we're not kids anymore.
if i look back, i am lost
Today's Document
祝日 / Permanent Vacation
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
Andulka
Jules of Nature
pixel skylines
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
oozey mess
Cosmic Funnies
NASA
izzy's playlists!
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
h
YOU ARE THE REASON
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
almost home
roma★
sheepfilms
seen from Türkiye
seen from Japan
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Italy
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seen from Malaysia
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@cher-rei
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zia! she/her, cancer, infp, kpop, music, books, football, barça and lfc, f1
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© cherrei— all work is owned by me. please do not copy, translate, or transfer my work to any other sights or blogs without my permission. and do not claim as your own.
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10 days without noelle and jamal, can't breathe can't eat. Everyday that passes by without noelle and jamal, my condition gets worse... doctors said the only cure is a new chapter. Please help me 🙏
oh gosh this sounds serious 😭 I'm working on a prescription right now, I'm making sure to add as much fluff and overall cuteness as possible so that you're able to get better asap 😤💞
ahh my third ask now is so so sorry. do you get messages as well? like direct ones. when i sent a msg it didn’t go through (not an ask) tyyy and im so sorry again 😭🫶🏽
no it's okayyy 😭😭😭 I do get messages yea but yours aren't coming through :(
okay I just checked and my setting was off 😭😭 your messages should be able to send now!
ahh my third ask now is so so sorry. do you get messages as well? like direct ones. when i sent a msg it didn’t go through (not an ask) tyyy and im so sorry again 😭🫶🏽
no it's okayyy 😭😭😭 I do get messages yea but yours aren't coming through :(
ahh sorry for putting in another ask but idk do u seem to get msgs as i wrote one but it didn’t go through 😭😭
no i didn't get any asks from you 😭😭 it probably didn't go through but you can send it now xx
hey just want to say that lamine yamal fic with his brother was so cute. that was the best fluff i have read in a while. i love ur fics sm!
this means so much to me thank you 😊💞 I'll try to put out more fics for lamine, he's so fun to write for <3
it's that time of year where I find myself crawling back to my roots (my kpop obsession)
how in the everloving fuck am i supposed to control myself in these conditions
my Internet stopped working for 20 minutes and i swear I was on the verge of a fucking panic attack. I'm a victim of my circumstances 😭😭😭
Hey babe
Your such a good writer please more lamine yamal fics im acc begging there literally none🙏🙏🙏🙏😪
the sitter— lamine yamal [ l.y ]
met you at the right time. this is what it feels like– feels like [gracie abrams]
pairing: lamine yamal x fem!reader
summary: a rushed call from lamine's mother to babysit kenye turns into more than just a regular afternoon
genre(s): toothrotting fluff (have your dentist on standby)
[w.c: 2.8k] masterlist
notes: I wrote this instead of watching the real sociedad match to cope with the fact that we're losing. I got a bit carried away with this one but I hope you like it <33
as you stepped into the familiar house, not even having to ring the doorbell you were greeted with the smell of fresh baked cookies and comfort. you shut the door behind you and easily walked through the familiar hallway.
when she saw you, lamine's mother's shoulders relaxed a heavy amount along with the breath of relief she let out. “my saviour,” she said with a smile and pulled you into a tight hug, her gratitude evident. “I'm so sorry for calling on short notice but I have an emergency— ow!”
she bit her tongue in frustration and looked down to see the toy car that she stepped on, her head spinning at her son's carelessness. “never have kids, you’ll regret it eventually,” she said half-joking and hurriedly led you to the living room where kenye was sitting on the floor, a toy car in his hand while he watched tv.
she didn't even have to call out to him, the second he saw you he was up and in your arms with a toothy grin. “hey, buddy. didn't expect to see me today did you?”
the older woman watched with a smile as you interacted with her son, the moment being cut off by her ringtone. she didn't even bother to look at it and instead grabbed her purse and made a beeline for the front door, yelling out instructions and goodbye's as if you hadn't been doing this for a year already.
“and thank you, sweetheart! I owe you! kenye, behave!”
the door slammed shut, leaving you to the 5 year old's energetic grasp. you quickly settled into your usual routine, skipping the snack part because he had his breakfast already since it was only after 10 am.
you took your usual seat on the carpet with him because he was usually full of energy this early and jittery. so to get it out of his system, you played games with him— built some lego, played with his toys and so on.
an hour had passed and you found yourself trying to make his yogurt seem edible. it was never an issue to get him to eat, all it took was one “hereeee comes the airplane” and he was more than compliant.
“there you go,” you said with a smile and lifted the final spoonful of yogurt to his lips, the boy clapping alone happily when it was finished. “you took that like a champ.”
that didn't last long however and he was starting to grow antsy again, his suffocated whines piercing your ears. it was obvious that he was sick of the house and needed to get out, so without another thought you cleaned him up and took him out to the backyard.
it was any kid's dream back there. a playhouse, jungle gym with a slide, a ball pit and his personal favourite— the mini football net that was more of a self indulgent addition from his older brother.
you'd known lamine for over 3 years now seeing that you attend the same high school but it was a cute coincidence that his mother picked you for the babysitting job. the job wasn't even needed, you were just bored and needed something to do on weekends, there wasn't even a proper answer for how she found you.
as you and kenye played in the sun-drenched backyard, laughter and joy radiated from your every move. the mini football net, a testament to lamine’s passion for the sport, stood like a sentinel awaiting kenye's energetic kicks. your eyes sparkled with delight as you cheered him on.
the air vibrated with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass, infusing your playtime with an idyllic charm. kenye's giggles echoed throughout the yard, mingling with the chirping of the birds.
meanwhile inside the house, lamine stirred from his sleep, rubbing the remnants of sleep as he descended the stairs to look for his mother. he called for her a good few times but she didn't reply, so naturally he searched the kitchen and her bedroom only to realise that the house was awfully quiet.
she would of said something if she had something planned today, and the tv was still on so someone was definitely home. then he entered the living room, his feet padding on the tiled floor as his eyes adjusted to the light from outside.
with a yawn, he neared the sliding door to check the backyard, but just as he was about to open it his hand froze on the handle. his mind blanked, his immediate reaction to seeing you play with kenye being to hide behind the curtain.
his thoughts were reeling, not expecting you to come over today. in panic, he took one last peep outside which only made his pounding heart thump even louder at the sight of you passing the ball to his brother so effortlessly.
run. that's what he did when he got the clearance, not wasting a second to rush back upstairs and grab his phone and hit the facetime button in the group chat. after 3 rings, hector and pau were on the line with him— their confused faces synced as they watched the boy lock himself in his bathroom and start pacing.
“what happened to ‘hello'?” hector said, judgement evident in his tone but lamine didn't have time to fight his snarky comments.
he propped his phone up against the mirror and rushed to get his toothbrush, his palms sweating against the toothpaste tube.
