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James ([info]jamesownsit) wrote in [info]halcyon_halls,
@ 2008-10-03 20:59:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:james, natalia

Week Nineteen: Friday
Who: James and Natalia
When: 9PM until ?
What: A date

James had honestly thought it would take longer to convince Natalia to go out with him, but he was wrong. It seemed that she was a sucker for a nice gift still. Either that or she just felt bad for him having lost his mother. That was a wound that was still rather raw, especially after having a few days to think about it. He truly was an orphan now. And he worried for his sister. She was out there alone again, with no one, no way to reach him. It scared him. He wanted so badly to help her but... She was stubborn, just like he was. And all of that was neither here nor there right now. Tonight he didn't want to think about any of those things, or even talk about them, though he was certain it would come up eventually.

Never being one to go out without a plan or without spending at least a few hours getting ready, one of which was on his hair, James had decided upon a new approach tonight. He had absolutely no idea what they were doing or where they were going. He had made no reservations, hadn't called a car, hadn't even bothered with bringing her flowers. And as for his appearance, he wore a pair of faded jeans and a long sleeved tee. His hair was free of product, left loose and soft upon his head, and his boots lacked their usual shine, opting for a pair of slightly scuffed black Lugz instead. He looked far more casual than fashion forward this evening and he felt more comfortable that way, oddly enough.

Natalia had said she would be ready at eight thirty but he had given her until nine o'clock before he knocked upon her door. The sound was quick and heavy as his knuckles rapped upon the wood, his hand moving down to be shoved into his pocket immediately thereafter. He leaned against the frame of the door as he waited for her, his eyes downcast upon his shoes. A slight frown darkened his features as he stood there. Cissy better be right about this shit. Then again, when was she ever really wrong? If there was someone who knew a lot about women, wouldn't it be a woman? It was worth a shot either way.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-03 10:49 pm UTC (link)
Natalia still wasn't entirely convinced that agreeing to spend the evening with James was a good idea. Noah clearly didn't think so and since he tended to know her better than she knew herself so that wasn't exactly sitting well with her. But she wasn't about back out of it now since she had given her word so she was just going to have to suck it up and deal. Hopefully she wouldn't end up regretting her decision.

The wary looks that Noah had given her during practice didn't help matters and she was glad once it was over. She reassured him that she would keep her phone on and call if anything bad happened. Or even before anything happened if she got a bad feeling. Or if James looked at her funny or well, anything really.

Once she was able to make it back to her room, she headed for the shower and took a long, hot one. She stayed in until she was almost wrinkly, letting the heat from the water help clear her head a bit. She was nervous, she could admit that much but there was no going back now. And she could do this! She was a much stronger person than she had been back then.

Since he had given her until nine, she took her time getting dress and found herself staring at her closet for a really long time. He hadn't given her any indication of what they would be doing so she was kind of at a loss for what to wear. After spending far too much time trying to decide, she finally chose an outfit that was casual and dressy all at the same time. Hopefully this would be good enough.

The knock at her door sounded just as she slipped on the final bracelet and she headed for it after grabbing her purse. Pulling it open, she was kind of thrown off by his appearance. It wasn't that he looked bad, just different. In fact, he looked really good. "Hola," she said with a smile. "Shall we?"

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-03 11:16 pm UTC (link)
When the door opened, James pushed himself back from the frame of the door and removed his hands from his pockets. He allowed his eyes to trail over her, but not in a very lecherous way as he may have done in the past, his eyes coming to rest within her own. He smiled. "You look nice." And yes, he had a beautiful smile when he actually showed it, when it was genuine, and it was as genuine as it was going to get at this time, though still a bit strained, clearly.

"I'm ready if you are." He offered, his hand in addition to his words. He waited for her to accept or decline it and then did something that he had probably never done throughout the entire course of their relationship. "So what would you like to do tonight?" He never asked her what she wanted before really. It was always his friends and his idea that filled their evenings. But tonight, he was going to leave it all on her, unless of course she couldn't think of anything, in which case, well, he would have a few suggestions that he could make.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-04 11:22 pm UTC (link)
The smile on his face was infectious and she couldn't help but return it. "Gracias." It was nice and surprising to see him smile like that, the scowl he usually had something she was more familiar with from their time in the past.

