hudson-everett

[hudson-everett]

Hudson tried not to smile, but it was useless—Zara was in full gremlin mode, and she knew exactly how to poke at him. At his warning not to tell Zayn, she latched onto it like a cat with a dangling string, smug grin locked in place. He groaned under his breath as she kept going, pure mischief in her tone.“Zara, don't” he warned quietly, dragging out her name like it might summon some patience into the moment. It didn’t. She was loving this—obviously. There was zero chance she’d actually tell Zayn, but still, Hudson felt like a rabbit trapped under a magnifying glass. She had him blushing over something stupid—just one look at Angel—and now she was thriving. He tried to redirect. “So… pizza or what?” He pulled out his phone to start the order, shaking his head at her. “I’m starting to think I should’ve just walked into traffic instead.” Hudson exhaled, dragging a hand down his face, glancing a look at the girl next to him. “You’re a menace.” Then came the inevitable Angel jab. Zara rolled her eyes, throwing in a full dramatic sigh like she was auditioning for a bad soap opera. Hudson gave her a look—somewhere between amused and exhausted. “Stop." Zara ignored him. She rattled off Angel's dessert specs like she was reading from a sacred scroll. He typed in a few notes into the order app, muttering to himself as he entered hers first. “Alright. Pizza with bacon, pepperoni, extra cheese, barbecue sauce. And not forgetting the garlic breadsticks. You’ve clearly thought a lot about this.” There was a pause, just a moment of quiet where he glanced up at her—still smug, still teasing—and despite everything, he grinned. She was relentless. But he liked that about her. Just… maybe not when she was holding a loaded metaphorical phone over his head, threatening to tell Zayn he’d been caught checking out Angel. Hudson shook his head, laughing under his breath as he finished tapping in her order. “Alright, menace,” he said, locking his phone and slipping it into his pocket. “Your pizza and blackmail dessert are officially secured. Fifteen minutes. How about we change the subject before I spontaneously combust from secondhand embarrassment?”

at hudson’s warning not to tell zayn about the way he’d just looked at angel, a smirk tugged at the corners of zara’s lips. "oh wow, hudson, i thought you were smarter than that—you can’t say something like that and expect me not to do it. now all i want to do is call him and tell him everything," she teased, clearly enjoying the power she held. she wasn’t actually going to tell zayn, but getting under hudson’s skin was just too easy, and honestly, too fun. she had him blushing over something as dumb as checking out her sister, and if it had been anyone else, she would’ve let it slide—but knowing it made hudson nervous only fueled her. at his question about her dinner choice, she nodded with a grin. "you love pizza, don’t sound so shocked," she chuckled. when he pulled out his phone, she leaned back with a victorious smile. "of course you’re getting us pizza. gotta keep me happy or i’ll spill our little secret," she added, wiggling her eyebrows dramatically. she was being mean, and she knew it—but that was kind of the point. just as she was about to tell him her order, he mentioned angel again, and zara rolled her eyes. "and angel is back, just in time to steal the spotlight. sucks being the baby," she sighed theatrically. "an apology dessert? you’re so corny," she added, shaking her head. "i’d say chocolate—as long as it’s not dark chocolate. if it is, then go for caramel, and if it’s salted caramel, even better," she said, trying to help him with his pick. "okay, now your crush’s dessert is out of the way—my turn." she grinned. "i want a pizza with bacon, pepperoni, extra cheese, and barbecue sauce. and don’t forget the garlic breadsticks."

[hudson-everett]

Hudson watched the road, jaw tight, one hand gripping the wheel a little too firmly as the silence stretched between them. He wasn’t ignoring her—at least not intentionally—but hell, the weight of the situation made it impossible to talk like nothing was happening. Every minute in that car with her slouched in the backseat, tipsy and too damn beautiful for his own good, was testing every last shred of his self-control. He’d told her, voice low but steady, that he wasn’t the kind of guy to take advantage. And when she scoffed at him—actually scoffed—crossed her arms like he was the one hurting her, it hit harder than he expected. Of course she didn’t understand. Of course she thought this was just about sex. She didn’t see what it was costing him to hold back. When they finally pulled up outside his building, she stared out the window like she couldn’t even look at him. And he could feel it—her disappointment, her frustration, her heartbreak radiating off her in waves. He turned to her, met her eyes, tried to level with her. She shook her head, seatbelt clicking as she unbuckled it. Then came the words—biting, drunk, and desperate. Hudson flinched like he’d been struck. The words landed too fast, too hard. Love. She said she loved him again. And then she was gone, storming out, not even sparing him a look, her heels scuffing the sidewalk as she walked toward the building. He sat frozen for a beat, watching her from the car, then cursed under his breath and shoved the door open. By the time he caught up to her, she was already at the intercom, pressing random buttons in her drunk haze like muscle memory was going to save her from embarrassment. She hit one, then blinked when a very groggy voice buzzed back in confusion. Hudson dragged a hand down his face, trying and failing not to smile despite himself. She was a mess. A gorgeous, maddening, reckless mess. And she was his mess. At least, that’s what scared him most—how much he wanted that to be true. He exhaled a soft laugh through his nose, stepping close behind her, hands sliding instinctively to her waist. She was warm beneath his palms, soft in a way that made his restraint feel like a noose. “Oh, he’s definitely home,” he murmured, voice low by her ear. His fingers tightened just slightly on her hips—possessive, grounding, not entirely innocent. He reached with one hand to buzz himself in, then nudged the door open, keeping a guiding hand on her lower back as he steered her inside. The hallway was dim, quiet, the time of night when the building felt like a half-sleeping thing. Hudson didn’t say much as they moved toward the elevator. He didn’t need to. Angel leaned into his side, that scent of hers—warm and faintly floral—curling around him. His thumb absently brushed against her as they walked, his thoughts a tangle of want and worry, the weight of her words in the car still pressing against his ribs. At the elevator, he reached out and pressed the button. Once. Twice. Three times. Like it would make the damn thing arrive faster. His other hand never left her waist. The doors dinged open, empty and inviting. He guided her inside, letting his hand drop just low enough to make her breathe catch before it returned to something resembling appropriate. Just as he leaned back against the wall, eyes drifting toward the mirrored surface opposite them, a shuffle of movement caught his attention.

A man in his thirties - suit and tie - slipped into the elevator at the last second, nodding awkwardly before pressing the button for the fourth floor. Hudson resisted the urge to groan, jaw flexing slightly. Of course. The elevator jerked into motion, and Hudson’s eyes met Angel’s in the mirror. He smirked. Subtle. But loaded. As the stranger’s floor arrived, the man exited with a polite nod, leaving the two of them alone once again. The doors slid closed, and without missing a beat, Hudson leaned forward and pressed the button for the first floor—their floor. “Think we’ve got about a minute,” he said with a crooked grin.