“bro, are you going to tell us what's going on or is this some type of ‘get ready with me’ gimmick?” pau spoke up finally and put another spoonful of cereal his mouth, quickly getting distracted by the cover on the box and commenting on it.
“she's here. she's not supposed to be here today so I don't know why!” lamine muffled out through his mouth full of toothpaste but his friends got the gist of it. perks of knowing each other for nearly their entire lives.
hector couldn't suppress his laughter, his smile on the screen teasing lamine. “this is even funnier because it's actually never that deep.”
pau joined in on the laughter. “imagine asking why your brother's babysitter is over to babysit,” he snorted. “it's been a year, you're insane.”
lamine finished rinsing his mouth, double checking to see if there was anything in his teeth before splashing cold water on his face. “does it look like i just woke up?” he asked and touched up his hair. “is it giving ‘I just woke up and look this good’ or ‘I freaked out and had a panic attack in my bathroom’?”
his friends went silent, their jaws on the floor at the amount of overthinking that he was doing. he's liked you since he could remember. at first it was simple attraction, and then came the longing to know you more personally, and when he did that's when everything went to shit.
you were beautiful, that's for sure but you had this natural charm that he couldn't get enough of. you made an effort to talk to him, to help him with anything that he needed and your selflessness was barely the tip of the iceberg. family was the most important thing to him, and the fact that his family loved you and treated you as their own had him on his knees.
“it's giving, ‘I can't talk to girls I'm actually interested in'” hector deadpanned and pau was quick to follow.
“I got a better one,” he said in between his laughter. “It's giving, ‘professional winger by night, but professional wreck by day.”
the bathroom echoed with pau and hector’s non-stop laughter, both boys having rolled onto their sides by now while lamine stood with his head in his hands to try and calm himself down.
worst wingmen of the year, he liked to call them. the only advice he got was to breathe and not trip over his own feet. it was pathetic of him to let his attraction towards a girl make him this… messed up? but what was a teenage boy to do?
he put on his game face and made his way downstairs again, a smile tugging at his lips when he saw that you were watching kenye as he played in the ballpit.
when you turned around you saw him there, your heart skipping a beat as he opened the door with a warming smile. it was your turn to take a deep breath. “hey, I didn't know that you were home today,” you greeted cheerfully, you confidence oozing.
“yeah, we got the day off so I took the liberty to sleep in,” he answered a took a seat beside you on the grass to greet his brother who immediately threw one of the plastic balls at him.
laughter tickled at your throat as you watched lamine playfully throw them back at him but kenye took it personally and began hurling them at him. “we're going to have to put a warning sign on him or something,” you joked in between laughter and lamine scoffed.
“the real threat is his ability to kick a ball,” the footballer said with this lips pursed.
you playfully rolled your eyes at his comment. “oh, please, you're just mad because he already has better dribbling skills than you.”
lamine's face was contorted with mock offence, and he leant back on his hands to look at you. “are you talking about the same guy who won the kopa trophy less than 2 weeks ago.”
you couldn't shake off how laid back he looked in that moment. the way he was looking at you with such ease and playfulness made your head spin. “yes, yes I am.” you answered confidently to which he put a hand over his heart.
“you wound me,” he joked. “I'm going to start making you nurse me back to health.”
funny. he was joking. right?
kenye, thrilled by the attention hurled another ball at lamine to which his older brother caught and tossed it back at him with a gloat. “nice try, but we already have the backyard champion sitting next to me right now.”
you smile faltered for a moment. “that's only because you let me win.”
lameye's eyes twinkled as he took notice of your slightly flushed cheeks and he thought that maybe he was doing something right. “you literally crushed me.”
you shook your head at his retort, ready to counter his argument as you put your hands in the air, and swiftly as if it were second nature lamine gently took them into his own to stop you from talking further. “consider my ego bruised, you're just too good,” he joked with a shrug, his hands still holding yours.
it was for a moment that you stopped breathing, unable to function properly until you realised that kenye fell asleep in the ball pit. his light snores took the attention off from your banter and onto his peaceful figure that lamine effortlessly picked up and carried to his room.
when he came downstairs again, the house had gone quiet while you cleaned up kenye’s mess that he eventually helped with. “oh wow, okay mr house husband,” you teased and tossed one of the toys at him, his smile not wavering as he continued to help you in comfortable silence.
after lunch the two of you found yourselves in the backyard again, chatting as per normal while lamine kicked the ball at his feet. he ended up stopping mid sentence to propose an idea that you weren't too eager about. a rematch at what cost? your embarrassment?
unfortunately for you, he was persuasive as hell.
“what do I get if I win?” he shrugged at your question with a knowing smile.
“anything you want, amor.”
you nearly choked on air at the term of endearment that came from literally nowhere. he didn't seem fazed by saying it though so you were almost certain that you heard him wrong and pushed it to the back of your mind and focused on the little tournament in front of you.
the sun was high, the barcelona heat was warm on your skin as you watched lamine ready the ball. the game wasn't supposed to carry on for as long as it did, but both yours and his passionate calls for cheating and distractions played a huge role in the 40 minute rematch.
“okay, this is the last round I swear,” you said with a tired huff which he was more than happy with. the ball was at your feet for a split second before you felt lamine's hands on your waist, holding you close to his chest as he sneakily took the ball and shot it into the back of the net with ease.
you jaw dropped at the utter foulness of the round. “you cheater!” you said in shock and turned to look at him, but he was too busy relishing in his glory to care. he let go of you with a proud laugh and picked the ball up again, giving it one last kick.
“I didn't cheat,” he said through a cheeky smile and took a few steps towards you. “it's a contact sport, so it's fair.”
you rolled your eyes jokingly at his counter, still in disbelief that he'd go that far. but you weren't a spoilt sport so you congratulated him on his win, fair or not and he humbly thanked you.
you turned back with a smile and began heading inside but his hands were on your waist again, the familiar tingle setting your body on fire as he turned you to look at him, the smile on his face making your heart race.
“I'll be taking my prize, thank you,” he said with a boyish grin and let his lips gently brush your cheek, a gentle, fleeting kiss that had your knees weak for a split second.
he craned his neck to look down at you, a blushing mess and he couldn't help but coo even thought he was internally jumping off buildings. “aw, don't get shy on me now.”
you quirked your brow at what you took as a challenge, mild irritation clear in your eyes that were fluttered shut seconds later when your lips met his for what was supposed to be a quick peck.
keywords: supposed to be.
the feeling of your lips on his sent a surge of electricity through his body, and he couldn't waste the opportunity. he dropped the football that was underneath his arm and pulled you in, one hand resting on your cheek and the other on your waist as he relished the taste.
the long-awaited kiss finally came and it was everything that he hoped for and more. the way you melted into him, sent a warmth through his chest that had his head spinning and hoping that you'd never let go.
when you eventually pulled away to catch your breath, your lips tugged up into an amused smile at his lovestruck look and flushed cheeks. “isn't that a better prize?” you joked, your hands still loosely wrapped around his neck.