Natalia hesitated when he offered his hand but took it in the end. It wasn't anything bad per se, she held Noah's hand a lot and usually had an arm around him so hand holding was that big of a deal, right? "What would I like to do?" she questioned. She couldn't remember a time where he had actually inquired as to what she would like to do. It was...refreshing. Maybe the time he had spent at the school was starting to pay off?

"I wouldn't mind getting a drink," she finally answered as they headed out of their house and out into the hall. It was too late to really go out for food so a drink or two seemed like the best course of action. Besides, bars were usually crowded and it wouldn't mean anything too intimate in the end.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-05 09:02 am UTC (link)
So far things seemed to be off to a good start. She had smiled back at him, she was holding his hand, she had yet to run off screaming or anything. This was certainly an improvement. Maybe Cissy really had been right. Maybe it was time that he stopped moping and groaning about it and made something happen. If he didn't, well, it was no secret that Natalia was a beautiful girl and it was probably a miracle that she hadn't really moved on already.

"A drink it is then. Any particular place in mind?" Granted, bars were crowded and that did prevent them from being alone, but that didn't necessarily negate any sort of intimacy. A corner booth in a crowded bar could be quite intimate, truth be told, and he would be certain to find just that for the two of them, some place where they could talk, maybe start to get to know one another again since that was, according to his friend, the first real step he should take.

"So.. I have a confession to make." He said once they had started the trek out of the house and down the hall to the front doors. "But first, are we calling a cab or shall we just walk?" He was okay with walking, but the cab would get them there faster and, well, it was up to her. He was going to leave those decisions in her court tonight.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-05 04:25 pm UTC (link)
"Hmm. The Loft? I haven't been there since it changed ownership." Natalia really had no desire to go down to the strip club or whatever The Pit portion of it was with games but the upstairs part seemed safe enough. Besides, she recalled hearing something about live music and that was something she had always enjoyed. One of the perks to working where she currently was and all.

Natalia didn't exactly like the way that sounded, but she would give him the benefit of the doubt before she got too worried. "Oh?" Hopefully it was just something completely innocent and not really a big deal. "A cab, please. I have spent enough energy running around tonight." While she did have the whole increased stamina thing going for her, that didn't mean that she wanted to go on foot after a couple of hours playing football.

Since it was a Friday night, there were a few cabs waiting outside of the school so they didn't have to worry about flagging one down. Once they were inside and headed off toward their destination, Natalia turned to him. "So, what is this confession?"

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-05 04:45 pm UTC (link)
"Sounds good." He wasn't going to disagree with her even if the place was a little larger than what he had initially hoped for. He was thinking some small pub like place downtown where it would still be quiet enough that they could talk. He doubted that The Loft would be like that, especially since they were having live music there tonight, but this was her night, her time to decide, and they could always talk later, or in the cab on the way there, one or the other. It was bound to happen eventually, not that he was really looking forward to it all that much. Conversation was not his forte but he understood that they would get nowhere fast without it.

He nodded his head at the request for a cab, waving at the first one to wait for them as he moved over to open the door for her. He could be a gentleman when he wanted to be. Once she was inside the back seat, he climbed in as well and instructed the driver where to take them, along with a "please". Then came the question which he knew was coming, and his answer was one that he was slightly nervous about. It could go either way. She might possibly be flattered, but then again, it was possible she would also be highly offended.

"I thought it would take more effort to get you to agree to go out with me." He had brought it up, so he might as well go for it. If it turned sour, then it did, and he would have to figure out some way of repairing it. "So in preparation for that..." He offered her a bit of a sheepish grin. "The necklace, earrings and bracelet that go with the sandals are back in my room." He paused for a moment to gauge her initial response. "You can still have them. I bought them for you."

