[h2][center][color=orange]Archie[/color][/center][/h2][hr]
[sup][i][color=00a99d]9:07 pm[/color][/i][/sup]
[code]How about a late supper? Pick me up from work?[/code]

Archie awoke very suddenly. The culprit was a violent buzz. It was an off day, so there's no way it was work, and it's not like his ex would call him after he had called her. So that left one person that he'd be likely to hear from...

His heart jumps into his throat as he texts back a quick response. He [i]knows[/i] she works at Freckles because, all things considered, the only times he'd seen her not wearing the uniform was when she wasn't wearing anything at all. His mouth very suddenly goes dry at the thought, but he forces the thoughts away. This was not the time or the place for that. He sends his message, and leaves his bedroom to ready himself to pick her up.

There's something that's nice about texting, he thinks as he throws on a pair of jeans, because he doesn't have to look her in the eye. He doesn't have to see her hands and frown at the fact that they aren't engulfed in his; doesn't have to worry about whether or not he looks alright. He feels like texting might be a cop out for both of them, some sort of refusal to get too close too fast again, or maybe it's just nerves. Maybe they're too scared that it'll be too easy to fall into familiar routines, where conversations melt into kisses and hugs become hour long naps. For a moment Archie stops his line of thought to consider something else though. Perhaps some things should remain buried, and it could take a while before they even consider going grave-digging. Should he call it off and sleep on it?

No, he thinks. He's come this far.

Archie drove to Freckles and pulled around back in his old gray 2011 Toyota Corolla. It was nothing special, but a car was a car and as the guy who he bought it from said [i]'It beats walkin'.'[/i] There was only one issue though- Natalie wasn't there. Just some other Freckles employee that was pacing back and fourth. She was probably waiting for her own ride, he mused. He waited for a moment and considered sending Natalie a text, but didn't want to come off as too clingy. Opting instead to ask her co-worker. He rolled down the window and leaded his head out of the car.

"Excuse me, Miss? Have you seen Natalie anywhere? She asked me to pick her up from work."



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[@Silver Carrot], [@Lord Wraith]