angel was conscious of what she wanted, she was conscious she was drunk, but she didn’t care—she wanted that night with hudson. she didn’t want to think straight, she just wanted him. not just because she was needy, but because the thought of falling asleep next to him was the only thing keeping her going, the reason she was insisting so much. she stayed silent while he drove, listening as he said he wasn’t actively ignoring her, but if she was being honest, it felt like he was. and she was going to keep trying. when he said he wasn’t going to be the guy who takes advantage of her, she scoffed and crossed her arms—couldn’t he understand that she loved him? that she trusted him? all she wanted was to be with him the way they always were, and it hurt that he was pushing her away. when the car stopped in front of his building, she stared out the window before turning to him as he finally looked at her. when he said the farthest they were going was making out, she shook her head, unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at him, her expression a mix of frustration and heartbreak. "can’t you just see i love you and i trust you? but no, just making out, blah blah blah," she muttered, rolling her eyes before opening the door and stepping out without another glance. she stumbled slightly on the sidewalk but kept walking toward the building, hoping maybe her storming off would make him change his mind. she wasn’t thinking clearly enough to realize what she’d just admitted out loud, again, because all of this felt more like a challenge now than anything else. she got to the intercom and hit one of the buttons, muscle memory guiding her like it always did when she came over. then she blinked, realizing hudson was literally right behind her. "oops," she said, shaking her head with a little laugh, "i don’t think hudson is home." she had no idea who she’d just woken up in the middle of the night.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson leaned back, arms crossed, a smug little grin already tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Probably just making me feel better?” he echoed with mock offense, tilting his head. “Nah, man, she meant every word. I’m devastatingly charming. Don’t be jealous.” His smirk widened, and he nudged Zayn’s foot under the table. “It’s okay, not everyone can be the favorite.” Then came the jab about being the older sibling, and Hudson was already gearing up—but Zayn saw it coming, shutting it down before the words could leave his mouth. Hudson grinned like the devil himself. “Oh, come on, you can’t just bait the hook and snatch it away, that’s rude,” he said, voice light but laced with laughter. “You’re definitely the older sibling. So responsible. So mature. So painfully left behind.” He ducked instinctively, laughing like a kid about to get hit with a pillow. When the topic shifted to Zayn’s sister and her boyfriend, Hudson raised a brow, amusement flickering in his eyes. “She probably told me because I look a little intimidating and you look the opposite to that." And then—Zayn’s last line. Hudson paused, one brow arched high. “Oh ho ho,” he drawled, leaning in like he’d just discovered gold. “You’ve known a girl? What is this, Victorian courtship? Did you shake hands? Share a carriage ride?” His grin was wicked. Hudson’s eyes lit up like he’d just found a new toy to torment, his grin slow and sharp as a blade dipped in honey. “Now we’re getting somewhere with the conversation,” he said, drawing out the words like he was savoring them. He leaned forward across the table, elbows down, fingers steepled under his chin like a gossiping villain. “Who’s the girl, huh?” He didn’t wait—would never wait. “Let me guess. She’s hot, obviously—because you’ve got taste even if you’ve got no game. Is it someone I know? Is it someone I shouldn’t know?” He raised his brows in mock scandal, clearly loving every second.

that’s how their friendship worked, they could talk about anything, everything—no topic off-limits, but the price was always getting teased for it, and they both knew it. “jerk,” zayn laughed, shaking his head. “she was probably just making you feel better,” he added, raising his eyebrows at hudson with a teasing grin. he’d do anything for him—hudson had been his best friend since high school—but that didn’t mean he’d miss a single opportunity to give him hell. “we should be proud? i’m the older child, i’m the one who should’ve flown the nest already—he’s making me look lame,” he pointed out, jabbing a finger toward hudson. “don’t say it,” zayn warned before hudson even had the chance to tease him. when hudson brought up giving his little sister’s boyfriend a chance, zayn scoffed. “i don’t get why she told you that and not me—her boy should know i can fuck him up if he dares to hurt her,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair. “i guess my sisters weren’t gonna stay single forever,” he sighed, then smirked. “maybe i won’t be, either. i’ve known a girl.”

[hudson-everett]

Hudson leaned back, taking a long sip of his fizzy drink, eyes glinting with amusement as he watched Zayn playfully toss a cold chip at him. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Oh, you don’t think anyone’s ever said that, huh? I'm sure your mom's said it once.” He grinned, leaning forward just enough to nudge Zayn with his shoulder, making sure his best friend felt it. That was the thing about being competitive with Zayn—they were always at each other’s throats, but Hudson would’ve bet his favorite hoodie that Zayn would’ve had his back if he really needed him. It was just their thing. “Honestly, though,” he continued, keeping the teasing tone going, “We should be proud that she's flown out of the nest." Hudson let out a laugh, more for the effect than anything. “And don’t even get me started on her secret relationship,” he said, throwing air quotes around ‘relationship,’ as if that made the whole thing less believable. Hudson couldn’t help the scoff that escaped him as Zayn mentioned secret relationships. He leaned back in his chair, casually tossing his drink can from one hand to the other, trying to mask the slight twitch of his smile. "He seems cool from what she was telling me about him. You should give him the chance to prove himself."

he had nothing against zara leaving, he’d still be her older brother no matter where she lived, but there was something about her being the first one to go that made him wonder if he was doing something wrong. either way, he’d still make sure to tease her about keeping her room, even if he already had one of his own—probably the biggest out of the three siblings, being the firstborn and all. "oh, she’s so independent, but with a guy?" he shook his head, grabbing his fizzy drink and taking a sip. "i don’t know, is she in one of those secret relationships? is he a friend? i don’t even know who he is, and now they’re living together, crazy if you ask me," he chuckled. when hudson joked about him being the family’s favorite, zayn grabbed one of his now cold chips and tossed it playfully at his best friend. "you wish, i don’t think anyone has ever said that, hudson," he laughed.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson could feel the heat radiating from her, the tension in the air as Angel’s words danced around him like a challenge. It wasn’t like him to get flustered, but there was something about the way she was looking at him, the way her touch lingered on his skin, that made everything different. It was like she knew exactly how to get under his skin, how to make him question everything. She was pushing, testing him, and Hudson, for the first time in a while, didn’t know how to handle it. His grip tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles white, but he didn’t break his gaze. He never let anyone see how much they affected him—especially not her. When she sighed, leaning back, her soft protest about being "not that drunk" lingered in his mind, and for a moment, Hudson’s chest tightened. “Look,” he started, trying to keep his voice steady, not wanting to show how much her proximity was throwing him off. “I’m not ignoring you.” His gaze flickered to her for a second before quickly darting back to the road. His grip on the wheel was tighter now, almost painful. He knew what she wanted—he knew exactly what she wanted. The problem was, it wasn’t that simple for him. There was a part of him that wanted to cave, to take her hand in his, to let her break through all his defenses and just give in to what she was asking for. But another part—the smarter part—told him to hold back, to not let things get out of hand. He looked at her again, his expression unreadable. "You might know what you want, but I’m not gonna be some guy that takes advantage of you." Hudson turned the corner sharply, the tires of his car skimming the curb as he slowed, his jaw clenched tightly. His mind was racing, the tension in the air thick enough to make him feel suffocated. The way Angel had been looking at him—her touch, the words she’d thrown at him—he couldn’t ignore it, couldn’t pretend it didn’t stir something in him. The car slowed to a stop outside his place, the headlights cutting through the dark street, illuminating the quiet neighborhood. He pulled the handbrake up with a small click and took a deep breath, letting the silence settle for a moment. His fingers were still curled around the steering wheel as he finally turned to face her. He shifted slightly in his seat, his gaze meeting hers with an intensity that matched the tension between them. There was no doubt in his mind that she was testing him, trying to see how far she could push him before he caved. But Hudson wasn’t the type to be easily manipulated, not when it came to this. “Look,” he started, his voice firm, almost cold as he turned fully to face her. His hand rested on the gearshift, his knuckles still white from gripping the wheel too tightly. "Making out is as far as you're going to get tonight with me - I'll be honest."