“I want a rematch, now,” he said immediately after, and pulled you back into the yard, his eagerness getting the best of him because he was not going down like this— “if I win then you have to marry me.”
“what?!”
Messed up really badly on a test, but chap7 made me feel better, so thank you, genuinely
aw honey I'm sorry about your test 😕 don't let it get you down for too long, school sucks anyway (trial and error, you got this!) 🤧 I'm glad that chapter 7 made you feel better <3 I'll be working on getting chapter 8 out as quick as possible just for you xx
love song ♬– chapter 7 [ J.M ]
pairing: jamal musiala x fem!oc
summary [please read]
genre(s): strangers to lovers, fluff, football romance and comfort [love song playlist]
[w.c: 3.8k] masterlist
notes: another update ahhhhhh!! just some more cutesy moments of my two favourite people ever <33 (they're so disgustingingly cute, it's making me sick)
previous chapter | next chapter
the week leading up to the quarter final unfolded like a warm breeze, carrying jamal and noelle’s secret relationship on it's gentle currents. stolen glances, whispered conversations, and fleeting touches became their language, spoken only to each other.
the boys had gotten back to camp sooner than expected, a 2 day break being more than enough. after what had happened at the movie night, where sophia and aaliyah found out that jamal was over they tried to milk noelle for any bit of information they could. but she was surprisingly calm about it, sending them looks of judgement for thinking that she'd do anything.
“I don't know where you think I'd get the courage for that,” she said, not looking up from her notes on the kitchen counter. “the most we did was fight over the popcorn.”
aaliyah leaned against the counter, her arms crossed over her chest as she tried to decipher noelle's attitude. she sent sophia a glance, the brunette merely shrugging. “and what about the denmark match? you do realise that there are pictures up of–”
noelle drew her lips into a thin smile, and finally looked up at her friends. “that was out of my control. but there's nothing going on, he's a good friend though. glad to know that I'll have some company back in munich when the tournament is over.”
aaliyah's eyes narrowed, her gaze lingering on noelle's serene expression. “you're awfully calm about this.”
her smile never wavered. “what's there to be upset about? we hung out, watched a movie. that's it.” she got back to her books, her focus solid. “and you can blame any of those denmark rumours on your boyfriend.”
they had no choice but to believe her because they knew how jittery she got when hiding something from them. but this was something that noelle wasn't ready to let out yet, so she put her discipline to the test and fought it out— because she'd like to enjoy the privacy for a bit longer.
the quarter final was looming, merely hours away when the three friends arrived in stuttgart after the 3 hour drive. the excitement was palpable, the town beautifully decorated with their county flag, performers in the streets, merchandise stalls and tourists all flooding the streets on the way to their hotel.
they didn't waste that much time with getting ready, their corresponding germany jerseys weighing a lot more than they hoped. naturally, they were anxious but tried to keep the mood as light as possible and before they knew it they were back in the stands.
as they took their seats, the electric atmosphere enveloped them. the stadium was a sea of german flags, with pockets of spanish supporters scattered throughout who were just as excited.
hand in hand, the three friends watched as the teams emerged from the tunnel with laser focus and silent prayers. someone caught noelle’s eye and she was quick to point him out with an eager finger. “it's the boy— the child!”
both aaliyah and sophia turned their attention to the moroccan 17 year old on the pitch, their eyebrows furrowed. “he looks so much younger in person,” sophia said with her mouth agape and the other two agreed before going silent to sing along to their national anthem.
the captains of the two teams shook hand and exchanged flags, quick to get into their positions and wait for the whistle to blow. noelle took a deep breath, her brief conversation with jamal on the phone the night before sitting on her chest.
he was nervous and called her after midnight for some reassurance. noelle as obviously still awake at that time, her laptop on her lap as usual as she carried on with her thesis. when she saw his name pop up on her phone she couldn't hide the smile on her lips and happily answered.
“can't sleep?” she asked when picking up, not even a proper greeting which caught the footballer by surprise, his silence answering her question.
“oh, so you can read minds?” he said playfully. “aren't you just full of surprises.”
a soft giggle left her lips and she got comfortable on the couch, pulling her knees to her chest. there was a beat of comfortable silence again, and she could already picture him staring at his ceiling.
“I'm assuming you called me because you're nervous for tomorrow.”
she heard his sheets shuffle from the other end of the line, his inevitable tossing and turning making her sad. “I'd be lying if i said that I wasn't,” he admitted, his voice low and introspective.
noelle's tone turned soothing, his need for comfort was the first thing on her mind. “you're prepared for this, you've got an entire team behind you.”
“I know,” he sighed. “it's just… this feels different. it feels like everything.”
her heart went out to him. she would never be able to understand the pressure that he was under, but even if her words eased his mind a bit, she'd be content. “you're going to be amazing. you always are.”
she bit her tongue, unsure if she was ready to admit anything more. “but just know that no matter what happens, it’s going to be okay. you had fun, and did all that you could with the rest of the team, okay?”
a groan was heard from his side, and jamal did all he could to suppress the smile on his face. he felt like a teenager. her words made him feel so safe. “you're killing me here. I don't know how long I can keep my mouth shut.”
noelle stifled a laugh, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the hem of her shirt. “it's been a week. if anyone asks, you're just a really good friend.”
“no, no, no. don't say that,” he teased, his voice playful. “you'll jinx me.”
noelle laughed. “I'm not superstitious, but if it makes you feel better, I'll knock on some wood.” she rapped her knuckled on the coffee table, knocking thrice.
“there, happy now?” she asked with an eye roll, earning a hearty chuckle from jamal.
“yeah, thanks for sacrificing your dignity for my sanity.”
she stifled a scoff. “anytime, superstar.”
