Charlotte was the first to move.
She slowly pushed herself up, the softest smile tugging at her lips. Her long pink hair fell to one side as she settled onto her knees, still straddling him but now with space between them. Noel, still flat on his back, looked more stunned than ever.
His emerald eyes avoided hers. The heat in his face had nothing to do with the night air.
"Um… I probably should've talked to the other girls about this first," he muttered.
Charlotte tilted her head innocently. "I did."
Noel blinked. "You did?"
She nodded casually. "Yes. I spoke to Elyra and Elena before all this. I told them my plan. They gave me the green light."
She brushed her fingers through her hair, her gaze lowering slightly. Her voice softened.
"I didn't want to interfere with something already built. So this… was the least I could do. I didn't want to ruin anything just because of my own selfish feelings."
Noel stared at her in silence, then exhaled through his nose.