when angel was around him, limits and filters seemed to disappear, that didn’t happen with anyone else, but if she held something to herself, her drunk state made her talk without thinking about the real meaning of her words. she had admitted loving him, she was there begging for him to look at her, as if she would ever do that when she was sober. she wouldn’t have dared saying those three words out loud, maybe she had thought about that feeling she felt but, she didn’t want to make things awkward, she didn’t want their fantasy to break because of her feelings. in that moment, she just wanted one thing, she wanted him. it was as simple as that, nothing could make her change her mind, the way she looked at him, the way her words and pleas dripped from her lips like pure sugar and her fingers gently touched his skin. everything was planned, she wanted that and she knew he wanted that too. "why is it different? it’s as normal as always, just us, no one can see us, no one can listen to us, it’s the same as when we’re at your place" she pointed out. as he mused if he parked he would get a parking fine the girl sighed. that wasn’t what she wanted to do. she wanted him to listen to her, but it wasn’t working. her subtle touch didn’t stop though, just wanting him to crack, to let her in. she couldn’t understand why he was being so difficult, she couldn’t picture a moment where hudson said no to her. she noticed how his hand held tighter around the wheel, her eyebrows furrowed, not really being able to read him as she normally did. "i don’t know what you want" she mused, "if you want it, you’re really doing a good job ignoring me" she pointed out, her eyes locking on his. for a second she went silent, just focused on his gaze. at his mention of him being sober and her not, she sighed, her hand moved away from his arm. she leaned against her seat, offended as if he had said something that wasn’t true. "i’m not that drunk" she pointed out, "i know what i want" she pouted.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson didn’t stand a chance—not with Zara. The second she shifted her attention from skincare to teasing him, it was like the floodgates opened. And God, did she know how to push his buttons. He tried—really tried—not to blush, to stay cool and unaffected, but she saw straight through him like she always did. And when she called him out, so confident, so smug, there was no hiding it. His ears were hot, his cheeks definitely pink, and she knew it. Hudson wasn’t sure what was worse—how accurate she was, or how much he liked it. The way she rattled off her self-praise, all dramatic and exaggerated, made him roll his eyes, but even then, he was smiling. She had this energy that pulled people in without even trying. The way she laughed at herself, flicked her hair back like she was on a red carpet, declared herself the “prettiest person alive” like it was an objective fact—it was impossible not to be entertained. And when he finally gave in—admitted the thing she’d been digging at—he saw the satisfaction bloom across her face. Hudson groaned softly, rubbing the back of his neck, but he couldn’t help laughing along with her. "Don't tell your brother that I was looking at your older sister like that." He somehow trusted Zara not to spill his secrets. And then—just as suddenly—she switched gears. “Pizza?” he said, wiggling her eyebrows, that sounded like a deal to him. Hudson gave her a look—half amused, half resigned—as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “By we, do we mean me?” he asked, already unlocking the screen. He didn’t even wait for her smart reply. He knew it was coming—probably something outrageous and smug—and he’d already accepted his fate. Scrolling through the app, he shook his head with a quiet laugh. “I’ll get Angel something too,” he added, glancing up at Zara, who looked way too pleased with herself. “A ‘sorry for staring too much’ apology dessert or something.” He smirked a little as he said it, but his ears were still pink. Because, yeah—he had looked a little too long earlier, and yeah—Zara had caught it. Of course she had. She caught everything. “You think she likes chocolate or caramel better?"

zara had stopped caring about skincare a while ago, especially once she realized teasing hudson about looking at her sister was way more fun. he was definitely blushing, and the fact that he kept trying to deny it only made her grin widen—he was so bad at hiding it, and honestly, that was cute. "i'm not imagining anything, i know when guys blush, and let me tell you, you are," she nodded confidently, "maybe it's 'cause i keep teasing you, maybe it's 'cause i've seen something i shouldn't have... it's up to you to say if i'm right or wrong, but admit you're blushing." she wasn't letting it go. "oh, people describe me that way all the time—relentless, pretty, hot, sexy... so many adjectives, hudson, it's nothing new," she laughed, flicking her hair back with a smug smile. "oh, you think someone’s prettier than me? sorry, but that's incorrect. it’s science. i’m the prettiest person alive, that’s it, period," she added playfully, and while she kind of believed it, she was mostly just messing around—zara loved hyping herself up, but never in a serious, arrogant way. joking around hudson was just as easy as teasing her siblings; she had no filter and she loved it. "i didn’t say you were disgusting, but if that’s what you need to hear, then fine, i’ll say it," she grinned, a laugh spilling out of her. "that’s literally what family’s for—i don’t think i’ve ever told zayn anything looks good on him, he always gets roasted." when hudson finally admitted what she was after, she gasped dramatically. "yes! i knew it," she said, all proud. "see? that’s all i needed to know," she nodded like it was a major victory, even though she clearly wasn’t going to let it go anytime soon. "now i’ll actually be able to sleep tonight, thanks for that. we can go back to roasting you in a second, but first... what if we order pizza?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows like it was the best idea she'd ever had.

[hudson-everett]

It was moments like these that tested Hudson's resolve to its limits. Watching Angel speak so openly, her thoughts spilling out without hesitation. She wasn't hiding how she felt, not tonight, and certainly not while she was like this. He knew her honesty was both a strength and an edge that could easily destabilise him. As he focused on the road, her words lingered in the space between them. Angel was relentless, her every move an attempt to break through his restraint. Hudson could feel the tension mounting with each glance she shot through the rearview mirror, with every shrug or touch that made his grip on the wheel tighten just a little more. Hudson almost allowed himself to smile at Angel's audacity but resisted the urge. He respected her determination—even admired it—but that didn't mean he'd succumb to it. "I know you like causing trouble. Tonight's different though." Her persistence had its charm, but Hudson knew there was more at stake than her whims or his desires. Angel's pleading tone, soft and persuasive, tugged at something deep within him. Yet Hudson remained steadfast, his focus never wavering from the road ahead. "I can't, Angel. I'll get a fine if I park around here." She leaned forward, her fingers grazing his arm—a touch that sent electricity through him despite his attempts to brush it off. Her words, brimming with longing and unmistakable vulnerability, hung heavy in the air. Hudson's jaw tightened in response. She was right, of course. That was the crux of it—the thing he was trying so hard to manage, the reason he was fighting against her pull so desperately. But Hudson wasn't the type to give in easily, not when the right path was so clear, even if it meant denying something he wanted just as much as she did. "I wish I was on my motorcycle too but I wouldn't have been able to get you all home safe if I was." Hudson's thoughts wrestled with the intensity of the moment. Angel might not understand his hesitation, but it wasn't about indifference; it was about doing the right thing, even when it was the harder choice. He couldn't afford to lose control, not now—not ever. And even if her words and actions tempted him beyond measure, Hudson held firm. He drew in a sharp breath, the weight of her words pressing heavily against him. He couldn't deny the truth in her plea, nor the pull of the moment enveloping them. His voice, steady yet tinged with vulnerability, broke the silence. "You think I don’t want this? You think I don’t feel it too, Angel?" He tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto hers, as if searching for answers in the depths of her eyes. "You’ve got me figured out—every hesitation, every longing I’m trying to fight it. But I'm sober and you're not and that's what matters the most to me in this moment."