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-06 01:26 am UTC (link)
The "please" earned him a somewhat surprised look but she couldn't help but follow it up with a smile. This kinder side of James was definitely something that she could enjoy and get used to. It was just sad that it took losing his mother to finally bring it out. If that was in fact what had triggered it.

When he finally admitted his "confession," Natalia was a bit surprised. That was it? That wasn't nearly as bad as she had imagined! Whew. Smiling, she patted his leg. "You do not need to buy me presents, you know that." Natalia had never been overly superficial or anything like that and that hadn't changed in their time apart. "But it is sweet that you were worried." She really was too nice to get mad over something like that.

The ride over to the club was fairly short and soon they were exiting the cab and heading inside. "It is nice in here, no?" she asked as she surveyed the inside. It was still familiar, but it lacked that distinct something that had made it Heaven in the past. "Where would you like to sit?"

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-08 07:29 pm UTC (link)
James had always had a tender side, a soft side, it just took a bit for him to show it. He had it beat into his head while growing up that men were not like that, that men didn't show weakness and that that was exactly what kindness would be taken as. But his father was wrong, and dead, as was his mother. And the only people that he had left much preferred him this way over the other. And that was enough of thinking like that.

"I know. But I feel like.." He paused, trying to think of how to word things without making it sound horrible, like he thought she was vain and could be bought. "I just want to make things right with you. And I know I don't really deserve the chance to so.." He shrugged his shoulders slightly. "But please don't take the that wrong way. I'm not trying to buy you or anything, I just... It feels good to do nice things for the people that mean the most to me." Her, his sister, and Cecilia. They were the only ones that were left.

James had never been to the club when it was Heaven and Hell so there was no way for him to know if it was any different or not. It seemed pretty average though, typical club. He had seen enough of them in New York. "How about a booth?" He nodded towards one that was somewhat secluded in a corner. "Why don't you go snag it for us and I'll go to the bar and get us a drink? What's your poison?" He used to know what she liked, but it was possible that that had changed. So many things had.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-09 12:45 am UTC (link)
"I appreciate your efforts," she said as she tried to reassure him. She understood what he was trying to say, or at least she thought she did anyway. "Do not worry, I understand." Nat didn't think that he was calling her superficial or anything. It was just nice to see that he was trying to make an honest effort.

Her pale eyes followed his gaze toward the booth and she gave a nod. "Okay, no problemo." Getting a table seemed easy enough. Wow, was he asking her what she would like? That was new. "Um, Tequila Sunrise I guess?" It would be easy enough to take her time with it and not over indulge. Definitely a sipping kind of drink.

When James wandered off to the bar, Nat headed for the booth that had been pointed out. Even with the number of people on the dance floor, she was able to slip through the crowd with a practiced ease. Sliding into seat, she occupied herself with looking around the club while she waited for James.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-09 08:00 pm UTC (link)
It wasn't that James was trying to turn over a new leaf, he was just trying to take into consideration the things that Cissy had said, the things that she would want him to do if she were Natalia, the things she would want him to say. He was putting a lot of faith in her judgment but she was the kind of woman that knew what she wanted and hopefully she and Natalia had enough in common that the same sort of things would apply. According to Cissy, it was pretty much universal.

Heading to the bar, it didn't take him long to place his order and get the required drinks, a Tequila Sunrise for her and a Kirin Ichiban for him. He was trying to lay off of the drink so a good strong import would probably do him just right.

Drinks in hand, he carefully avoided bumping too many people and the roving eyes of a few interested girls and made his way back over to the table to meet Natalia. "Has this place changed much?" He asked as he placed her drink down on the table in front of her and then slid into the booth beside her with his own in hand, a sip taken as the bottle was raised to his lips. "I've never been here before. Tried to get Nell to come a time or two but it wasn't really her thing." He missed that girl, more than he cared to admit. It was nice to just spend time with someone without feeling any certain degree of pressure.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-10 10:45 pm UTC (link)
Natalia had been zoning out when James had returned and it took her a second to process his question. "Same feel but the decor is different. Gracias," she added as she took her drink. Her own sip was taken as he spoke of Nell. Natalia hadn't known her personally, but it was good that James had made another friend at some point. "Oh, I am sorry."

