Noelle Kennedy

[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.

[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."

[hunterhclt]

before noelle, he wasn’t a fuckboy, he was a nerd who had somehow made it onto the football team, he could never have imagined getting the kind of attention romeo and harrison did, and honestly, it made sense, those guys were cool and good-looking in a way he wasn’t. "all the girls were looking at harrison and romeo, what are you talking about?" hunter laughed, his eyebrows pulling together slightly. "and i wasn’t a fuckboy because i didn’t want to," he added, even if they both knew that wasn’t entirely true, his dorky self would’ve never survived that kind of life. when he met noelle, everything just clicked, she was it for him, and there wasn’t a day he didn’t feel lucky to have her. hunter smiled when she said he was caring with the people he loved, the list wasn’t long, but she was right at the top. "i wouldn’t let you eat burnt pizza, what kind of boyfriend would i be?" he joked, shaking his head. he wasn’t a bad cook either, he had learned out of necessity, cooking for himself and evie. when she kissed his cheek, his smile only grew wider. "you’re so cute," he said softly. "anything my girl wants, she gets, that’s the rule," he added with a grin. "you’ll have your cola, with ice and a glass straw," he nodded. "and you’ll be like ‘we don’t have glass straws,’ but we do now," he continued, amused. "i found a pack of five, each with a little bow in a different color on top, they were too cute not to get you," he explained. when he parked in front of their place, he quickly got out to open her door. "welcome home, princess," he said playfully. once she stepped out, he went to the trunk, grabbed the groceries, and then picked her up with ease. "you’re not going to regret closing the boutique early, i promise you that."

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle laughed softly at his version of the past, shaking her head as she stepped out of the car. “Please,” she said, smiling up at him. “You were the hottest on the team to me. Dorky, hilarious, but you had the biggest heart and you were ridiculously charming without even trying.” At the mention of burnt pizza, she let out a small gasp of mock offense. “Excuse me, I’d eat burnt pizza if you made it,” she said, pressing a hand to her chest dramatically. “That’s commitment.” Then she grinned. “But I do appreciate having a boyfriend with standards.” A surprised laugh escaped her when he lifted her, arms immediately wrapping around his shoulders as she looked down at him. “Princess?” she echoed, amused, cheeks pink. “Someone’s feeling confident tonight.” When he mentioned the glass straws, her whole face softened. “You got the ones with the little bows?” she asked, already touched. “Hunter, you know me so well.” She rested closer against him, brushing a kiss near his temple. “I already don’t regret leaving early,” she murmured. “I get to come home with you, eat pizza, and be spoiled for the rest of the night. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.” Her fingers played lightly with the hair at the nape of his neck as she smiled. Noelle gave a soft, giddy laugh, still tucked close against him as her feet did little kicks out in pure happiness. She looked up at him like she couldn’t quite get used to the idea of him being hers, her expression bright and completely smitten. She reached up and gently squished his cheeks between her hands. “I feel so spoiled,” she admitted softly, almost like it was a confession she couldn’t hold in anymore. “You do the cutest things for me all the time and act like it’s nothing.” She leaned in just a little, still holding his face, her voice turning warm and affectionate. “How am I supposed to be normal about you?”

[hunterhclt]

hunter was utterly in love with noelle—no one could convince him otherwise. he gravitated toward her constantly; it was nearly impossible to see noelle without hunter somewhere close by, their fingers laced together, him standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist or his hands resting on her hips, trying to pay attention to everyone else while his whole body seemed determined to focus only on his girlfriend. “gravity can suck it, fuck gravity,” he dismissed with a playful eye roll and a snort. “my science club would probably kill me for saying that though, so this stays between you, me, and ruby,” he added in a conspiratorial whisper, like he had just revealed a classified secret. “you should know that before you met me, i was actually a total fuck boy,” he joked, which was a complete lie—no one had ever really gotten close to clumsy, nerdy hunter before noelle—but he couldn’t help leaning into the bit. the truth was obvious when he climbed up beside her and two seconds later was telling her she was his dream. “singing isn’t really my thing… lip syncing though? i’m the king. but sadly for you, i’m about to sing my heart out. call the voice, i’m competing next season,” he teased with a smirk before starting to sing anyway. the moment felt straight out of a movie, though really it was only because noelle looked so dreamy that hunter paused for a second just to take her in. “wow,” he chuckled softly, shaking his head. “in this movie the dork is so fucking lucky.” when she squeezed his hand he lifted their joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of hers. “forget drama movies,” he said warmly. “i like our movie better.” his tone softened as he added, “i wouldn’t forgive myself if i messed it up, noelle.” later, while driving them home, he suddenly laughed. “okay, but i might mess it up after dinner,” he admitted. “i think the food’s going to taste horrid.” he shook his head. “it’s all evie’s fault, by the way. she called me in the middle of lunch talking about bird poop or a broken lift or something, and i got distracted and part of it burned…” he tried to keep a straight face but failed. lowering his voice dramatically he added, “so tonight’s menu: burnt pizza,” attempting a deep batman-like voice that somehow ended up sounding like a strange mix of batman and yoda.

