6.) [text.]

[ijustlivehere]

I hate the frakking friend zone, you know? No girl ever seems to see me as anything besides... I don't know, a kid. Or any guy, for that matter, but I'm so afraid of my own bicuriosity that I don't even want to admit it to myself. I'm not that young.
I haven't had a real date that didn't involve a mistaken identity or being used for some ulterior motive since high school, pretty much.
It just freaks me out sometimes, because I'm afraid I'm going to end up alone.

Comments

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy grins brightly at him, leans in and kisses his cheek, her arm sliding through his.]

You're sweet. Thank you. You look good too. [And she reaches up with her free hand and runs it through his hair, brushing it off his face.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Oh hey, you have just discovered that Neil does in fact have eyebrows under that mop of hair. How about that.]

I-I do? [He gulps.] Thanks.

[Aaaaand where would we be without an awkward pause.]

So uh, where to?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. [He is absolutely adorable and she now endeavors to make him a little speechless and awkward in the future. She presses her lips together, considering this.]

How exactly do you feel about karaoke?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Never really done that. But uh, first time for everything, and all that, eh?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Karaoke then. I promise we'll get smashed before we start singing. [And she's leading the way, her arm looped through his.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

S-sure. Sounds good.

Do you uhmm, sing often?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

In the shower every morning. Sometimes while I'm cleaning the apartment. I'm horrible, hence needing the alcohol.

You?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Oh hey, Neil is getting used to this walking-with-a-girl-on-his-arm thing. He was under the impression that this was a thing that could easily make a person trip. Pleasant surprise it's not.]

Sure, back-up vocals for Stephen's band when someone couldn't make it to practice. And, well, there was this one curse.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[It helps that she's very accustomed to being the girl on an arm. She knows how to keep out of the way to avoid tripping.]

So you'll be better than I am. It could save the whole night. What curse? Were you a rockstar?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Haha, we'll see. I mean, I guess I'm okay. I bet you're not as bad as you say, though.

Not a rockstar, exactly... I dunno, I kept accidentally singing to people instead of talking. It was weird, but kinda cool.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Either way, I'm pretty sure you're carrying me. [She smiles at him and bumps his shoulder with hers lightly]

Weird. Cool. Very the City but also harmless which is good. I will accept your apology for not singing to me and let you make it up to me by serenading me tonight.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, way less freaky than some other stuff that's happened. Oh man, I will totally sing for you, no problem.

[Well, no problem provided he can keep his voice from shaking and his throat from being oddly dry all of a sudden.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[That short, little squeal of delight is total approval, Neil. You're just racking up the points. She'll provide copious amounts of alcohol in order to keep his throat from getting dry.]

So why just the backup vocals? In the band.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Points! Neil gets points! He's only used to getting those in virtual environments.]

Uh, I dunno, that's just kinda how it worked out. The band was Stephen Stills and Scott and Envy and my sister Steph, and then it was them plus this guy Cole, and then they split and it was Stephen and Scott and Kim. I was just never... well, I don't really play anything. Any instruments, I mean. I was just there at first 'cause of Steph-- they'd practice at our place sometimes-- and then after 'cause I was friends with the guys. I only ended up being a stand-in sometimes 'cause I was there.

[At this point Neil realises he's been talking a lot, and he tenses up and blushes. Self-consciously, he decides to finish up this story quickly. His words come out rushed and mumbled.]

I mean, if they'd asked me, I would've joined, y'know. But it's cool.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[The blush makes Lucy beam at him. She reaches over and ruffles his hair again.]

I think they should ask you. So what do you do in the City, besides stand-in for a band sometimes.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Well, actually, that was more of a... pre-City thing. Stills's band here, I think they're too cool for me. At least, that singer dude probably is. [But he grins, so he's at least partially joking.

And as for Lucy's question, he's going to try really hard to say that he mostly hangs out and plays video games. He has a job-- that's a safe topic, he'll stick to that.]Here, I work at this café. Mostly behind-the-scenes stuff, folding napkins and setting tables and stuff. Not super-exciting, but, y'know, money. So.
Uh, how 'bout you?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

You'll have to start your own band. Also, I think I've probably been there. I'm a cafe stalker.

[She ducks her head, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment before she speaks.]

I used to work in a clothing store here. My boyfriend was rich. When he left the City, he left me all of his accounts and the flat so basically...I don't do anything. I spend his money.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[...Oh, oops. Touchy subject. Neil didn't mean to touch on one of those.]

Well... 's long's you're happy, eh? ...Are you...? Happy?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[It's okay. She's been very conflicted about Harry since before he left.]

I am happy, I guess. For a recently dead girl. My best friend, Jill, is here now. That's big.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that helps a lot. [A knowing smile, because hey, Neil can speak from experience!] I'll uh... y'know, help with the happiness thing too, if I can.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[That makes Lucy come to a full stop. She turns a little, goes up on tiptoe and kisses his cheek, her lip gloss leaving a shiny imprint there.]

I'm glad I asked you out on a date, Neil.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil freezes in place for a moment, unable to do or say anything. Hearing the word 'date' out loud is almost too much. But he breaks out of the daze presently.]

N-- I... uh, m-me too.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She laughs and pulls him along so that they're walking again.]

So you work at the cafe. You don't sing back up vocals. You play Left 4 Dead for fun. What else about Neil should I know?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Uh... let's see. [He rubs at he back of his neck and clears his throat.] My heritage is German, Dutch, Norwegian, and Anglo-Saxon. I'm Rank 22 on Tetris Battle. My favourite food is salmon. And I speak conversational Japanese. That's about it.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[He's totally adorable in the Lucy wants to hug him way.] Conversational Japanese? Why?