when people say the only ones who speak the truth are kids and drunk people, that assumption definitely applied to angel. she had no filter whatsoever, speaking without a second thought. she wanted hudson—had been thinking about the possibility of falling for him—but those thoughts didn’t seem as scary while she was drunk. in that moment, nothing could stop her from spilling how she really felt. as he told her he couldn’t take off his seatbelt because he was driving, she leaned back against the seat, arms crossed over her chest, looking at him through the rearview mirror. "i like being in trouble," she mused before looking away. right now, angel wanted one thing—him—and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to have him. she didn’t understand why he was trying so hard to do the right thing. she didn’t care. "then park," she shrugged, as if the answer was that simple. if that was what it took to get his attention, then so be it. she sighed, trying every move she could think of to convince him, but she was failing miserably. still, she kept pushing—because that was all she could do. she wasn’t the type to beg, but in that moment, that was all her mind could focus on. "you’re cooler when you drive us on your bike," she mused, leaning forward, fingers grazing his arm. "when i’m pressed against you, and it only takes us a couple of minutes to get there... throw our clothes around, have fun," she smiled, a longing glint in her eyes. "don’t ignore me, then," she said softly. "you never ignore me—don’t start now." her voice was low, almost pleading. "i know you want this as much as i do," she purred, her fingers trailing down his arm. "please, hudson."

[hudson-everett]

Hudson couldn't help but roll his eyes at Zara's teasing. He'd known her long enough to expect the relentless jokes, but somehow, they never lost their charm. When she mentioned acne and pimple patches, he let out a laugh, though it was mixed with a hint of mock defensiveness. "Really?" he replied, his lips curling into a half-smile. "Are you going to make fun of my skincare routine now?" He raised an eyebrow, amused, but also a little embarrassed. "I'll make sure to send you a picture next time. You can judge me then." He didn’t know why she enjoyed teasing him about it so much, but it was always the same when she got that playful spark in her eyes—like she was hunting for an opening. And he always fell for it. When her attention shifted to his reaction about her sister, Hudson's heart skipped a beat. His ears were definitely burning—he could feel it. But he wouldn’t let her get away with it so easily. "Blush?" he echoed with a smirk, shaking his head. "Nah, you're just imagining things." But the truth was, his face had probably turned a little warmer. The playful accusation stung just enough to make him feel a little self-conscious. He watched her try to dodge the pillow he’d thrown, but the moment it hit her square in the face, Hudson had to stifle a laugh. Her curiosity, though, was relentless. He knew better than to try to hide anything from Zara, but that didn’t stop him from giving her a hard time. But when she wiggled her eyebrows at him and pressed him about Angel, Hudson felt the heat rise again. Damn it, she wasn’t going to let this go. He let out a sigh, clearly amused but slightly uncomfortable. "You’re relentless, you know that?" he said with a mock glare, though there was no malice in it. "You have no idea what you're asking." When she tossed her hair dramatically and declared herself the "prettiest of them all," Hudson couldn't help but laugh. "Indian Snow White, huh?" he echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Guess I'll just have to bow to your superiority, then." He watched her smirk and laughed again, shaking his head. “You’re something else.” But when she leaned in, eyes gleaming with that mischievous glint, Hudson wasn’t sure what was coming next. " Her final tease about him "disgusting" her made him chuckle, though there was a hint of relief in his voice. Hudson raised an eyebrow at Zara, his voice dripping with exaggerated mock offense. "I’m disgusting? Gee, thanks, Zara," he said, placing a hand over his chest in mock hurt. "Way to make me feel loved by my second family." He let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "What am I, sliced liver?" he added, rolling his eyes but still smiling, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth between them. Hudson chuckled softly, shrugging as he leaned back casually. "Nah, I'll be so real," he said, his tone light. "Angel looked cute just then. I stared a bit too long. You caught me." He gave Zara a playful glance, his grin widening. "But it’s nothing more than that, though. Honestly, just a passing thought." He met her gaze, his voice dropping a little teasingly. "So, now that the mystery’s solved, can we get back to making fun of me again?"

at his words, zara raised an eyebrow at him, amusement flickering in her dark eyes. "you still have acne sometimes? pimple patches?" she teased, a smirk tugging at her lips. "okay, i need to see a picture of you with those little yellow patches on your face. please. next time you put them on, remember to send me a picture so i can actually believe you." she loved teasing hudson—it was like teasing zayn. way too easy. when she noticed his reaction to the mention of her sister, her smirk widened. "that's blush," she accused, tilting her head. "maybe i can’t see it because of your tattoos, but your ears are bright red, hudson. that’s definitely blush." of course, she was exaggerating. but that was the fun part. when he threw a pillow at her, she groaned, not having quick enough reflexes to catch it before it hit her straight in the face. rude. "i'm just curious, that’s the thing," she defended, crossing her arms. "i need to know everything about everyone." she nodded firmly. "it’s like a superpower. and a curse. now i have to know why you were looking at angel for that long" she wiggled her eyebrows at him, grinning playfully. there was no harm in her words—she was just going to keep poking until he told her to stop. when he admitted the sharmas were beautiful, she tossed her hair over her shoulder dramatically. "you’re right," she said smugly. "but i think i managed to be the prettiest of them all." she paused, then added with a smirk, "i’m the indian snow white." her laugh filled the space between them, light and teasing. "you want me to imagine a hypothetical case, huh?" she mused, tapping her chin. "that sounds suspiciously like a crush to me" she leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming. "i guess it would be worse," she admitted with a shrug. "but you want me to tell you that you disgust me? straight to your face? wow, hudson, you’re wild." she teased, grinning at him.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson leaned back in his seat, taking a moment to absorb Zayn's words. He had to admit, it was a bit strange. Hudson ran a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words, all while his mind floated back to the dimly lit restaurant around them. This was their spot—the kind of place that felt like a home away from home, where everything was simpler, and the burgers always hit the right spot. He gave Zayn a raised eyebrow, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, it’s a little weird. I mean, she’s always been the baby of the family, right? But, at the same time, I can’t say I’m shocked. She’s always been independent in her own way." Hudson's gaze flickered to his drink for a second before meeting Zayn's eyes again. "And the part about telling me first? Well, what can I say? I must just be the family's favourite."

the way they normally used to hang out on busy weeks was going to their favourite restaurant, a place where lights were dim, the burgers were nice, and they were surrounded by people their age. for zayn, that was the definition of a great time. he was leaning against his seat, his arm over the couch-like bench as he looked at hudson across the table. "i don't know man, is it weird that the youngest sister is the one leaving the nest earlier?" he asked, a playful smile on his lips, "it's crazy she's living with a random guy, and that she told you that before she told me that same information." @hudson-everett

[hudson-everett]

Hudson chuckled, shaking his head at Zara’s teasing. She always knew exactly how to get under his skin, but there was a warmth to her jokes that made him roll with it. He leaned back slightly, raising an eyebrow at her. “I still get acne sometimes. I'm not against using those star sticker spots that have become all the range as of lately." When Zara called him out for blushing, he could feel the heat creeping up his neck, and he quickly tried to cover it with a casual laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Oh, please. this isn't a blush,” he teased, but it was obvious from his expression that she’d caught him off guard. “You’ve got a vivid imagination.” The comment about his sister made him pause, but it was the way Zara pressed him that really made him shift uncomfortably. He threw the pillow at her in playful retaliation, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of him cracking under the teasing. “Hey, I was just looking. It’s not my fault you’re so curious,” he teased back, crossing his arms and giving her a mock scowl. “Your sister isn't ugly by any means. You have a beautiful looking family." When she tossed the pillow back at him, he grinned, taking it in stride and tucking it underneath his arms and he leaned his chin against it and chuckled. "Ah, shush, you. I was so not drooling." Hudson looked back to the spot Angel had been standing in a couple of minutes ago. "Besides, imagine if I hypothetically did like her, I could possibly be your brother in law someday. Ew, gross, right?"

