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[img]https://i.imgur.com/g56m1pB.png[/img]
[sub] A [@metanoia] & [@fledermaus] Collaboration
Featuring [color=50c878]Nathaniel Blake[/color] & [color=cbadd9]Millie Jean Zadorozhny[/color][/sub][hr]

[/center]As Nate made his way through the courtyard, he spent some of the time looking down at his phone, sending Millie a few text messages to go ahead and meet him in the parking lot. A few minutes before that, he had ordered a Lyft driver who Nate saw had rave reviews. 

In ordinary situations where Nate went into town, he would take the bus or hitch a ride with a friend, but given that tonight wasn’t an ordinary night and Nate wasn’t dressed like he normally would, an out of character decision had to be made. Thankfully, he had a near-perfect credit score, so tonight was going to be one to remember. That and his first Lyft ride of the year was free, so that was the cherry on top of what he had hoped would be a cake-worthy night.

He had soon arrived at the north of the parking lot and it was practically a ghost town. His first thought was how many of his classmates were in town already and just how late was it. He checked his phone. “Barely even 30 after,” he mumbled. As he waited, Nate heard something of a whistle from behind him, catching his curiosity by the ear. As he slowly turned, his jaw nearly dropped when his eyes slowly followed black heels and a tight dress until the familiar round face came into full view.

[color=50c878]“Oh wow,”[/color] came his response. His gaze lingered for a couple of long moments. [color=50c878]“I had no idea you owned something like [i]that[/i],”[/color] Nate said. Millie had always been so conservative ever since he met her. She was gorgeous, obviously, but Nate never saw as the type to flaunt herself like that. It was shocking to the least. [color=50c878]“I mean, you look great!”[/color] Nate finally arrived at what he wanted to say but had struggled to find the words. 

[color=CBADD9]"You mean that?"[/color] Millie Jean asked nervously, fiddling with the ribbed off-shoulder dress. She had bought the dress months ago online at midnight when she was a bit lonely and couldn't sleep. Instead of saying all that, Millie bashfully toed the ground with her heel and said, [color=CBADD9]"It was an impulse buy…"[/color]

Wearing heels wasn't something Millie was intimately acquainted with, but she wore them enough for special occasions that she didn't wobble as she walked towards Nate. Still, Millie Jean stepped daintily to prevent any twisted ankles or missteps.

Part of her wanted to turn around and change into a nice pair of jeans and blouse, feeling particularly insecure in the dress that she kept adjusting nervously. It was a weird decision on her part, to wear the dress and heels, and mostly stemmed from lingering irritation and self-consciousness from her altercation with Cassian Lee. Millie Jean blames her nervous stuttering and Cassian Lee's intimidating figure. So, to make herself feel like less of an ant in an anteater world, Millie Jean dressed up. Fake it till you make it, right?

[color=CBADD9]"Have you already called the lyft?"[/color] Millie asks, pulling on the hem of her dress as if it would magically lengthen beyond her thighs.

[color=50c878]“Oh definitely, Mills! You always look great but right now you’re a stunner!”[/color] Nate gave her a smile and checked his phone. [color=50c878]“Also yep, the Lyft should be here soon. At least it [i]should[/i] be if they didn’t take the route through main street. Given the week we’ve all had and, well, that it’s Main Street, the busiest portion of Meadow View, it would be wise to take some of the back roads--”[/color] Nate knew he was rambling, so he cut himself off. [color=50c878]“Anyway…”[/color] He scratched the back of his head. [color=50c878]“Tonight’s gonna definitely be a good time, alcohol absolutely required!”[/color]

Millie smiled at Nate. He really was her best friend and she couldn't help but notice he cleaned up pretty nice too. Millie Jean doesn't think she's ever seen that shirt before. [color=CBADD9]"You look great, too, Nate. Tonight should be fun!"[/color]

There was a pause while they waited for the lyft and Millie didn't quite know what to say. She wasn't too pressed about filling the silence, it was Nate, one of her closest friends, but she was getting restless. And, well, she had been avoiding talking about it, feeling in parts guilt and awkward. Now might be the best time to bring it up, though…

[color=CBADD9]"Hey, Nate."[/color] Millie's voice came out a bit more nervous than she expected it too. [color=CBADD9]"Um, well, about the text...I'm really sorry about that. No one else has given you trouble for it, right? 'Cause I'll k-kick th-the-their ass if th-they do."[/color] Millie pinched her arm sharply to calm herself and stop her stuttering. [color=50c878]"I– yeah. That's all I wanted to say."[/color]

He shrugged. [color=50c878]“It’s my own fault. I should have just told Jasper in person. People could tease or whatever, it doesn’t bother me that much. But really, it’s fine!”[/color] He offered her a smile, hoping that would be enough to ease her soul. [color=50c878]“I appreciate it, though!”[/color] He gently bumped Millie’s shoulder, giving her a chuckling grin.