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle sat close beside him, their fingers still loosely laced together in her lap. Every now and then her thumb brushed shyly over the back of his hand without her even realising she was doing it. “Your so-called science club would definitely revoke your membership,” she said softly, her voice warm with quiet laughter. Then she leaned in a little when he whispered like it was some huge secret, nodding seriously. “Don’t worry,” she murmured conspiratorially. “Your secret is safe with me.” When he announced that he had apparently been a total fuck boy before meeting her, Noelle’s eyes widened for a second before she broke into a soft giggle, shaking her head. “No you weren’t,” she said immediately, nudging his arm lightly with her shoulder. “You deserved all the girls attention but I'm glad that I caught your eye somehow." She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, smiling at him with that shy, fond look she always seemed to have when she watched him being ridiculous. But when he actually started singing, Noelle’s smile grew softer, her eyes bright as she watched him. It didn’t matter if it was good or not, she looked at him like it was the most charming performance she’d ever seen. When he paused and called himself lucky, her expression turned even bashful. She squeezed his hand a little tighter and ducked her head for a moment. When he kissed the back of her hand, her shoulders lifted slightly in that tiny, flustered way she had, though she didn’t pull away. If anything, she leaned a little closer. “I like our movie too,” she said softly. “It’s my favorite one.” His comment about messing it up made her shake her head quickly, her fingers tightening around his. “You won’t,” she said, her tone gentle but certain. “You’re too careful with things and people you care about.” When he suddenly admitted the dinner might be terrible, Noelle blinked before letting out a quiet laugh. “Burnt pizza?” she repeated, smiling as she turned toward him in her seat. "For the record,” she added sweetly, “I’ll still eat it because you made it." She tilted her head slightly, giving him a small, reassuring smile. “Even if it’s really burnt.” Then she leaned over in her seat to give him the lightest press of her lips against his cheek. When she pulled back, her cheeks were slightly pink, but she was smiling sweetly like she hadn’t just done something that made her heart race a little faster. “I would love a cola with ice though,” she said softly, tilting her head at him with that shy, hopeful look. Her fingers lightly traced along his sleeve as she added in a warm, almost playful tone, “If you want to make me a drink, I’d love that.”

[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.

[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]

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?”

[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.

[hunterhclt]

as noelle pointed out the perks of having a tall boyfriend, hunter smiled like that was the only validation he’d ever needed. when she threaded her fingers through his hair while he knelt in front of her, he looked up completely smitten. “i know i am, but it comes with the package, what can i say?” he winked playfully, laughing at himself. at her batman and robin comment, he grinned wider. he was absolutely certain he had chosen the coolest girl alive. “if robin were real, she’d actually be a great best friend. you’d like her,” he continued joking, “but i’d still be batman. i don’t care what she thinks.” he placed a dramatic hand over his chest. “no one has anything on me, promise.” when he opened the car door for her and she rewarded him with a quick kiss, he melted instantly. “your batman,” he repeated in a comically deep voice before closing it. as expected, he tripped slightly on his way to the driver’s seat and laughed it off. “your superhero comes with zero equilibrium.” once the old engine roared to life and they started driving home, he nodded approvingly at her music choice. “britney wrote this about me, you know. i’m the dangerous guy,” he teased. when she squeezed his hand, his expression softened completely. “you’re my dream,” he said quietly, completely in love with her. then, without shame and wildly off-key, he started belting out, “with a taste of your lips, i’m on a ride— you’re toxic, i’m slipping under!” dramatically drumming the steering wheel. “i’m addicted to you!” he sang louder, absolutely butchering it and not caring in the slightest.

[noelle-kennedy]

As Hunter went on about being Batman and dramatically claiming his title, Noelle just looked at him like he was the most ridiculous, and most endearing, person she’d ever met, because he was. He was the love of her life and she wouldn't change a damn thing about him. Not ever. When he insisted no one had anything on him, she tilted her head, clearly unconvinced but entertained. “Oh, absolutely,” she said dryly. “Nobody could replace you. You are definitely one in a million, Hunt.” Her fingers brushed lightly against his jaw before she slipped into the car. After he repeated “your Batman” in that absurd deep voice and nearly tripped, she laughed, shaking her head as he recovered. “It’s okay,” she called out sweetly. “All great heroes have a flaw. Yours just happens to be gravity. I'm sure your heroism lies elsewhere, babe." Once they were driving and he claimed Britney wrote the song about him, she narrowed her eyes playfully. “Should I be concerned? Isn't this song about the guy being a giant red flag but the girl still wanting him?" When he told her she was his dream, though, her teasing faded instantly. She looked at him, really looked at him, and her thumb traced softly over his knuckles. Her smile turned gentler. “You’re my dream too. Even if you can’t carry a tune to save your life.” As he started absolutely butchering the song, she burst into laughter, leaning back in her seat. But she didn’t turn the music down. Instead, she joined him, equally dramatic, singing the next line at the top of her lungs, drumming the dashboard. And without missing a beat, she threw her arms up, swaying them side to side like a 2000s movie girly in a convertible, even though they were very much not in one right now. Her expression softened in that quiet, unguarded way she only ever let him see. “I feel like life is kind of like a movie with you, Hunter,” she said, her voice gentler now, but still warm with that lingering laughter. She reached over, lacing her fingers with his again. “Not the dramatic, crash-and-burn kind. The good one.” She squeezed his hand. “The great ending. The one where the two people live happily ever after. Where everything just works out.” She smiled at him, eyes shining in the dim light of the dashboard. “That’s what it feels like. Like we already skipped to the part where we’re okay.” Then, because she couldn’t stay serious for too long, she nudged his shoulder lightly. “So don’t mess it up, batman."

[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?”

[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."

[hunterhclt]

as the lights were off and he followed her to help with the shutters, the male smiled. “your tall boyfriend will always help you with those,” he promised. as he knelt and wrapped his arms around her legs, he looked up at her in a way that made her hand thread through his hair. he could hear his sister in his head, telling him how much of a simp he was for kneeling in front of his girlfriend in the middle of a dark street, but he didn’t care. “your wishes will come true, i can promise you that,” he mused, letting her legs go as he stood back up, their height difference showing once more. he smiled when she joked about his car—anyone else would have laughed at the fact that he named it, but she joked the same way he did. his arm wrapped around her shoulders as they walked. “my other woman? that doesn’t sound right,” he mused. “you’re the only woman i need, ruby is more like my robin,” he joked, “and i’m batman,” he added with a grin. when she asked if she should be jealous, he snorted. “i love ruby, but she has nothing on you. no one has anything on you,” he promised, kissing her hair. “if you feel too threatened by ruby, evie is dying for me to get rid of it so she can keep her, so… it’s your call,” he joked. once they reached the car, he opened the door for noelle. “my lady…” he said softly, helping her inside, leaning in to kiss her lips gently before closing the door. as he walked around to the other side, he glanced at her and tripped slightly on the sidewalk, nearly hitting the ground. “i’m good,” he announced automatically, the words he said most throughout his day. once inside the car, he looked at the brunette. “let’s go, my lady,” he mused, starting the engine and driving toward their place. “the radio is all yours,” he added, even if the car was too old to connect her phone. his hand reached for hers, fingers lacing together as he smiled at her, completely smitten.

