Noelle lay on her bed, curled up under her blankets, hugging her teddy bear close to her chest and stared at the wall sleepily. Coriolanus knocked on the door, hearing a mumbled reply which he assumed was an okay to be allowed in, Noelle turned around and gave a small smile as he crouched down by her bed and took her hand. 

"How are you doing?" He whispered, gently caressing her face, Noelle leaned into his touch and closed her eyes as she enjoyed the soothing action. Coriolanus watched the girl, watched her and her soft composure. 

"I'm doing okay; I'm a little sore." Noelle opened her hazel eyes, they shimmered in the small light that poured into her room, Coriolanus loved gazing into her eyes and loved their colour. Her eyes revealed all the emotions she was feeling, her eyes gave her away, revealed her true intentions and held all her pain and all her kindness for the world. 

"Can I do anything to help you?" The brunette nodded, carefully pushing herself up, clutching her lower stomach with a wince escaping her lips and looked at Coriolanus gratefully as he helped her sit up. 

"My lower back is hurting. Could you please just give me a little massage?" Coriolanus nodded, watching as she relaxed in his arms, the brief nervous look fading from her features and laid on her stomach as  Coriolanus gently began massaging her lower and tried his best to make her feel better. After a little while, Noelle felt better, she sat up and sat cross-legged on her bed.

"Thanks, Corio," Noelle whispered, leaning closer as he sat beside her, Noelle rested her hands on his face and began softly kissing his lips. Coriolanus grasped the back of her head, his lips grazing against hers, both briefly pulled away before Coriolanus came in more passionately. 

Noelle's bottom lip was caught between Coriolanus' teeth, he let go and captured her lips again. The girl tried to meet his level of passion, struggling to really stay at that level of passion and instead went back to her the gentleness she knew how to do without making it awkward. Coriolanus smiled against her lips, copying her softness, moving his hand to cup the left side of her face and tilting her head to the side. 

The brunette shivered as Coriolanus kissed along her jaw until he met the spot under her ear, he took his time with each kiss, making sure that each kiss mattered and that she could feel the delicacy he had for her. Noelle carefully turned her head back to meet his lips, her lips melted against his, the blonde was so caught up in the moment and didn't want to separate from her lips. 

His hands slid down to rest on her waist, Coriolanus embraced her close to his chest, resting a kiss on her forehead as she just relaxed against him. Noelle felt safe when she was in his arms; she felt as if nothing could hurt her, she felt secure and free against the things she endured in her life. 

Noelle made a sound as Coriolanus let her go to stand up; she wasn't ready to be free from his hold, she just wanted the continued physical touch, her gaze softened as he turned on the little stereo resting on her dresser and then bowed to her. 

"May I have this dance?" 

"You may." She smiled, taking his hand with a sweet little grin, he rested a hand on her waist and the other on her shoulder. Together, they gently swayed to the music, Noelle hummed to the music and laughed with joy as he twirled her around and then wrapped his arm further around her waist and lowered her down to the ground. 

Noelle shrieked as he brought her back up, getting more peppy in the dancing as they jumped from side to side and laughed together with joy as they just lived in the moment. They were not two students from an academy nor were they two students living with 'lower-class wealth,' no they were just Coriolanus Snow and Noelle Aster, two teens in love and just wanting to live without the pressures of those around them. 

Coriolanus grasped her face in his hands, resting another kiss on her lips, smiling as she kissed his cheek and took a step back to turn the stereo off. Noelle stood in front of her mirror, smiling at their reflection as he stood behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist as he kissed her shoulder and then whispered into her ear. 

"You're so gorgeous." He knew it would make her blush and smile. It did just that. The girl shied away as he leaned down to her side to see her reaction more closely, grinning as she turned the slightest bit to almost meet his eyes and question his compliment.

"You really think so?" 

"I believe it with my entire heart. My darling, you need to see the world through my eyes. You need to see yourself with as much respect as I see you with." Noelle thanked him, smiling as he swooped her into his arms, lifting her off her feet and finally resting her on the ground as she slid from his arms. 

"I want to give you something. Promise me you won't refuse it. It's got to be a pinkie promise." She held out her pinkie, smiling as he latched his pinkie with hers and followed her to her bed. The brunette sat on the edge of her bed; grabbed an envelope from her bedside table and handed it to him. 

Coriolanus stared into her hazel eyes; glancing between the girl and the envelope before opening it. In the envelope was money, a decent amount, he looked at the girl stunned and tried to give her back the envelope. 

"No. You promised. You pinkie promised! Corio, it's my gift to you, I want you to have this money. It's well deserved, you're gonna take it and you're gonna keep it. You're not gonna try and give it back to me. You will keep it. Understood?" 

Coriolanus smirked at the tone she had, smiling as he watched her with a proud smile and eventually placed it in his pocket. 

"Thank you. I don't deserve this but thank you." 

"You're welcome." She smiled softly, clearly proud of herself for convincing himself to keep ahold of the cash. Coriolanus was just as proud, glad that she was finding the confidence to tell him what needed to be done rather than going around in circles to ask for something.