hanging out with hudson was never a burden—he was like another older brother to her. he was easy to talk to, and there were things she could say to him that she’d never tell zayn. not that she didn’t trust her actual brother, but... some things just weren’t meant to be shared. "your acne? hudson, please, you’re a grown-ass man, you don’t have acne," she joked, a smile tugging at her lips. she knew her sister well—sweet and demure around their parents and family, but different when she let herself go. zara always wondered if angel was truly honest about herself with anyone else. she was sharp, quick-witted, and always knew how to ask the right questions, and by the way hudson’s expression shifted, she knew she had caught him off guard. "you’re blushing," she teased, a smirk forming as she raised an eyebrow. "you don’t have tattoos all over your face, i can actually see if you blush." she had noticed him staring—of course she had. she just had to ask. he didn’t really give her an answer, but his reaction was more than enough to amuse her. "oh, you know her type?" she pressed. "please, do tell. i’ll make sure to pass it on to my auntie—she’d love to find her a nice indian doctor." she teased, though deep down, she knew her aunt had actually offered to do just that. the pillow hudson threw hit her square in the face. "asshole," she grumbled, tossing it aside. "it’s not my fault you were staring at my sister. i’m just curious, i need to analyze you." she grinned, raising her hands in mock defense. "fine, i’ll stop," she relented. but then, with a wicked glint in her eyes, she added, "when you wipe the drool off your chin." with that, she threw the pillow right back at him.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson could feel the weight of Angel’s words pressing on him as she leaned in, her teasing never letting up. Her playfulness was part of who she was, and while it usually made him smile, tonight, it made him feel something else—something stronger. She had a way of pushing his buttons that he couldn’t deny. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he said, smirking. "I don’t know what I’m talking about anymore when I’m around you." Her teasing was light, but it carried a deeper edge, one that made him want to give her exactly what she was asking for. But part of him held back. Her eyes were on him, and there was no mistaking the intent in her voice. She wanted him. She always did, and he could feel it. But he couldn’t just give in—not yet. Not when she was this drunk, not when there was so much more to consider than just the heat between them. When she leaned in and kissed him, Hudson’s resolve almost shattered. Her lips were warm, urgent, and her hands cupped his face with a desperation that mirrored his own. But when he pulled back, he couldn't shake the unease that crept up on him. He needed her to want more than just a kiss, to want this as much when she was sober - not when she was drunk. "Angel, I can’t take my seatbelt off either. I’m driving, remember? If the cops pull us over, we’re both in trouble." His tone was playful, but there was an underlying warmth in his voice. He gave her a reassuring smile, trying to ease the tension. "We’ll get there in one piece, no worries." As much as he wanted to lean into the moment with her, safety came first. "You know, maybe once we're parked, you can have all the attention you want." Her response of 'I want' was simple, yet it made his chest tighten. He knew exactly what she wanted, and part of him wanted to give it to her. But the frustration in her voice, the way she rolled her eyes and pouted, made something inside him hold steady. She was being stubborn and pouty, and he knew she wouldn’t back down easily. But that didn’t mean he would either. Hudson was quiet. He wanted her, no question. But something in him resisted. He wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol, or the fact that he didn’t want her to regret this when the morning light came. For a long moment, he simply stared ahead, processing the mix of emotions that were racing through him. He wanted her—he did—but he needed more than just a fleeting moment. Hudson’s grip on the wheel tightened as he focused on the road, the tension between them making it hard to think clearly. He could feel Angel’s presence even though she was in the backseat, her teasing energy pulling at him like a magnet. “We’re nearly back at mine, Angel,” he said, his voice steady but with an edge of raw honesty. He glanced at her in the rear view mirror, his gaze heavy with feeling. “I do want you. I want you so damn much that it’s taking everything in me to ignore you back there.”

angel wouldn't be able to take responsibility for her actions in that moment. she had no filter, acting so carelessly like nothing mattered. she was lucky everyone in the car was just as drunk as she was, or they might have realized just how much of her teasing was actually meant for hudson. at his playful words, angel giggled. "a knight waits for the right moment?" she shook her head. "i'm pretty sure you mean a gentleman," she corrected, teasing him. "you don’t even know what you're talking about anymore." her eyes stayed on him as his voice grew quieter, but she was too drunk to really register what he was saying. "you're not, because i keep telling you to kiss me, and you're not doing what i want," she pointed out, eyebrows raised. she knew exactly what she wanted—it wasn’t any different from what she’d want sober. she wanted him, in every way, even if she wouldn’t admit it out loud. when he smirked at the mention of his tattoo, angel smiled. "oh no, it's just one of the things i would like to kiss," her voice was playful but full of challenge. she was determined to kiss him, and she did, unbuckling herself and leaning in, their lips meeting in an intense kiss she had been waiting to share with him all night. her hands cupped his face, not wanting to pull away just yet, but he did. as he pulled back because of the seatbelt, she furrowed her brows. "take it off," she smiled, leaning in closer. she had him where she wanted—or at least she thought she did. but then he sat back in his seat, avoiding direct eye contact and only glancing at her through the rearview mirror. she sat back in her seat too. "i want," she simply answered. she was going to make him work for it—she didn’t beg, at least not unless it was part of their little game. "you're making me work, i keep begging and all i got was a kiss," she huffed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest like a child. "you don't want to kiss me." her drunk mind couldn't comprehend why he was holding back. "let’s go to your place, i need you, hudson," angel said softly.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson's eyes twinkled in the rearview mirror as he heard Angel's words, his lips curling into a knowing, mischievous smile. He had soon learned that Angel, when tipsy, could be an open book—sometimes too open for her own good. But damn, if it wasn’t the most entertaining read. She was leaning into the moment, testing him, and Hudson couldn’t help but be drawn in by that fire she carried. "You know," he drawled, voice laced with a playful teasing, "a knight doesn't just kiss anyone. He waits for the right moment." He glanced at her, letting his eyes trail over her for a second longer than necessary, watching her every move like a slow-motion game. "And as for 'doing what you want'..." His voice was quieter now, seductive. "Maybe I’m just waiting for you to realise that you’ve already got me exactly where you want me." The smirk never left his lips as she continued. She had no idea how much power she was giving him, how easy it was to pull those strings she thought she controlled. But it didn’t matter. He liked it. He liked watching her dance on that edge, getting closer to the line without quite knowing if she was willing to cross it. Then she spoke of that damn tattoo, and Hudson’s smirk deepened. "I’ve got a feeling that’s not the only thing you’re thinking about kissing right now," he teased, his voice low, his eyes catching hers. Angel leaned in, and Hudson’s heart raced just a little. There it was—no more games, no more teasing. She was pulling him in with a simplicity that only Angel could make so damn complicated. He didn’t hesitate. The moment she unbuckled, he met her halfway, lips pressing against hers with the kind of intensity that made all the previous banter fade into the background. Hudson felt the gentle but firm pull of his seatback as it shifted him back into place, just as he was leaning in closer. It was a soft, almost affectionate resistance—like the seatbelt itself had a quiet way of reminding him of its presence. He chuckled, pulling back slightly with a smile, fingers grazing over the buckle, almost as if he were apologizing to the seatbelt for trying to break its rules. “Of course, right when I get close, this thing has to step in,” he said, his voice warm and playful. His gaze lingered on her, amused but fond, as he leaned back against the seat. He leaned back, giving her a teasing, almost skeptical look through the rear-view mirror, his brows slightly raised. “Begging already?” he asked, his voice laced with amusement and curiosity. “You sure you want to give in so easily?” His eyes searched hers, the playful smirk still tugging at his lips. “I’ve got to admit, I’m a little surprised. I thought you’d make me work for it a bit more."