Moments later, a maroon Ford Focus pulled into the parking lot and stopped in front of them. [color=50c878]“And our carriage has arrived!”[/color] Nate proclaimed, stepping to the side, both arms pointing to the red car, head bowed, showing exactly how big of a goofball he could be in situations where it wasn’t appropriate.

Millie Jean smiled in relief and giggled at his antics, [color=CBADD9]"And they say chivalry is dead."[/color]

[color=50c878]“Guess that makes me the White Knight,”[/color] he joked, laughing.

She climbed into the car, smoothing her dress to avoid a peep show. The driver checked to make sure they were the right customers and Millie Jean stuttered out a confirmation that they were, indeed, the Nate party. She got on the right side and Nate was fine with the left since there was a high chance his side of the car would face out when they arrived.

As Nate heard the affirming clicking sound, he adjusted his position in his seat. He found it a little difficult getting comfortable because every time he would do a half jump, his head kept hitting the roof. [color=50c878]“This car is not tall person-friendly,”[/color] he whined, muttering somewhat quietly to himself, though he heard a slight chuckle from the driver. Choosing to ignore him, Nate glanced over at Millie Jean, who seemed to have no problem finding a position that didn’t cause immense discomfort .[color=50c878] “No fair!”[/color] He exclaimed, giving her a pout. [color=50c878]“How can you wear something so skin-tight and not have any trouble getting comfortable?”[/color] He asked her.

Millie Jean gave a cheeky smile to Nate and smoothed her dress down when it started to rise slightly up her thighs. [color=CBADD9]“Maybe because I’m not built like the Empire State Building, gigantor. Is your head okay?”[/color] Millie Jean reached out to smooth down his hair, frazzled from banging against the ceiling of the car.

Like a mother hen, her hand went from his hair to picking at lint on his shirt. It was in part a distraction from the way her dress clung to her, unaccustomed to the tight fit, and also to give her idle hands something to do. She picked at lint and smoothed wrinkles, all the while wondering over the softness of his shirt. “I can’t believe you’ve never worn this shirt before. It’s so soft.”

Nate immediately blushed when Millie started to clean off his shirt, her fingers picking at each individual pieces of lint and straightening out his shirt. If he didn’t know any better, he could’ve sworn his Aunt Ethel was doing it. [color=50c878]“Yeah, it’s not usually my style. I prefer my anime and fandom shirt galore to this sort of style, but Mandy told me to pick my nicest shirt.”[/color] He scratched the side of his head closest to the window, half-smiling and anxiously chuckling. 

Millie’s hand stilled as a guilty flush overcame her. She didn’t want Nate to feel insecure about his usual clothing style and she could see how her comments might make him feel that way. [color=CBADD9]“I didn’t mean — I just mean — well, you look good no matter what you wear.”[/color]

These two really were both peas of the same pod, because, as the air grew thick with guilt, Nate was doing his usual thing of laughing into an apology. [color=50c878]“No, I know you didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry if I made you feel like I did, Mills.”[/color] His voice was tender and sincere. [color=50c878]“Truth is, I don’t always get the chance to dress like this and, well I guess just hearing you compliment me was a little vindicating.”[/color] His hand was on her shoulder and he softly smiled at her. [color=50c878]“I mean, you know that I don’t usually get called hot or even ‘hey that’s a cute guy’. It’s why I’m a total wreck most of the time.” [i]And why I smoke more than I should but she doesn’t need to know that.[/i][/color]

[color=CBADD9]“That’s nonsense.”[/color] Millie replied, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. [color=CBADD9]“Even if they don’t say it, they’re thinking it. You’re attractive and that’s a fact.”[/color]

[color=50c878]“I’m glad someone thinks so.”[/color] He appreciated her compliment, but at the same time, he didn’t agree. Truth was, Nate never saw himself as an attractive guy. He knew he was pretty average and it’s been years since he’s accepted that, but that didn’t diminish the feeling he always felt in his gut he got whenever someone complimented him. It didn’t matter if it was Mandy, Jasper, or Millie Jean, of all people, that twisting, almost-butterflies-in-your-stomach-like-feeling always returned. [color=50c878]“I just never saw myself in that way.”[/color] He chuckled slowly into silence, finding an unexplained draw to Millie’s comforting gaze, resulting in a small curve of a smile to form on his face.

Millie Jean doesn’t know who initiated it first, all she knows is Nate’s soft lips on hers. Millie Jean hasn’t been kissed in a very long time, not since high school, and it caused butterflies to burst in her stomach. 

The kiss also made something very, [i]very[/i] apparent. Millie Jean drew away almost immediately, her face pinched and lips twisted. [color=CBADD9]“Uh,” Millie Jean said intelligently. “That was…”[/color]

[color=50c878][i]Something.[/i][/color]

[color=CBADD9][i]Bad[/i].[/color] Not because of the kiss itself, the kiss was actually nice and if this had been any other situation Millie might have even commented on his technique. No, it has become apparent that she has almost zero feelings for Nate whatsoever and their kiss was akin to kissing a brother. Millie Jean coughed into her hand at the thought and pointedly looked away. She thinks she sees the lyft driver smirking in the rearview mirror. 

