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The Neighbourhood—A Little Death
Him-Join Me In Death

The room was buzzing with energy as laughter and music mingled with the clink of glasses. The celebration for Edward's birthday was in full swing, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. But amidst the crowd, a small group of friends had their attention focused elsewhere, their gazes sharp and filled with mischief.

Jeremy was the first to notice Noah and Nalani talking at the edge of the room. He elbowed Edward, nodding discreetly in their direction. "Hey, look at those two. Noah's smiling. Smiling, I tell you. That's like a rare cosmic event."

Edward chuckled, glancing over at the duo. "Well, well, look who's suddenly all buddy-buddy," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Did hell freeze over or something?"

Josh, who was standing nearby with his arm nervously hovering around Poppy, caught the conversation and smirked. "Team Noah is pulling ahead, clearly," he said, earning a playful shove from Jeremy.

"Excuse me?" Jeremy shot back, eyes narrowing in mock offense. "Team Nick isn't out of the running just yet. We're just... playing the long game."

Mark joined them, a drink in hand and a grin on his face. "Oh, please," he said, rolling his eyes. "You guys are dreaming if you think Nick stands a chance. Did you see the way Noah just looked at her? It's over for Team Nick."

Nicole sauntered over, clearly catching wind of the argument. "Oh, you guys are still on about that?" she teased. "I've been saying from the start, it's Team Noah all the way. The man's practically been wearing his heart on his sleeve lately."

"Oh, come on!" Jeremy groaned, throwing his hands up. "Why are you all underestimating Nick? He's been there for Nalani in his own way, and they've got this... I don't know, this subtle thing going on."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Subtle? Please. Subtle doesn't win. Have you seen the way Noah talks to her? They've got fire, man. And fire beats subtle every time. However with Nick, it's only friendship, nothing more. You definitely can see that."

"Alright, alright," Edward said, laughing as the banter grew more intense. "Before this turns into an actual band war, let's agree on one thing—they're both happier when they're around each other. And that's what counts."

Josh smirked, glancing over to where Noah and Nalani stood. He couldn't help but notice how relaxed Noah looked, a stark contrast to the stoic persona he usually carried. "True, but I still think tonight's point goes to Team Noah," he said, raising his drink in a mock toast.

Jeremy crossed his arms, pretending to pout. "Fine, you guys win this round, but just wait. Team Nick will have its moment."

Nicole laughed, shaking her head. "Sure, Jeremy. Keep dreaming."

Across the room, Noah and Nalani were oblivious to their friends' antics. They were wrapped up in their own conversation, laughter shared between them like a secret. But if they had noticed the way their bandmates were watching, teasing, and debating over their interactions, they might have had a laugh of their own.

Nicholas, who had been eavesdropping on the argument from the bar, wandered over with a grin. "What's this? Betting on our lead singer's love life?" he asked, sipping his drink and winking.

"Obviously," Jeremy replied without missing a beat. "Gotta have some entertainment aside from just music."

Nick joined them with a knowing smile. "Let me guess. You're all betting on whether Noah and Nalani end up together?"

Josh nodded, his eyes twinkling. "That's exactly it. And tonight's evidence is pretty damning."

Nicholas chuckled, his eyes scanning the scene. "Well, it's about time Noah chilled out a bit. If it takes Nalani to do that, then so be it."

Edward leaned forward, his eyes mischievous. "Wait, does this mean the whole band is on Team Noah?"

Nicholas shrugged nonchalantly. "I mean, we knew from the start that Nalani and Nick are friends. Nick never had any romantic intentions towards her. So, if you're calling it Team Noah, then yes, we are. But, you know, it doesn't even matter...let's just say, if Noah's happy, the rest of us are happy too."

Jeremy groaned. "Traitor. But fine. Let the best ship win."