angel wasn’t really in control of her words right now. she’d regret it in the morning—she knew that—but at this moment, all she could think about was that she was alone with hudson, and that was always a good thing. "yes, you’re annoying," she nodded, watching his reaction. "you seem surprised. you shouldn’t be." she smirked, her eyes meeting his in the rearview mirror. "knight in shining armor? knights kiss the princess when they save her, and you haven’t kissed me. you’re not a knight." she knew what she wanted. she always did. when he spoke, her eyebrows furrowed. how the hell was he able to read her like that? how did he always know she wasn’t really mad at him? "i don’t get why you don’t give me what i want," she mused, shrugging, like it wasn’t a big deal. "you’re supposed to do what i want. that’s how this works. i tease you, and you give me what i want." a slow, amused smile tugged at her lips. she didn’t even realize what she had just said. didn’t realize that the words had slipped out. she loved him. hudson went silent for a second, and angel leaned closer, trying to figure out what was going through his mind. "bait you? that’s not bait." she leaned back against the seat, shaking her head. "if i wanted to bait you, i’d have kissed that tattoo on your neck that i like so much." her voice was dripping with playful intent. then, as he turned toward her, she caught the smirk on his lips. she smiled. she knew she was going to get exactly what she had been wanting all night. "yes," she breathed, watching him. "see? i always get what i want." and before he could say anything else, she unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned in, and pressed her lips against his. "please."

[hudson-everett]

Hudson had always been around, a constant presence in Zara's life. He and Zayn had been inseparable for as long as she could remember, and Hudson had practically become a part of the family. It was nice - have a second family here. As she joked about making sure to try something new next time, Hudson grinned, nodding slightly. "Hm, I think I'll pass unless it gets rid of my acne," he replied, his tone light, before watching her toss her trash into the bag. There was something about Zara that instantly put Hudson at ease. She was like a little sister to him. Then, as she turned her focus to her sister, feigning shock at the idea of Angel seeing some masked, shirtless guy, Hudson couldn’t help but laugh under his breath. Zara was quick, her teasing sharper than he expected. He leaned back a bit, amused, but his gaze flickered to Angel, who was already rolling her eyes and leaving the room. The moment Angel was gone, Zara’s attention snapped right back to him, and Hudson felt himself caught in her teasing. He didn’t know why, but a hint of warmth crept up his neck when she noticed the faint flush on his cheeks. “Blush?” Hudson repeated, feigning surprise but clearly flustered. "You must be imagining things." But it wasn’t his usual confidence in the moment—Zara had noticed him staring. As she teased about him “drooling' over Angel - Hudson’s smile deepened, and he couldn’t hide the sheepish look on his face. He wiped his chin, more out of habit than necessity. “Right... yeah, well, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not your sister's type - I don't think." Her words about Angel watching Love Island made him chuckle, but there was something about the way Zara was looking at him that made him feel like she could read him too easily. He grinned, shaking his head. "I wouldn’t put it past her. Didn't she just mention like shirtless dudes?" But there was still something in the way Zara smirked, her eyes studying him, that made Hudson feel like she was onto something. "Alright, enough with the observations," he said, his tone playful but laced with a challenge. Before she could respond, he grabbed a nearby pillow from the couch and tossed it gently in her direction. It hit her lightly in the chest. "Quit analyzing me, Zara. You’re starting to make me self-conscious."

zara had practically grown up with hudson always being around. she didn’t even remember when he and zayn had first become friends—it felt like he had just always been there. it was nice, really, having someone who felt like family around, especially when she had nothing else to do. spending time with her brother’s best friend wasn’t the worst way to pass the time. "you're welcome, next time i'll make sure to let you try something new," she joked, tossing her own trash into the bag it came in so she could throw it away later. her eyes flickered between her sister and hudson, unable to ignore how easily the teasing came to her—it was undeniable she had inherited those skills from angel. at hudson’s question about angel having seen some masked, shirtless guy, zara immediately turned to her sister, feigning shock. "angel? no, no way," she teased, sticking her tongue out playfully. "not that i know of—are you dating someone in secret?" she smirked, watching as angel rolled her eyes before leaving the room. the second her sister was gone, zara’s attention snapped back to hudson, catching the hint of pink dusting his cheeks. "is that a blush i see on your face, hudson?" she teased, leaning in slightly. she wasn’t sure if she was imagining things, but she definitely noticed the way his eyes lingered a little too long on angel as she walked away. "to dream about you? i think you should dry your chin, you're drooling," she laughed, shaking her head. "she's probably going to put some headphones on and watch some stupid reality show until she falls asleep. if you ask me, she’s gonna put on love island just so she can see some shirtless men." she smirked, watching hudson's reaction closely, already enjoying the way this was playing out.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson glanced into the rear view mirror at her, a playful glint in his eyes as he caught the shift in her tone. His lips curled into a confident, easy smile, sensing the vulnerability beneath the tipsy bravado. He could see through her teasing; she was letting herself slip into something more real. "Oh, I'm annoying?" he repeated, his voice warm and smooth, teasing her back with a light chuckle. "I’m hurt, angel. Here I was, thinking I was being your knight in shining armor tonight." He shot her a wink through the mirror before his eyes flicked back to the road, but the corners of his mouth stayed turned up. This was amusing to him. Hudson knew exactly how to play it, keeping his tone light but his words honest, letting her feel heard without pushing too hard. “You know,” he said, voice lowering just slightly, “I don’t think you’re really mad at me. You’re just pretending to be, 'cause you’re not getting what you want.” His grin spread, playful but thoughtful. He knew her too well. She wasn’t really angry. She was just frustrated. And had maybe had a little too many drinks. Her next words hung in the air, and Hudson couldn’t help but lean into the quiet for a moment, letting the weight of them settle. He met her eyes briefly in the mirror, that teasing edge in his smile never fading. "I want you too, Angel," he said, the sincerity behind the words lingering a beat longer than necessary. "But... I’m not so sure you know what you want." Angel’s words hung in the air, a delicate confession that felt almost out of place. Her tone was dramatic, a hint of mockery dancing with vulnerability in her voice. He could tell from the way she said it, slurred and teasing, that she hadn’t meant for it to come out that way. It wasn’t just the words, though, that caught him off guard; it was the stark contrast between her outward jest and the underlying sincerity. She wouldn’t have said it like that if she had been sober. But he knew her well enough to see through the bravado, to understand that even with the layers of sarcasm, there was a tenderness she hadn’t quite managed to shield herself from. Hudson swallowed, his heart racing for reasons he couldn’t quite articulate. But hearing it, feeling the weight of those words, shifted something inside him. This wasn’t just about physical touch or playful teasing anymore. It was about trust, about being seen and accepting the possibility of loving someone without reservation, even when the world around them seemed anything but certain. He wanted to reach out, to close the distance, to let her know that he wasn’t running from this moment, from her. But the smile on her face, the deflection in her tone, made him hesitate. He clear his throat, trying to refocus, now wasn't the time to play back those words. Hudson smirked, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. "You know better than to bait me like that," he teased, his smile playful but tinged with something unreadable. He stopped at a red light and turned his head to look at the girl sitting in his backseat. "What do you think, Angel? Should I?"