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle’s cheeks warmed at his promise about the shutters, and she bent slightly to peck his forehead. “Well, my tall boyfriend does have his uses,” she teased, voice soft but playful. When he knelt at her legs, she threaded her fingers through his hair, leaning down to murmur, “You’re ridiculous, you know that?” before letting out a quiet laugh. “But I love it.” At his comment about her wishes, she tilted her head, eyes sparkling in the dim light. “Really? You mean that?” she asked softly, almost in disbelief. “Because if you say so, I’ll believe it.” She gave him a small squeeze on the shoulder when he stood again. When he joked about the car, she laughed, light and bright. “I think both of those roles suit you both just fine,” she said, nudging him gently. “Ruby doesn’t even know she’s the cool sidekick in your little nerdy fantasy world." He reassured her about Ruby, and she leaned her head into his chest. “Good,” she said softly. “Because no one has anything on you." When he opened the car door, she slid in with a smile, whispering, “My hero,” before letting him kiss her lips. She gave a playful eye roll as he tripped on the sidewalk on the way over to the drive'rs side. “Careful, Batman,” she teased. “I need my superhero in one piece.” Once inside, she reached for the radio, glancing at him with a grin. “Oh, I’ve got to go classic pop princess for this one,” she said, eyes sparkling. “Let’s put on Toxic by Britney Spears.” She laughed softly, a little mischievous, and leaned closer to him. When their hands found each other, she laced her fingers through his, squeezing gently. “I’m exactly where I want to be,” she said, voice quiet but full of joy. “Right here, with you.” She leaned against his shoulder, sunlight in human form even in the dark car, her affection radiating in every word and gesture. As the opening beat of Toxic filled the car, Noelle couldn’t resist. She started softly singing along, her voice sweet and playful, letting the words roll off her tongue with just the right mix of mischief and affection. “Come on, you have to sing this part with me,” she teased, her eyes sparkling in the dim light.

[hunterhclt]

whenever people talked about being in love, hunter was convinced they had nothing on what he felt for noelle. it felt impossible that anyone could love another person the way he loved her. she occupied a space in his mind that no one else could ever touch. "oh, so i make it difficult to focus? that’s exactly what you do to me. the only difference is you don't trip over everything while you're losing your head," he teased, a fond smile on his lips. hunter would follow her to the end of the world if she asked—no hesitation, just pure adoration. "i don't think i’m gonna survive, noelle. this is serious," he said, keeping the drama alive and laughing along with her before deciding to shower her in kisses. he heard his name, but it didn't stop him; he kept going until she playfully swatted at him. he pouted, leaning in for one more kiss while his eyes went mock-sad. "i am behaving. i just happen to have a very kissable girlfriend, which is more than most people can say. i’m just extremely lucky," he joked. his hand slid to her waist as she stepped closer. he felt that familiar warmth spread through his chest the second her hands touched him. if he was being honest, he wasn't even listening to her words; with her this close, it was impossible to focus on anything but her lips. as she kissed him, he pulled her even tighter. "i can do that," he whispered, his voice turning raspy as if she’d just told him something incredibly sexy instead of just giving him instructions on how to close the boutique. "anything you want," he promised. a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "i am so ready for that." he leaned down to kiss her again, needing the contact, but she took off. "you're such a tease, noelle kennedy," he laughed, watching her walk away. her hair, the way she moved—everything was just perfect, ethereal even. he didn't know what he'd done to deserve a view like this. as the lights went out, he saw her strike a pose; she was unbelievable. "you’re driving me crazy, babe," he promised. it took him an extra second to actually move toward the counter for the keys because he was so mesmerized. he laughed at himself as he grabbed them and headed for the door. "i haven't tripped yet, which is a miracle considering my goddess of a girlfriend set a trap by turning off the lights," he joked. "let's close the shutters, please," he chuckled softly. "i need to go hoooome," he added childishly. he reached up to start pulling the shutters down. "how do you even do this every day? you can't reach these," he teased. "maybe you should just call your incredibly tall boyfriend for this from now on." once they were almost down, he knelt on the floor to lock them. while he was down there, he wrapped his arms around noelle’s legs, looking up at her in total awe. "you're so pretty, you know that?" he said, completely smitten. "now, can we go home?" he laughed as he stood back up, their height difference returning to normal. he dug through his pockets and pulled out his keys. "ruby is waiting," he smirked, twirling the keys around his finger. he’d named his jeep; he was just quirky like that.

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle laughed softly, the sound light and a little breathless, cheeks already warm as she looked up at him with that fond, starry-eyed expression she never bothered hiding. She bumped her shoulder into his, tiny and unthreatening, but full of affection. Noelle smiled at that, small and pleased, chin tipping up just a little as she looked at him with bright, affectionate eyes. “Being small does come with its perks,” she said softly, voice warm and teasing. “Like fitting perfectly everywhere." When he kissed her over and over again, she giggled, hands coming up to his chest as if to slow him down, though there was no real protest in her at all. “Hunter,” she said between laughs, voice soft and affectionate, “I'm still at work anyone could see us through the windows." She swatted at him playfully, grinning when he pouted, her heart doing that familiar flutter it always did when he looked at her like that. When she gave him instructions about closing up, she didn’t even notice his tone at first—just smiled up at him, trusting and sweet. “See? Easy,” she said cheerfully. “Lights, shutters, lock up—and then home.” She kissed him again, quick and soft, before darting away with a mischievous grin, clearly pleased with herself. “Not teasing,” she called over her shoulder. “Just motivating. I want us to go home too." When he complained about the lights and called her a goddess, she turned back toward him, striking an exaggerated pose before laughing shyly and hiding her face for half a second. “Stop it,” she said, though she was smiling far too much for it to be convincing. “ As he teased her about the shutters, she crossed her arms and tilted her head, pretending to huff before starting to do the shutters. “Hey,” she protested, amused, “I manage just fine most nights. I just prefer delegating to my very tall, very capable boyfriend if hes around to help." When he knelt down and wrapped his arms around her legs, Noelle’s heart practically melted. She immediately threaded her fingers through his hair, looking down at him like he’d just said the most important thing in the world. At his question about going home, she nodded threading her fingers through his hair. “Yes, please,” she said, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I’m tired, my feet hurt and I want food, and I want you.” When he mentioned Ruby, she laughed again, shaking her head with pure affection. “Tell Ruby we’re coming,” she said sweetly. “She’s been very patient.” And as they headed out together, Noelle stayed tucked close to his side, completely, hopelessly in love with every dorky, wonderful part of him. “I feel like Ruby is your other woman,” she teased, though her eyes were bright and amused. “She gets you when I don’t.” She tipped her head to the side, pretending to consider it, then peeked up at him through her lashes. “So… should I be jealous?” Noelle darted narrowed eyes as they slowly approached Hunter's vehicle. "Would you choose her or me?"

