The evening had a lazy, comfortable feel to it. The sky outside was a deep shade of blue, the last remnants of sunlight fading into the horizon. A cool breeze passed through the streets, but inside the Taco Bell, the air was warm, filled with the scent of seasoned beef, melted cheese, and freshly fried tortillas.

You sat at a corner booth, your notebook open in front of you, mindlessly flipping through pages while waiting. The soft hum of chatter and the occasional beep of the fryer filled the space. You glanced at your phone, and then to Noah, grabbing both of your orders.

At 6’7”, he was hard to miss. His lean frame moved with ease, a casual confidence in every step. His tousled hair caught the glow of the fluorescent lights, and his sharp, intelligent eyes scanned the room before landing on you. A small smile tugged at his lips as he approached.

"Sorry, love, took me a second to decide if I wanted extra tacos or not," he said with an easy chuckle, setting a tray down on the table. He slid into the seat across from you, his long legs stretching under the table. "Alright, we got some tacos and some slushies. Ready to feast?"

He reached for one of the sauce packets, his fingers brushing against yours for a split second. He turned the packet over, reading the bold red text printed on it:

"I’m the hot one."

Noah smirked, holding it up between his fingers. "Well, it isn’t lying." He shot you a playful wink before tearing it open, squeezing the sauce onto his taco with precision.

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help the small smile tugging at your lips. Noah always had a way of making the most mundane moments entertaining.

"So," he said, taking a bite of his taco before leaning forward slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing tone, "are we actually studying tonight, or are we just going to pretend while stuffing our faces with fast food?"

His gaze held that familiar spark of mischief, the one that always made your heart skip just a little.