✧ on vacation ✧

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle stood at the edge of the touch pool looking at the sea creatures. At Evie’s teasing about sharks and noses, Noelle let out a small laugh, shaking her head from side to side. Her mouth opened, then closed again, a second of hesitation before she just smiled, glancing at Hunter like she wasn’t entirely sure whether to defend him or to just laugh. When Hunter came closer and wrapped an arm around her waist, Noelle softened instantly, her shoulders easing. She reached out carefully with her free hand to touch the starfish, her fingers gentle, almost reverent, like she didn’t want to disturb it too much. At Evie’s stream of facts, she nodded along quietly, clearly listening even if her focus kept drifting back to Hunter standing right beside her. At Evie’s sudden question, the atmosphere shifted in an instant. Hunter choked beside her, and Noelle’s head snapped toward Evie so fast her hair shifted over her shoulder. Her mouth opened immediately, then shut again, like her brain had briefly stopped cooperating with her face. A second passed. Then another. “Evie! she said startled, then stopped again, blinking hard as if the words might organise themselves properly if she waited long enough. Her gaze flicked between Evie and Hunter, cheeks warming, before she let out a small, breathless laugh that didn’t quite hide the surprise. Then it shifted. A small smile tugged at her lips, softening the moment instead of letting it spiral into awkwardness. She turned her head toward Evie first, catching her eye, and gave her a quick, unmistakable wink, playful, light, like she was letting her in on a joke only they were supposed to know about. Noelle shifted her weight slightly and bumped her hip gently against Hunter’s, just enough to make him stumble half a step closer to her. Her hand stayed resting near the water, but her attention was fully on him now, eyes bright with quiet amusement. “Yeah, Hunter,” she said, voice sweet but teasing, head tilting slightly as she looked up at him, “when are you gonna make me your wife?” The words hung there for a second, so casual it almost made it worse. Noelle’s smile widened a fraction as she watched for his reaction. Then she tilted her head, glancing briefly toward Evie before looking back up at Hunter. “Your sister wants a sister-in-law."

[evieholt]

if there was one thing evie loved more than her job, it was the two people standing beside her. evie adored hunter; she couldn't have asked for a better brother. he had practically raised her after their mother's death, with their father's alcoholism and the violence that came with it making him incapable of doing so. she was grateful to have hunter by her side—she didn't know where either of them would be without him. noelle, on the other hand, came into evie's life much later, yet she occupied a place in her heart nearly as big as hunter did. from the moment evie realised she was her brother's other half, his soulmate, she had grown to love noelle as if she were her own best friend. after blurting out the question that made both her brother choke and noelle jump, she lifted her eyes from the sea cucumber. “what? it's a perfectly reasonable question,” she said with a grin, mischief dancing in her eyes. her gaze flicked between hunter and noelle, thoroughly enjoying the moment, especially when she noticed both of them blushing. noelle recovered first, turning the question back on hunter by asking when he was going to marry her. instantly, the tips of the man's ears turned bright red. “i would've done it right now, but the sight of my sister touching a living poop completely ruined the mood,” he joked, glancing from noelle to evie. “you really can't keep your mouth shut, can you?” he laughed, though there was something in his voice that made it painfully obvious he really had been planning something and very much did not appreciate evie spoiling it. she raised both hands in mock surrender. “oh, please. don't blame me because you're too scared to do it,” she teased before looking back at noelle. “are you absolutely certain you want to marry him?” hunter only rolled his eyes before leaning over to kiss noelle's cheek. “this is payback. if i were you, little sister, i'd look away, because i'm about to kiss my girlfriend, and i have a feeling you won't enjoy watching.” with that, he gently cupped noelle's chin, tilting her face up before pressing his lips to hers. evie clutched dramatically at her chest and fake-choked. “oh, hunter… honestly, not in front of the animals. you're going to traumatise them with all that disgusting—” but before she could finish, the quiet hum that escaped hunter made it abundantly clear he was enjoying the kiss far too much. evie gagged loudly. “i hate you, hunter.”

[ashton-torres]

Ashton watched her with a quiet steadiness, leaning back slightly against the lift wall, arms loosely folded as if he were trying to occupy as little space as possible. Evie’s words kept coming, bright, quick, filling every corner of the silence he usually relied on. And strangely, he didn’t feel the usual urge to retreat from it. Her comment about filling gaps earned the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth, not quite a smile, but close enough to count. “Yeah,” he said quietly, his voice even, measured. “You seem good at that.” His gaze shifted briefly to the floor indicator, unmoving, before returning to her. “And loud and chaotic wasn't meant as an insult by the way ,” he added after a beat, almost like he felt the need to clarify. “Just the truth." When she admitted people usually told her to shut up, something in his expression tightened, not dramatically, just a slight narrowing of his eyes, like he was filing that information away. “They’re impatient,” he said simply. “Or not listening properly.” He shrugged one shoulder, subtle. “It's not you. It's them." He hesitated for a moment after she explained why she talked so much, his gaze drifting to the closed doors again. That part, he understood more than he wanted to admit. His voice softened, almost reluctant. “I get that. Keeping your head busy so it doesn’t go somewhere you don’t want it to.” A pause. “It works out sometimes." Her last question pulled a quiet exhale out of him, something just short of a laugh. He tilted his head back slightly, eyes flicking up to the ceiling like the answer might be written there. “Statistically?” he murmured. “We’ll be out before it becomes a problem.” Then, after a beat, he glanced at her again, a trace more relaxed than before. “But if not, I’m blaming you for putting that thought in my head and making me thinking about needing to pee." A faint smirk tugged at his lips. “But if not, I guess we establish some kind of bathroom protocol. Rotations. Boundaries.” He huffed softly, shaking his head at himself. Another small pause, then he added, a touch more awkward but trying. "But yeah,” he added, almost as an afterthought, “hopefully it’s a number one and not a number two.” A small pause, then a faint, understated smirk. “That’d be a lot worse.”