“hey, watch it,” he teased. “I'm still your best friend, remember.”
her smile was sly, a tell tale that she was enjoying this more than she expected. “for now.”
his gasp on the other end of the line had her throwing her head back in laughter. “you're such a tease, you know that?”
her laughter was music to his ears. “you started it.”
the crowd's roar brought her back to reality, the match was underway and her attention was back on the pitch, her nerves resurfacing that she couldn't quite shake off. she had faith in the team, but there was always a need to be prepared for the worst. and knowing how bad this would affect the boys if they lost, they already had a plan.
germany were dominating the game, however spain made use of their possession and were ruthless on their wings. lamine yamal on the right and nico williams on the left were any defender’s worst nightmare, and rightfully so.
the weather was actually quite warm for once, the sun beating down on them that late afternoon. as germany maintained their aggressive pace, spain's swift counterattacks kept the german defence on high alert. the warm sun best down on the players, sweat-drenched faces etched with determination.
as the referee blew his whistle, signalling a brief water break, the players welcomed the respite from the scorching sun. germany and spain alike sought shade, guzzling water and towels to cool down.
the camera, seeking to fill the lull, panned across the stands. sophia, noelle, and aaliyah appeared on the massive screen, their faces beaming.
jamal's eyes, scanning the sidelines, locked onto the screen. noelle's image captured his attention.
her smile, radiant and carefree, stole his breath. for a moment, the fatigue, the pressure, melted away.
his lips curled into an unconscious smile. her eyes were sparkling as she spoke to her friends, laughing, unaware of her face on the stadium's screen. she wasn't known in the media, only surfacing these last few months because of the tournament and her connection to florian and kai.
she was private— a normal university student from munich who was part of a more popular circle. but they loved her. the media loved her, the photographers these 2 months were having a ball of time capturing candids of her at the matches.
she didn't mind of course, and bashfully welcomed the silent attention because there was no point in fighting it.
aaliyah's enthusiastic waving and sophia's bright grin surrounded noelle's serene image. she simply showed sophia something on her phone, a smile drawn to her lips as she effortlessly ran her fingers through her hair.
but jamal's gaze remained fixed on her, his jaw slacked and heart. the camera lingered, capturing his reaction. a fleeting glance and a soft smile. unaware of the audience, noelle's eyes shone with excitement.
the referee’s whistle pierced the air and the water break was over, the game commencing almost immediately and then reaching half-time with a 0-0 draw. the final score was actually unpredictable at this point, which only made it more nerve-wracking.
there wasn't much to do at halftime besides take pictures and update their socials, and pray that the second half of the match actually played in their favour. and so it did, for a good few minutes at least.
dani olmo managed to hit the back of the net, 10 minutes into the second half and awaken the entire stadium in a matter of seconds. the spanish supoorters were out of their seats, rejoicing at the tie breaker while the home side watched in agony.
the rest of the match was a nightmare, both teams played well and had their chances, but none of them managed to stand until florian's goal in the 89th minute to reclaim their spot and hope for a victory. but what this meant was that they were going into added time, and possibly a penalty shootout.
aaliyah was out of her seat with her roaring cheers as usual as she watched her boyfriend run up to kai and jamal to celebrate. it was a breath of fresh air to break the tie, a sign of hope and triumph that they could emerge victorious.
the final whistle blew to indicate another short break before extra time, the teams huddling together for their last pep talks and words of encouragement. then 120th minute rolled around and spain scored their winning goal, a punch in the gut to the home side as germany couldn't equalise.
as the final whistle pierced the air, the stadium's energy deflated, leaving behind a sea of mixed emotions. germany's dreams had been shattered, while spain's jubilation echoed through the stands.
aaliyah and sophia, rushed onto the pitch, embracing florian and kai in tight hugs, their boyfriends' faces etched with disappointment and pride.
jamal, however, stood apart, his gaze scanning the crowd until it landed on noelle. her eyes, brimming with empathy, locked onto his, and for a moment, the world around them melted away.
the distance between them seemed insurmountable, yet her gentle smile beckoned him closer. noelle navigated through the throng of people, her eyes never leaving his. as she reached him, his restraint crumbled, and he opened his arms, enveloping her in a warm embrace.
the stadium's noise receded, replaced by the gentle pressure of noelle's touch. jamal's face buried in her shoulder, seeking solace in her warmth. the world around them faded, leaving only the gentle rhythm of noelle's heartbeat.
"It's okay," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm to jamal's frazzled nerves.
for a fleeting moment, they stood there, lost in each other's eyes, the pain of defeat temporarily forgotten.
the camera's gaze, however, lingered, capturing the intimate moment. the media's whispers began, speculating about the nature of their relationship.
“I hate to ruin the moment right now but I have to tell the interviewers that you're my really good friend right?” he asked, his voice muffled as he hid futher in her shoulder.
a meek laugh left her lips and she hummed in response, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. “you can tell them that I'm your cousin too, but that's going to end badly eventually.”
they reluctantly pulled away from the hug, a shared soft smile in exchange for something more because there were still camera’s everywhere. suddenly, noelle felt a weight being dumped on her back, and to no ones surprise it was florian.
usually she would fight him off but today was an exception. she turned to face him properly and welcomed the embrace, his dramatic sighs and comments making it difficult for her to take the situation seriously.
“can you believe that referee?” he exclaimed, his voice dripping with frustration. “those calls were awful.”
noelle laughed, familiar with his post-match dramatics. “well, nothing you can do about it now.”
“we were robbed. daylight robbery!”
jamal was quick to interject, his brows furrowed as some of the staff members focus was on them, ready to capture any sort of reaction for an article headline. “dude, we lost. there's always next time, and they played a good game.”
florian scoffed as he let go of noelle, instead getting back to aaliyah who was more than welcome to comfort him. “the ref played an even better game then.”
“if any of this shit gets out tomorrow,” kai said, his face contorted with judgement with sophia at his side. “I will throw you under the bus so damn fast flo, I have no shame.”
no.elle
liked by sophiaamealia, aali.yah and 456 222 others
no.elle 🇩🇪🎀
view all comments below
spamjam._. trent sends his regards 😕♥️ (from the bench)
→ no.elle girl 😭
jamalmusiala10 you actually posted 🙈
→ user OH??
→ user 🤨
florianwirtz I'm getting trauama flashbacks 😮💨
→ no.elle you just got back to the hotel. the match ended 2 hours ago...
→ florianwirtz are you undermining my trauma??? as a psych student??
→ user @florianwirtz I'm howlingggg 😭😭
→ user @florianwirtz let the girl breatheeee 💀
→ no.elle @florianwirtz are you crying because you bottled a quarter final??? as a professional footballer?? take a damn seat.
→ florainwirtz i'm sat🪑
after the interviews and getting their bags, and noelle's very random interaction with jamal's mother and siblings, the group was invited to a team after party. noelle heard “party” and immediately knew that she was staying in for the evening, locked up in her hotel room with room service and her thesis.
sophia and aaliyah were set after picking up florian and kai's luggage and setting it in their shared rooms, while jamal had his own. after a much needed shower and meal, noelle was sat comfortably underneath the hotel sheets, the tv playing in the background as she worked.
the soft glow of the hotel room's lamps enveloped her, creating a cozy sanctuary. she snuggled deeper into the plush sheets, her laptop open on her lap as she typed away on her thesis. the tv's gentle hum provided a soothing background noise, a welcome respite from the day's excitement.
she told sophia and aaliyah not to stay out too late, seeing as they actually had things planned for the following day. the response that she got was, “thanks, mother. let us know if we need to be back in time to milk the cows for breakfast.”
as she typed away on her thesis, the words flowing with ease and with more understanding than before she flipped through her notes for cross references and whatnot. the evening wore on, her focus waning from time to time but she pushed through, that was until an unexpected knock on her door made her halt.