angel sat in the backseat, arms crossed and sulking just enough to let hudson know she was annoyed, even if the annoyance was mostly playful. the quiet in the car felt strange after the chaos of the club and the noise of her friends. it was a reminder of how loud her life had gotten lately—and how comforting the quiet with hudson could be. if only she weren’t stuck in the backseat. she hated that he was right, though. they couldn’t risk it. what if someone saw them together? still, in the moment, she didn’t care. she wanted what she wanted, and right now, that was to be close to him. her annoyance didn’t last long, though. her pout dissolved into a soft smirk as she leaned forward slightly, her flirting slipping back into their rhythm like second nature. "you’re really annoying sometimes," she muttered, throwing him a side glance through the rearview mirror, her tone dripping with mock indignation. but the teasing gave way to honesty as she spoke again, her voice softer. "yeah, i want to have fun tonight... with you," she admitted, her words slower, the alcohol in her system making her more bold, less filtered. "but i don’t need water, and i’m definitely not going to need a sick bucket. i didn’t drink that much." she shifted in her seat, leaning forward again as she tried to catch his gaze. "i just want to be with you. you know that, right? like always." her voice dipped into something more vulnerable. "you want that too. i know you do. or is that it? you don’t want me anymore?" her words hung in the air, heavy and raw in a way only drunken declarations could be. she was at this point having a conversation with herself in the back of the car, coming to the conclusions her drunk mind wanted to think of. she slumped back against the seat with an exaggerated sigh, her arms falling to her sides. "nice, i love you, and this is what i get." her tone was dramatic, those wouldn't have left her lips if she was sober, it didn't matter if she felt that was, she didn't want to scare him. "god, what a night," she muttered under her breath before looking at him again, her eyes narrowed in a way that was more mischievous than angry. "so, you’re not even going to touch me? not even a little?" she teased, her lips quirking up into a small, almost daring smile.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson leaned back, rolling his eyes at Zara’s constant teasing. It was like she had a sixth sense for pushing his buttons, and, to be honest, he didn’t mind it—most of the time. He’d long since stopped trying to act like her taunts bothered him. After all, they’d known each other for years, and her relentless teasing was just part of the package deal. “Thanks for the ‘best sludgy thing’ you got me, Zara. Can’t say I wasn’t skeptical at first, but if it helps my skin it's good.” He couldn’t help but smile at her antics, though part of him was still lost in his own thoughts—thoughts that were complicated now, especially when Angel was around. Zara’s jab at Angel had Hudson chuckling, even if he was trying to act like it wasn’t amusing. It was hard to ignore the playful dynamic between them. "Hey, Zara, you think Angel's ever saw a guy who's shirtless in a ghost mask before?" His type was Angel. His description fit the girl completely. He froze for just a split second seeing Zara notice, his heart thumping in his chest, before he laughed it off. "I'm not picturing anyone naked, Zara," he said quickly, face flushed slightly but trying to play it cool. “And I’m taking off the mask, alright? I think it's done what it needed." He glanced towards the door where Angel had just left, his gaze lingering for a moment longer than it should’ve. It was hard to keep his cool with the teasing and everything else going on, but he tried. "Night Angel." He turned his face back between Zara again - removing his face mask and standing to bin it in the corner of the room to dispose it. He sat back down again. "I think your sister's gone upstairs to go and dream about me."

zara had always liked hudson—there was something about him that made her enjoy his company, even if he tried to keep that tough exterior. He was practically a fixture at her place by now, and she had grown used to his presence. More than that, though, she loved pushing his buttons; teasing him was one of her favorite pastimes. "you’re nice, but i’m nicer because i got you one of the best sludgy things you’ve ever put on your face," she quipped, a playful grin tugging at her lips as she winked at him. "you’re welcome, love." her attention shifted to her sister, angel, and zara couldn’t resist another jab. "uh-oh, angel, you kinky girl. bet mom wouldn’t like hearing you talk like that." the roll of angel’s eyes only fueled zara’s teasing, making her laugh. "she’s way too single—maybe she does want to see that, just to remember what a guy even looks like." zara grabbed a cushion and playfully tossed it at her sister, laughing even harder when angel caught it midair like a pro. when hudson mentioned zayn, zara couldn’t help but laugh again. "yeah, he might be good-looking, but he’s an asshole. fuck him." she grinned, shaking her head. sure, she loved her brother, but she wasn’t about to deny that he could be a bit of a jerk. as hudson went on to describe his "type," zara’s eyes flicked between him and angel, catching onto something that made her smirk. if she didn’t know them, she’d swear hudson was describing her sister. "oh, stop picturing my sister naked, you creep," she teased, breaking into laughter. "and take that ridiculous mask off already. you look like you’re about to rob a bank." zara leaned back into the couch, still chuckling. "do you need anything, angel?" she asked, shooting her sister a knowing look that said she was far from done stirring the pot.

angel tried her best to keep her composure, to sound like a normal person who wasn’t completely in love with her brother’s best friend. but the truth was, she was. she couldn’t deny it to herself anymore. it had been too long since they started whatever this was—too long for her to pretend feelings weren’t involved. but zara wasn’t making it easy. at her sister’s teasing, angel’s eyebrows furrowed, her voice coming out louder than she intended. "zara!" she snapped. "i don’t need to see a picture of him shirtless with a face mask on." she paused, flustered, knowing she’d already seen it in person. "can you stop trying to pair me with every man you know?" she added, shaking her head in mock annoyance, though her sister’s antics were more embarrassing than anything else. when hudson started describing his "type," angel bit down on her lower lip, her heart racing. she knew exactly who he was talking about—it was her. but instead of reacting, she forced a casual smile, shrugging as she said, "good luck finding her." then zara chimed in again, making some outlandish comment about hudson picturing her naked. "zara!" angel yelled, exasperated. she shook her head in disbelief. "you’re crazy," she muttered, grabbing a cushion and throwing it back at her sister with a huff. "you know what? i’m out," she said, standing up and heading for the door. "keep your girls’ night a little quieter, will you? some of us want to sleep." she threw a glance over her shoulder as she left the room, trying to ignore the heat creeping up her neck. "night, idiots," she called over her shoulder, shaking her head as she disappeared down the hallway, leaving zara and hudson to their chaos.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson couldn’t help but smile as he watched Angel laugh, the way her eyes sparkled in the dim light, her voice carefree and bubbling with laughter. He’d always known her to be a confident, vibrant person, but tonight—drunk and playful—there was something cute about her. As her words echoed in his mind, he found himself drawn to her more than he expected. When she teased him, winked at him, and threw that playful challenge his way, Hudson's heart skipped a beat. Hudson chuckled, feeling that familiar warmth flood his chest. He liked this side of her, the side that came out with a few drinks and the energy that wrapped itself around the both of them. Normally, he wouldn’t encourage it, but tonight, he couldn’t resist. Her next words had his jaw dropping. “Stop flirting with your driver, you pretty girls." Her friends cheered, urging her to keep going, and Hudson just laughed, trying to play it cool, but deep down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Angel had a way of making everything feel alive in a way he wasn’t quite used to. It'd only ever been a secret between them. As the car filled with chaos, the noise of laughter, and the chatter of friends, Hudson couldn’t help but feel the pull of Angel’s attention. It was like she was always somewhere in his peripheral vision, and even when she wasn’t speaking directly to him, he could feel her gaze linger, almost as if she were searching for something. When her friend waved goodbye and the car fell into a quiet lull, Hudson felt the shift. The energy between them changed as Angel leaned back in her seat, and she caught his eyes. Her confession made him raise an eyebrow, and he couldn’t help but grin. The silence that followed wasn’t awkward at all. In fact, Hudson found himself savoring it, liking the ease of it. "I can't risk you being right up front next to me." What if someone that Zayn knew drove past and saw Angel there? Hudson knew he needed to get Angel home safe and at this present moment the backseat was the place he could keep an eye on the girl. Her words were soft, and Hudson could feel the heat of the moment intensify. It was like everything about her was right there, unfiltered, unguarded. “Yeah?” he whispered, his voice low, his eyes never leaving hers. He could feel his pulse quicken, the playful tension between them now taking on a new weight. "I don't know if you'll be able to live up those words of yours tonight, drunkie. I think you need a nice cool glass of a water when we get back, to be lifted onto a bed or couch, and have a sick bucket placed next to you, just in case."