[evieholt]

evie was loud. she liked talking to people, rambling on, trying to convince everyone around her to wear wings to clubs. she was sunshine in human form. she had a habit of forgetting filters existed, but when that happened, some people simply didn't want to listen while others didn't mind. she was fine with that. she couldn't possibly like everyone, so she never expected everyone to like her either. to the aquarium's visitors, though, her endless rambles and strange animal facts were part of the charm. whenever people booked tours, everyone wanted the loud girl who could somehow make sea creatures fascinating. “even if it is them, it still sucks,” she pointed out with a shrug, making it clear she wasn't about to dwell on it. “it does work sometimes, though. that answer tells me your thoughts aren't always pleasant,” she mused. “i read people,” she joked before grinning. “about as well as i read alphabet soup—completely wrong.” she laughed. she sighed softly. she probably should have felt uneasy trapped in that elevator, but she was actually having a good time. she wouldn't admit that out loud, mostly because it would probably make the man panic even more. it was obvious he hated being stuck there. not that she enjoyed it either; she was simply enjoying talking to him. “statistically? fuck statistics. i'm shorter, and my bladder's smaller,” she pointed out. “and i did drink a large icee not that long ago,” she added, her voice dropping slightly. “protocol, rotations, boundaries… i get the feeling you're the kind of person who gets turned on by those. ashton… i don't actually know your name, but let's pretend i got it right. it sounds nice,” she mused. “do you have a bathroom schedule?” she asked playfully. “oh, don't worry, it won't be number two on my side. i can't poop anywhere but home.” she immediately winced at her own words. “too much information, evie. stop talking about poop,” she muttered to herself, thoroughly embarrassed. “anyway…” she cleared her throat, very obviously trying to steer the conversation somewhere else. “how long have we been in here?”

[noelle-kennedy]

"I don't need to dream. I know you will probably get married one day." Noelle’s lips curved into a small, polite smile as she listened to Evie, genuinely interested in her conversation. She tilted her head slightly, leaning in just enough to show she was paying attention, quietly laughing when Hunter’s dramatic antics stole the moment. “I can totally see that,” Noelle said softly, glancing at Evie when she laughed about Pringles and love. “You really do think about everything, don’t you?” She chuckled lightly at the way Evie tapped her head like a mastermind, shaking her head with amusement. Hunter’s sad puppy face made Noelle stifle another laugh behind her hand. She gave him a sympathetic look, even as he flipped Evie off, and let out a quiet snort when Evie threatened to bite his finger. Her smile softened, a little shyly, before she followed Evie as they looped arms together. She gently held Hunter’s arm too, feeling the little connection, even as his teasing made her grin quietly. Noelle’s eyes lit up as Evie gestured toward the touch pool. “That sounds amazing.” Her gaze flicked between Evie and the shallow tank, curiosity sparkling. Noelle let out a small laugh, shaking her head at Hunter's over-the-top dramatics. “You really would fight a shark for me?” she asked softly, a mix of amusement and disbelief in her voice, giving him a playful, polite nudge with her elbow. Evie’s retort made Noelle laugh quietly again, leaning slightly toward her as they walked into the kids’ section. She held her hands together politely, letting Evie guide the way, genuinely interested in everything the girl pointed out about the touch pool. Noelle stepped carefully up to the edge of the touch pool, her fingers hovering over the shallow water for a moment before she leaned in. She gently pressed the tips of her fingers against the top of a starfish, feeling the rough, bumpy texture beneath her hand. “Hmm,” she murmured, tilting her head thoughtfully. “It’s kind of like touching a rock.” She said softly, a little shyly, brushing her fingers across the starfish again. Her eyes flicking toward Hunter, hoping he’d join in. She held her hand over the starfish again, fingers lightly tracing its shape, her curiosity shining through despite her introverted nature. "Hunter, come here, see how this feels. It's so weird."

[evieholt]

as noelle walked next to her toward the touch pool, still with their arms laced, evie let go, needing her hands free to point at everything and gesture the way she always did. "he wouldn’t stand a chance against the shark," she pointed out before her brother could even answer. "do you think if i dunk your head in the water, they’ll eat your nose?" hunter tried to threaten her. "oh, hunter, i wouldn’t threaten me, you’re at a disadvantage," she raised her eyebrows at him before he laughed, and she just shook her head. as noelle reached out to touch the starfish, evie smiled, walking over to the other side of the pool, her hand dipping into the water as she moved. she noticed how noelle called her brother over so he could join her, and he did in a heartbeat, gently touching the small creature, one arm wrapped around noelle’s waist. evie sighed, a soft smile on her lips as she watched her two favorite people, their happiness making her smile too. "starfish grow their arms back if they lose one," she said, the fact slipping out of nowhere, she just knew way too many things about sea life. "these ones have five arms, but there are starfish with forty," she added, "i think there are a couple in the bigger tanks, they’re called sun starfish," she mused, her hand moving to gently touch one of the sea cucumbers, one of the most disliked animals, mostly because kids didn’t want to touch something that looked like poop. she went quiet for a second before blurting out something she hadn’t thought through. "when are you getting married?" she asked, making hunter choke on his own saliva.

