souls don't meet by accident

JJ Maybank didn't expect Noelle Bridgeman to invite him inside. He didn't expect her to accept a ride on his bike - twice - or even bother speaking to him after the day they officially met. It was shocking in a good way, and he didn't complain as he eagerly nodded to accept the invitation.

"You can park that on the side of the house," Noelle mumbled, pointing to the side of the garage.

JJ looked at her momentarily, although he saw no sign of insult in her words. Usually, someone of her kind - a Kook - saying something like that to him should be taken offensively - as they'd be too embarrassed to be seen with him. As he looked at Noelle, however, the look on her face showed otherwise.

Her cheeks were still pink and puffy, only slightly calmer compared to how they'd been when he first greeted her outside of the building. "Just don't want anything to happen to it, is all." She quickly added, noticing his silence.

"You think something will happen to it on this side of town?" JJ asked.

Noelle shrugged, "I guess you can never be so sure." Her cheeks grew pinker. "I'm a paranoid person though, so if you want to keep it out you can."

JJ nodded but listened to her anyway. He walked the bike over to the side of the house and put the kickstand down before walking back toward Noelle, seeing her in the same spot. Her eyes were on the ground as she moved her foot around, pointing it out in a light stretch before returning it to the ground.

He cleared his throat, causing her eyes to snap up to his. She smiled faintly before walking past him and going to the front door.

JJ sheepishly followed behind her. He wanted to say something to get a conversation going, as he'd noticed she didn't talk much. But he couldn't think of what to say that would get her to speak, especially since she was obviously bothered by something.

It bothered him. He'd only interacted with the girl like two times by this point, but he was intrigued by her. She was one of the- no, the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, which said a lot considering JJ wasn't the type to think something like that.

Noelle took her time unlocking the door, and JJ didn't mind. He had made plans to hang out with the others later on that night, but he knew it wouldn't be a big deal if he were late. He knew they would ask but he wouldn't tell, simply because he didn't want them to know.

He didn't know Noelle. He didn't truly know her just yet, and he was going to take any little sliver of time she was willing to give so he could know her. And he wouldn't tell anyone despite the itch to gush about her to Pope or even John B, simply because it wasn't like JJ Maybank to gush about a girl.

Not to mention a girl he barely knew, they'd simply think that JJ disappeared and a fake one was put in his place.

The house was nice and cool as they walked in. JJ was quick to notice how big the interior was and despite how much furniture and other decor littered the house - it felt empty. Everything was black and white, color-coded to perfection.

"Nice house," JJ commented. He looked at the couch, admiring how soft and comfy it looked. Part of him wanted to go and jump on it, but by the way it looked untouched, he knew it wouldn't be a good idea.

"It's alright," Noelle mumbled.

JJ begged to differ but didn't argue. He watched as she made her way toward the staircase leading upstairs.

"If you'd like to make yourself at home, you can," Noelle spoke as she turned toward him. "I'm going to run this upstairs, I'll be back in just a moment."

JJ nodded before a quick thought crossed his mind. "Wait, what if your parents come home?" He glanced around, tapping his fingers to his thighs. "Surely they won't like seeing someone like me in here with their daughter - let alone... alone, you know?."

"They won't," Noelle surely said.

JJ looked at her, still unsure. Noelle seemed confident in her answer, though, and left JJ alone as she made her way upstairs.

It was odd that someone so timid and quiet would allow someone like JJ to be by himself in her house. It was rare for a Kook to trust a Pogue this way, and JJ knew that. This was more than enough proof that Noelle wasn't like the other Kooks, and from the way she trusted him, it seemed she thought JJ was different from the other Pogues.

JJ being JJ, he didn't stay still for very long. He began to glance around the living room, feeling a little less nervous now that Noelle wasn't present. He looked at the few family photos hung up, along with one or two photos of the dark-haired girl when she was little.

Her eyes were just as blue back then as they are now, he thought, as he continued to make his way into the hall. He ventured into the kitchen, noticing that the decor was just the same as in the other rooms he'd seen.

Everything was clean. Nothing had a speck of dust, it seemed, almost as if the kitchen went completely unused. His eyes then went to the back patio door, looking through the crystal clear glass.

The backyard didn't look how he expected it to look. Well, truthfully, he wasn't sure how it'd look. For some reason, he'd gotten the impression that the Bridgeman residence would look a little more... lively, considering Noelle lived here.

Everything he'd seen the girl wear was something of color, mostly light purples and baby blues. Granted, it's only been a handful of times - and that's including the time he saw her outside of the studio - but JJ couldn't ever recall a time that she'd worn anything dark.

A giant pool covered a lot of the backyard. A few pool floaties were floating through the water, one being a giant pink flamingo while the other was just a blue mattress float. It was a big one, one that was big enough to probably fit two of JJ.

His eyes then ventured to the left, to an area underneath the shielded patio. There was a small hot tub, his lips curving into a smile as he looked at it.

"No fucking way," He mumbled to himself.

