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 Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 8:57 am
Nick had been happy as always to get the invite to lunch, though felt a little surprised that it was coming so soon after they had seen one another…normally Arias tended to wait at least a day before even talking to him again and at least two or three days before starting to make plans to see him again.
Things had really gone south quickly with their relationship, and honestly Nick was starting to become rather sure that they hardly had one…or at least that’s what it was kind of feeling like. Sort of.
Maybe it was just his imagination.
Regardless of his feelings, he dressed himself nicely, doing some new thing with his hair that was some mess of braids and made him look like a fairy tale princess, which kind of made him laugh. He showed up at the restaurant five minutes early, which was to say five minutes before Arias’s idea of being on time, which was always ten minutes early when it came to activities with Nick, so in reality he was there fifteen minutes early for their actual start of lunch time…which was great…any excuse to pick on Arias was a good one, really.
Or at least…it used to be. Kind of.
He was on a bench outside of the café, one leg carelessly crossed over the other, looking a dashing sight. Now all he needed was Arias, and everything would be as it should.
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:03 am
Nick knew Arias too well; only a few minutes after Nick arrived, Arias did too. It was clear that he expected to have arrived before Nick—at least, if anyone was to judge him by the surprised expression he wore when he realized the blonde had beat him there.
The confusion didn’t last for long; a smile quickly replaced it and he moved to stand next to Nick. “You’re early,” he greeted, holding out a hand to help Nick up. He was already admiring the detail Nick had put into his hair. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long. You look great.”
But that was probably expected; Nick always looked great. Just, today he looked a different kind of great.
Arias used his other hand to tuck his hair behind his ear and felt like he should have spent a bit more time getting ready, but there wasn’t really any point in competing with Nick. He just hoped that he was good enough for him.
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:06 am
Nick took Arias’s hand, unable to hide the grin that formed at the brunette’s confusion. Arias was just so adorable when he was flustered. Standing, Nick stretched and laughed, leaning forward and placing a quick kiss on Arias’s cheek. “I was waiting a terrible long time for you to get her, love. I was starting to think you weren’t going to make it. Of course, you’re always so early, I just wanted to beat you.”
He moved his hand so his fingers slipped between Arias’s, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “So...is something wrong? You don’t normally talk to me so quickly after seeing me. I mean, you used to, but lately it’s been at least a two day no contact rule for you...am I in trouble?”
Nick winked and held the door open to the cafe, giving a slight incline of his head so Arias would head inside.
“I’m not complaining, though. I like your face.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:07 am
“In trouble?” Arias looked horrified. “No, of course not.”
He didn’t seem shy with Nick holding his hand; instead he swung it just slightly while they walked. “No, I wanted to give you a present. I mean, it’s not much—and I probably should have done it yesterday, but” he stepped inside and pulled Nick with him. They’d come here often enough that the hostess just waved to them and gestured for them to pick a table so Arias chose one that was out of the way and comfortable. He held Nick’s hand the whole time and only released it so he could sit down across from him. When he did, he produced the egg from the bag he’d brought and smiled somewhat sheepishly before he passed it over.
“I had fun yesterday. Thank you for hanging out with Carlee and I. I mean—I know it’s silly, but. I don’t know,” he finally laughed. “I should have prepared something a bit more collected. I must seem like a fool. I’m sorry, Nick. For that and…”
His voice trailed off and he realized suddenly that he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say. He’d only been trying to give Nick some space because he thought that was what he wanted. They’d had conversations about it—where Nick had been upset that he was looking too far into something, or where Nick seemed like he was reluctant to text him. Arias had just assumed that he was being too overbearing and pushing him away, but now he was worried he was doing the same thing by being underattentive.
“I’m sorry if I gave you the impression I was mad at you. I’m,” he faltered and then sighed heavily. “…I’m really bad at this whole dating thing, aren’t I?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:10 am
Nick shook his head, frowning. “Arias, stop beating yourself up. I’m teasing you. I like to tease you, that’s why I showed up so early.” He hadn’t wanted to let go of Arias’s hand when they sat down and swiftly grabbed it up again, holding it lovingly, letting his thumb twist around the top of the brunettes hand.
He glanced at the egg and took it, frowning just slightly. “You want me to have it…? Seriously? Look, Arias, I thought we did the whole splitting up because Carlee wanted to win…? I thought for sure she’d be the one stealing the egg from your room and stabbing you in the throat just to say that she was the winner…”
There was a smile on his face though, clearly this gift meant a lot to him. “I...I had fun yesterday, but I swear, if I do something like that with you two again….I don’t want to split up. Make her bring a friend or something next time...I want to spend the time with you...the event was really kind of lackluster for me since you weren’t beside me the whole time, Arias...I missed you.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:11 am
Once more, when Nick took his hand, Arias didn’t pull away. He just smiled and watched their hands together for a few seconds before looking back up at Nick. “I don’t think Carlee’s that violent,” he mused. He didn’t want to tell Nick that he’d tried to give her the egg and she’d encouraged him to give it to Nick; instead he just squeezed his boyfriend’s hand slightly.