Sipping again, Natalia stared off into the crowd. There were many unfamiliar faces but there were some familiar ones as well. People she had classes with or just recognized from around the school. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the new club and it was nice to be able to watch other's having fun. People watching was one of her favorite things to do.

She was about to turn back to James when she could have sworn that she had seen a familiar head of dark hair but the build wasn't quite right and he certainly didn't have the dimples that were required. It was odd, she almost felt disappointed. Strange. "How is your beer?"

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-12 07:05 pm UTC (link)
"Shit happens." That was the way that he summed up most things. It was the way he felt about his mother's passing, or the way he would had said he felt if he had been asked. He couldn't blame Nell for getting the hell out while she could. He couldn't blame her for following Blake. But that didn't mean he wouldn't miss her company. It was nice to have someone that he could be himself around and not feel like he was walking on eggshells or he had some sort of reputation to uphold.

He was lost in his own thoughts when she posed the question and it was his turn to take a minute to answer. "Oh, uhm.. cold?" He laughed a little. He wasn't really paying that much attention to the taste of it. "It's okay, I guess, for beer." Not really a massive conversation starter. "What about yours? Is it good?" It was hard to mess up a Tequila Sunrise as simple as it was to make, but it only seemed polite to ask.

"Wanna dance?" He wasn't really the type to care too much for dancing in a club, never had been, but if it kept him distracted, then it was a welcome change. He hated thinking about all that had happened in the short amount of time he had been alive, and his thoughts seemed to keep jumping back and forth between things that happened when his father was alive, things that happened when he and Natalia were together, and his mother's death and sister's subsequent disappearance.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-13 09:14 pm UTC (link)
Natalia nodded. "I think when it comes to Japanese beer that I prefer the Sapporo. It's nice and crisp." She wasn't really a fan of the thicker ales and whatnot but she could enjoy a nice cold one every once in a while though her heart would always lie with a good Corona. "Si, it is not too bad." The balance between the different parts was pretty good so she really couldn't complain on her part.

"Really?" she asked, a tad surprised. "Uh, si, I would love to." Natalia loved to dance but it was just one of those things she had given up during her time with James. Sure she was able to dance while they were out for at least a little while but dancing by herself just wasn't the same. It was why she adored her Noah so. As white as he was, he at least always made the effort to see that she had a good time.

Standing, she followed him out onto the dance floor and feel into the rhythm of the music. It was a loud, energetic song so there was a lot of bouncing involved, but she was having a good time so whatever.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-15 07:16 pm UTC (link)
"Wanna try it?" He asked her, holding it up to offer her a sip though he wasn't sure how good it would go with what she was drinking. But Kirin wasn't bad really. He just wasn't really in the mood for drinking. He wasn't sure that he was in the mood to be in this place but he wasn't in the mood to be alone, and he didn't think she would be comfortable with being alone with him. So it was best to just make the best of it.

Dancing wasn't exactly his forte but that didn't mean that he didn't know how to move. James could dance. He could dance well. He just normally chose not to. But once they were on the floor and the music was playing and she was moving, he found himself letting go of it all a little bit at a time. And before too much longer, he was actually having a good time, and his mind was free of the thoughts that had weighed him down for days.

James was careful to keep his hands to himself at first, at least until the music dictated otherwise, and even then he was probably more polite than she was used to him being the few times they had danced together. But that didn't keep him from enjoying himself with her, from stealing a sniff of her hair, from caressing her skin with his breath. It was almost more than he could stand.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-15 09:16 pm UTC (link)
"Oh, no thank you," she said as she held up her hand and shook her head. "I do not think it would mix very well." That and once she started to mix her alcohol she was done. It was just a slippery slope and one she'd rather avoid. He was right in his thinking and if she could have read her thoughts she would have tried to assure him that it was nothing personal. A lot of trust had been destroyed and it was going to take some time before she felt comfortable with him again. She was trying though.