[ashton-torres]

Ashton leaned back slightly against the wall of the elevator, letting his shoulders loosen as Evie kept going. He nodded along at the absurd little scenarios she painted, the wedding disaster, the tower of terror comparison, the goldfish attention spans. Her words tumbled over themselves, endless and bright, and he found himself quietly entertained. It wasn’t that he had anything to add, he didn’t need to, but there was something satisfying about watching her let the thoughts spill out, so different from his own measured pace. When she mentioned keeping him from panicking, he gave a small, almost imperceptible smile, pressing the emergency button with one hand while keeping the other tucked neatly in his pocket. “Yeah,” he said simply, voice calm, nodding again. “Makes sense.” It was enough, a single word, but his quiet attention was a kind of acknowledgment that she seemed to notice. Her jab about his control freak tendencies made him lift an eyebrow, but he only nodded, unoffended. “Fair,” he murmured, almost grudgingly, as if conceding the point. He didn’t need to argue, he knew exactly what she meant. Organisation, preparedness, a corner marked as ‘safe’ in a stuck elevator, those were just the small ways he kept the world in order, even if she found them funny. Despite his usual desire for quiet, he found himself glad she was there, filling the air with motion and noise, keeping the space from feeling too small or too still. He let another slow nod punctuate her next comment, enjoying the contrast between her ceaseless chatter and his own steady, observant presence. Ashton let out a small, quiet sigh, leaning back just enough to meet her gaze. “Yeah,” he said finally, his voice low but steady. “I guess I am a bit of a control freak. Not always in ways people notice, though.” He ran a hand along the side of his neck, thinking for a moment. “It’s not about bossing people around or being rigid. It’s more like trying to make sure nothing catches me off guard. Little things, routines, corners, habits, they give me some sense that the world isn’t just going to fall apart.” He paused, letting the words settle between them, watching her eyes light up with curiosity rather than judgment. “But that’s not the whole picture,” he added, tilting his head slightly, a flicker of openness in his usually guarded expression. “I like having control, yeah, but sometimes, it’s just about feeling safe. And sometimes, it’s nice when someone else fills the gaps I didn’t even know were there.” He gave a small, almost shy smile, a rare softness in his features. “Like now. I don’t have to be completely on edge because you, well, because you’re here talking. It’s loud, chaotic, but it’s also… kind of good.” He leaned a little closer, the elevator’s confined space giving their words a weight they might not have had elsewhere. “I don’t usually, I don’t usually talk about it like this,” he admitted quietly, “but I guess it’s easier with someone who just, keeps going. You make it easy to, not be alone with my thoughts.” Another small nod, almost imperceptible, punctuated the moment, grounding the conversation in the quiet, steady way he navigated the world.

[evieholt]

evie could talk to a rock, she had spent weeks talking to a lentil in a yogurt cup just to make it grow because her teacher told her that would help a plant. being locked up with someone wasn’t going to stop her, in fact, she would’ve hated being there alone, she would’ve just sat down and stayed there until someone came to save her, not in a dramatic way, just waiting, alone with her thoughts. it was clear they were opposites, evie came with color, loudness, and chaos, while he seemed contained, neat, and organized. as he admitted he was a bit of a control freak, she smiled. "i knew it," she chuckled, letting him continue explaining how he wasn’t as rigid as people thought. she could read that, he just wanted to feel safe. she had never really known what being completely safe meant; her mother died when she was too young to even remember her voice, her dad started drinking, and her brother had to take care of both of them, evie thrived in chaos. "i’m good at filling gaps," she winked playfully. maybe others would’ve felt bad being called loud and chaotic, but evie didn’t take it that way, maybe she wouldn’t even see him again, if he didn’t like her, they’d just go their separate ways. "thanks for saying loud and chaotic, at least you didn’t say weird," she added, raising her eyebrows. when he said she made it easy for him not to feel alone with his thoughts, she smiled. "thanks, that’s really nice," she nodded, a soft smile on her lips. "it’s nice hearing that, others would’ve told me to shut up," she admitted, "i don’t like being alone with my thoughts either, if i talk it’s because that way my mind doesn’t take over," she explained, "people don’t usually like it, at work they do because they pay for a visit, but after that… they don’t want the ramble," she said, a hint of vulnerability slipping through as she spoke to the handsome stranger stuck in the lift with her. "do you think they’ll save us before one of us needs to pee?"

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle laughed, shaking her head as she watched Evie mime her over-the-top walk down the aisle. “Honestly? I can imagine it perfectly,” she said, amused. “Very dramatic, very you. I’d cry.” She smiled at the comment about love, catching the playful gag with a knowing look. “You can want it and still roast it. That feels on brand.” At the Pringles rant, Noelle let out a genuine laugh. “That might be the most passionate defense of snacks I’ve ever heard,” she said. “You’re not wrong, though. Pringles deserve commitment.” Her expression softened when Evie’s attention drifted to her brother, and she followed her gaze for a moment, clearly understanding without needing it explained. When Evie startled him, Noelle raised her brows, half-amused, half-resigned. “Stop causing trouble, Hunter,” she said lightly, then smiled at him. As the conversation settled again, Noelle nodded. “It really is calming,” she agreed. She laughed at the mention of dating her brother. “I guess I’ve been training for the chaos, yeah. He's got me well prepared for the future with kids." At the promise of future kids being terrorised with marine facts, Noelle smiled warmly. “I’ll hold you to that,” she said. When Evie brushed off the compliment, Noelle grinned. Then, at the question, she tilted her head, considering. “Hmm,” she said. “Do you have any of those things where you can touch a starfish or feed a penguin here?" Noelle knew Hunter would be in his element with something practical to do. Noelle smiled, then stepped closer, looping one arm through Evie’s without hesitation. A beat later, she reached out and hooked her other arm around Hunter’s too, pulling them both in like it was the most natural thing in the world. She glanced between them, a playful glint in her eyes. “I think I need the Holts to push me into doing something I wouldn’t usually do,” she said lightly, squeezing their arms.