[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

[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."

[hunterhclt]

hunter’s childhood hadn’t been easy — taking care of his sister, his dad being an alcoholic — it had all been heavy, but then he’d been sent an angel, the most perfect girl he could have ever dreamed of. noelle made the impossible feel possible, she made his heart beat in ways he didn’t know it could. he never really said those things out loud, but he thanked whatever lucky star had pushed her into his life. he was utterly in love with her in ways no one would ever really understand, and he didn’t care; he’d follow her anywhere. so when she beckoned him, he had no choice but to go — that was how they worked. her hands on his shoulders, his on her waist, that was a sight hunter would never get tired of. when she leaned closer, he dipped his head down to meet her. “business can wait?” he echoed with a small, amused smile. “oh, so we’re doing this?” he chuckled. “you’re really thinking about closing early just to go home?” he watched her walk away, watched how her fingers brushed along the shelves, and of course he followed her like the lovesick puppy he absolutely was. “you’re going to be the death of me, noelle,” he whispered under his breath. “you’ll have all the happy endings you want,” he promised as he caught up to her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. then, because he was hunter and couldn’t keep certain thoughts to himself, he kept going, kissing her cheek, “a happy ending in—” then her temple, “all the—” then her jaw, “positions you want—” then her neck. the kisses came with laughter, ending up more like playful, laughy kisses than anything serious. “i’ll help you close,” he grinned. “what do i do?”

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle watched Hunter move toward her the second she beckoned, and it made her smile in that soft, private way she only ever smiled for him. She slid her hands onto his shoulders the moment he was close enough, fingertips tracing the warm line of muscle there—familiar, home-like, hers. When he dipped his head to meet her, she let their foreheads brush, her voice a hushed, playful murmur. “Mhm," she said, the corner of her mouth curling into a teasing grin. “I think we’ve earned a little… early dismissal.” His amused smile only made her more smug. “When have I not been thinking about going home with you?” she asked sweetly, leaning in as if to kiss him—then pulling back just enough to make it flirty. “You make it very difficult to focus, you know.” She walked away with purpose, fingertips grazing across the shelves as if she needed a prop just to keep her from dragging him out the door immediately. She knew he was behind her—she felt him before she even heard him—and the way he followed her so loyally sent a warm, affection through her chest. Noelle glanced over her shoulder, giving him a look that was both soft and wicked. “Oh, dramatic,” she teased. “You’ll survive. I’ll keep you around. I like you too much.” He caught up and kissed her cheek, and Noelle’s smile softened into something undeniably tender. But then the man kept going—cheek, temple, jaw, neck—each kiss paired with a whisper that made her laugh, a warm, girlish sound that filled the half-closed shop. “Hunter,” she giggled between kisses, swatting at him without real force, “you are going to make this place impossible to close if you don’t behave.” But she didn’t actually want him to stop. And he knew it. When he finally pulled back with that grin of his and asked what to do, Noelle stepped closer again, sliding her hands down his chest. “Well, first you grab the keys from my desk…” she rose on her toes and kissed him, slow and warm, like she already belonged to him. “…and then we head out and you lock the door as quickly as possible." She brushed her nose against his, voice dropping to a soft whisper. “And then you help me close the shutters so we can go home.” Her fingers curled into his shirt as she leaned in closer, eyes bright and flirty. “Because I am very ready to have you to myself.” She took off in a light run—more of a dramatic, girlish dash—her hair bouncing behind her as she hurried toward the light switch like it was some grand finale moment in a movie. Halfway there, she tossed him a grin over her shoulder—bright, teasing, wickedly in love. When she reached the switch, she planted a hand against the wall and spun to face him, striking a pose so over-the-top it against the wall until the room started to fade into darkness and shadows around them both. And Noelle held her pose for one extra second—because she wanted him to see her silhouette like that, dramatic and pretty and just a little ridiculous.

[hunterhclt]

hunter’s gaze lingered on noelle like she was the only person who existed — and for him, she was. every smile, every subtle brush of her hand against his chest felt like gravity pulling him closer. “you’re needy because i’m worthy?” he teased softly, raising a brow, still unable to grasp how someone like her had fallen for someone like him. her fingers trailed along his jaw and his breath hitched — her touch always had that effect, like she could stop time with a single motion. “sometimes?” he echoed under his breath, voice low, eyes tracing her face like he was memorizing her all over again. “i’m glad you don’t want me to change — though you should’ve said that two months into dating,” he added with a faint grin, “the free trial period’s definitely over.” when she stood up, he couldn’t help but pout, watching her with that same lovesick expression that always gave him away. the way she moved, confident and glowing, made his chest ache in the best way. “this is your life,” he murmured, smiling as he took in the sight of her in her boutique. “you’re really lucky. i mean, the shop, your own space… though your boyfriend’s way too clumsy to fit in here without breaking something.” he chuckled softly. “i ask myself every single day how you ended up with me.” when she beckoned him closer, he rose, crossing the space between them easily. his hands slid to her waist, thumbs brushing over the fabric of her dress. “you could lock up early,” he said, a teasing glint in his eyes. “i wouldn’t complain. though…” his tone softened, eyes flicking to hers, “are you sure that’d be good for business?” his voice dropped to a whisper, warm and low, “because i wouldn’t mind continuing this — especially the part where you were sitting on top of me.”