It was good to see him relax after a song or two and to be honest, she didn't mind the brief touches or their close proximity. It was almost familiar but not quite. They were both different people now and that took some getting used to. It was almost as if they had to reintroduce themselves to each other again.

Another song slipped by and the tempo slowed to a more sensual sort of techno-esque song. It really wasn't one you could dance alone to so with a soft smile she held her arms out and slipped into his once she was invited. At first she was slightly hesitant with how close to stand but eventually she let the tension roll down her back and she stepped into him, her chin coming to rest on his shoulder.

"Thank you for taking me out tonight."

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-15 09:27 pm UTC (link)
The slow song certainly put him outside of his comfort zone for a moment. He wasn't exactly sure what to do. Well, he knew what to do in general, but he wasn't sure what to do with her. There was that whole trust issue thing, definitely, and he didn't want to touch her wrong or take things in the wrong direction and have her close off completely to the idea of even being around him again. Because of this, he was relieved when she took the initiative and made the decision for them both.

It took some relaxing on his end as well, but after he reminded himself to breathe, he let his arms relax around her and let his body find the rhythm of her own and move with hers as one. There was a moment of realization in that when he thought about how similar slow dancing was to sex and then his mind tried to run away with that thought and... Thankfully her voice reeled him back in.

"Thanks for agreeing to come out with me." He said in response, and then chanced a soft kiss against her temple. "It's helped." He said, and then added in a voice that was almost too soft to carry over the sound of the music, "Tired of being shut away with my thoughts."

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-15 09:38 pm UTC (link)
Natalia's mind thankfully had avoided the gutter. The only thing she was really thinking about was how nice it felt to be held like that again. Sure she got her hugs from Noah and could drag him out dancing every once in a while but it just wasn't the same. A girl wanted to feel wanted, it was just one of those basic needs. Dancing with Rhett had been nice the one time it had happened but then he stopped paying her much attention and it just wasn't good for the self esteem.

The kiss to the temple wasn't unwanted and she smiled as she leaned in just a tad against his lips. "Good, I am glad." No one deserved to be alone after suffering so much loss. Even if things had been bad in the past, he at least deserved a second chance if he wanted to make things right. Maybe that was foolish on her part, but she couldn't change that desire about her.

"Hey," she said softly as she leaned back a little. "You do not have to be alone, okay?" Supernatural hearing was a bitch sometimes. Natalia wanted him to at least know that she would be there for him if he needed her. Well, as long as he continued to play nice that was.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-15 09:54 pm UTC (link)
He did want her. As much as he tried not to, as many times as he told himself that he was really over it, as much as he wished he could just replace her with someone else, he still wanted her. And if she couldn't feel that in the way that he was holding her now.. Well, it would be clearly impossible for her not to feel it. And she very well should feel wanted. She was beautiful and perfect and... too damn good for him.

And if he hadn't thought that already, he certainly thought it now, especially with the way that she was being tonight, so nice, so kind, when she had no real reason to be that way.

He tightened his arms around her and pulled her back into him again, pressing another kiss against her cheek, just to the side of her ear. "You're too good to me, Nat." He whispered, and then closed his eyes as his body tensed a little. This was not the time or the place to be getting all emotional. Keep it together, James.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-15 10:14 pm UTC (link)
It was difficult not to get swept up in the way he was holding her but it really was for the best that she fight it. Falling back into bed with him wouldn't change anything and it definitely wouldn't solve their problems. They needed to take things slow and she knew that. He seemed to as well and she appreciated that a great deal.

His words caused a chill to dance down her spine and she had to close her eyes to keep from shivering. "You called me Nat," she whispered back, one hand moving to rub his arm as she felt him tense. "You've never called me that before." Maybe he really was starting to relax and let go. That was a big step. Even with the whole letting her choose their destination and being so polite, he had never used a nickname with her ever. This was a pretty big deal.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she felt him struggling against her. Her body moved on autopilot but there was clearly some concern in the way she held him now. "Tell me what is wrong, please."