[evieholt]

evie laughed when noelle said she could picture her being dramatic in a wedding dress. “keep dreaming,” she chuckled, shrugging when noelle pointed out how she roasted love even if she secretly craved it. “hey, pringles deserve to be loved,” she nodded seriously. “boyfriend has end in it—pringles doesn’t,” she added, tapping the side of her head like a mastermind. “think about it.” her eyes narrowed confidently as if she’d just solved philosophy. beside her, evie laughed, immediately teaming up with noelle against her brother. hunter gave noelle the saddest puppy face he could manage before flipping his sister off with a smirk. “i’m going to bite that finger off, hunter,” evie warned before turning back to noelle. “and you’re really getting ready for that baby thing, huh? you’ll have to baby-proof your whole place—more than you already do for hunter,” she teased, nudging her side. when noelle asked about touching a starfish, evie nodded. “yeah, it’s usually full of kids, but we can work around it.” she looped one arm through noelle’s as they walked, noticing when noelle grabbed hunter’s arm too. “so where exactly do you plan to push her from, evie?” hunter teased with a playful laugh. “depending on the tank, i’m not jumping in after her. i hate clownfish,” he added dramatically before looking down at noelle. “but i’d fight a shark for you.” evie snorted. “the shark would eat you before you could do anything. you, of all people, couldn’t hurt a shark.” evie stook her tongue out at her brother. “tell her to stop, noelle,” hunter begged childishly as evie guided them into the kids’ section of the aquarium, swiping her card to open the door. she stepped aside to let them in before walking toward the shallow tank. “there’s the touch pool,” she said, gesturing toward the water. “we’ve got rays, starfish, sea cucumbers, horseshoe crabs…” she listed easily from memory.

[ashton-torres]

Ashton let out a small, breathy laugh at her joke, rubbing the back of his neck. “Right, good. Glad to hear that,” he said, voice steady but a little tight. “I didn’t mean to you know. Startle anyone.” When she mentioned the gossip, he huffed softly. “Yeah, people watching. You learn way too much about strangers in like thirty seconds by doing that." At the bird comment, he blinked, then managed a polite smile. “That would really finish the day off,” he said, dry but not unkind. “I’ll keep that in mind for when we get out of here.” When she corrected herself, he shook his head quickly. “No, it’s fine. Really. I get what you mean.” He glanced up at the ceiling, then back to the floor. “Late is good. At least I don’t have anywhere urgent to be.” When she mentioned her phone, he exhaled. “Yeah, my signal’s awful too. I sent something out, but I don’t know if it went through.” He hesitated, then added, trying to sound reassuring, “They usually notice pretty fast when an elevator stalls. Building management, I mean.” At the hero comment, he smiled faintly. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint.” When she pointed out his hands, he consciously loosened his grip, flexing his fingers. “Yeah… not my favorite situation,” he admitted, honest but measured. “But I’m okay. Talking helps, actually.” He glanced at her, then added gently, “And you’re fine. You don’t need to shut up. Just maybe keep me distracted until someone lets us out.” Ashton’s eyes flicked to the panel beside the doors, landing on the small red emergency button he’d somehow ignored until now. “Oh, wait,” he said, a little more firmly, like grounding himself through action. He stepped forward, pressed the button, and held it for a beat longer than necessary. The faint buzz that followed seemed to ease him, at least a little. “Okay,” he murmured, mostly to himself. He stepped back to where he’d been standing before, shoulders squaring as if returning to a safer position. He took a slow breath in, then out, and glanced at her again. “I’m thankful I at least have you in here with me,” he said, voice quieter but sincere. He offered a small, sheepish smile, eyes dropping briefly before meeting hers again. “I think I would’ve gone a little crazy if this happened while I was on my own.”

[evieholt]

evie honestly had no idea where the bird-poop comment had come from; when her brain got going, the thoughts could get unbelievably random. “it really would, though—not fun at all,” she nodded with a small sigh, glancing around the elevator like maybe a new conversation topic would magically appear written on the walls. it was pretty obvious to her that ashton wasn’t faking being anxious in the small space. “yeah, imagine if you were on your way to your wedding when this happened,” she mused, looking over at him. “stuck in a lift, late to the ceremony, and freshly fired… that’s a really sad wedding. you might want to rethink the marriage at that point.” she started laughing at her own joke and tried to stop, but it didn’t really work. “people used to notice faster when lifts stopped like this,” she went on with a shrug. “but everyone’s got the attention span of a goldfish now. if the elevator doesn’t show up in two seconds, they groan and take the stairs—so let’s just hope someone doesn’t do that today.” when he loosened his grip a little she let out a quiet breath; apparently the tower of terror comparison hadn’t landed, which was disappointing because she’d been proud of that one and was already planning to reuse it someday. “i can tell,” she nodded when he admitted he wasn’t loving the situation. “but hey, i can keep talking. i’m very good at that. that and choosing restaurants— ugh, i’m amazing at that,” she added, rambling again without noticing. when he told her to wait, her eyebrows lifted. “wow, the ‘please keep rambling’ phase didn’t last long,” she teased lightly. she watched him press the emergency button and nodded approvingly. “that’s a good idea. good job.” when he stepped back into his little safe corner again, she gave him a small reassuring smile. “you’re welcome, by the way. honestly, without me you probably would’ve already written your will in your phone notes, frantically searched your bag for emergency snacks, and decided which corner of the elevator would become the bathroom.” she tilted her head, amused. “am i wrong? you seem like a tiny bit of a control freak—no offense,” she added with a friendly smile.

