Never a dull moment. Yes…that was the best way to describe the…what to even call it now? The Rays? The Stines? The Shaws? The Kramers? So many names yet nothing quite fit. Oh well…suppose that’s a task for another day. Today had far more dire matters to deal with…Jamie and Charlie could sense the lingering chemistry in the air between Zolio and Noélie for miles. It couldn’t be any more obvious…well to everyone but Zeo and Noélie. 

“I can’t take it anymore,” Jamie sighed under his breath, lightly nudging Charlie’s side, motioning to Noélie who’d been red cheeked, lips curling, and heels giddy chatting with CJ. 

Charlie smirked, raising a brow.

“What’s worse is Zeo’s completely clueless. If only he could see her blushing and the way she looks at him” Jamie added in, picking up his feet a little higher as they walked off the campus. 

“Yeah, well not his fault, and didn’t graduate. What's she doing back? Charlie smiled happily.

“Oh, I think my sister said something about her just wanting to visit? I don’t know, I wasn't paying attention. And Yeah I know I know…but still it sucks watching missed opportunity after missed opportunity” 

Charlie nodded, lightly punching Jamie in the shoulder, quickening his pace, “Well lets just hope for the best, everything works out eventually right?

Jamie let out another huff, “I guess…” he frowned, furrowing his slit brow, till it ease and perked slightly.

Charlie knew that look…knew it way too well, “Alright…what idea hit you”

“What if WE played match maker?” his grin widened, turning his head fully toward Charlie. 

“Us?” Charlie raised both his brows this time. 

“Yeah...just to…nudge them in the right direction” Jamie’s smirk stretched fully into a curling smile that only seemed to grow the longer the idea marinated.

“Alright let’s say we try this…how are we going to ya know get this to work” Charlie asked, slowing his pace, meeting Jamie eyes, tilting his head slightly. 

“Easy cousin Ness, Zeo’s always hanging around there”

Charlie let out a brief nod, “Yeah, I’m willing to bet he’s at Ness’s right now actually”

“Annddd I could ask CJ to call her over to the park…ya know leave her with Zeo…” Jamie clapped his hands together once, far too pleased with himself.

“Perfect! See we got this,” he whispered,

Charlie eyed him sideways. “You say that now J… but every time you say something in that exact tone, something explodes.”

“That happened once.”

“Three times.”

“Alright you’re exaggerating” Jamie rolled his eyes, lowering his shoulders.  

“Ms. Sherman’s class, or that time that beaker exploded, or…the blue one”

Jamie’s cheeks flushed at the last one, “ALRIGHT I get it…We agreed we’d never bring that up again”

“Don’t think I remember signing a contract or anything James” Charlie smiled, chuckling slightly, folding his arms over his chest. 

“Yeah yeah whatever Ray” he huffed out, “ANYWAYS, back to the plan we have CJ tell Noélie to meet ‘Us’ in the park at around 4ish…You call Ness and ask if Zeo can meet us there for…uhh I don’t know …A surprise"

“A surprise?” Charlie tilted his head again toward Jamie

“You got any better ideas?” 

Charlie shook his head.

“Then that's what we’re running with”

“You do realize you just listed the most over done Rom-Com cliche known to man” 

Jamie lifted his index finger letting out a quiet shh toward Charlie.

“It’ll work trust me” Jamie added, turning his head straight, his smirk returning, “Wouldn’t you agree everyone?”

“Who are you talking to?” Charlie asked, face contorting in confusion furrowing his left brow. 

“Don't worry about it” he snickered, bumping Charlie's arm motioning him to follow. 

Before Charlie could press any further, Jamie had already pulled his phone out, tapping quickly across the screen.

“CJ owes me a favor anyway,” he muttered.

A moment later his phone buzzed.

Jamie grinned even wider.

Charlie leaned over slightly. “What’d you tell her to say?”

Jamie read the message aloud 

“‘Hey Noélie, we’re all meeting up at the park around four. Jamie and Charlie said it’s kinda a surprise. You should come!’”

“I guess that works”

“Well it’s all we got and CJ said it worked”

Charlie slowly nodded. “Alright, step one done.”

Jamie turned toward him expectantly.