Turning, he immediately made a beeline to the staircase. Taking two at a time he got to the top, immediately noticing the open door on the left. "You didn't tell me you had a hot-" His words stopped as he made it to the doorway, coming face to face with Noelle.

She had changed into something more comfortable. Simple pajama pants and a t-shirt, yet she looked just as beautiful as she did before.

"Tub. Hot tub," He finally finished, his voice raising an octave at the last few words. He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling nervous. "Hot tubs are nice."

"Yeah," She breathed out.

JJ's eyes then veered to behind Noelle. He got a good glimpse of her bedroom, surprised at how different it looked from the rest of the house. Before he could get a good look at any of the smaller details, though, Noelle stepped forward and shut the door behind her.

This put her closer to JJ, his breath catching in his throat. "We never use it," She continued the conversation with a shrug.

JJ nodded, "Man, if I had my own hot tub I'd use that thing every day I think. I mean- even on colder nights which I know is rare you could still just sit there and enjoy yourself, you know? I mean, I think I'd have to live in it."

Noelle searched his eyes. She saw a faint hint of sadness there, although he spoke with a smile. Clearing her throat, she perked up a bit. "Okay. Then let's go."

"Go where?" He asked quickly, looking down at her.

"Get in the hot tub. My parents are gone until super late tonight and the hot water eases my muscles." She spoke as if it were nothing, although somehow JJ read right through her. "I haven't used it yet, either. It would be a good time to."

She was doing something for him. It could easily come across as pity, doing something simply because she felt bad for him. And although part of her did feel bad, JJ knew it was just something to ease the awkward tension between the two.

It was very obvious Noelle had no idea what she was doing. She didn't know why she invited JJ in for lemonade - which hadn't even been mentioned since they stepped in the house - and by the way she spoke to him. She felt awkward, but it was obvious she wasn't forcing herself to do it in a bad way. She wanted to get to know him, much like he did her. And this was her way of doing it without being too much or too awkward.

"I don't have any trunks," JJ excused. If this were him with his friends, he wouldn't care about whether or not he had swim trunks. He'd jump in immediately - butt naked if he could. But he didn't know Noelle, how she'd react, and it didn't help she was somehow the only girl in the world that he'd ever met to make him so... anxious.

And that's not in a bad way, either.

"You don't need them," Noelle answered.

"Well what do you expect me to do, get naked?" He quickly asked. Realizing he let one of his little comments slip he shut his mouth, waiting for her to react.

For a second, he thought he ruined it. He thought she'd think he was too weird, that she'd never want to speak with him again let alone get in the hot tub.

But then Noelle laughed. She didn't ridicule him, or look disgusted by his comment - even though it really wasn't that bad. She just laughed at his little joke, immediately causing relief to flow through his body.

"Undergarments are just like swimming suits. Boxers work the same as trunks, and bras and underwear work the same as swimming suits." Noelle told him.

"So does that mean you're getting in your underwear too?" He asked cheekily, looking down at her with a small smile.

"Most definitely." She told him, "Not."

JJ laughed this time with a nod. "Fair, fair. So do you want me to just wait down- down there?"

"No, JJ, I'd like you to come into the bedroom with me while I change." Noelle sarcastically told him.

It wasn't like Noelle to talk like this with anyone, especially boys she barely knew. She knew this but didn't mind all that much as JJ seemed to enjoy her opening up to him.

Just as she was about to turn and walk into her bedroom, she noticed JJ take a step forward. She quickly put a hand to his chest, preventing him from moving. "Nice try, no thanks."

His heart jumped at the physical touch, having not expected it. He felt giddy and smiled at her, his cheeks burning as they made eye contact.

"Hey, you suggested it." JJ shrugged as he held his hands up in defense, finally warming up to the girl.

"And I was kidding. You-" She pointed, "Can wait down there. I'll be but five minutes most."

"Does five minutes actually mean ten?" JJ joked, earning an eye roll from Noelle. She just smiled at him and shut her bedroom door, leaving JJ by himself in the hallway.

He stood there for a moment, replaying the scene in his head. He couldn't wrap his thoughts around how not only had he been admiring Noelle from afar assuming they'd never interact, but on top of that she was a Kook and he was in her house. He was in her house with her alone. He was going to be getting in her nice expensive hot tub and see her in a bikini and-

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he began to feel insecure. Yes, he'd be seeing her in a bikini. But she was going to see him in his boxers. Usually, he didn't care, he shrugged it off as he did most things. But this felt different, and he couldn't explain it to someone if he tried.

Realizing he probably looked like a creep, he made his way down the stairs. He took his time, a much different contrast than compared to when he had gone up them. Although he tried to distract himself from what was about to happen - he also ridiculed himself for acting like this over literally nothing - he couldn't stop thinking about it. He made his way out to the back patio, pacing back and forth once or twice.

He wasn't sure whether he was supposed to get ready now or wait until Noelle got outside, so he just decided to stand and study her backyard while he waited. There wasn't anything too interesting, but it was better than walking back and forth making it obvious he was nervous.

"You going to stand there all day or get ready to get in?"

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Kind of struggled this one, but hope you liked it nonetheless <3