her fingers hovered over the keyboard, her slight confusion piquing when she saw the time at the bottom of her screen. 11:23 pm. it was far too early for sophia and aaliyah to be home, and the party was still going strong.
having no other choice, she threw off her covers and padded to the door. she peered through the peephole, the familiar face making her heart leap as she quickly opened the door to reveal jamal stood outside in a pair of sweatpants and tshirt.
noelle eyed him for a moment. “did you just get out of the shower?”
he raised his eyebrows playfully and she took a step to the side so that he could come in. “I wasn't in the mood for people tonight.”
noelle locked the door and leant back on the door, her arms crossed for further explanation. a teasing hum left her lips and she nodded. “I'm 100% sure that I'm a person as well.”
jamal's eyes were drinking in every bit of her demeanour, and how comfortable she looked. “a person that I'll always be in the mood for. there's a difference.”
noelle's cheeks flushed as his words washed over her, their intensity making her heart skip a beat. she uncrossed her arms. her hands falling to her sides as she searched for a witty retort.
“charmer,” she whispered more to herself and made her way over to where he was sitting on the edge of the bed. she searched his eyes for answers, silently nitpicking at any sign for what he was really doing in her room this late.
he leant back on his hands, letting his gaze follow her every move with a gentle smile.
“you know what, since you're here you might as well— ah!”
before she could register, jamal's hands were on her waist, tugging her down onto the mattress beside him. her surprised laughter filled the room, jamal looking down at her with a playful smile. “you were going to invite me to stay weren't you?”
she rolled her eyes at the question, unbelievable. “maybe.”
he scrunched his nose, not too fond of the answer but he let it slide. his fingers gently traced her jaw before leaning in a bit more. noelle's eyelashes fluttered shut ans she titled her head upwards. the kiss was gentle, a soft brush of his lips against hers.
her hands drifted up, her fingers tracing the curve of his neck as he deepened the kiss, his arms wrapping around her. time melted away, leaving only the two of them, lost in the moment.
a giggle fell from noelle's lips and she swat him away to sit back in her original spot. she picked up her laptop and patted the spot beside her for him, an eager smile adorning his lips. “I have work to do but you're cute so you can stay.”
his eyes sparkled as he set beside her and she lifted her arm for him to take refuge under. he felt like a child, his heart pounding as he settled on her chest— his head resting on her shoulder.
as jamal settled into the warmth of noelle's embrace, he felt his entire being relax, like a sigh escaping from the depths of his soul. her arm wrapped snugly around him, a gentle anchor holding him fast, and he let himself be enveloped by her presence.
the soft rise and fall of her chest beneath his cheek was a lullaby, soothing his racing thoughts and calming his heart. the scent of her skin, a subtle blend of floral and sweetness, filled his senses, making his feelings swirl with tender intimacy.
his gaze drifted to the gentle curve of noelle's neck, the soft wisps of hair escaping her ponytail, and his chest swelled with emotion.
the sound of her typing was a gentle melody, a background hum that harmonised with the beating of his heart.
“you know for someone who’s never had a boyfriend before,” jamal broke the silence, his voice low. “you're really good at it.”
her lips pursed at the compliment, her cheeks growing warm because in actual fact, she had no idea what she was doing. “you're making it easy.”
In this quiet, sheltered space, noelle felt his defences dissolve, her guard dropping like a stone. she was vulnerable, open, and exposed – yet, paradoxically, she felt safer than he ever had before.
on the occasion he would take the liberty to point out a spelling error and joke about how he should've been an editor. noelle rolled her eyes at his gimmick, his gentle nature soothing. “you still haven't said anything yet.” she took a quick glance at the boy beside her. “about the match.”
a sigh left his lips, a telltale that he was trying to forget. “what's there to say? we lost, and the team is upset but it's normal. we’ve been here before.”
she didn't press the matter any further and placed a kiss on his temple, causing him to squirm beneath her grip in an attempt to hide his blush. noelle's soft laughter was a whispered caress against his ear. "aw, look at you getting all shy."
jamal's cheeks burned hotter, but he couldn't muster the energy to protest. being this close to her, feeling her warmth and affection, made his defences crumble.
as they settled back into comfortable silence, jamal's thoughts returned to the match. her gentle probing had uncovered a sensitive spot, but her quick retreat had soothed his frazzled nerves.
he appreciated her intuitive understanding, her ability to sense when to push and when to pull back. as the night wore on, Jamal's eyelids grew heavy, his breathing slowing. noelle's presence was a lullaby, rocking him into a peaceful slumber.
just before drifting off, he felt noelle's lips brush against his forehead, a soft whisper: "I'm glad you're here."
jamal's heart swelled, his thoughts muddled by sleep and emotion.
as noelle's lips brushed against his forehead, she felt a flutter in her chest, a delicate dance of emotions. happiness swirled with trepidation, like wisps of cloud entwining with sunshine.
her mind whispered doubts, faint but persistent: was she rushing into this? was she ready?
the fear of ruin lingered, a shadow in the recesses of her thoughts. what if their relationship imploded, leaving scars and shattered dreams?
but as she gazed at jamal's peaceful face, his features softened by sleep, her fears began to unravel. her thoughts drifted to the laughter they shared, the whispered secrets, and the quiet moments like this, wrapped in each other's arms.
she felt alive, her heart beating with a vibrancy she'd never known before.
she was scared, yes, but she was also open— open to the possibility of love, of heartache, of growth. the uncertainty was exhilarating, a rollercoaster of emotions she was willing to ride.
for the first time in her life, noelle felt ready to surrender to the unknown, to let go of control and trust the universe. she was falling, and she was terrified.
nearly 2k words on chapter 7 😌 we're cooking
YES WE GOT CHAPTER 6 AND EVEN A WHOLE KISS MY DEATH THREATS WORKED 🙏💪
ironically enough, you've saved lives 😭😭
omg i loved chapter 6🥰🥰
thank you bb xx
love song ♬– chapter 6 [ J.M ]
pairing: jamal musiala x fem!oc
summary [please read]
genre(s): strangers to lovers, football romance, fluff and angst [love song playlist]
[w.c: 3.7k] masterlist
notes: hold your applause! thank you, thank you 🤭 I fear, ya'll aren't ready for this
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as the sun rose over the quaint town, noelle settled into her cosy corner of the bnb, surrounded by stacks of books and notes for her thesis. the others— florian, aaliyah, sophia and kai had departed earlier that morning for some alone time for a few days, which left her to her studies.
a blessing in disguise. it was time to lock in without any distractions. just her and her laptop, trying time make sense of whatever was on her screen.
the chill in the air was refreshing, and noelle savoured the silence, sipping on some tea (yes tea, and not coffee) as she worked. her focus was interrupted by the occasional chirp of the birds outside, all thoughts of the tournament out the window as she remained focused.
