’t an easy thing to accept was going to happen. “It’s a temporary thing, just to pass the time. I’m modeling on the side too, actually you’d totally love the last shoot I did.” Paid for by herself. “A bikini line wanted me, because like…I fill them so good. Wanna see?” she already had her phone out, smiling up at him.
•
Noah can’t remember why he’d decided to ask Lexi out. Maybe it had been right time, right place? She’d been a good friend for a while but then things had changed when they started dating and suddenly he wished he’d kept the wall of friendship between them. He wasn’t trying to be an asshole in Ambrosia, though, even if he wishes he could be as her hand brushes his and he has to resist the urge to visually shudder. “Right...well, it’s really not necessary,” he doubles with a polite smile, “we’re cool.” Honestly, he hadn’t thought of her for...what is it? Two...three years now? He remembers why it ended (she’d been clingy as fuck, but, more importantly, he still hadn’t been over her), and that was that. Nothing more needed to be said. He takes a sip of is coffee and leans back, creating some more space even as she leans closer.
“She’s good. Busy. And yeah, she is a lot of fun to hang with.” He affirms, though he has a hazy recollection of Lexi complaining about going to another protest with his twin. Still...too much time has passed for him to remember anything about their relationship other than she’d gone batshit on him. Before he can protest and say he’s fine without seeing her photoshoot, a phone is shoved in his face and he glances at it. There Lexi was, standing on a beach, looking like she’s trying to pose for Sports Illustrated instead of...what? SEARS swimsuit line? “Ah, right...looks cool, Lexi.” Noah nods, not sure what else to say as he passes the phone back without scrolling further. There was no need: already knows there’s nothing in the posts that will interest him. Been there, done that.
“It’s good for you!” Hazel defended herself, and she’d always invite her brother along for anything. Even if his head was cut out of most promotional photos but that was his own fault for having long legs. “And just think, when you’re back playing games again, all the people who’ll be like, oh he’s such a nice guy he gave me a leaflet! I should be your PR manager.” Hazel added. She opened and closed her hand to mimic him and rolled her eyes, despite grinning the whole time. “Yeah yeah, it’s only because you have long arms. Freakishly long. You go half way down the lane before you even let go of the ball.” she laughed and scrunched her nose to try and be somewhat threatening to him. “This just means next time I know not to pick bowling and to insist on leaflets, right? So make the most of it, Noah-Woah.”
•
Noah shakes his head to protest the idea before snorting at her far-fetched conclusion. “Oh, okay, so really, this is all part of my PR strategy?” People certainly did have a myriad of opinions about him but that doesn’t mean they’re true. Or that Hazel’s wrong. It could be helpful to have some more positive stories, rather than the one that followed him like a shadow for years. “You’re an asshole,” he laughs in turn, swinging his arms about for definition. “I can’t help that dad was a genetic freak and passed it along.” When he was alive, their father had always seemed like a giant to Noah. Only when he got older did he learn that his dad was, in fact, quite tall at a solid 6′7. “All I’m saying, if the kids can do it, you’ve got no excuse. But yeah, sure, I’ll go next time. What’re we protesting? Micro plastics in water?” he teases, grabbing the bowling ball for his next turn.
Lily cackled slightly, knowing exactly what her dad could be like and she wrinkled her nose at Noah. “I’d say sorry but, he probably made it sound way more interesting than I could.” she laughed because Andre DuPont was nothing short of a grand story teller, even if he had to weave in a few stories to get to the story he was telling. “Isn’t the blond expresso standard?” she slurped hers, not hearing her accidental mispronunciation, before looking at the contents of her cup and then to Noah’s. She laughed though and pointed a finger playfully at him. “You’re just bluffing to try and get credit for nothing, St. James.”
She nodded to Noah’s answer, still smiling because the interaction seemed much less stiff than before. Or the awful stuck ski lift that she tried to burn from her memory. “She mentioned about all four of us having some food and drinks at Neue. Y’know, Harv too. Like…” The old times? “I’m still thinking about it, I don’t know if she told you yet?” That was her way of saying she’d go if he would, but that would be weird to admit. The only obvious awkward thing was Lily attempting to walk quickly to remain by his side, only for Noah to slow his pace for her too, which made her scurry forward a little faster than she intended. “It’s fun, I think.” she laughed, moving a few paces back again to actually be by his side. “It’s cute seeing kids get to live their dream but those parents who are forcing them to be there kinda blow. I bet you’re more excited to get back on the ice for real, right?”
•
Noah grins at that, nodding at the memory of her dad. Andre had always treated him kindly, cracking jokes and sharing embarrassing stories. For a while, he’d been a type of paternal presence that Noah hadn’t realized he’d been missing. Having someone to cheer him on at games who wasn’t just his sister or Lily or Frankie on the special occasion she made it. “Yeah, he’s got a way of doing that,” Noah recalls fondly, focusing on the path ahead of them as she mispronounces a word that’s always tripped her up. He tries not to smile despite the fact one threatens his expression anyway. He clears his throat and waves away her accusation. “It’s rude to point, Lil,” he jokes, her nickname slipping out unintentionally as he takes another sip of his drink. “Besides, you need your memory checked, it wasn’t always standard. Now it is. Probably because I order it so much these days that they decided to adjust their entire menu.” Noah laughs, playing into a caricature of self-importance that people usually assumed about him given his demeanor on the ice but, in reality, he’s just some guy copying his ex’s coffee order.