The room hummed with energy as people moved about, laughing and talking, drinks clinking in celebration. In the middle of it all, Edward stood with a wide grin, surrounded by a circle of friends who were waiting for the grand moment to blow out the candles on the elaborate cake that had been brought out. The cake itself was ridiculous, decorated with intricate musical notes and tiny fondant instruments, a testament to his love for music.

Noah and Nalani, standing by a nearby table, exchanged quiet words that felt oddly intimate amidst the chaos. For them, navigating a conversation without the heat of argument or tension of old misunderstandings was still new. There was a cautiousness in their smiles, as if they were afraid of breaking the fragile truce between them. But underneath that caution was something warmer, something that felt like anticipation.

"You know they're watching us, right?" Noah said with a chuckle, nodding slightly toward Josh and Nick, who were doing a poor job of pretending they weren't staring.

Nalani followed his gaze and smiled. "They definitely are. Last night, they practically interrogated me to find out what happened after you left. It was ridiculous, but I didn't tell them anything."

Noah's eyes lit up with amusement. "Same here. They even roped Matt into it. I had to swear I didn't say a word."

Nalani laughed, a genuine, melodic sound that made Noah's chest tighten. "Good. Let's keep this just for us, at least for now."

"Deal," Noah agreed, his smile softening.

"Believe it or not," Nalani continued, a laugh escaping as she spoke, "those idiots created two teams for themselves. Jeremy and Edward are calling themselves Team Nick and are shipping me with him."

Noah's brows shot up, and then he couldn't help the laugh that rumbled from his chest. It felt easy, natural. "You're kidding."

"I'm serious!" Nalani said, her eyes sparkling with humor. "It's absurd. But I guess it's their way of entertaining themselves."

Noah shook his head, still grinning. "I'll admit, I was jealous at first. But I figured out that you and Nick have a strong friendship, nothing more." He paused for a moment, then added, "So, Josh is on Team Noah?"

Nalani rolled her eyes playfully. "Not just Josh. Nicole too. And apparently, they managed to drag Mark into it."

Noah let out a mock gasp. "Well, it looks like Josh, Nicole, and Mark just became my favorite people in the world."

Before Nalani could respond, Edward's voice boomed across the room, calling everyone to gather around. The group shuffled closer, forming a loose circle around the birthday cake. The candles flickered, casting warm, golden light on Edward's face as he leaned forward, taking a deep, dramatic breath before blowing them out to the sound of cheers and applause.

The room erupted into a mix of whooping and laughter as Edward straightened, feigning exhaustion from the effort. "Thank you, thank you! I accept gifts in the form of praise and drinks," he said, earning more laughs from the crowd.

Noah clapped along, but his attention kept drifting back to Nalani, who was grinning and clapping, the glow of the candles catching in her eyes. For a moment, he thought about how different things felt tonight—how much lighter. As the crowd began to break apart, people dispersing to resume their conversations and grab another drink, Noah caught Nalani's eye.

She tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow as if to say, What are you thinking?

Taking advantage of the distraction, he leaned in close enough so only she could hear him. "Want to step outside for a minute?" he asked, his voice low and inviting.

Nalani felt her pulse quicken, but she nodded without hesitation. "Lead the way," she said.

They moved toward the back exit, weaving their way through clusters of people deep in conversation. If anyone noticed them slipping out, they didn't make it obvious. The cool night air hit them as they stepped outside, a refreshing contrast to the warmth and noise inside. The sounds of the city hummed around them, but here, under the scattered glow of the stars and the gentle buzz of streetlights, it felt private.

Noah leaned against the brick wall, his hands in his pockets as he looked at Nalani. "Feels good to be out of the spotlight, doesn't it?" he said, a half-smile playing at his lips.

Nalani crossed her arms, mirroring his stance as she looked up at him. "Yeah, it does," she admitted. The slight chill in the air nipped at her skin, but it was nothing compared to the warmth bubbling inside her chest. "It's strange how much we've changed, isn't it?"

He nodded, eyes studying her face. "It is. But I think I like it."