there was about a week before the quarter final match against spain, and as highly anticipated as it was, noelle needed to get her priorities straight. but just as she was hitting her stride, the doorbell rang. her curiosity piqued, perhaps expecting an unexpected delivery.
instead, she found jamal standing on the porch, his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets accompanied by a warm smile. “hey, I hope I'm not interrupting anything,” he said, eyes crinkling at the corners.
her heart skipped a beat, flashes of their last encounter on the pitch at the denmark match replaying almost immediately. she could still feel the warmth of his body radiating so close to hers, his softened gaze looking down at her as they casually conversed.
her heart swelled but she was quick to regain her thoughts and mutter out a quick apology. “uh, no– definitely not,” she stumbled with a faint smile and absentmindedly fixed her hair. “what brings you here?”
jamal's lips tugged up ever so slightly at her flustered state, catching a glimpse of her hands tucking into the sleeves of her sweatshirt. he shrugged, his shoulders flexing underneath his hoodie. “I heard you were stuck here alone today. thought maybe you’d like some company?”
noelle's cheeks flushed— something that happened quite often when jamal was around, but she couldn't hide the smile spread on her face. “stuck here alone” didn't sound so bad when he phrased it that way.
“that's sweet of you,” she said and stepped aside to let him in. “but I'm actually on a deadline. this thesis isn't going to write itself, unfortunately.”
jamal nodded sympathetically, his eyes following her every move, his legs doing the same as she stepped into the kitchen and offered him some hot chocolate. “I know the feeling. coach has been breathing down my neck about strategy for this spain match.”
noelle laughed and put the kettle on. “I'm sure you'll handle it. you're practically a football genius. “
jamal's face scrunched as took off his hoodie, leaning against the counter to watch noelle. “genius is stretching it, but I'll take it.”
their conversation continued while noelle reached up to get two mugs from the cabinet but her fingers barely grazed the handles, which left her to stand on her tiptoes, straining to reach. see, normally this wouldn't be a problem.
because sophia and aaliyah would know to keep the mugs in the lower cabinets, but ever since she's been on her coffee ban they've done everything in their power to make sure that noelle had no way of getting any caffeine.
they went as far as hiding the coffee away from her, offering to make her tea in the evening just to keep her out of the kitchen. and now, she was left to look like an idiot.
jamal noticed her struggle and stepped closer, his chest brushing against her back. her muscles tensed immediately at the feeling of his body so close to hers… again. she couldn't shake the feeling, her knees begging to give in at his body towering over hers.
without saying anything his hands wrapped around hers, their fingers intertwining as he lifted the mugs down.
“thanks,” she muttered, trying to sound nonchalant despite her racing heart. she turned to face him and flashed a tight lipped smile, their body's still centimetres apart.
“you're welcome,” he said and placed the mugs on the counter behind her. “but next time ask for help, no need to strain those delicate muscles.” he teasingly and gave her upper arm a light squeeze.
she narrowed her eyes at him, her hands gripping onto the counter behind her. he was looking down at her so casually, standing this close to her as if it was normal for him. was it? she was well aware of their height difference but having him look down at her with that look in his eyes— her head barely reaching over his shoulder.
it was different.
“so what’s with the mug-hiding?” his question snapped her back to reality. “sophia and aaliyah trying to drive you crazy?” he asked, quirking a brow.
noelle swallowed. hard. “uhm… I'm on a caffeine ban.”
jamal's eyes widened and he took a few steps back to head back to where he was originally standing. when his back was turned, noelle let out the breath she was holding and tried to snap herself out of her thoughts. “that's harsh. what's the crime?”
noelle smiled wryly and continued with making the hot chocolate. “excessive caffeine consumption. they're trying to save me from myself.”
jamal grinned and took the mugs from her with a grateful smile and followed her into the living room to where she was previously sitting on the couch. as they settled in the living room, jamal handed noelle her mug and she covered his lap with the blanket she was previously sitting under.
somehow, their comfortable conversation drifted back to her thesis that jamal was extremely interested in for some reason. he believed that it was a strange topic to write on for a final assignment, because the feeling and overall idea of love was subjective.
the fact that she was focusing solely on romantic love was even more riveting that he couldn't help but ask her questions. and each time that he would, noelle would quirk a brow in silent approval and admiration.
“I've never thought of love as a phenomenon,” he said, his lips slightly pouted.
noelle grinned. “exactly! it's a complex and subjective experience. I'm trying to understand the commonalities and differences.”
jamal leaned in, his voice low and curious. “and what do you have so far?”
noelle's heart skipped a beat at his proximity, something that he never took into account when around her. it was in no way healthy for her to feel this way— she never dealt with with overwhelming foreign emotions.
“well,” she started just above a whisper, her eyes focused solely on his. “love seems to transcend rational explanation. it's often described as an intense emotional connection, a sense of belonging…”
the atmosphere was thick, the silence enveloping them in way that her lungs were constricting just at the sight of him. his eyes were shimmering underneath the warm lighting, the rain pattering against the windows comforting.
when she realised what was happening she hurriedly pulled back, clearing her throat and set her mug on the coffee table. jamal watched as she put some distance between them, something inside his chest aching slightly but he shook it off and leaned back into the cushion.
“okay then, what does love feel like to you?”
the question caught him off guard but a laugh still slipped from his lips. he took a moment to think, his brows furrowing as he concentrated on the question. “I'm not too familiar with the romance scene. my first and last proper girlfriend was sometime in high school.” he turned to look at noelle with a sheepishly smile.
“lasted about a month.” he laughed at the thought and noelle was in shock, something he said before sticking with her.
she pursed her lips, the question burning on her tongue. “proper girlfriend?” she repeated, her voice laced with curiosity.
jamal nodded. “well, you know, someone I actually took on dates, held hands with… the whole works.”
noelle raised her brow, that wasn't the question she asked. “implying that there were improper girlfriends?”
“yeah, I've had my share of spontaneous kisses and something more on a night out and but nothing else. never got that far.” he simply shrugged after that, making it clear to noelle that he wasn't the fling type.
she sat for a moment to let the information sink in, his behaviour and attitude towards relationships making her lick her lips in thought. “you're the date to marry type?”
jamal's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, the thought of marriage barely crossing his mind on any other occasion. “I don't think I'm lucky enough for that,” he stifled a laugh. “I just really value connection.”
noelle nodded slowly, it making sense for the type of person he was. he had a small circle of close friends and valued nothing superficial. private boy with a private life, his focus solely on those dear to him and his career. which was extremely attractive to her, his intentions were always so genuine with everything. it made her heart race.