“Ah, did she? I mean uh, maybe. Depends on my schedule but I guess I’ll talk to her,” he evades, not jumping at the opportunity for the world’s most uncomfortable dinner party. Side-steps a few other pedestrians as he and Lily walk and nods along at her assessment. “Yeah, it is fun. Half of them are just here for vacation so the classes are kind of a joke but,” Noah shrugs, “it’s something to do. And yeah, I am,” he’s been working through PT and conditioning to get back into pre-season shape. “It has been nice being home, though.”
She’d been too nervous to take his order herself, so Alexa hid in the back room until she was convinced Noah was settled at his table. Without any greeting, she slipped opposite him and tapped the receipt she slid towards him along with the not legitimate money-back she got from the register. “Covered it for ya. On the house.” she smiled sweetly, resting her elbows on the table and then her chin into the back of her hands. He was probably over Liliana now, right? No girl could have a hold on somebody for that long. She hadn’t won anything in her life, just a silver medal…that wasn’t impressive. Lexi was Miss Colorado Teen, for Christ Sake. And maybe, Noah had forgotten all of their arguments too. Everyone said things out of anger, right? “You look super deep in thought so I figured you might’ve had a rough day so…you’re welcome.” she tapped the receipt again, giving her best smile. “What’s up? I for sure don’t miss those St. James grumpy moods.” she forced a light laugh.
Noah glances up from his phone at the sudden interruption, blinking at Lexi. Well, it was bound to happen at some point. Lockwood isn’t the biggest city and Ambrosia is pretty popular. But that doesn’t mean he’s not surprised to see his ex sitting across the table from him. “...I can pay for my coffee, Lexi,” he says, not unkindly as he pushes the money back to her. “Injured, not broke.” And honestly, he’s not a fan of owing people anything. Especially not her. He tries not to regret much but with enough hindsight, he thinks dating her was a mistake he could’ve done without. Sure, she was a good lay for a time, but the crazy outweighed any fuckability and tits or no tits, Noah’s pretty sure he got a limp dick seeing her the weeks leading up to when he broke up with her. “Nah, no rough days. Just talking to Haze about some sit in thing,” he says with a shrug, taking a sip of his coffee and gesturing to the money. “I mean it. I’m good. Keep it for your tip or something.” It makes no difference to him other than the possibility that she did just that and left his table. “Just...drinking my coffee. I didn’t know you worked here, actually.” It would suck to have to find a new coffee shop but Lily came here too and now he’s wondering if she’d see them talking, the thought making him shift in his seat a bit.
Hazel’s expression dropped at Noah’s reply, rolling her eyes. “Well, somebody didn’t want to go for a hike or join me handing out leaflets on the future of solar paneling. So, this was the last of my choices.” she said, not truly judging Noah’s different idea of fun. It was just an easy jab to make and she had to take what she could get, since he seemed to have a lot more witty jokes than she ever did. Hazel watched him take his shot, groaning at how he made it look easy. “Gloating isn’t a good look, Noey.” Hazel said to him, arms crossed as she frowned even though she wanted to cheer him on. It was obvious he was going to win anyways. To prove a point, Hazel grabbed the heaviest ball again. “Absolutely not, I’d rather lose trying than taking an easy way out.” she jutted her chin up, lining up her next roll. She still had to use both hands and sighed when the ball steered off in it’s own direction. “This is rigged, Noah. It’s like it was designed for men or something.”
•
“Sorry that I don’t feel like biking in the rain and don’t even get me started on the leaflets!” Noah exclaims, laughing incredulously, “you probably can’t even count how many times I’ve helped you hand something out. Last month it was on why Zoos are oppressive institutions or maybe that was February.” He stops and gives her a look. “So knock it off,” Noah says with a grin, even though Hazel knows him perfectly well enough that she probably won’t think anything of his words. “It’s not gloating, it’s telling the truth and the truth is –– I’m better at bowling than you!” He emphasizes with an impromptu dance as his last bowl hits the remaining pin. Noah gives a mocking bow with a flourish of his hands as she moves to take her turn. “Just remember I gave you the option.” He shakes his head, nodding at some kid’s birthday party a few lanes over. “They seem to be doing fine. Seems like the only person with a problem here is, a, you, Hazey Wazey, ” he goads with a cackle.
“I mean technically, I think there’s some re-writing of history in my family name. Like right back to the gun powder thing. Medieval times.” Lily shrugged, unsure why she was teetering on the edge of a history lesson. That was weird. “But I’m fairly sure I was the raspberry and vanilla addict, and then you kept pretending it was gross for a while.” she laughed but sometimes a trip down memory lane wasn’t as cute as it seemed because the reminder was quick to surface. It was past, not present anymore. “Uh, yeah. Well, just for some practice.” she explained, gesturing to the door but then wondered if that’d make Noah ask about competitions. “Just for sanity sake, not competing. You?” Nope, that felt weirder to clarify. “I can’t make promises, Noah. You know me and Haze are like this.” she crossed her fingers and raised them up, subconsciously moving towards the door. “You walking or…?”