[ashton-torres]

Ashton flinched when she startled, shoulders tensing before he caught himself. He shifted his grip on the handrail, then gave her a quick, apologetic look, more reflex than anything else. “Yeah, sorry,” he said, exhaling through his nose. “I was already in here. You had your headphones on.” There was no edge to his voice, just mild strain, like he was choosing calm on purpose. He nodded once at her comment about the stairs, a dry huff escaping him. “Trust me, lesson learned.” At the mention of his job, his jaw tightened briefly before he smoothed it over. “Thanks. It’s been a day to say the least,” he added, measured, not looking for pity. Her joke earned a small, tired smile, polite, appreciative of the effort even if it didn’t quite land. “Guess so,” he said. “Not exactly my go-to icebreaker if I'm being honest." When she mentioned it could take hours, he glanced up at the ceiling, then back to the doors, annoyance flickering before he reined it in. “That’s reassuring,” he replied lightly, though his fingers curled a little tighter around the rail. He reached into his pocket and checked his phone, brow furrowing. “Barely,” he said. “One bar if I stand just right. How about you?” Ashton let out a long, shaky sigh and closed his eyes. He took a slow, deliberate breath, trying to will the tightness in his chest down a notch. “Today is not our day, huh?” he muttered, voice low, a mix of tired humor and mild frustration.

[evieholt]

as he apologized, she brushed it off. “i get startled easily, don’t worry, you’re not scary at all,” she joked with a small smile. “yeah, i was busy listening to people gossip about their lives like i actually knew them,” she chuckled, sounding surprisingly calm for someone stuck in an elevator with nowhere to go. when he mentioned it hadn’t been the best day, she nodded. “i can tell. at least a bird hasn’t pooped on your head,” she mused, then added, “well, never say never—when we get out of here, maybe cover your head just in case,” she chuckled. she wasn’t trying to force conversation, just being herself. when his reaction faltered, she pressed her lips into a thin line. “yeah, i probably shouldn’t have said that,” she admitted. “just think… at least it’s late, so you’re not wasting your whole afternoon trapped in here,” she added, convinced that was somehow comforting. when he said he barely had any signal, she sighed. “i left my phone in my car,” she nodded. “so i can’t even check,” she said lightly. “that’s why i was kind of hoping you’d be the hero who gets us out,” she added with a half-smile. she noticed how tense he looked and sighed softly. “it’s not that bad—at least we didn’t go full disneyland tower of terror. we’d be telling people to get out of the elevator, you know, because we’d be the ghosts,” she mused. she glanced around, then back at him. “your knuckles are turning white. you really don’t like tight spaces,” she observed gently. “will telling you to chill help, or should i come up with another strategy?” she chuckled under her breath. “can you call someone—or at least tell me to shut up before you strangle me?”

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle laughed, a hand lifting to her chest as if she were already picturing it. “Evie, don’t tempt me, I’ll spiral and suddenly I’m designing an entire collection with soft blues, pearls, and flowy everything.” She grinned, shaking her head. “No fish, though.” A playful sigh escaped her. “But that name? Yeah. That’s staying.” Noelle laughed easily, the sound warm and bright as she shook her head at Evie. “You, of all people, fake-gagging over romance? Please,” she teased, bumping her shoulder lightly against Evie’s. “You’re just mad because he’s cute about it.” When Evie leaned into her and spoke softly, Noelle’s smile softened too. She glanced over at Hunter, fond despite his very obvious lack of aquarium etiquette “I do think he needs this. Even if he’s acting like a toddler on a field trip.” As Evie marched off to scold him, Noelle bit her lip to keep from laughing. When Evie snapped at Hunter, Noelle finally lost it, laughing outright. “Okay, okay,” she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. “He deserved some of that—but to be fair, he’s just excited. And also biologically incapable of not touching things. You know what he's like." She smiled sweetly at Hunter when he looked back, then turned to Evie with a playful but loyal tilt of her head. “Be nice. He’s my idiot." When Evie looped her arm through hers, Noelle leaned in comfortably, grinning. “I was saying,” she continued easily, “that this place actually helps. It’s calming. Even with the sibling harassment.” She shot Evie a look full of affection. Noelle smiled as she looked around, shaking her head with a soft laugh. “I love this place, I really do, but I don’t think I could work here with all the kids running everywhere and all the animal care-taking.” She glanced at Evie, warmth in her eyes. “You’ve got a big heart, Evie."

