[TW: Brief suicidal ideation. If uncertain, see A/N for details.]
After scarfing down one, he takes his plate and sneaks upstairs via the secret staircase in the kitchen, meant for servants or whatever. It's really just a shortcut to one of the second floor hallways. He doesn't want to risk running into anyone else who might try to talk to him.
Assuming that no one else would bother coming up here while the party is still going on, Noel is surprised to find a familiar figure lurking at one end of the hall, peering out a window into the backyard.
"Jade?" he asks before he can stop himself.
Jade looks over, raising his eyebrows. "Where did you come from?"
"Kitchen staircase." Glancing around, Noel approaches him. "What are you doing up here?"
Jade's upper lip curls. "Staying away from Genevieve," he explains. "She keeps trying to talk to me, but if I have to interact with her, I might lose it."