She looked down at the ground, a small smile on her lips. "I think I do too," she whispered. For a moment, neither of them spoke, letting the silence settle around them, comfortable and full of unspoken words.

"You know," Noah started, breaking the quiet, "I don't regret a single argument we had. Not if it brought us here."

Nalani met his eyes, a spark of amusement in her own. "That's bold, considering some of those arguments were... dramatic, to say the least."

He chuckled, a sound that vibrated between them. "True. But maybe it was worth it."

A soft breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, and for the first time in a long time, Nalani felt content, the unease that once defined their interactions replaced with something else. Something new and hopeful.

The night air was crisp, carrying with it the faint hum of the city beyond. The muted sounds of laughter and conversation from inside the party reached them through the closed door, but out here, it was just the two of them, surrounded by a cocoon of quiet anticipation. The streetlights cast a soft, golden glow that highlighted the sharp angles of Noah's face and the delicate curve of Nalani's smile.

Nalani looked at him with a glint in her eyes, words dancing on the tip of her tongue. She was about to make a joke about one of their ridiculous past arguments when suddenly, Noah's gaze shifted. It went from playful to intense, the kind of look that made her breath hitch in her chest. Without warning, he moved closer, closing the distance between them in one swift motion.

Her words died in her throat as his lips met hers, soft and insistent. The world around them seemed to blur, the distant noise fading until there was nothing but the warmth of his touch and the way his hands cupped her face with a mix of gentleness and urgency. It was unexpected, the way he kissed her—like he had decided in that moment that there was no other choice but to close the space between them.

Nalani's eyes widened in surprise, her heartbeat pounding so hard she could feel it in her ears. For a second, she was frozen, caught between disbelief and exhilaration. But the shock melted away quickly, replaced by a rush of heat that coursed through her. She kissed him back, tilting her head slightly to deepen the connection. Her fingers found their way to his jacket, gripping the fabric as if to anchor herself.

Noah's mind was spinning, his decision both impulsive and inevitable. He had told himself a hundred times not to cross that line, not to let his heart dictate his actions. But there she was, standing under the streetlight with that smile that could light up his darkest days, and suddenly, restraint was impossible. The way she responded, hesitant at first and then all in, made him feel an unexpected surge of relief and desire.

When they finally pulled apart, the world seemed to rush back in with a suddenness that left them both breathless. The noise from the party, the soft rustle of leaves, the distant sound of a car horn—it all seemed sharper, more real. Nalani's cheeks were flushed, her breathing ragged as she looked up at him, eyes wide with wonder and a hint of amusement.

"Why did you do that?" she asked, a smile breaking through as she caught her breath. Her voice was light, teasing, but the way her eyes searched his face betrayed her deeper emotions.

Noah's gaze softened, a small, almost bashful smile curving his lips. He reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. "Because you were way too gorgeous at that moment," he said, his voice low, sincere. "I couldn't help myself."

Nalani laughed, a sound so pure and joyful that it made his chest tighten. The tension that had simmered between them for so long felt like it had evaporated, replaced with something warm and electric.

And before he could say anything else, she moved forward, closing the space between them again, this time of her own accord. Her lips captured his, and it was her turn to surprise him. The kiss was bold, full of a playful confidence that made his heart race. He let himself fall into it, the world tilting in the most wonderful way as her hands slid up to rest on his shoulders.

When they broke apart again, they were both smiling, the kind of smiles that reached their eyes and spoke of things they hadn't yet said aloud. Nalani's fingers traced the lapel of his jacket absently, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she said, "Well, you were damn too adorable."

Noah chuckled, the sound deep and warm. "Adorable, huh? That's new."

She smirked, unable to help herself. "Get used to it."

For a few precious moments, they stood there, soaking in each other's presence, the crisp air between them now charged with unspoken promises. The boundary they'd once drawn between them was gone, replaced with something infinitely more complicated but so much more worth it. It wasn't just a truce; it was a beginning.