“…But she did tell me last night that she thought something was up with you. She was worried about you. And I missed you, too. I would have rather spent time with you, but I know yesterday was important to her. I think, maybe, she feels bad about splitting us up for a while though.”
He smiled again at Nick and seemed to relax; this didn’t seem like it was such a bad meeting. He didn’t feel like he’d needed to worry then—or now.
“We can hang out more if you want, Nick,” he promised. “I just worry about smothering you. I don’t ever want to come across as needy or clingy or weighing you down. You let me know and we can meet up every day, if you want.”
He couldn’t get enough of Nick, so as long as he had the okay he was ready to go back to the frequent texting and calling and meeting up.
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:11 am
“You never really know though, do you? It’s always the quiet ones. Never trust the quiet ones, Arias. That’s the golden rule. That’s why I’m always so loud and enthusiastic all of the time.” He winked and grinned slightly. “I would like that. I miss what we used to have...I...maybe I messed it up...I mean, I’m sure I messed it up with all of my...drama...but I think I might be trying to think about getting away from all the drama...so that’s a good thing at least, right?”
He drew the hand up, kissing Arias’s fingertips gently and sighed looking at the male with a very loving expression.
“You’re a treasure...and I think I keep trying to forget that...I love you though, okay? I’m sorry I don’t say it often enough and I’m sorry I don’t...act like it often enough too...but I do love you...Seriously.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:12 am
If Arias had had doubts, they were immediately diminished. He smiled at Nick and couldn’t help but laugh softly. His ears had tinged red and the color had spread to his cheeks, just faintly. “I love you, and I know you love me,” he tried to reassure. “I know we’re not always on the same page about how we want to show it, but I’m just glad to hear you say all of that. I worried, for a while, but.”
He hated that word, sometime. ‘Worry’. Everyone knew he worried, but it was hard for him to tell when it was a reasonable amount and when he’d crossed the line.
“But I’m working on that. How is, uhm,” he tried to figure out the best way to word it and then figured he’d just use Nick’s words. “How’s it going—getting away from all that drama, I mean. Are you doing okay?” He bit his lip and made sure to keep a reassuring grip on Nick’s hand.
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:12 am
“Then I’ll just have to keep reassuring you. I’ll just have to sneak into your house and whisper that I love you into your ear, or I’ll have to text you my face at three am so you can see that I was thinking about you...if that’s what it takes for you not to worry...then I’ll do it.”
Nick grinned and put the egg into his pocket, honestly really excited that Arias had decided to give the egg to him...he felt special because of that...like Arias did remember him and all that. Not that he thought that Arias didn’t remember him or…
He didn’t know what he thought most of the time...but right now...holding Arias’s hand...he was happy….and sometimes being happy was really all that mattered, right? “Love you. Thank you again for the egg...it’s beautiful.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:14 am
Carlee deserved the thanks, but Arias was afraid to give her too much credit lest Nick misunderstand and think he didn’t want to make him happy; he’d have to thank Carlee in private, though. He felt guilty about accepting the praise, the affection, but he needed it. He didn’t realize how desperate he’d been just to know that Nick was happy with him, happy with their relationship.
For a few seconds, he was slightly stunned by the realization, but he kept his smile the whole while.
“Thank you for coming out and hunting for eggs with my sister and I. Next time we’ll do it together. Because,” he leaned across the table and gave Nick a kiss on the cheek—something he was still getting used to doing public—and added, “I’d rather lose with you than win alone.”
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:16 am
Nick felt his heart flutter and he gave a very, very stupid grin, laughing and feeling the heat rush to his face. “Well. Well then. I feel the same way, Arias...thank you.”
He had to take a quick drink from the water cup, then finally...almost unwillingly let go of the male’s hand. “We should figure out what to eat...then figure out what to do for the rest of the day, because I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to leave your side until at least tomorrow.”
The blonde picked up his menu and hid his face with it, almost embarrassed by the strength of the feelings he was having right now.
Maybe…
No, it was just the moment. He was sure of that. Just the moment.
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Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 10:17 am
Arias nodded; they might have only planned to have lunch together but he’d have been ready to drop any plans he did have, even if today wasn’t his day off. “Well, I’ve got the rest of the day. I have to go in early tomorrow but,” he shrugged. “We can definitely use today to make up for the time we spent apart, yesterday. We can go catch a movie, watch the sunset, and you can spend the night at my place?”
He didn’t need to look at the menu to know what he wanted; he ordered the same meal nearly every time he was here.
He was trying to hide a smile as Nick hid behind the menu; Nick might have moved his hand, but Arias didn’t try to pull it away. He left it right where it had been on the table, in easy reach of Nick for when he was ready again.
He didn’t care what their plans were; they could have sat in that booth for the rest of the day. He just knew he wanted to spend his time with Nick.
Arias couldn’t pull the smile off his face.
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