“but to answer your question I could say that love is like the ultimate penalty shootout. sudden death. you're all in, there's no going back.”
noelle's laughter filled the room, and jamal couldn't help but stare in awe, his lips slightly parted. she went on about how she loved the analogy, perhaps she didn't understand it but it made sense. but jamal understood it. he was there right now. in the middle of that penalty shootout.
metres away from the goalkeeper and the net, the slight breeze in the air gentle and crisp as it hit his flushed face. he could hear his heart pounding, the chants from the supporters deafening but his focus was solely on her and the ball at his feet.
jamal's eyes never left noelle's as she laughed and spoke, her words weaving a spell around him.
“do you want to watch a movie?”
jamal froze for a second, a dazed and confused hum leaving his lips. he didn't hear a thing she said. noelle suppressed her laughter and reached for the remote beside her, waving it in the air. “do you want to watch a movie?”
obviously, he said yes, a bit too eager at first but he didn't care. noelle tossed him the remote with a smile and hopped off the couch to get some snacks, jamal's eyes following her.
“just scream if you can't reach,” he called out and she shot him a glare, causing him to let out a hearty laugh.
when she got back her jaw dropped at the sight of the movie on the screen, the title blaring at her and she immediately shook her head in protest. “no way. this is not happening.”
jamal on the other hand was adorning the biggest smile, opening up the blanket for her to sit. “we are most definitely about to have a scream marathon.”
he gestured to the clock on the wall. “it's not even past lunch yet, it won't be half as scary I promise.”
she blinked at him for a few seconds, the disbelief in her eyes shunned by the desperation and excitement in his as he looked up at her, his hand gently reaching for hers to settle her down beside him. the snacks were set down and he tucked her in with a smile but her eyes were still narrowed.
the opening scene started and noelle was comfortably warmed up with her back against the arm rest, her legs crossed so that they didn't quite reach jamal’s for a multitude of reasons. it was still light out, it at least as light as it could be out in herzogenaurach in the middle of a storm.
every light in the house was off, the curtains were drawn shut, the only source of light illuminating from the tv screen. the movie started off slow, noelle and jamal's commentary easing the atmosphere.
“yes, please carry on talking to the serial kil— oh shit, it's actually her boyfriend! that’s a lot of duct tape— and he's dead. that's just lovely.”
it was about halfway through the movie that her legs began to cramp, a silent curse leaving her lips as she knocked on her thigh to suppress the pain. unfortunately it didn't work because he noticed, his expression laced in confusion.
“are you okay?”
she smiled and threw her head to the back, the pain spiking up all the way to her thigh. “leg cramp,” she admitted and sat up to loosen the tension but jamal was quick to take both her legs and throw them over his lap.
her heart was caught in her throat, eyes wide in shock while his were on the tv, his hands working wonders as the year massaged her calves.
the pain was gone in a matter of seconds, and he looked at her with a smile. “better?”
her eyes widened, still surprised by the sudden intimacy and the concern that she was making hIm uncomfortable. “uh, yeah… thanks.”
noelle's eyes lingered on his hands, still wrapped around her calves, his fingers gently kneading her muscles. the warmth of his touch spread through her legs, soothing the lingering ache. her gaze drifted to his face, his expression relaxed, focused on the movie.
she felt a flutter in her chest, her heart racing with the sudden intimacy. his hands on her legs, his lap cradling her feet, his fingers gently tracing her skin, created a sense of vulnerability she hadn't anticipated.
noelle's cheeks flushed, her mind reeling with the implications. she hadn't expected jamal to be so... comfortable with physical contact. his hands, strong and gentle, seemed to know exactly how to ease her tension.
as she watched him, his eyes never leaving the screen, noelle realised he was genuinely unaware of the effect he had on her. his concern had been genuine, his actions instinctive.
the tension between them dissipated, replaced by a sense of tranquillity.
"comfortable now?" jamal asked, his voice low, without looking at her.
noelle nodded, her voice barely audible. "yeah..."
he smiled, his eyes still on the movie. "good."
the silence between them was no longer awkward, but companionable. noelle's gaze drifted to the tv, but her awareness remained focused on jamal's hands, still gently holding her legs.
as the movie continued, noelle's thoughts wandered. she couldn't remember the last time someone had touched her with such care. jamal's gentle massage had awakened a deep sense of longing within her.
the storm outside seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the warmth of his touch. noelle felt herself melting into the moment, her guard dropping.
after the first movie, which was surprisingly enjoyable, the second was immediately put on without any disturbance or protest. teasing comments were thrown at noelle about her liking towards the movie and her reluctance at first.
she threw her hands up into the air in defence. “whatever, say what you want but sidney is a badass. I'm just here for her.”
jamal titled his head to the side challengingly, his touch lingering on her bare skin. “oh, so I just happened to be here?”
noelle's eyes sparkled with amusement. “well, you're just the mandatory companion.”
he chuckled, loving the banter. “so that's all I am to you? mandatory?” his eyes sparkled with amusement, his hand creeping achingly higher when noelle nodded, her smile etched into his mind.
his hands drifted up her calves, sending a shiver up her spine. “mandatory? I think I can upgrade my status then.”
her smile faltered, her eyes locking on to his. the air thickened with tension, their banter taking on a flirtatious edge that always caught her off guard. “upgrade?” her voice was barely above a whisper, her attention and every nerve in her body focused on his fingers trailing on her thigh.
“to essential… vital even,” he prompted with a smirk, the knot that noelle was in on the verge unravelling.
the word hung in their air, heavy with implication. her heart raced, her mind reeling with sudden aching for the situation. their thoughts swirled with desire, and something more. noelle felt vulnerable, exposed, yet drawn to him like a magnet.
jamal’s touch seemed to burn her skin, leaving trails of sparks whenever he touched. his eyes sparking with amusement now held a deeper meaning.
as the movie's suspense built, their anticipation and unspoken words grew, but not for the plot twists. but for the moment that jamal's hand might brush higher, the moment their lips might meet. noelle's breath caught, her chest rising and falling with each ragged inhale.
then his eyes dropped to her lips— pink and plush and driving him insane. so why couldn't he take the shot? lessen the space?
suddenly, the moment was interrupted but the sound of noelle's phone ringing making her jump up in shock. it was faced down, and almost perfectly, the phone on the movie began to ring, sidney picking it up immediately with the infamous “what's your favourite scary movie?” sounding through the living room.
jamal burst into a fit of laughter and threw his head back at the coincidence, the warmth of his hands leaving noelle's upper thigh as it was now covering his face. her heart was pounding once again, her cheeks flushed but she got the phone and angrily answered only to hear sophia's voice on the other end.
“why are you breathing so hard? wait– who's laughing in the background?”
noelle’s face burned with embarrassment as she tried to compose herself. “I'm just watching a movie…”
sophia’s tone turned suspicious. “what movie?”
noelle glanced are jamal, still chuckling, his eyes shining with amusement. “scream.”
sophia's voice dropped to a whisper, noelle picturing her reaction perfectly. “with jamal?”
she hesitated, unsure if she wanted to out herself at a time like this, especially after what had just happened. she drew a hum, “yeah, he just dropped by to keep me company.”
that wasn't a lie.