“Well?” Charlie said.

“Well what?”

“Aren’t you supposed to call Ness?”

Charlie groaned dramatically still with a faint grin and pulled his own phone from his pocket.

“I cannot believe I’m helping you orchestrate a rom-com.”

“Shh,” Jamie whispered, holding up a finger again. “Don’t jinx it.”

Charlie rolled his eyes but dialed anyway, pacing a few steps ahead while the phone rang.

Jamie watched him with eager patience.

After a moment Charlie spoke.

“Hey Ness… yeah it’s me.”

A pause for a moment while Charlie rocked up and down on his heels.

“Is Zeo there?”

Another pause. Jamie leaned closer

Charlie turned scooting toward Jamie.

“Cool. Uh… could you tell him Jamie and I are meeting up at the park around four? Yeah, we’ve got a… surprise.”

Jamie gave him a thumbs up.

“Yeah I know it sounds weird,” he continued into the phone. “Just tell him to come anyway. Please just trust us.”

He hung up.

“Well?” Jamie asked immediately.

Charlie slid the phone back into his pocket, smirking toward Jamie, “We got it”

“You realize there’s still about a thousand ways this could go wrong.”

Jamie grinned.

“Name one.”

Charlie didn’t even hesitate.

“They both figure out what we’re doing and leave.”

Jamie shrugged.

“Okay, name another.”

“They show up early and run into each other before we’re ready.” 

Jamie gave another shrug.

“Or,” he added, “they both show up, sit in awkward silence, and then leave because neither of them actually says anything.”

Jamie stopped walking.

His face slowly twisted, “Okay…that might happen…Well no she’s crazy about him…surely she’ll make sure conversation happen”

“Uh huh” Charlie mimicked the shrug, lightly patting Jamie’s shoulder, “Whatever ya say pal”

Later at four, the two set off, Noélie carrying a shy smile, purse loosely slung over her shoulder, and the ever so slightest pep in her step. CJ gave no other instructions…Just the park. Heck she didn’t even know where in the park. By the picnic tables? The playground? The benches? Or just the plain ol grass lot. She didn’t really mind wandering though, today was a nice day out. The gentle breeze swaying lightly twisting through her hair and the smiling sun greeting her. She continued to stroll, her smile still calm but let her pearly whites peak out just a bit…that was till she saw him. Then every single ivory tooth made their presence known, with her step growing all the more jumpy. 

Zeo, still completely unaware of her, kept walking, cane extended out, feeling the world, listening to the sounds of the earth. The laughter of children in the distance, the squeaks of swings, his own footsteps as they tapped against the concrete…till another familiar set of taps found his ears. 

“Noélie?”

“Zeo! Hi”

“Hey, almost didn’t see ya there. I guess you’re here for the ‘surprise’ too?” he smiled, nodding his head in the direction he assumed she would be standing. 

“Heh yeah, not sure where they’re at though heh…figured I’d keep walking till I found something” she chuckled, her cheeks already beginning to heat

Zeo let out a small laugh, shifting his grip on the cane.

“Sounds about right for those two,” he said. “Invite us somewhere and forget to actually tell us where to go.”

Noélie giggled softly, rubbing the back of her neck.

“Yeah…that does sound like them.”

For a moment they both just stood there, the breeze brushing past them again. Somewhere nearby a dog barked happily and a group of kids ran past, their sneakers slapping the pavement.

Zeo tilted his head slightly.

“Well… I guess we could look together?” he offered.

Noélie nodded quickly, then realized he couldn’t see the gesture.

“Oh- Oh yeah! I mean sure! That sounds good.”

“Cool,” Zeo smiled.

They began walking slowly down the path side by side.

Noélie clasped her hands behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels as she walked, stealing little glances at him every few seconds. Zeo tapped his cane lightly ahead of him, listening carefully as they moved.

Behind a cluster of tall bushes near the picnic tables, two very poorly hidden figures crouched low.

Jamie slowly lowered the pair of cheap binoculars he had brought.

“They found each other,” he whispered.

Charlie peeked over the bush for half a second before ducking back down, “Yeah you lucked out there”

“Luck? Skill? Same thing”

Back on the path, Noélie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“So… how’ve you been?” she asked.