angel wasn’t going to remember much of that night. they drank way too much, danced until her feet hurt, but one thing she couldn’t stop thinking about was the need to call hudson. he was on her mind longer than anyone else. she giggled at her friend’s words, feeling like she was having the time of her life. “you can ask around—no one gets tired of me,” she teased, winking at him. a sly smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she tried to meet his gaze. normally, she wouldn’t flirt with him in public, but with the alcohol buzzing through her, she didn’t care. his response made her jaw drop. “have you seen yourself?” she shot back, raising an eyebrow. “i don’t think I could ever get tired of that.” her friends cheered her on, urging her to keep going, and she couldn’t help but smile at his reaction. the energy in the car was completely chaotic, laughter and voices filling the space. but no matter how much she joked with her friends, her attention kept drifting back to hudson. she couldn’t help it. “bye, girl!” she waved to her friend as she headed into the building. the moment her friend was gone, the car seemed to quiet, leaving just her and hudson. leaning back into the seat, she sighed, her eyes finding his. “i’m too drunk to care,” she confessed, a soft giggle escaping her lips. the silence between them wasn’t awkward; in fact, she liked it. or at least, she thought she did. as he pulled away from her friend’s place, she let herself relax, though her mind was still racing. but hudson was there, and that was enough to make her feel okay. “yes,” she nodded, breaking the silence, “you didn’t even give me a chance to sit in the front before driving off!” she teased, a playful edge to her voice. “you’re not going to let me sit up front, are you?” she asked, thinking back to how carefree and reckless drunk angel could sometimes be. “i want to go to your place,” she said with a mischievous smile, leaning in to playfully touch his arm. “and show you how fun i am.” her voice softened as she added, “i’ve missed you. a lot,” her words dripping with flirtation.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson tried his best to remain unfazed, but Zara knew exactly how to push his buttons, and she was doing it with skillful precision. His face flushed under the mask, and it only made Zara’s teasing that much worse. He had always hated how the sharma sisters could read him so easily, how they knew what would get under his skin, and they never hesitated to use it against him. He could practically hear the smugness in their voices as they teased him. "I should be the one thanking you? I'm the one nice enough to sit with and wear one of these damn sludgy feelings things on my face." He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but it was hard to maintain any semblance of composure with Zara clearly enjoying every second of his discomfort. Before he could muster up a response, Zara's sister arrived, and the teasing only escalated. Zara, ever the instigator, wasted no time. When she hit him with the ghost face question, Hudson shot back a knowing look at the older sister. "Hmm, maybe. Wouldn't you like know if I have a photo like that on my camera roll, huh, Angel?" The ridiculousness of the two sisters comment about it being okay if he was gay had him eye rolling again. "Hey, I'm not gay, I'm into girls." Hudson listened to Angel guessing his type or preferences of girls. She'd guessed the complete opposite to his type if he was honest. "Zayn's good looking but he hasn't got any parts hat I'd be into." Hudson shook his head at Angel guess. "Yeah, no, I have never been attracted to blondes. Blondes remind me of my mom too much. I like my girls hot, dark eyed, confident. I'm not into the whole cute thing. I like a girl who isn't afraid of taking charge."

zara knew hudson well enough to know exactly how to get under his skin, and teasing people was her specialty. she had a knack for reading them, figuring out their tells, and using that to her advantage. when she saw him blushing under his facemask, her smile only widened. "of course i’m going to make fun of you," she teased, laughter spilling from her lips. "you’re lucky i’m not taking pictures of this. honestly, you should be thanking me for being such a nice person." her tone was playful, her eyes gleaming as she watched his reaction. she wasn’t going to give him any details about what she was thinking—it was way too fun watching him squirm. "i thought we were friends," she added with a mock pout. "you’re supposed to give me all the tips and tricks, hudson." she winked at him, clearly enjoying the torture she was putting him through. "fine, i’ll stop," she said between laughs, though it didn’t seem like she was slowing down anytime soon. "you look embarrassed enough already." then her sister showed up, and zara’s grin only grew. at her sister’s question, she shook her head, eyebrows raised. "because we’re friends, but he’s acting like an embarrassed teen," she said, smirking. "so, you’re a ghostface mask kind of guy?" she teased, tilting her head. "hard to tell with all that pink shit on your face." when hudson shot back with a question that made her sister’s cheeks flush, zara couldn’t hold back. "hudson, it’s fine if you’re gay," she said with mock sincerity, her tone dripping with mischief. "if you and zayn are a thing, we’ll love you no matter what." she winked, knowing full well how ridiculous the idea was but enjoying the chaos nonetheless.

when angel walked into her parents’ place, the last thing she expected was to see hudson there—especially with her little sister. the sight of him made her heart race, but she did what she always did: kept her cool and hid her nerves behind a casual smile. "oh, i’ll have to take your word for it," she said, chuckling softly as she glanced at him. "but zara’s got a point—the pink facemask isn’t really selling the whole tough guy vibe." her laugh was light, teasing, but she felt the weight of his attention shift toward her when he asked his question. "because it’s your vibe," she shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "the tattoos, the whole aesthetic. i bet you’ve got some halloween photos somewhere of you shirtless with that mask on." she smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "you guys love that kind of shit." and, if she was being honest, she loved it too—especially since she had seen those pictures, and they had definitely stayed on her mind longer than they should’ve. when zara started teasing hudson about being in a relationship with zayn, angel laughed, shaking her head. wrong sibling, she thought to herself, the idea almost making her grin. "i mean, we don’t judge in this house," she added, smirking at hudson, "but if i had to guess... i’d say you’re into cute blondes. blue eyes, perfect smiles—the whole package." her raised eyebrows and the playful tone of her voice made it clear she was teasing, but the way her heart pounded as she waited for his reaction betrayed how much she cared about his answer.