“and that's why you're breathing like you've just run a marathon? noelle braun what the fuck!”
noelle was quick to try and interject but sophia was calling out to aaliyah at whatever place they were, the excitement, shock and desperation evident in her voice. jamal's laughter subsided but he held her gaze and mouthed “busted” at noelle, making her eyes roll.
the second she heard aaliyah yell her name she dropped the call. this was not happening today, she didn't have the mental capacity for the shit she was going to get.
their marathon continued shortly after, but this time with less conversation. it was after 6 in the evening and they'd just gotten their pizza and settled back into the living room, their silent glances and brushing knees adding to the ache in their stomachs.
the dim lighting of the living room amplified the tension between them. noelle's eyes fixed on the screen, but her awareness was consumed by jamal's presence.
his arm, slung casually over the couch, seemed to invite her closer. his fingers tapped a slow rhythm on the cushion, sending shivers down her spine.
her breaths came in short gasps, her chest rising and falling with each nervous inhale. she felt jamal's gaze on her, his eyes burning with an unspoken intensity.
as they watched, their knees touched, sending sparks through her entire body. her pulse quickened, her heart pounding in her ears.
the movie's suspense built, but noelle's anxiety stemmed from the proximity to him. every shift in his position made her hyper-aware of his body. his hand drifted closer, his fingers brushing against her shoulder. noelle's skin tingled.
she fought the urge to lean into his touch, her body screaming for contact. the ache in her core grew, a throbbing reminder of her desire. jamal's tapping slowed, his fingers hovering above her skin. noelle's voice trailed off, her eyes locked on jamal's. the air thickened, heavy with anticipation.
his gaze never wavered, his fingers inching closer to her skin. “you okay?"
noelle nodded, her pulse racing. "yeah..."
the movie continued, but they didn't notice. their focus was on each other.
jamal's hand drifted down, his fingers tracing the curve of her shoulder. their knees touched again, this time intentionally. jamal's leg pressed against hers, sending shivers through her entire body.
the moment balanced on a knife's edge, ready to tip into something more.
fuck it.
sucking up her pride and inevitable fear, noelle turned her head to the side to look at jamal, but he beat her to it. her eyes widened in surprise as jamal's lips claimed hers, the sudden contact sending a jolt of electricity through her entire body. she pulled away, her instincts momentarily taking over, but regret flooded her the instant their lips parted.
jamal's eyes, dark and intense, locked onto hers, his face inches from hers. noelle's heart pounded, her pulse racing with anticipation. without a thought, she leaned back in, her lips brushing against his. this time, she was ready.
their lips met in a tender, exploratory kiss, the tension between them igniting. noelle's hands drifted up, her fingers tracing the contours of Jamal's face.
jamal's arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. the kiss deepened, their lips moving in perfect sync. noelle's legs shifted, her body gravitating toward his. she straddled his lap, their faces inches apart.
their lips parted, and namal's eyes blazed with desire. "noelle..."
her name was a whispered prayer, a plea for more. she couldn't believe was she was doing, never in a million years would she have thought that she's be taking the lead in a situation like this.
the world around them melted away, leaving only the thrumming tension between them. their tongues danced, the kiss growing more intense. noelle's body pressed against namal's, her breasts crushed against his chest.
jamal's hands roamed her back, his fingers tracing the curve of her spine. noelle's skin tingled, her senses on fire.
their lips parted, gasping for air. jamal's forehead rested against hers, their ragged breaths mingling.
"noelle..." he whispered again, his voice husky.
she smiled, her eyes locked on his. "yeah?"
his lips curved, still out of breath. "I am in no way normal about you."
she pulled away and covered her face with her hands, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment . “oh God, what just happened?”
jamal was breathless, unable to believe she was straddling his lap, his hands gripping at her waist. “I think you just ravished me.”
“shut up,” she said and jokingly slapped his chest. “you're not exactly helping me regret this less.”
his eyes crinkled in disbelief, a heavy scoff leaving his lips. “regret it? I'm framing this moment.” he titled his head to get a better look at her— hair undone, cheeks flushed, her shorts riding up, and her t-shirt sitting on her frame in the same way one of his would.
he wanted to frame her.
he continued to rub circles on her bare skin, his fingers relishing in the feeling of her body heat while she continued to ramble about how she messed up, spewing out apology after apology until jamal's lips met hers again, this time for a shorter tender kiss.
he pulled away with a smile and looked into her eyes, glossy and innocent. “I could get used to that.”
noelle playfully pushed him away, the heat returning to her cheeks and creeping up her neck. “for a guy who just got attacked— pounced on, you're pretty smug.”
he chuckled. “I loved the enthusiasm and the look in your eyes.”
a hum left noelle’s lips as she regained her confidence and became more comfortable with the situation. she lazily wrapped her arms around his shoulders, caressing the nape of his neck as they talked— the movie long forgotten.
“no seriously,” jamal said with a chuckle. “I've never seen anyone go from zero to sixty like that before.”
noelle buried her face in the crook of his neck in embarrassment, the replay of the scene in her mind making her excited. “I'm a fast learner I guess?”
her breath tickled his neck, another jolt of excitement. “I think you're a natural.”
she pulled away with a cute smile, and nodded. then she got the remote and spoke into it like a mic, the gimmick making jamal laugh. “how do you feel about having just taken my movie night virginity?”
jamal's laughter filled the room, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "oh, I feel utterly responsible," he said, playing along, his voice dripping with mock seriousness.
noelle's grin was mischievous, her voice husky as she continued her mock interview. "and what do you plan to do with this newfound power?”
his chuckle was low and seductive. "well, I think I'll just have to make sure you never watch movies with anyone else."
her eyes sparkled, her lips curling into a sly smile. "exclusive movie rights, huh?"
jamal nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "absolutely. I'll make sure to keep you entertained."
"I think that can be arranged."
as they continued their playful banter, jamal's fingers traced the curve of her spine, sending shivers down her back.
noelle's mock interview was forgotten, she leaned in, her lips brushing against his. "you're really good at this," she whispered.
his smile was soft, his eyes shining with affection. "good at what?"
her voice was barely audible. "making me feel... comfortable."
jamal's arms wrapped tighter around her, holding her close. "I could say the same about you."
their lips met again, the kiss tender and intimate, the connection between them palpable. as they broke apart, noelle's eyes sparkled. "we're keeping this on the down low right?"
“obviously!” he answered in shock. “have you met our friends?”
I'm busy with chapter 6 and I need noelle and jamal to make out immediately. I'm not weird, I'm just honest and can't take this tension any longer! FREE MY MAN FROM HIS ENCLOSURE!!