[evieholt]

at noelle’s words, evie smiled. “hey, maybe i’ll need one of those dresses when i get married. can you imagine me?” she joked, miming an imaginary bouquet and walking dramatically. “yeah, no fish, just classy,” she nodded, smiling. she didn’t hate love—like everyone else, she was looking for it, she wanted it—but that didn’t stop her from gagging a little at the idea. “please what? i’m as single as a pringle, which makes no sense because i would never leave a lonely pringle sitting in the tube,” she pointed out. “pringles deserve appreciation. if your fingers aren’t covered in powder, you’re doing it wrong, and if your breath doesn’t stink like onions, that’s another issue,” she laughed. her gaze drifted to her brother; there was no one who loved her the way he did. he’d practically raised her when their dad was an alcoholic, taken care of her, and she owed him everything. when she went to startle him, she couldn’t help laughing. “i’m nice, but he was about to touch the glass,” she said, then turned to hunter with a smirk. “bad kid, go find your girlfriend.” when the conversation shifted, she nodded. “yeah, it’s calming. the best part is when everyone leaves and it’s just the workers here. sitting in silence is honestly the best,” she said, which meant a lot coming from someone who could never shut up. “you get used to the kids, and hey, you’ve got practice—you’re dating my brother,” she chuckled. “i’ll bring your kids here one day and annoy them with facts about clownfish and sharks,” she nodded, smiling. when her big heart was mentioned, she waved it off. “oh, stop it… no, don’t stop, i know i have a big heart,” she laughed. “small ass, big heart,” she nodded. “you have both, which is great,” she added with a grin. “so, where do you want me to take you now?”

[ashton-torres]

The lift doors slid shut with a soft ding, and Ashton let out a quiet breath as it began to go down. His shift was finished, tie loosened, suit blazer slung over one arm, finally. He leaned back against the lift's wall, eyes fixed on the glowing numbers above the door, already counting down the minutes until fresh air. Then the lift shrieked. Metal groaned, the cart jolted hard enough to knock him off balance, and Ashton's hand lunged for the handrail on instinct. The lift shuddered once more before lurching to a dead stop, the lights flickering ominously overhead. Silence followed, thick, heavy, wrong. “Seriously?” he muttered, He exhaled sharply and thumped the back of his head against the wall behind him, more frustration than pain, eyes squeezing shut for a second. Of all the days. Of all the places. He straightened quickly after, forcing himself into control, fingers tightening around the rail as he took a slow, deliberate breath. The space suddenly felt smaller, the air heavier, and he swallowed hard, fighting the creeping panic. Stay calm, he told himself. Responsible. Rational. He reached for his phone, knuckles white, before noticing someone else in the lift with him. “Shit, sorry,” he said quickly, voice strained but controlled. “I hate confined spaces.” He swallowed, jaw tight, then added with a rough exhale, “I’d usually take the stairs, but I just got fired and wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.”

@evieholt

[evieholt]

evie had her headphones on, listening to a podcast that had been interesting at some point but now was just background noise—nothing serious, just two friends talking about their lives and random topics. she stepped into the elevator and leaned against the wall, not saying a word, just zoning out, until the lift suddenly stopped. she hadn’t heard anything, her headphones were probably too loud to notice. she pulled them off and looked around, realizing the space was darker now. when she heard someone behind her, she startled, her heart racing in her chest. “holy shit,” she said, pressing a hand to her chest. “when did you get in here?” she asked. he must have stepped in while she was distracted on her phone, or maybe he’d been there before she even walked in. she noticed his nerves right away; it was obvious he wasn’t exactly having the time of his life. “it’s fine,” she brushed it off. when he mentioned hating tight spaces, she nodded, trying to steady herself. “yeah, you definitely picked the wrong option, man,” she said, her lips pressing into a thin line. “sorry about your job, that really sucks,” she added. “uh… i guess this is one way to meet new people?” she said, the joke falling flat almost immediately. she cleared her throat. “i should probably warn you, this could take hours, not my first lift-rodeo” she mused. “do you get any service in here?”

[evieholt]

✧ plenty of fish in the sea ✧

the night was supposed to be simple. harmless. a favor, according to evie.

hunter should’ve known better.

they were piled onto the couch in the living room like it was some kind of intervention—hunter sprawled out in the least dignified way possible, one leg hanging off the armrest, sock half-off, noelle tucked neatly beside him with her legs folded and a mug of tea cradled between her hands, calm as always, and evie on the floor with her back against the couch, cross-legged, phone in hand like a loaded weapon.

“okay,” evie announced, way too cheerful. “tinder night. you two are helping me. no judgment. full honesty. we swipe with intention.”

hunter groaned instantly. “i would like to formally withdraw my participation.”

noelle smiled at him, sweet and unbothered. “it’ll be fun, hunter.”

he stared at her like she’d betrayed him. “you’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am,” she said gently, squeezing his knee. “but i’m also on evie’s side. and she looks like she’s about to commit chaos.”

evie grinned without looking up. “correct.”

she held the phone up. “criteria reminder. someone fun. confident. emotionally available. likes dogs. steady. introverted. methodical. someone who runs even though i hate running.”

hunter pinched the bridge of his nose. “you just described a man who owns spreadsheets for fun.”

“exactly,” evie said. “that’s hot.”

hunter recoiled. “i don’t want to know what you find hot. i don’t want to know anything about your taste in men.”

“too late,” she shot back. “first candidate. matt. twenty-seven. bio says ‘entrepreneur, gym rat, no drama.’”

hunter sat up immediately. “no drama is code for i am the drama.”

noelle leaned in, peering at the screen. “what kind of entrepreneur?”

evie zoomed in. “there’s a picture of him in a lamborghini.”

hunter made a sound of genuine distress. “absolutely not. that man has said ‘females’ in a sentence.”

“and look,” evie added, scrolling, “shirtless mirror selfie. bathroom counter is dirty.”

noelle winced. “oh.”

“That’s a crime scene,” hunter declared. “left. immediately.”

evie flicked her thumb dramatically. “next.”

the next profiles came fast and brutal. the guy who listed his height twice (“why is he defensive?”), the one holding a fish (“i smell river water and emotional unavailability”), the festival guy (“he will never emotionally commit”), and the black-and-white artsy smoker.

hunter squinted at that one. “why does he look like he’s auditioning to be sad?”