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle felt Hunter’s gaze on her, and it was like the rest of the world had disappeared. Every look, every subtle movement of his eyes over her, made her pulse quicken. She knew he was completely present with her—just as she was with him. She let her fingers trail along his jaw, watching his breath hitch at her touch, knowing just how much control she had over him without saying a word. As she stood, she noticed the pout forming on his lips, the lovesick look he couldn’t hide. It made her heart swell. She moved with ease, confident in her own skin, and felt the subtle pull she had over him, the way he physically responded to her presence. When he admired her boutique, commenting on her space. When she beckoned him closer, she watched him respond instantly, the ease with which he closed the distance between them making her feel both cherished and desired. As his hands brushed her waist, her own hands instinctively rose, resting lightly on his shoulders, enjoying the silent communication of touch. When he whispered, teasing about locking up early and continuing “this”—especially her being on top—her pulse jumped. She could see it in the flicker of his eyes, the subtle tilt of his lips, and she let herself lean in, matching his warmth and softness without a single word, letting their connection speak for itself. "Business can wait, Hunter,” she said softly, letting her fingers linger against his chest. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she added, “I’ll still get clients online.” The warmth in her voice, paired with the subtle sway in her posture, made it clear she was fully present with him—and that, in this moment, he had her complete attention. Noelle started strolling casually around the boutique, her fingers brushing against the shelves as she passed. With a small smirk, she reached for the light switches, clicking them off one by one until the space was dim, shadows stretching across the room. Her eyes gleamed in the soft darkness as she looked back at Hunter. “Besides,” she said, stepping closer, letting the words linger between them, “everyone else gets a happy ending. Why can’t I?” Her smirk hinted at more than just a joke, the innuendo clear in the way her gaze locked on his, daring him to respond.

[hunterhclt]

hunter didn’t usually have a filter—except when he worked. with the kids and teens whose lives weren’t easy, he knew how to hold back before insulting their parents for hurting them, maybe because he saw too much of himself in their pain. but with noelle, every comment slipped out unfiltered—always cheesy, always in love. “it’s true, don’t call me crazy—when i’m saying something this true, it’s probably written in the bible or something,” he chuckled. the way she looked at him made his chest ache in the best way, so full he couldn’t believe he’d gotten her. “you’d probably do a better job keeping me from falling, but that’s just because i’m pretty sure i have two left feet,” he admitted with a grin. “but it’s cute to think you could catch an ex-football player when you’re so tiny.” not that his football career had been much—mostly warming the bench while romeo, kyle, and harrison played—but the title still counted, even if he’d been more of a twink back then. still, he’d never believe someone like noelle was his. when she said she loved him more, he shook his head—impossible. “you work too much,” he murmured, staring at her like she was the most precious thing in his world—because she was. “people think sneaking around is adventurous, look at us being adventurous,” he laughed. then her words made him raise his brows. “you want to lock me here?” he teased. “i think you’re just too needy.” his large hand cupped the back of her neck as he pressed his lips to hers, melting into the kiss and pulling her impossibly closer.

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle giggled, the sound soft and airy, like it might float away if Hunter didn’t catch it. She tilted her head, letting her smile stretch as she looked up at him with those eyes full of quiet mischief. “Well,” she said, brushing a hand against his chest, “if I’m too needy, it’s only because you’re worth it." She leaned in, her laughter mingling with his, and pressed her forehead against his. Noelle reached up, brushing her fingers along his jawline, playful but deliberate. “Honestly… you’re a complete dork sometimes,” she whispered, her lips quirking into that smile that always made his heart skip, “yet I wouldn’t change a single thing about you. Not one thing.” She giggled again, leaning into him with a soft nudge. Noelle pushed herself up from where she’d been leaning against Hunter, standing tall for a moment as her eyes roamed over the stock cupboard. A soft, contented smile curved her lips, the kind that made her look dreamy and completely in love at once. “I can’t believe this is my life,” she said, voice low and full of wonder. She took a slow step closer to him, letting her gaze linger on the shelves, then back at Hunter. “My boutique, my boyfriend, my own space." Her fingers brushed against his arm, warm and playful. “I mean… seriously,” she added with a giggle, eyes sparkling, “how did I get so lucky?” Noelle took a few playful steps backward, her eyes never leaving Hunter’s. She lifted a finger, curling it in that unmistakable beckoning gesture, and flashed him a cheeky grin that made her whole face light up. “Shall I lock up early so we can go home?” she teased, her voice lilting with mischief. Her tone was flirty, full of warmth, and entirely her—playful, in love, and completely at ease with him.

[hunterhclt]

hunter could be clumsy, maybe even born with two left feet, but one thing he’d never do was let noelle fall. she was his everything, his whole world revolved around her, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. he’d always been weird, a bit of a freak, but she never seemed to care—she laughed with him, never made him feel like he should shut up for talking too much, and she even let him ramble through movies. at least to hunter, it felt like she liked it, like the movie was better with his commentary, and that was all he needed. all hunter needed to be happy was noelle—if she was there, his days were brighter, his shitty past didn’t matter, because why be sad when the sun was smiling at you in the form of a tiny, short, brunette star who had once agreed to be his girlfriend? sitting on the couch with her curled up in his lap, hunter thought there wasn’t a better view in the world. at her playful words, he rolled his eyes. “it’s not my fault i’m clumsy,” he pouted, “or maybe you’re just too perfect to be covered in bruises.” he pressed a kiss to her cheek, grinning. “thank god you like it tidy, but mostly thank god i have you—i’d probably be dead without you, you’re like my lighthouse.” his gaze softened, crooked smile in place as he leaned in to kiss her, one big hand sliding around her waist to pull her closer, the other finding the back of her neck. a soft hum slipped from him, melting into the kiss before he whispered against her lips, “god, i love you.”