Everything happened so fast that neither Millie nor Nate had time to really react. When she looked away, the echoes of her coughs going in one ear and out the other, Nate stared blankly at her, eyes repeatedly opening and closing, thoughts frozen as he tried to process what just happened. Did she like him? [color=50c878][i]No, I don’t think…[/i][/color] But then again, Nate had always been wrong about this sort of thing before. He didn’t think Mandy had feelings for him and they dated for almost a year until his move to Vermont forced them to break up. And even Jasper, in a weird way, could like him. [color=50c878][i]Jury’s still out on that one[/i].[/color]

But Millie...No, she never once told me she liked me. And the way she’s looking away. 

[color=50c878]“Mills, that was--”[/color] FInd your words, Nathaniel. Goddamn it, she’s like a sister to you. Talk to her, you idiot! [color=50c878]“--Look at you going for your shots. You’re just full of surprises, Millie Jean!”[/color] Nate laughed, grinning at her. [color=50c878]“I mean hell, you went in and it was a pretty good kiss, too!”[/color] Yeah, not like Nate had a lot of experience. 

At first Millie wanted to climb into a hole and die out of embarrassment. She still does, in a way, but really the absurdity of what happened dawned on her. She kissed [i]Nate[/i], of all people. If anything, Millie will chalk it up to a momentary curiosity. Millie smiled and, then, started to laugh.

[color=CBADD9]"You know what they say, shoot your shot."[/color] And then, in hopes she could make it clear there was nothing there, she added, [color=CBADD9]"Even if it turns out you put the basketball in the wrong hoop. Or something. I'm not really sure how basketball works, if I'm being honest."[/color]

[color=50c878]“You know more than I do.” [/color]

Nate let his laugh fade into a half-chuckle and he looked at Millie. There was definitely an awkward air that filled the backseat of the car. Nate didn’t know what to say next. He wasn’t sure if silence was the best course of action or if she wanted him to say something. As he thought about it some more, time escaped him and the Lyft driver stopped.

“We’re here!” He announced, looking back at the two.

Nate let his eyes fall at the Nectar Bar and Restaurant building. It was nice as far as bars went and he could tell tonight was a popular night for the business as groups of people were already making their way into it. 

After a few moments of absentmindedly gazing upon the groups, Nate felt a sensation emanating from their Lyft driver. It took him an additional moment and he immediately unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car. He rounded around the back of the car and opened Millie’s door, smiling at her as she got out. This was the least he could do to make up for not speaking up when he should’ve. At least, he was hoping this could be the start of things going back to normal.

Millie Jean was careful exiting the car, hands tightly fisting her dress to keep it from rising up. [color=CBADD9]"Thanks, dude."[/color] She grinned, emphasizing 'dude' to cover up her awkwardness.

While getting out of the car, she jostled his shoulder with hers playfully in hopes he would understand there were no hard feelings — after all, it was an impulsive situation with no real meaning behind it. She was careful not to linger with physical contact, though, lest he get the wrong idea.

[color=CBADD9]"Let's do this?"[/color] Millie said, shaking her limbs to hype herself up. This is the first time she's gone out dressed as such, it's only reasonable she feels nervous.

Nate nodded and shot her his usual cheerful grin. And next thing either of them knew it, they were inside Nectar’s growing crowd. Nate couldn’t help but notice how most of the tables close to the stage had already been claimed, which was perfectly acceptable. Truth be told, he wasn’t keen on the idea of sitting too close to the stage. He wanted to enjoy the show without having to be entertained to deaf. So when he spotted an unclaimed table right dead center in the middle, he knew that would be their spot. And another thing that make it deal was how close it was to the bar.

[color=50c878]“Yeah, this’ll work!” [/color]

As they were seated, an attractive waitress with brown hair and hazel eyes came by their table and smiled at both of them. “Can I get you two anything?”

Nate nodded. [color=50c878]“Yeah, a round of some apps would be great.”[/color] Nate had been to Nectar’s before so he already knew what he was going to order for him, Millie, and Dee. [color=50c878]“Some chips and salsa. Oh and some chicken wings, too!”[/color] Nate hummed for a minute. [color=50c878]“And make sure there’s enough for three people. A friend is going to be joining us soon.”[/color]

The waitress laughed. “Chips with salsa and wings it is.” She jotted it down on her notepad. “And what about to drink?”

[color=50c878]“Just a pitcher of beer will do!”[/color]

As the cute waitress left, Nate settled into his seat and sent a text to dee. [color=50c878]“Middle table. Can’t miss us. I’m wearing my nice shirt and Millie’s looking hella fine tonight!”[/color]
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