“Pretty good,” Zeo said. “Mostly just hanging around Ness’s place, helping out where I can. Annoying my sister. The usual.”

“That’s nice.”

Another small pause.

Zeo tilted his head again slightly. “It’s nice to see ya Noélie ”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah,” he shrugged lightly. “It’s always nice hearing your voice. Since ya know I have no idea what you look like”

“Hahaha yeah”

Noélie laughed a little louder than she meant to, immediately covering her mouth.

“S-Sorry,” she said quickly, cheeks warming again.

Zeo smiled, tilting his head.

“Why the sorry? I like your laugh. Makes me happy. Helps me feel in the blanks of what I’m missing”

Her face turned a deeper shade of red.

Noélie glanced down at his cane for a moment, then back at him.

“Well… for what it’s worth,” she said softly, “you’re not missing anything too exciting.”

Zeo grinned.

“Somehow I doubt that.”

Her smile stretched further to the point her cheeks were starting to hurt. 

“How about we grab a table?” Zeo mentioned.

“Yeah, come on they’re this way” she lightly grabbed his arm, gently tugging him along. His face slightly flushing a shade of pink before returning to its natural hue. 

Noélie guided Zeo carefully toward the nearest picnic table, her fingers still lightly around his arm. “Right here,” she said softly, steering him to the bench.

Zeo felt the edge of the table with his free hand and sat down with a quiet exhale.

“Perfect landing,” he joked. “Ten outta ten guiding skills.”

Noélie laughed again, sitting across from him.

For a second she just looked at him. The way the sunlight hit the side of his hair, the little crease near his mouth when he smiled. It made her chest flutter and heart flip. 

Zeo tilted his head slightly.

“You’re staring aren’t you.”

Noélie froze.

“I—What?!”

He chuckled.

“Relax. I can’t see you, remember? But you get real quiet when you’re doing it.”

“I–I wasn’t” 

“Sure, it’s fine looking the way I look ya get used to it” he grinned, though she could tell there was a touch of sadness in it.

Noélie’s smile faltered a little at that.

“Hey… that’s not what I meant,” she said quickly, leaning forward on the table.

Zeo’s grin softened, the teasing edge fading.

“I know,” he said. “I’m just messing with ya.”

“Well for the record,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, “I wasn’t staring because of that.”

“Oh yeah?” Zeo tilted his head again, curious.

“Yeah.”

“…Then why were you staring?” he leaned closer.

Her face changed to a deep red in that moment 

Because I like you.

Because I’ve liked you for a long time.

Instead she blurted the first safe thought her brain could produce.

“You look nice today.”

He nodded, lips tightening just a tad bit. “Well… thanks,” he said with a small smile. “Pretty sure this is the same jacket I’ve worn for three years though…”

“Still looks good on you”

“I would hope so since you’re the one who got me this jacket”

Noélie blinked.

“…I did?”

Zeo nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Christmas. 4 years ago.”

“Oh!” she laughed, her hand flying to her forehead. “I completely forgot about that.”

“Don’t worry,” Zeo said. “I didn’t.”

His fingers brushed lightly over the sleeve of the jacket.

“It’s warm. And the pockets are deep,” he added. “Good jacket.”

Noélie smiled again, a little softer this time.

“Well… I’m glad you still like it.”

“Of course I do,” Zeo shrugged. “You gave it to me.”

Her cheeks warmed instantly again. 

“You know,” he said casually, “I always wondered something.”

Noélie straightened slightly.

“What?”

“What you look like.”

Her brain immediately shut down.

“W-What?”

He shrugged.

“Not in a weird way,” he added quickly. “Just curious. I’ve only ever built a picture in my head.”

Her voice barely managed to come out.

“…What’s the picture?”

Zeo thought for a moment.

“Well… I imagine you smiling a lot.”

Her cheeks turned pink again.

“And you’ve probably got really expressive eyes.”

She blinked.

“And curly hair.”

Her jaw dropped slightly.

“How did you—”

He grinned.

“Lucky guess.”