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle’s cheeks warmed instantly at his words, and she tucked herself closer against him, as if his chest was the safest place in the world. Her giggle was soft, almost musical, as she wiggled her nose up at him. “I'm your lighthouse?” she teased, voice laced with affection, eyes sparkling like she was already lost in him. “That’s so cheesy, Hunter… but I love it. You always say the cutest things." Her fingers traced lazy little shapes along his chest, her touch feather-light, almost ticklish. She tilted her head up, lips brushing against his jaw before whispering in a playful, breathy tone, “You know I’d never let you fall either, right? I’d try my best to catch you - no matter if I ended getting hurt in the process.'” A little giggle bubbled out of her, warm and adoring, before she kissed him again—quick, sweet, and smiley. Pulling back just slightly, she gazed at him with that soft, starry-eyed look that was reserved only for him. “I love you more, Hunter.” Noelle let out a little dramatic sigh as she wrapped her arms around him, snuggling into his chest before tilting her head up at him with the biggest, poutiest bottom lip she could muster. Her wide eyes shimmered, equal parts playful and longing. “I think I work too much sometimes…” she murmured softly, her tone dripping with that cutesy sweetness he knew so well. “It's stupid that I have to sneak into my work back room just to make out with my boyfriend.” She gave his shirt a gentle tug as if to emphasise the ache in her words, then let a mischievous little smile tug at the corners of her pout. "Maybe I should just lock you in here for my entertainment.” She gave a little giggle after, nuzzling into his neck like she was trying to hide her blush, but her words lingered in the air—teasing, flirty, and just a touch bold.

[noelle-kennedy]

When Noelle met Hunter, it had felt like something inside her quietly clicked into place. She wasn’t sure how he did it—how he managed to be so loud and chaotic and utterly himself without ever making her feel too small or too much. He had this way of loving that was loud in the sweetest ways—jokes, flowers, late-night messages just to tell her he missed her. And while he made everything feel like a game sometimes, Noelle knew how real his heart was. How deeply he cared. He showed it in the way his eyes softened when she laughed, in how he always made sure she was okay without making her feel fragile. Just seeing the way he looked at her when she was perched on the counter, legs swinging, made her blush. Every single time. And the worst part? He knew it. She giggled when he stuck his tongue out, shaking her head like she was trying to stay composed, but her smile betrayed her. “You're so dramatic,” she murmured, voice barely above a whisper as his hands pulled her closer. Her legs wrapped instinctively around his waist, like her body already knew this was where she felt safest. “And for the record,” she added, pretending to be stern, “your movie choices are terrible sometimes.” But her grin betrayed her again—because she loved those nights, loved hearing his commentary more than the movies themselves. When he kissed her, and that familiar little hum escaped from him, she felt her heart twist in the best way. She rested her forehead against his afterward, eyes half-lidded, breath a little uneven. His words made her laugh—soft and flustered—and she ducked her head against his shoulder as if to hide the heat blooming across her cheeks. “Supersuit, seriously?” she whispered, voice muffled in the crook of his neck. But her arms tightened around his neck anyway, and when he offered to carry her, she bit her lip, heart pounding. “I mean… if you promise not to run into anything,” she mumbled, grinning even as her cheeks flushed again. Then, quieter, barely audible: “Yeah. Let’s go.” And just before he could move, her voice caught again—more breath than sound—as she added, “But only if you do keep kissing me." Noelle’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink as a mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. She leaned in closer, breath warm against Hunter’s skin, a shy but daring smile tugging at her lips. Without warning, she started peppering his face with quick, playful kisses—his forehead, the tip of his nose, the corner of his mouth—each one soft and full of teasing affection. “I’m going to be a distraction every step,” she whispered, voice low and a little breathless, fingers threading through his hair. “Just saying. Call this payback.”

[hunterhclt]

hunter was a nerd, a freak, the list was long. he had great friends and used to play football at university with the guys he now considered his best friends... but when it came to girls, he had no luck—until he met noelle. she was perfection wrapped in the prettiest smile and the most beautiful eyes. he fell head over heels for the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. and she wasn’t just pretty—no, she was the sweetest, kindest person he'd ever laid eyes on. he couldn't love noelle more than he already did, but somehow, he fell for her a little more every single day. it was impossible not to, not when she was an actual angel. and the best part? she loved him back. she liked when he talked about movies, she laughed at his references and dumb comments, and he didn’t have to pretend or tone himself down. he could just be hunter—the simp, the guy who would absolutely take a bullet for the love of his life. the lois lane to his superman, even if he was more of a batman guy. “i’m not dramatic, i’m just really fun,” he pointed out, grinning as she wrapped her legs around him. “my movie choices aren’t terrible, are you telling me batman is a bad movie? star wars? twilight?” he gasped. “you, noelle kennedy, are going to break my heart,” he joked. the way she hid her face against his shoulder after they kissed, blushing like that, made his heart race in the best way. those little moments made him feel alive. he’d been joking about the suit, but her reaction made it all worth it. “i can’t promise not running into things—gravity loves me and wants me falling constantly—but i’ll try to keep you safe, even if it doesn’t exactly go to plan,” he said, laughing. when she agreed to let him take her to the back, he smiled and picked her up from the counter, both hands on her bum to keep her steady. “we’re totally ending up in the er,” he muttered as she started peppering his face with kisses. walking was already hard for hunter and his two left feet, but noelle’s kisses made it even worse. he tried to walk steady, dodging dress racks and avoiding walls. “this isn’t payback, it’s a one-way ticket to the hospital wrapped in cute kisses that turn me on,” he chuckled. as they reached the back door, he reached out to open it and, of course, failed the first time. it took him a second try before he got it open. “i feel like i deserve a medal for not dropping you,” he grinned. he scanned the room until he spotted the little couch—nothing fancy, just something he’d ordered for her to nap on during lunch breaks when the store was closed. it wasn’t big enough for him—his feet would definitely hang off the edge—but noelle was tiny, and it was perfect for her. he walked over, sat down carefully, and now she was on his lap like she belonged there.