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-15 10:32 pm UTC (link)
It was easy to want to take the easy route and just get swept away and forget about the fact that there were all these other things that they needed to work through before ever getting to that point, if they ever got to that point again. It was taking a lot of effort on his part to not push things, and really, had it not been for his mother's recent passing, he might not have been so patient.

It was kind of odd how her death had impacted him. It was almost as though it was a blessing in disguise. Not only had it made him capable of patience, even if that patience was only in the light of his mourning, but it felt as though it had lifted this weight off of him, like.. like all the things that he had felt were so damn important, all the rules that dictated his life, were just gone, meaningless. It was kind of a scary thing when that happened, when all that you knew, all that you believed, just lost any meaning whatsoever.

So really, it wasn't as much about relaxing and letting go as it was about just being lost. It came easy to him though. He hadn't thought that it ever would but it didn't feel odd rolling off the tongue or foul sounding to the ears like he had always anticipated.

"I miss her." Strange that they would find themselves having this conversation, this inevitable conversation, in the middle of a crowded club on the dance floor. "I've missed her for a long time but now... Now she's never gonna be.. be my mother again." She hadn't been, not since his father died, and not much of one before, but the warmth had gone out of her, she had changed when she remarried, and he had always had the hope that eventually she would.. well she would love him again, as horrible as she had been at that.

James pulled away a little and cleared his throat. "I need to get some air." His hand slid from her back down to her hand. "Walk with me?" It would be shocking if she said no, but he did give her a moment to agree or disagree before he led the way off of the dance floor and towards the door that would lead to the patio that served as an extension of the club itself.

"It was getting kind of hot in there." He remarked once they were safely outside. It was cooler and quieter and more secluded and he inhaled a deep breath of the cool air before moving his free hand up to run over his face. "I'm sorry." He said, and glanced over at Nat. "I'm trying really hard to just.. to just have a good time, and I am having a good time, it's just... I'm still processing it, I guess."

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-16 12:48 am UTC (link)
At his admission, Nat felt her heart sink. "I am sorry, James," she said softly. She didn't like seeing anyone hurt and knowing that it was over the loss of a parent just seemed that much worse. Personally, she couldn't imagine losing either of her parents and here James had no one. Family was very important to Natalia and losing any of them would have devastated her.

"Oh..okay." Giving his had a reassuring squeeze, she followed him out of the club and onto the patio. The fresh air did them both some good it seemed, the space something needed before anything got out of hand between them. The close proximity had been well on its way to wreaking havoc on her system so fresh air was definitely required.

A frown tugged at her lips as he apologized and she walked over to place a hand on his arm. "There is no need to apologize, James." Sliding her hand down, she grabbed his and gave a soft squeeze. "Would you like to call it a night? I do not mind."

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-16 08:23 am UTC (link)
It had been okay to lose his father, as horrible as that sounded. The man really meant nothing to him. He had never shown him the slightest bit of love or affection in his entire life, as far as he could remember, so there was no hope in his heart that he ever would. But his mother, as weak as she had been, had undoubtedly loved him. She was the one that would kiss his tears away, that would take care of him after his father broke him down. When the man died, all of that changed. She became a completely different person. She was so caught up in her new life, so shallow, that there had never been any time for him. But he had always thought that eventually... It didn't matter what he had thought. She was gone now too.

James shook his head no at the question. He wasn't ready to go back to his dorm room and sit there again, alone with his thoughts. He wasn't sure if he would ever be ready to go back to that though eventually he would have to. But the night was young still and.. he just needed a few minutes to compose himself.

Eyes scanned the patio and located a bench. His fingers laced with Natalia's own and pulled her along with him, though not forcefully in the least. He took a seat, leaving just enough room for her beside him on the bench. He had wanted to pull her down into his lap, wrap his arms around her, lose himself in the scent of her hair and the taste of her skin but he decided against that. He wasn't sure that they were at that point just yet.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-16 02:41 pm UTC (link)
Maybe he needed to get a roommate then? At least that way he wouldn't be alone. Natalia knew that personally she was grateful to have Kim around because sometimes just having someone in the same room helped a great deal. Natalia had never really lived alone since going off to college. First there was her roomie at the school and then James and the Noah after that. Being alone when she first arrived at Halcyon was difficult but then Kim came and all was well in the world again.