“because he is sad,” evie said. “and kind of hot.”

hunter physically leaned away. “no. absolutely not. i don’t want to know what you like. stop exposing me to this information.”

noelle laughed softly. “okay, but what are you actually looking for, evie?”

evie paused, thumb hovering. “someone steady. someone who texts back. someone who won’t disappear when things get quiet. someone introverted enough to balance me out but confident enough not to be intimidated by me.”

hunter glanced down at her, joking tone slipping just a bit. “that’s… not unreasonable.”

another profile popped up. gym photos. all gym photos.

hunter didn’t even look properly. “no.”

“he runs,” evie protested weakly.

“he runs from commitment,” hunter shot back. “and probably leg day.”

“bio just says ‘alpha,’” noelle added.

evie groaned. “why are they all like this?”

another swipe. group photo where you couldn’t tell who he was.

hunter squinted. “why is this a where’s waldo situation.”

“He might be introverted,” evie offered.

“He might be imaginary.”

left.

then—finally—one made evie pause.

“…okay,” she said slower. “this one’s interesting.”

hunter sighed. “oh no.”

no shirtless pics. no fish. no sunglasses. just a soft smile, messy hair, a dog in one photo. bio: likes long walks, bad coffee, and asking too many questions.

noelle smiled immediately. “oh. he seems sweet.”

hunter leaned in despite himself. “job?”

“museum assistant. volunteers at an animal shelter.”

hunter blinked. “…that’s suspiciously wholesome.”

evie smirked. “you just don’t trust happiness.”

hunter crossed his arms. “i trust it cautiously.”

there was a rare quiet beat.

evie looked up at him then, softer. “you know i won’t settle for someone awful, right?”

hunter met her eyes, all the jokes easing. “i know,” he said. “i just wanna make sure whoever you let in actually deserves you.”

noelle squeezed his hand. evie smiled—warm, genuine—and then ruined it immediately.

“he’s six foot.”

hunter groaned and collapsed back against the couch. “I KNEW IT.”

she swiped right, grinning.

and then… nothing.

no match. no spark. no miracle.

they kept going, but the energy slowly shifted—less chaos, more sighs. swipe after swipe of men who were either too much, not enough, or just wrong. van-lifers. podcasters. men who “don’t believe in labels.” men who hated dogs. men who lived for chaos when evie was finally craving steadiness.

eventually she let the phone drop into her lap and leaned her head back against the couch.

“…yeah,” she muttered. “this is a failure.”

hunter looked down at her. “hey. you didn’t fail. tinder failed you.”

noelle nodded softly. “maybe he’s just not on an app.”

evie laughed under her breath. “yeah. figures.”

she stood, stretching, already shrugging it off the way she always did. “i’m deleting it before i lower my standards and date a man who owns a podcast.”

hunter gasped. “proud of you.”

the night ended not with matches or sparks, but with the three of them in the kitchen, raiding the fridge, hunter making dumb jokes, noelle glowing quietly, and evie realizing that even if she hadn’t found him yet, she wasn’t alone.

and for now, that was enough.

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle laughed softly, the sound warm and easy as she walked beside Evie, her eyes briefly lifting to the fish gliding overhead before returning to her sister-in-law. “She does,” Noelle replied, amused rather than judgmental. “But not out-right fish-on-a-dress ocean.” She gestured gently with her hand as if sketching in the air. “She wants movement. Texture. Layers that feel like waves—silk organza, pearl beading, maybe a subtle iridescence that catches the light the way water does.” She smiled. “Still white. Just kissed by the sea.” At Evie’s next question, Noelle followed her gaze to Hunter, watching him stand a few steps ahead, completely transfixed. Her expression softened instantly. “I brought your brother because he needed this,” she said simply, affection clear in her voice. “And because if I’m going to talk about inspiration, I might as well surround myself with it.” She tilted her head slightly, smiling. “Besides, look at him—he’s having the time of his life.” Noelle gently hooked her arm through Evie’s. "I’m really grateful I get to share him with you. He makes everything feel a little less lonely sometimes."

[evieholt]

evie glanced at noelle when she mentioned wanting to come to the aquarium, not surprised at all—it wouldn’t be the first time her brother and his girlfriend visited her at work. she listened to the brunette and laughed. “so, no fish—honestly, even i, the crazy fish girl, think that’d be too much.” “kissed by the sea,” evie repeated thoughtfully. “you should make a whole line of dresses with that name, it sounds elegant.” she smiled up at noelle, knowing she herself was hopeless at anything crafty—no painting, no drawing, definitely no sewing. “he needed this,” she laughed, and at the mention of bringing hunter along for inspiration she fake-gagged, like the idea of her brother being in love was disgusting, even if it wasn’t; she was genuinely glad he had noelle. “oh, i can tell—he’s acting just like the kids that come here,” she laughed. when noelle said hunter helped her feel less lonely sometimes, evie smiled warmly and leaned her head against noelle’s shoulder for a moment as they walked. “you make him feel the same way,” she said softly, “and i’m glad to have you too.” her gaze drifted to hunter, fully immersed in the sea life and about to touch the glass. “wait for me, a kid is misbehaving,” she said, walking over and leaning in to startle him. “i told you not to touch the fucking tank, five-year-olds understand that, can you, hunter?” she teased with a smirk, making him roll his eyes and look back at noelle. “why did we invite her?” he asked. “technically i invited you, so you’re welcome,” evie shot back before returning to noelle. “go back to the fish, it’s my time with noelle, you need to learn how to share,” she added, sticking her tongue out at him before lacing her arm with noelle’s. “you were saying?”

