[sub][h3][center]Archie[/center][/h3][/sub][hr]
[quote]Natalie: I'll see you by the front door.[/quote]

Archie stopped walking and stared at his phone for a while after that message, resisting the urge to write out one last text message trying to explain himself. He figured Nat might get a kick out of his message or maybe insult him some more or even not reply at all, but how flat she sounded makes him… feel really weird. He's never ever felt out of place like this before, so it's strange.

[quote]Natalie: And thank you, Archie. I'm glad you're my date for this.[/quote]

He looks up and sighs, and trudges on. He can still turn this one around, he thinks. As he makes his third step, his phone vibrates in his pocket again. He checks his phone, and he feels his heart jump. A heart monitor fastened to the underside of his wrist begins beeping in slow succession before fading away again. Over the previous few days it had been discovered that his beat of burden reacted to stimulus outside of time, emotion, or danger. It also reacted to automatic reactions in his body- the most commonplace being his heart rate reaching 200bpm. He didn't want to turn just because he got excited, and while the momentary jump hadn't been much to worry about, he didn't want to think about what would happen if he and Natalie-

No, stop right there. His heart monitor beeped again. Archie realized that he hasn't replied, and not one to leave someone on read, he typed out another message that is composed of a bunch of smiley faces and emoticon hearts and sent it without much thought. He breathed as he stepped out outside, and was instantly greeted by the chilly air. One thing he missed about home was how gently and subtly it eases into autumn. The island was mostly tropical year long with buttercup summers and temperate springs. But when fall and winter comes along, the region settles into a cooler sort of warmth, like a stream bathed in golden sun. It's hard to explain, but Archie has missed it nevertheless. The chill in the air of the space station was nice, but it didn't quite feel like the real thing.

He breathes out, and smiles when his breath fogs up and disappears into the air. It sure is something, though.  He turns the corner and enters the women's wing. Memory reminds him that Natalie is only one stairwell up, which is nice because he is particularly lazy when it comes to stairs. He finds himself standing in front of Nat's door only a few moments later when his phone pings.

[quote]Eli: Hope you make it tonight! There's plenty of booze and firewood. Let me know if you need help finding the campsite.[/quote]

Archie smiles down at his phone and sends the same shrimp emoji he sent to Natalie in response, followed by a 'See you soon!', and then pockets his phone. He stares at Natalie's door for several long moments. He should probably let her know that he's here. He also thinks that he should run, move to a small island off the coast of Indonesia and begin his new life as a fisherman (or would that be resuming his old life?). It's apparent that his mind isn't the most rational thing when it comes to Natalie. He pulls at his own hair, closes his eyes so tightly that he sees spots when he opens them. Now or never.

He reached out and tentatively knocked twice, a soft rap of his knuckles.