Say It's Me ☾ Charles Leclerc

35 | Working past the benefits

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Marcel Jovic - I Want To Be Yours:
'I want to be yours but i got scars on my skin and i know that you'd hold me close if i could let you in. I want to be yours but you got scars on your skin and i know i would hold you close if you could let me in'

"So I noticed you disappeared for a while at the party?" Sophie asked while she dipped her brush in more paint. The girls were at the gallery, a few days after the party, as they were excited to start working on their clothing line together. Sophie had added another desk to her office, where Noelle was free to work whenever she wanted and today was their first official day working on the spring garments of the collection. Noelle could almost hear the giggle in her best friend's voice and she was happy that she didn't have to hide her crush on her cousin anymore. "Uhh, yeah. Charles and I talked in the kitchen for a while and then we.. went upstairs". She lowered her voice when she neared the end of the sentence, it still felt a little awkward to talk about these things with Sophie.

The girls used to tell each other everything when they met a new boy, but seeing it was her cousin now, Noelle didn't want to get into the details too much. "He told me he really liked me and he had ghosted me before because he thought he never would be good enough for me. We talked about Celeste and Stephan and eventually we just kind of confessed our feelings for each other, I guess". Noelle couldn't stop the big grin that showed up on her face and she tried to bury her face in the piece of fabric she was holding. "That's amazing, Elle. I'm happy for you both, I really am". Sophie said while she turned to look at the blonde-haired girl on the other side of the room. Noelle nodded at her with a smile while she thought back to what happened after she and Charles had slept together.

Being in his arms had been even better than Noelle had imagined. They had never cuddled or even been close to one another when they were just friends with benefits, so Noelle cherished every single second of him holding her now. "I don't really want to ruin this moment, but I think we need to get back downstairs soon. Everyone is here for you". Charles chuckled and Noelle buried her face in his chest once more, not really excited to go back to the party. Neither of them said a word when they got dressed again and Noelle felt a weird tension in the air as they were about to leave the room. "Charles?" She asked while she grabbed his arm before he could open the door.

"What's going to happen to us now?" Noelle sounded shy and she was surprised that the words came out so easily, but she didn't want to walk out of here not knowing if they were ever going to continue this. Charles stepped towards her and brushed some hairs out of her face before he cupped her cheeks gently. "We'll just take it slow, okay? We don't want to rush into anything and ruin it. But I'm not letting you get away again, I promise". Noelle felt her cheeks heat up at his answer and she looked up at him through her eyelashes when he leaned in slowly. "Tu es si spécial pour moi, Noelle". He whispered before he kissed her lovingly. She didn't really need an answer now, she just needed to know he still felt the same as she did.

"We're not really together now, or anything, but it's nice to know we both feel the same way". Noelle explained to her best friend while she stepped back from the mannequin to look at the fabric she had been pinning down on it. "He's heading to Azerbaijan in a few days, right?!" Sophie asked, while walking towards Noelle, both of their eyes focused on the flowing fabric that had the brunette girl's orange and violet floral painting all over it. Noelle hummed when she couldn't talk because of the pins in her mouth while she pulled the fabric a little tighter around the frame of the mannequin. "Why don't you ask him out on a date before that? Like a proper one, not just hanging out at your apartment again. You need to start working past just the 'benefits' part.."

Noelle nodded at her friend when she looked up at her face and she could tell the girl was genuinely trying to help them. "Are you sure you're still okay with us being together like that? I know how much Charles means to you". Noelle asked, her voice soft as if she was scared to ask the question, even though Sophie had already told her she didn't mind. "You mean a lot to me as well, chérie. And I know you two could make each other really happy". Noelle smiled brightly at her best friend when she told her that, making her heart flutter when she finally realised she had truly given her blessing. "Thank you, Soph". The blonde girl said, taking a sip of her water bottle while she placed her hand on her best friend's arm. "Plus, who doesn't want their best friend to become family in the end?" The girls both giggled at that statement, as Noelle tried to hide her face of embarrassment.