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

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Truuuuue. At least we'd stay awake. [He nods mock-sagely, then keeps drinking his beer like it's going out of fashion.] I miss those tournaments, oh man. I used to kick so much ass.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

You should throw one here. [Lucy takes a sip of her beer. She's pacing herself. She knows there are more shots coming.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Now that is a totally ace idea. But only if you'd come.

[...Neil, on the other hand, has no clue about pacing. Which could prove at least mildly hilarious.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Duh. Dressed as one of the Soul Caliber girls. Every function needs a cheerleader slash hostess.

[She drinks another sip of beer and orders two Sweet Tarts: another Redbull shot.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Heck yes! You would totally make a kickass Sophitia. [He doesn't bother to hide his grin as he imagines it.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She giggles at that.] I have no idea which one she is. You'd have to supervise costume buying. [Lucy loves playing dress up. Literally. She has a slave Leia costume she occasionally wears. The shots come and Lucy slides one over to Neil. The poor guy is never going to sleep again.]

This is another one you just toss back. I'll count this time.

Three

Two

One

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil slams down the glass a little hard after that one, so he's clearly starting to feel something.]

I could so do that. Oh, uh, how many of these things is it normal to drink, by the way?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

This quickly...you ought to be feeling it. And we should probably space the rest of them out over the rest of the night.

[She wants him drunk enough to have fun, not too drunk to stand.[

Are you ready to sing?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Totally. But, ladies first, right?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She grins, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth then nods.]

Okay but no backing out or running away if I'm awful. You have to be supportive and yell loudly.

[And she gets up to go sign up to sing.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

I'll be your biggest fan. Promise.

[He flashes her a thumbs up. The fan thing, that's something he's really good at.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[After a bit of indecision, Lucy finally gets up on stage to sing Because I'm Awesome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2By1X26GqE). Rather badly, not horribly but not well either. At least she's enthusiastic and she's got volume.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[True to his word, Neil shouts, whistles, claps, and generally makes a big scene like he's seeing a hit band in concert or something. He definitely knows how to do the fan thing, and the alcohol and caffeine are giving his enthusiasm a boost.
When Lucy comes back, he high fives her.]

Nice one! I'm up.

[He heads for the stage. He addresses the bar, and all traces of his usual awkwardness seem to be gone with the drinks and the audience.]

Hard act to follow, eh folks? [He winks.] Let's bring it down a notch. Take a breather.

[He combs a hand through his hair and starts into a pretty faithful rendition of Penny on the Train Track (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHNYMaq8jp8), complete with a fake Southern American lilt to his voice. He really gets into it, too, seeming way more at home on the stage than he generally is in his day-to-day life.

When he's finished, he grins and bows.]

Thank you!

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy does her part as fan, digging a lighter out of her purse and holding it up in front of the stage. She screams, whistles and considers throwing her bra on stage but it's a little too early in the evening for that. Don't worry, Neil. It'll come.

She meets him at the bottom of the steps with a mischievous grin. She wraps one arm around his neck and kisses him. On the lips. When she pulls away she laughs.]

You were amazing.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil is too amazed to respond for a moment, but when the initial shock fades, he gives her a shy smile.]

Thanks.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[The smile is adorable and likely to get him more kisses before the night is over.]

Now more drinks! Possibly dancing. Are you a dancer or a watcher?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Uh. I watch, mostly.

[He rubs at the back of his neck sheepishly.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Totally valid choice. [She grabs his hand and starts winding her way back to the bar.] So I'll dance in a little while. You'll watch and then we'll sing more.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[He grins. This is an appealing prospect. Also, hey, girl hand, and he's still kind of reeling from the kiss.]

Sounds good to me.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Poor thing could never recover before the night is over.]

Another beer?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

That would be awesome.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She lets go of his hand long enough to slip slide through the people to the bar, orders two more beers and carries them over. She holds the Becks out to Neil.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil takes it, and fixes Lucy with a suddenly serious expression.]

Y'know, you're... you're like, the coolest girl who's ever... forget 'gone out with me'-- coolest girl who's ever spent this much time with me, at all. Seriously, like, ever.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy smiles at him a little sadly and reaches out to run her fingers through his hair. She leans in and kisses him, hard and serious then pulls away.]

And you're probably the sweetest guy I've gone out with on a real date in...ever. [Which is true. The Master was a lot of things, unselfishly sweet wasn't one of them.]

Anytime you want to go out, just call.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil looks profoundly moved by this.]

Really? Y' mean it?