She lightly shoved his arm playfully, “Alright alright you’re good I’ll give you that”

“Haha”

“You’re not a bad looking guy yourself Zeo” 

“Lying now huh?”

She let out another quiet chuckle, “I’m serious!” 

“Aw come on ya don’t gotta like to me”

Noélie leaned forward across the table, eyebrows knitting together.

“I’m not lying.”

Zeo tilted his head, that same skeptical half-smile tugging at his mouth.

“Uh huh.”

“I’m serious,” she insisted. “Why would I lie about that?”

“Well,” he shrugged lightly, tapping the end of his cane against the ground beside him, “people try to be nice.”

Her expression softened.

“Zeo…”

He immediately waved a hand.

“Hey, it’s fine. I’m not fishing for compliments or anything. I’ve just heard the whole ‘you’re handsome’ thing before from people who sound like they’re apologizing while saying it or just sound sad saying it.”

Noélie’s heart throbbed at that. 

“I know I’m a bit of an eye sore” he gestured to the side of his face, where the scars sat themselves that left his skin damaged and leathery, “But hey on the plus side, least I can’t see what I look like”

“Well” she scooted towards him, “I think you’re handsome, and I’m not saying that because of well ya known”

He paused for a long moment, swallowing the lump that clenched in his throat.

“You…really think that?” he asked quietly,

“Yes,” she said softly, leaning just a fraction closer, her hands brushing against the edge of the table. “I mean it.”

Zeo’s chest tightened, leaning in just slightly, “I…uh,” he started, then paused, searching for the right words. “I…never thought I’d…hear that…ya know from someone who…meant it.” He adjusted his sunglasses, pushing them up to the bridge of his nose. Zeo’s hand twitched, then moved hesitantly until it rested just above hers on the table. Noélie’s fingers shifted slightly, brushing his lightly. Gently she interlocked their fingers, feeling his soft palms in hers. 

“Zeo please believe me when I say that I like you just the way you are”

He swallowed, blinking slowly, letting the words settle in. “I… I-I believe you,” he whispered, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of her hand. 

Her smile deepened slightly, tightening her hold on his hand. Zeo’s thumb lingered over the back of her hand. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted his sunglasses from the bridge of his nose. For the first time, Noélie saw his eyes fully, the amber irises that hugged his silk white pupils  

She blinked, caught off guard by how warm they looked. Her breath hitched slightly. “Z-Zeo…” she whispered, a little awed.

He gave a small, self-conscious smile. “Not much to see, honestly,” he said, though the softness in his voice betrayed him. “I just…thought maybe it was time you saw me…for, ya know...all of me.”

She smiled warmly at him, eyes softening, “Still handsome as ever. I like you… all of you”

For the first time in years, Zeo’s posture relaxed completely. He leaned just a fraction closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth from him, and whispered, “I… I like you too, Noélie.

Their hands still intertwined.

“So…wanna…walk with me for a bit?” she asked 

“Yeah…I really do” he nodded, reaching for his cane that he had set aside. 

Noélie blushed once more, already standing, slinging her purse back over her shoulder.

“You go up ahead I’ll catch up in a sec” he said raising his hand motioning for her to go on.

She nodded before realizing he couldn’t see the nod and gave a verbal confirmation.

Zeo found his footing, gently tapping the floor, taking a few steps, before pausing, “You boys ain’t slick”

“How did you–” Jamie blurted out with Charlie following right behind him.

“I heard you both the entire time”

“But–”

“I literally see the world through hearing guys and maybe next time don’t ruffle the leaves so much” Zeo commented, tilting his head towards them, “But I appreciate the effort”

“No problem” Jamie smiled, stepping his hand on Charlie’s shoulder, “Couldn’t have don’t it without Charlie”

“I mean you could’ve but doubt it would’ve turned out like this” he joked, lightly elbowing him. 

“Now go be with your Juliet”

Zeo chuckled faintly before tipping his head toward the two and walking off finding his way to the sidewalk and eventually meeting Noélie’s hand once more. Fingers perfectly interlocking. 

Jamie let out a quiet, satisfied sigh.

“Well would you look at that.”

Charlie folded his arms, leaning slightly against the tree behind them.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “I’ll give you this one Stine.”