•
“Yeah, I remember your dad telling me all about it for like four hours.” Maybe one and a half is more accurate but Noah remembers the first time he met Mr. DuPont. He’d expected an interrogation and what he got was a history lesson. Mrs. DuPont, though? Well...that was an interrogation. One he doesn’t prefer to think about now because that’s weird and also she’d been right to question him. Look how things had ended. “Listen. I’ll give it to you that the raspberry and vanilla was smart but I get credit for the blonde espresso add-in,” thus pulling the entire drink together in one perfect flavor profile.
He nods at the mention of practice and then smiles slightly at her clarification. Was it that obvious he’d wanted to ask if she was going back to it? “Uh, just a few lessons this afternoon. Nothing crazy,” Noah admits with ease before offering a small laugh. “Almost forgot about that.” He hadn’t. Because he knows when Hazel is having Lily over or a group because the apartment downstairs always seemed livelier with his sister and friends. “Uh, yeah. I am. Figured it was a nice day.” Great, now he sounds like Hazel, Noah thinks as he falls in step beside Lily. “Do you like working at the resort?”
In an attempt to try and catch up with her brother’s score, Hazel finally opted for the heavier ball and carried it with both hands towards the lane. “You’re gonna regret saying I throw like I did when we were six.” she warned him, but wasn’t able to carry the ball in any other way. All she could do was squat and sway the ball between her legs and then roll it which seemed promising as it hurtled down towards the pins. Until the pesky slope pushed it into the gutter. Hazel spun around with a flat smile, shaking her head at Noah. “Don’t even say anything, I don’t need to hear it.”
Noah snorts as Hazel attempts to go for the bigger bowling ball, holding up his hands innocently. “I didn’t say that. I only said your six year old self would be unimpressed with how little progress you’ve made.” He teases good-naturedly before holding in a laugh at her technique. He shakes his head. “Maybe we should’ve picked something else to do, Haze. I don’t think bowling is your sport,” he dodges any potential swat that comes his way and grabs the same sized ball she’d just picked up, but with much more ease. Noah doesn’t even glance at his twin when he sends the ball careening down the alley. It’s impossible not to fist pump when he gets all but two pins and just as soon as his hands had come up, he lowers them at Hazel’s expression. “It’s not my fault you’ve got string bean arms!” he says defensively, gesturing at the smaller bowling balls. “Just use one of those. It’s fine. No one’s gonna judge you...much.?”
Third time’s a charm? Lily wondered when she caught sight of Noah waiting for his coffee. It wasn’t exactly hard to miss him, but it seemed after seeing him twice granted more sightings of her ex. It was funny how that worked, maybe she noticed him more because she was looking for him. Not that she’d admit that to him, or anyone really. Laughing as he stole her order right from under her nose, she took it and shrugged a shoulder. “You’re still copying me?” she teased him lightly, taking a slurp through the straw. “I remember you tried to convince me you told me about this flavor, like it was your idea.” That wasn’t weird to joke about, was it? Probably, but she’d said it now. And now there had been a strike up of conversation, Lily felt strange to just bid a farewell and walk away…so she awkwardly paused and glanced around the coffee shop. “Uh, usually they’re super fast here…shouldn’t be too long.”
•
Noah holds up a hand, a small smile crossing his face. “Hold up – I did tell you about this. Trying to rewrite history now, DuPont?” He might’ve copied her (probably did) but he’s not willing to admit it right now, now when he’s already tried to steal her drink from her. “I usually grab from the cafe at the resort but...” Noah shrugs because she doesn’t need to know the ins and outs of his routine...that’s weird. “Are you going to work too?” He thought he’d done a great job of avoiding her but ever since that ski lift incident it seems like Lily’s everywhere. When they call his name, he grabs his cup, hand wrapping around most of it as he pokes the straw through. “Haze has been petitioning them to use those biodegradable straws? She tell you about that? Don’t tell her I’m using this though or she won’t let me live it down.” His twin has forced him to carry around reusable straws and he’s been pretty good about it except for today of course.
Maybe if Noah hadn’t had his earbuds in, he might’ve heard the name called for the very particular order of an iced coffee with oat milk, two pumps of vanilla and one pump raspberry. But he was on his phone, texting away and only caught the tail end of the order, assuming it was his. Only when he reaches for it at the same time as Lily does he realize his mistake. Of course. They had the same order. Or, at least, Noah did when it was a cheat day...like today. “Shit, sorry,” he apologizes, taking an earbud out and holding out her drink which he know sees has a sloppily scrawled Lily on the opposite side from the order. “Guess uh...great minds and all that, yeah?” He can’t remember who started ordering it first, only that they’d both begun to. @lily-dupont