Following him to the bench, she took a seat next to him and placed her hand on his leg. She wasn't quite sure what she could do to reassure him but she wanted to at least try something. Even if all she could offer was a light touch, at least she was trying.

"It is nice out tonight," she said after a few moments of silence. "Not too hot but not too cold either." She wasn't really sure what else to say but she figured that talking about the weather was a safe enough topic. At least until he had relaxed enough to talk to her some more. It was good that he was trying to open up to her. She knew that much.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-16 08:22 pm UTC (link)
James wasn't sure how well he would do with a roommate. He had serious issues when it came to sharing his space. Granted, it might be a good idea right now, but what about after he got over it, after he stopped wanting to not be alone? He'd just be agitated with the guy then. Of course, it was possible that he could grow on him enough that he wouldn't mind it, but the chance of that happening was quite slim.

James looked down at Nat's hand as she placed it upon his leg and he smiled a little. A few minutes later, his own hand moved down to lace his fingers with her own, hoping that she wouldn't pull her hand away.

"It is a really nice night." He said, and looked up at the sky for a moment before he laughed. "Here we are, supposed to be on a date, both of us probably quite a bit different than we were when we knew one another a million years ago, and we're discussing the weather." He shook his head softly. "That's just wrong."

James looked at Natalia for a moment, a long moment, in silence, a slow smile spreading out over his face. "Is it terribly wrong that I want to kiss you every time I look at you?" It was a bad idea, maybe, but how bad of an idea was it really? That was the question. And did she feel anything even remotely similar to that herself.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-17 12:31 am UTC (link)
But on the other hand, maybe a roommate would do him a world of good even after he was ready to be alone again? Just a thought.

Natalia didn't pull away when he laced their fingers together but it did take a second for her hand to relax. There were a hundred different emotions churning around in her stomach and she couldn't make heads or tails of any of them. His laugh caught her off guard and it took her a moment to catch up before she finally chuckled. "I think this just makes us normal, no?" Small talk was something that happened on dates.

A second passed as she took in his question and she wasn't quite sure how to react. "Wrong? No, not wrong." It went back to the whole wanting to feel wanted thing. Now the real question was did she want him to? A part of her was slightly afraid of the answer. In the beginning, when things were good they were really good. It was hard not to miss that.

"It is flattering to hear you say such things." She offered a warm smile to him and glanced down at their joined hands.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-10-20 08:45 pm UTC (link)
"Maybe." He said, and then laughed his own self. "Does seem strange though, right?" For them, of all people, to be making small talk, to not have something more... substantial? Of course there were plenty of things they could discuss otherwise but.. maybe neither of them really wanted to, and that was why this was better, more comfortable.

Clearly that was not the answer that he was looking for, and while she smiled, he frowned a little and looked away.

"Maybe we should call it a night." He said after a long moment, and then glanced over at her to see her reaction. "If you're okay with that?" It was just too damn difficult being around her. It just added to the stress of everything else at the moment. And he had thought that she had felt it, that maybe there was something there but.. clearly it seemed as though he was wrong. He just couldn't take the rejection right now.

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[info]herbrokensmile
2008-10-21 12:50 am UTC (link)
"Si, a little," she agreed with a slight smirk. There was so much history between them and issues that needed to be resolved, but Natalia couldn't bring herself to talk about any of it. She had moved on from that part of her life and she really didn't want to go back.

The last thing she had wanted to do was upset James but it seemed a little late for that now. "Oh. Yeah sure, that is fine." She felt horrible that he wanted to leave but maybe it was better this way? If she had learned anything during this date, it was that she wasn't quite ready to forgive and forget. Falling back in love with him now would just undo everything she had worked so hard on and she rather liked being stronger.

Pushing herself to her feet, she continued to hold his hand while he led the way back out. "I am sorry that things did not turn out the way you had wanted."

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