[evieholt]

to evie, noelle was an angel; not only was she the sweetest, but she loved her brother, who was the most important person in evie’s life. for evie, noelle had already earned herself a ticket to heaven. “so… this woman wants a wedding dress inspired by the ocean?” the brunette asked as they walked through the tank tunnel, fish swimming on both sides and above them. “people are just crazy,” she added, amused. she was technically working, but she could spare some time with her sister-in-law. “does she want it white,” she asked, glancing at noelle, “or does she just want fish all over it?” she added, an amused smile on her lips. “but the real question is… why did you bring my brother?” she chuckled, looking ahead at hunter, who was completely distracted, staring at the fish like they were the most fascinating thing in the world. @noelle-kennedy

[evieholt]

⋆. 𐙚 ˚ this is evie

name: evie

age: twenty5

sibling: hunter holt

sexuality: bisexual

relationship status: tbd.

evie holt grew up in the quiet aftermath of a love story that ended too soon. she doesn’t remember their mother the way hunter does — there are no clear memories, no vivid scenes she can replay — only impressions that live more in her body than her mind. a softness in certain songs. a feeling of safety she can’t place. a warmth that feels inherited rather than earned. she grew up knowing her mother existed through stories, photographs, and the way grief settled into the corners of their home. her absence wasn’t loud, but it was constant, shaping the air evie learned to breathe.

she was raised in a house that functioned, but never quite healed. her father loved her deeply, but grief hollowed him out in ways evie noticed even as a child. emotions went unspoken. hard days were endured quietly. and through it all, hunter became her anchor. he was too young to be what he became, but he did it anyway — steady hands, bad jokes, late nights, comfort disguised as normalcy. to evie, hunter wasn’t just a brother. he was proof that someone could stay, even when staying was hard.

growing up like that did something to her. evie learned early that silence could swallow you whole, so she decided to be loud instead. not reckless for the sake of chaos, but alive in a way that couldn’t be ignored. she grew into someone fiery, impulsive, magnetic — the kind of girl who feels everything at full volume. she loves spontaneity, last-minute plans, movement, color, experiences that make her feel present in her own body. she hates feeling stuck. hates routine for too long. stillness feels like a warning sign to her, like if she slows down too much, she might start thinking about things she’s spent years outrunning.

on the surface, evie looks confident in a way people envy. she walks like she belongs anywhere she goes. she laughs easily, flirts without meaning to, and makes friends quickly. people are drawn to her energy — the way she seems unafraid of taking up space. but beneath that confidence lives a quieter truth she rarely voices. evie has always carried the feeling that she arrived at the wrong time, that her existence was born out of loss instead of joy. no one ever told her she was a mistake, but grief has a way of whispering its own stories. she learned to wonder if she’s too much because she’s afraid of being not enough.

she loves deeply and fast, throwing herself into people and moments with her whole heart. when something feels good, she chases it without hesitation. when it hurts, she feels it fully — but rarely lets others see the depth of it. vulnerability scares her more than chaos ever could. it’s easier to be bold than to admit she wants reassurance. easier to be adventurous than to say she’s afraid of being left behind. she worries that if people really see how much she feels, how intensely she loves, they’ll decide it’s overwhelming.

fashion became one of the first ways she learned to tell her story without explaining herself. every outfit is intentional, expressive, sometimes daring. she uses clothes the way some people use armor — not to hide, but to control how she’s seen. she likes choosing how much of herself the world gets. style is power to her, a way of saying i’m here, i’m real, and i won’t be ignored.

evie works at the euroville aquarium, a place that surprised her with how much it suits her. her role shifts constantly — guest services, educational tours, helping with exhibits, assisting during special events and evening programs — and that variety keeps her grounded. she likes that no two days look the same. she likes being on her feet, talking to people, answering questions, guiding groups through spaces filled with quiet wonder. the aquarium feels alive in a way that doesn’t demand anything from her emotionally, and that matters more than she realized at first.

on nights when the building empties out and the lights dim, evie sometimes stays behind longer than necessary. she stands in front of the massive tanks, watching slow, fluid movement in the water, letting the silence settle into her bones. it calms her. reminds her that life doesn’t always need to rush or burn to be meaningful. she never tells anyone how much she needs those moments, how they help her breathe.

she’s well-liked at work, known for her energy, her warmth, the way she makes long shifts feel lighter without trying too hard. people trust her quickly. she’s good at reading a room, sensing when someone needs reassurance or distraction. still, she often chooses work over going out, even though she loves the idea of nights filled with music and laughter. responsibility pulls at her, loyalty runs deep, and she prioritizes stability more than people expect from someone so impulsive.

her relationship with hunter remains the most stable thing in her life. she jokes about his protectiveness, rolls her eyes when he worries too much, but she leans on him in ways she doesn’t fully acknowledge. he is the one constant she’s never questioned. the proof that love doesn’t always leave. that someone can know all your edges and stay anyway.

evie holt is still learning how to exist without apology. she wants adventure, passion, connection — but she also wants peace. she wants to believe that she doesn’t have to perform to be chosen, that she doesn’t need to soften or shrink herself to deserve love. she’s searching for a version of happiness that doesn’t disappear the moment she slows down.

she is fire and feeling and contradiction. too much and not enough, depending on who you ask. and maybe that’s the point. maybe evie isn’t meant to be easy or quiet or contained. maybe she’s meant to live loudly, love fiercely, and figure out the rest as she goes.