ears perked up , and she wants to know what he thinks — subtly was never an odette trait , but for as long as she can remember .. he was one opinion that had mattered in the course of a crowded classroom . first coming to a country , and never being one to have an disadvantage- duchess thrived above her fellow students , reeling in knowledge with a matter of fact grin , and a tilt of preciseness in her chin . she’d learned english early on as a child , but it was her second language ; and most of which she’d picked up from reruns of i dream of jeannie . but she’d learned to crush , and to crush hard when she’d rounded a corner quickly to a high school that she’d only set foot in a time or two . without a guide , she’d scurry up the stairs to get to class on time —- or more so , before everyone else . and as she did so , she’s caught toe-anchored to the floor as voice carried down a railing , and dark curls bounced with a smile . her heart stopped that day , and started again in a static shock of flutters . so yes , she cared what noel thinks of her , and maybe she’s been trying to impress him for years now —- only to falter under the touch of brushed lips , and uncertainty that came with falling . “intimidating .” she’ll repeat , letting the word loom over in her head for her to analyze . of all the choice of bad he could have went with – he’d chosen intimidating . and odette , five foot foot , with blonde hair and blue eyes , an enormous crush that outweighed the practical , she wondered how on earth she was intimidating to him . and then it’s followed by intriguing , and her nose scrunches , a bashful gaze flickered down and away ; but her smile rises to blue eyes , and casts a warm glow through heightened cheeks . “me too .” she finally adds , in response to the sleeping beauty comment . “besides .. who goes pricking spinning wheels anyhow-” a little nudge of playfulness , and her gaze is fixated on the new shade of pink staining his hands . “i like that color-” she nods , side glancing , and catching a memorizing smile that dug inside her chest and kept her dreams awake . and then he’s muting any sense of rationally in her head , her brows wavering up at the mention of slide shows , and bullet pointed reasons as to why percy deserved to have a home of his own . “complete with visual a– yeah i think i might have just fell in love a little bit .” and the comment slipped out , and it surprises her . — brows furrowing , mouth slightly agape before she’s snapping it shut with a laugh . nice , odette . you nicolettes and your inability to shut up while you’re ahead , or spurting out secrets that was suppose to stay your inside voice . the only difference was , caroline wasn’t here to stop the from being yanked out from under you . luckily , percy is barking- and the tiny yips drown out any need to dig herself a deeper hole . for a girl who didn’t believe in love a few months ago , it rattled her a little how easily the phrase slipped out . noel’s arms wrapped around her , and odette is yelping through a laugh . “no- it was an accident i prom-” only to be cut off by water drenching the front of her shirt . and he’s only making the laughter bubble , percy nipping at the outward sprays of water ; and odette cowering int the crook of his neck with wavering hands , only to hug into a burrowed chest , using the water to backfire and drench him too . her only defense to playfully bite at his shoulder , muffled by another onset of giggles . odette reaches for the faucet , slipping and falling back into his chest . “mercy- mercy–” using her weight to push him back carefully on the bathroom floor , reaching up to sneak the sprayer in the fall ; then straddling his lap and pointing the face at him like an old western . “hands up- this is a robbery-” and with the light flutter of a smirk , percy yelps in the background in contingent .
“ certainly not a nicolette , ” he’d laugh , and a mess of curls — beginning to get a little too long — bounces in the motion . two blondes , living in a house like a mini modern day castle , had the allure and the looks of a pair of princesses , but certainly not the kind that would close their eyes and wait for life to begin with an awakening from a prince . caroline was far too free spirited , and odette was far too feisty , a force of nature in herself . her fairytale started with a fight for survival and ended somewhere in the cradle of a dream , where maybe she’d take over the world , and maybe the world would be better for it . . . and maybe he’d be allowed to witness it all from such close proximity . his body rocks back into her , but she’s glanced at the shade of soft pink on his fingertips , and there’s a wavering grin on his lips . “ yeah . i thought you might , ” shoulders lift in a shrug as his hands dip under the water , but the paint doesn’t come off — similar to the way odette’s perfume seemed to linger even after she was long gone , “ kind of reminds me of you , actually . ” a subtle flicker of warm , brown eyes steals in her direction , back to the water just as quickly , and he’s reaching down to splash water over percy’s paws . it’s only when a tiny phrase falls from her lips that he sputters with a breathless laugh . because noel silva knows what it’s like to feel love . he knows because he’d felt it in the way his little sister — before they even shared a last name — would poke his cheek and whisper today is the day with a blind optimism . he’d felt it in the way his mother wrapped her arms around him and refused to let go and the way his father cried when they welcomed him home . he’d felt it the first time he held nicholas , how tiny he was , and how the silva family only grew , and the love two young parents had for a child of their own didn’t change the love they had for two kids that weren’t biologically theirs . he’d seen it , too . in music . in movies . in his friends . in his parents . but , noel , had you ever been in love ? had you ever gotten that far ? was falling what it felt like to lose your breath when a girl’s blushed a bright red and a scrunch of her nose accented laughter ? they’re both laughing , and only moments pass before the bathroom’s a mess , soap bubbles and splatters of water dampening the bath mat and the floor around it . “ un accidente . mierda . absoluta mierda . pero , ” it’s mumbled in a fit of laughter , and he’s still spraying her as she buries into the crook of his neck , one hand laced through blonde locks as the other holds a shower head , effectively soaking himself as well . she’ll pull away , and he’s still laughing , “ but you make a very pretty liar . ” she’s leaned into him , closer and closer , and his heart is racing like it hadn’t in a long time , maybe ever . the sound of her laughter slips into the back of his mind , and it’s a song he’d like to keep on repeat for as long as possible . he’ll cry out , dramatically , in between bouts of laughter as teeth sink into his shoulder , and he loses his grip . percy barking , odette laughing , his heart pounding . . . it was a symphony of utter happiness , and he’ll let her ease him back onto the bathroom floor , rolling his eyes as she’s got him cornered with a faucet pointed in between his eyes . “ in my own house , ” he shifts , eyebrows raised and hands up , as though to tell her his movements were innocent . . . even though he wasn’t sure they were , as one hand brushed against her hip , wrapping around her petite frame as he sat up , holding her there still . the other reached over and tapped a rod that rendered shower head useless , and water fell from the tub’s faucet instead . “ you don’t need that , you know , ” his laughter has subsided , and fingertips brush along her wrist before pulling the sprayer from her hand and letting it drop back over the tub , swinging slightly , “ if you want something , you could just . . . tell me . ” one arm still around her waist , he’ll lean closer , using his free hand to brush a strand of hair behind her ear . “ i’d say ask nicely , but , ” a grin stretches across his lips , and he’ll lower his voice , “ you’re kind of bossy , duquesa . ” it’s a grin that softens as his hand cups her cheek , and his thumb brushes up the curve of high cheek bones , blue eyes sucking the air from his lungs , “ it’s as simple as telling me what you want , odette . ”