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle Kennedy had always known Hunter was different. Not in the way most people meant it—he wasn’t “weird” or “awkward” the way they sometimes said. To her, he was just... Hunter. A little chaotic, yes, and maybe a bit too obsessed with caped superheroes and film trivia, but all of that only made him more him. And she adored him for it. She saw through all the things he thought might made him unlovable—the nerdiness, the self-deprecating jokes, the clumsy limbs. She didn't see a freak or a guy who struggled with girls. She saw the heart underneath it all. The one that lit up every time he made her laugh, or when he caught her looking at him like he hung the stars. From the outside, he might’ve looked like the one falling hardest, but Noelle knew the truth. She’d fallen too. Harder than she expected. The way he rambled about movies like they were life-or-death debates? She could listen for hours. “Twilight is objectively terrible,” she said matter-of-factly, just to mess with him. Then, softening, she added, “But watching it with you makes it bearable. Almost.” The way he pretended to be scandalised made her laugh so hard she had to bury her face in his shoulder. She loved that he didn’t try to hide any part of himself. He was a goofball, dramatic in the best kind of way, and endlessly sincere. And when he grinned at her, all bright-eyed and boyish, it was impossible not to melt a little. “You’re the worst,” she murmured into his collarbone, but it came out sounding a lot like I love you too much. She never had the nerve to say those things in big, bold declarations like Hunter did — but in her own way, she said them all the time. In moments like those—her arms around him, his laugh in her ear, kisses pressed to his jaw as he tried not to trip over himself—Noelle felt weightless. Like she was part of something real. Like the world was suddenly easier to exist in just because he was in it too. When he picked her up so casually, she didn’t feel nervous. She felt safe. Because clumsy or not, Hunter would never let her fall—not really. And even when he fumbled with doors or nearly tripped over display racks, he always laughed through it. And so did she. Noelle loved every part of their messy, chaotic kind of love. The little couch in the back? She hadn’t known he’d bought it for her back at the start. But the second she saw it—the quiet little corner for her breaks - he’d thought about just for her—it hit her in that soft spot in her chest again. And when he sat with her on his lap, all warmth and jokes and genuine affection, she didn’t need anything fancy or perfect. Hunter made her feel like she already had everything. Like she belonged exactly where she was. Noelle grinned at him, eyes twinkling with mischief and affection. “Honestly, Hunter,” she teased, “it’s beyond me sometimes that I’m not covered in little bruises from you walking into everything when I’m in your arms.” She gave his one arm a gentle squeeze and smirked, settling into his lap as her hands pressed against the front of his chest. Noelle laughed softly. “Thank God I keep everything tidy, huh?” she said with a teasing smile, eyes sparkling as she looked up at him. “Otherwise, I don’t know how you’d survive without me."

[hunterhclt]

when hunter met noelle, everything started to make sense. she didn’t judge him for his comments or the way he was—she seemed to genuinely like him for who he was, and there wasn’t a better way for hunter to express that than by joking around and buying her flowers. that was how he showed he cared—he loved her with his whole soul. seeing her happy was what kept hunter grounded; he didn’t need anything else. if noelle was happy, he was happy, even if that was sometimes hard when it came to his family. to hunter, there was no one more important than noelle—she was his everything. he loved how they could play and joke together. just seeing her small frame and swinging legs while she sat on the counter made his heart beat faster. he didn’t know how she did it, but she made him fall in love all over again every time he looked at her. an amused smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she called him the leader of the dork world. “when did i become the king of dorking?” he asked with a playful smirk. “no, i meant boring,” he added, sticking his tongue out in response to her teasing. his hands pulled her closer, her legs wrapping around him, and to him, that was happiness in its purest form. “excuse you, i’ve made you watch really good movies,” he grinned, “it’s not my fault you don’t like george lucas’s world and art,” he added, trying to keep a straight face but failing as he laughed. when their lips met, that soft, familiar hum escaped his throat—it wasn’t something he could control. it had never happened to him before noelle. before her, kissing someone at a random party was just that—random. he was a dork dressed as a football player, and when the uniform came off, the dork underneath wasn’t what people wanted. but noelle did. “what? it’s a really good bad movie,” he shrugged, “i’m your nerd,” he added with a smile. being there with her—in the quiet, warm silence, her arms and legs wrapped around him, their foreheads pressed together—that was happiness. hunter was truly happy. “why would you want to think straight? we have...” he glanced at her phone. “twelve minutes. you don’t have to think straight, the time’s still ticking,” he teased, lowering his head to kiss her neck. “please, can i keep kissing you? maybe not here but... what if we go to the back room and i show you the supersuit under my clothes?” he smirked, “i’m joking—but do you wanna go to the back? i can carry you. not kiss you at the same time or i’ll bump into something, but i think i can focus enough to get us there in one piece.”

[noelle-kennedy]

