A few days after the incident with Noah's biceps, you and your roommate hang out and watch a couple movies together. You guys hang out and talk about classes, and Noah talks about his school sports teams as well as some girls he's been interested in. You listen to him and have a nice conversation. The topic of the other night doesn't come up and you want to continue to keep it a secret from Noah because you still want to experiment further at some point.
Ben, noticing that Noah had mentioned a girl named Ashley earlier in their conversation, decides to ask him more about her. "So, who's this Ashley you were talking about?" he asks, trying to sound casual. Noah's face lights up and he starts to tell Ben about Ashley, who is a cheerleader for the basketball team. He explains that she's outgoing, energetic, and always has a positive attitude. He tells Ben how he's always admired her from afar, but never had the courage to talk to her. Ben listens attentively, nodding and asking questions as Noah goes on about Ashley. He can tell that Noah really likes her, and he can't help but feel a bit happy for his friend, hoping that he'll be able to work up the courage to talk to her soon.
As Noah continues to talk about Ashley, he starts to open up about his insecurities. "The thing is," he says hesitantly, "everyone expects basketball players to be tall and, well, big in a certain way. And I'm just not sure if I measure up." Ben looks at him with a mixture of understanding and surprise. He hadn't realized that Noah had been struggling with this issue.
"What do you mean?" Ben asks, trying to encourage Noah to elaborate.
Noah takes a deep breath before continuing. "I mean, I'm not as tall as most of the guys on the team, and I'm definitely not as well-endowed," he admits, looking down at his hands. "It's just something that's always made me a little self-conscious, you know?"
Ben nods sympathetically. "Yeah, I get it," he says. "But you know what? It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. You're a great player and a great person, and that's all that matters."
Noah looks up at Ben, a small smile on his face. "Thanks, man," he says. "I know you're right, but it's hard to shake off those insecurities sometimes."
Ben nods understandingly. "I know it is, but remember, you're not alone. We all have insecurities and things we're self-conscious about. The important thing is to not let them hold you back."
Noah nods thoughtfully, taking in Ben's words. Ben can tell that he's still feeling a bit down, but he's glad he was able to offer some support and encouragement to his friend. He knew that Noah was a great guy and he was going to be okay.
As the night goes on, you both decide to call it a night and head to bed. You're lying in bed, trying to fall asleep when an idea pops into your head. You think to yourself, "Maybe I can try suggesting something to Noah while he's asleep again, just to see if it works."