When Noelle met Hunter, it had felt like something inside her quietly clicked into place. She wasn’t sure how he did it—how he managed to be so loud and chaotic and utterly himself without ever making her feel too small or too much. He had this way of loving that was loud in the sweetest ways—jokes, flowers, late-night messages just to tell her he missed her. And while he made everything feel like a game sometimes, Noelle knew how real his heart was. How deeply he cared. He showed it in the way his eyes softened when she laughed, in how he always made sure she was okay without making her feel fragile. Just seeing the way he looked at her when she was perched on the counter, legs swinging, made her blush. Every single time. And the worst part? He knew it. She giggled when he stuck his tongue out, shaking her head like she was trying to stay composed, but her smile betrayed her. “You're so dramatic,” she murmured, voice barely above a whisper as his hands pulled her closer. Her legs wrapped instinctively around his waist, like her body already knew this was where she felt safest. “And for the record,” she added, pretending to be stern, “your movie choices are terrible sometimes.” But her grin betrayed her again—because she loved those nights, loved hearing his commentary more than the movies themselves. When he kissed her, and that familiar little hum escaped from him, she felt her heart twist in the best way. She rested her forehead against his afterward, eyes half-lidded, breath a little uneven. His words made her laugh—soft and flustered—and she ducked her head against his shoulder as if to hide the heat blooming across her cheeks. “Supersuit, seriously?” she whispered, voice muffled in the crook of his neck. But her arms tightened around his neck anyway, and when he offered to carry her, she bit her lip, heart pounding. “I mean… if you promise not to run into anything,” she mumbled, grinning even as her cheeks flushed again. Then, quieter, barely audible: “Yeah. Let’s go.” And just before he could move, her voice caught again—more breath than sound—as she added, “But only if you do keep kissing me." Noelle’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink as a mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. She leaned in closer, breath warm against Hunter’s skin, a shy but daring smile tugging at her lips. Without warning, she started peppering his face with quick, playful kisses—his forehead, the tip of his nose, the corner of his mouth—each one soft and full of teasing affection. “I’m going to be a distraction every step,” she whispered, voice low and a little breathless, fingers threading through his hair. “Just saying. Call this payback.”

[hunterhclt]

noelle came into hunter's life when he was at his lowest. his family situation had never been good, not after his mom left, but having a younger sister to take care of at such an early age and a dad who could barely get up from the sofa because he was always drunk had never been easy. then noelle showed up. she lit up his world again. there was something about her—that smile that made him realize things weren't as bad as they could be. because even if hunter was always bubbly, happy, and goofy on the outside, deep down he was stressed, even if he never showed it. but since he started dating noelle, that creeping feeling had faded. hunter loved noelle with everything he had. there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her, and he liked to show it—getting her flowers or sweets or just showing up unannounced to be there for her. "yes, we're in charge of the dork kingdom, we need to be together, if not, all our subdorks will not survive in a world full of cool people who play football and don't read comics, it's a difficult time for our people, noelle," he kept joking, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "so, don't just do it for me, do it for our people," he added, trying to sound solemn, but he ended up laughing. he couldn't help it—being serious was hard for him. as hunter walked back to her, like he always did after closing the door, he made his way between noelle’s legs as she sat on the counter. "your life would be really boring if you didn’t have me, wouldn’t it? who would make you watch bad movies or constantly quote them? you’d be bored," he said with a grin. he joked about it, but deep down he didn’t know what he’d do without her. the thought of noelle realizing she could do better terrified him. she totally could—she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, and not just that, she was sweet, caring, and loving. who wouldn’t want someone like her in their life? noelle was everything to hunter. as he leaned in to kiss her, his hands found her hips, pulling her close until only the counter kept them apart. and like always, that familiar hum escaped him without meaning to. it just happened whenever he kissed her. when she pulled back, he blinked, caught off guard, eyebrows furrowing slightly as his lips stayed in a pout—he definitely hadn’t planned on stopping. "i was, wasn’t i?" he laughed nervously, his hand moving to scratch the back of his neck. when her hand cupped the back of his head, he instinctively leaned into her touch. her playful question made him grin. "maybe?" he said, smiling. "if we were werewolves, i would’ve imprinted on you," he nodded, tossing in another movie reference. "and i’d show up like, noelle, where the hell have you been, loca?" he added with a laugh.

[noelle-kennedy]

Noelle had never met anyone like Hunter. He was chaotic sunshine wrapped in comic book references and unexpected flowers, the kind of boy who could make her laugh when she felt like crying, who never let her sit in silence too long without leaning over to say something ridiculous just to get a smile out of her. She knew the happy-go-lucky attitude wasn’t always the full picture—she’d seen the quiet stress behind his eyes, the way he flinched when certain topics came up, the softness in his voice when he talked about his sister. But she also knew how hard he loved. How loyal he was. And how, somehow, he always made her feel like the most special person in the world. Even now, with his usual goofy grin and his over-the-top speech about their fictional kingdom of dorks, she couldn’t stop smiling. Noelle giggled, her legs swinging gently as she sat on the counter, arms folded as she tried to keep a straight face. “You’re right,” she said seriously, playing along. “It’s a dark time for nerdkind. Without our reign, chaos would spread through the land. Our people deserve better,” she said, nodding solemnly, before her smile broke through again. “Long live the dorks, and you, the leader of the dork world." He always circled back to her, like a magnet—door locked, and then suddenly between her legs, right where he belonged. She leaned in as he spoke again, his grin melting her all over again.“Boring, huh?” she echoed, eyebrow lifting. “You mean peaceful? Quiet? Chaos-free?” But she was already smiling as he pulled her closer by the hips. Her fingers looped around his shirt instinctively, grounding herself in the warmth of him. "I don't know what I would do without you, Hunter. I’d probably miss the guy who makes me watch terrible sci-fi movies from the 90s and quotes them at 3am.” Then he kissed her, soft and familiar, and Noelle felt that hum escape his chest like it always did—a little sound she never teased him about, because it made her feel like he meant it every single time. She pulled back with a small smile, catching the surprised little pout on his lips and the way his brows drew together like he was personally offended by the distance. “Mm-hm,” she murmured, hand gently cupping the back of his head, fingers threading into his hair. Noelle burst out laughing, dropping her forehead to his shoulder for a second as her body shook with amusement. “Oh my god,” she said between giggles, “I can’t believe you just quoted Twilight to me right now.” She leaned back just enough to meet his gaze again, her eyes soft, teasing. “You’re such a nerd.” Then, brushing a quick kiss against his nose, she added gently: “But you’re my nerd and I wouldn't have you any other way." Slowly, her arms slid around his neck, fingers brushing the back of his hair, and her legs followed—crossing around his waist without a word, pulling him in, closer. Her heart pounded as she leaned her forehead lightly against his, eyes fluttering shut for a second like she needed a breath before she could even look at him. When she did, her cheeks were already pink. “You, um…” she started, then gave a tiny laugh, nose scrunching just a little. “You make it really hard to think straight when you're this close.”