Entry tags:

!completed gdoc, !log, ~2024 january, ~~nikolai lantsov (forravka), ~~nina zenik (saintmaker), ~~zoya nazyalensky (notkind)

Who: Nikolai, Nina, Zoya
What: Nina would like her brother to date the girl next door
When: talking on a porch over iced cold Cokes
Where: Outside Nina’s and Nikolai’s house
Rating: low

Nikolai happened to be coming home from running errands for his family. While his mother could go grocery shopping, the elder sibling enjoyed the order that the market provided, the lights, the fruit, the kind checkout people. He also drove while his younger sister didn’t and he’d promised to go pick up the dress and shoes she’d purchased for an upcoming dance. One where he’d have to remind her to behave, given her penchant for flirting.

When he arrived home, he brought the groceries into the house, before returning outside where his sister sat outside soaking up some sun. “I’d ask if you behaved, but it’s you,” he teased, handing her a bottle of iced cold Coca Cola. Nikolai took a sip of his own beverage, noticing their next door neighbour, the beautiful and proud Zoya.

---

Nina thought of herself as a rather wonderful younger sister. She kept their parents from ever being annoyed with him, ensured he actually had a life sometimes, and usually made her older brother laugh.

“Aw shucks, big brother. Where would the fun be in behaving?” Her blonde hair flowed over her curves, though she dressed rather modestly considering they were at home. She noticed their neighbour and, seeing as she and Zoya were friends of a sort, she called out to the dark-haired girl. “Zoya, would you like to come join my brother and I for a Coke?” In Nina’s mind, her brother and their neighbour should go steady, get married, and give her beautiful nephews and nieces. Given her brother’s shyness, though, she might need to help the pair along.

---

Zoya spent the morning shopping. With her good looks, she easily could have convinced one of the young men in town to drive her, but Zoya was also proud. It was a bit of a long walk, but she was strong. Besides, she ended up with only two bags of groceries for the trip. Nothing she could not handle.

Perhaps that was what set her apart from the other women in town. She was fierce and independent. Though not above flirting once and a while (when a task required it), she preferred to face whatever life threw at her alone.

She’d noticed the brother-sister pair on the porch of their home, but given she had her hands full, she didn’t offer a wave. Zoya was almost inside when Nina called out to her. They were sort of friends and Zoya did like her brother. He was…cute. Not that she would ever mention it or act on anything.

And she had things to do. She didn’t have time to sit and chat about nothing over a coke. Yet, Nikolai looked hopeful, didn’t he? Oh. Maybe a few minutes…

“I’ll be over in a few minutes. Let me put the groceries away.” Zoya ducked into the house, shutting the door behind her, and made her way to the kitchen. She quickly put away the groceries, checked her makeup and hair (the ribbon was still in place), and stepped outside again.

“How are you both doing today?” Zoya said in the way of greeting as she paused in front of the pair.

---

Nikolai couldn’t help but look a little helpful. Zoya knew her worth, but tended to keep to herself and Nikolai felt attracted to the strong and independent woman. Not to mention, her hair always looked so silky and soft. Sometimes Nikolai wanted nothing more than to run his fingers through her hair or take her on a date for a malted where he could perhaps hold her hand. Unfortunately, Nina knew him too well and figured out his crush.

When Zoya agreed to join them after she put away the groceries, Nikolai blushed and turned to his younger sister, playfully punching her in the shoulder. “Golly gee, why’d you have to embarrass me like that?” Even though he obviously looked happy. Laughter could be heard, but Nina and Nikolai carried one with their afternoon.

Nina grinned and shrugged, and returned to the porch a moment later with a Coke for Zoya.

“Oh I’m alright. Nik very kindly picked up my dress for the upcoming dance.” Nina handed the Coke to the brunette. “I’m going to hope a certain boy invites me, but I can just go by myself.” With Inej and Kaz now married, she didn’t really have anyone to go with her, but she’d try not to worry too much. After all, she obviously loved the turn of events for her two best friends.

Meanwhile, Nikolai tried not to stare. “Oh. Uh. I’m alright. Just ran some errands for Mom, since she’s lying down with a headache. How are you?”

---

Zoya accepted the Coke and took a sip. She was thirsty after her long walk from the store. Part of her was jealous of the relationship between Nina and Nikolai. Zoya was an only child and while she made it seem as if she always preferred to be alone, there was a part of Zoya that longed for companionship.

“That was kind of him,” Zoya replied, glancing over at Nikolai briefly before her gaze returned to Nina. “If he doesn’t ask, go by yourself. You enjoy making a statement.” And Zoya was someone who also enjoyed making a statement. Proving to people that rules were meant to be broken…even if it left you a pariah of sorts.

When Nikolai mentioned their mother was lying down with a headache, Zoya frowned. “I hope she feels better soon.” She took another sip from her coke. “I’m doing okay. Just another day for me.” She’d go home and prepare for dinner after this chat. Then listen to the radio till bedtime or read.

---

Nina could tell that sometimes Zoya seemed to not wish to be by herself. Which might be partly why she wanted her brother to stop being so shy. At the end of the day, Nina had Nikolai and she couldn’t ask for a better brother.

“Yes, sometimes my brother is kind,” Nina said as she stuck out her tongue and the audience laughed.

“Well, golly gee little sister. I try,” he responded. “Though you don’t always make it easy,” Nikolai responded. “Thanks. I think she’ll be alright.” Finally he swallowed, because if he didn’t ask out Zoya before she left, Nina would never let him hear the end of it. Nina took the cue and walked the few steps down to their mailbox.

“I think you’re swell, Zoya and was wondering if you’d like to go for a milkshake with me on Saturday? If you’re free?”

---

Zoya wished for many things, but she convinced herself a long time ago that wishing and hope were for fools. Love only ended up hurting you in the end. Losing her aunt taught Zoya that. Her mother trying to marry her off at an illegal age taught her that.

“Well, sometimes is better than never,” Zoya replied, taking another sip of her coke. Unless you were Zoya and then “never” seemed like the appropriate path of choice.

And then Nina was heading towards the mailbox and Zoya, who had found herself in these situations before, knew exactly where this conversation was going.

He was asking her out on a date. Zoya looked down at the bottle in her hand. Of course there was a part of her that wanted to leap at the chance, but Zoya knew it was a bad idea. She was already a pariah in town for her actions and ways. The last thing Nikolai needed was to be associated with her.

FInally, she looked up at him. “Nikolai, you’re a good man. You have a good heart and I don’t want to ruin it. You’re better off dating one of the finer ladies in town. A match your mother could be proud of.” Zoya would be his friend. She could handle that. They could handle that.

---

Nina couldn’t help her exclamation of excitement. Her lady’s magazine arrived, which she needed because she didn’t know what the upcoming colour schemes in fashion would be. From somewhere oohs could be sounded. She gave the other two a bit more space, though she felt badly for her brother. Zoya seemed to keep people at arm’s length, which sounded lonely to the younger sibling.
“The only person whose opinion I care about is Nina’s and she told me I’d be an idiot to not at least ask.” He offered his cheeky grin, which could win over most anyone. “If you don’t wish to say yes because you truly don’t want to go on a date with me, I accept it. But if it’s because you think you aren’t good enough, let me tell you how very wrong you are.”

Nina walked back over to the pair, as if timing her re-entrance. “I know jello molds are all the rage, but I don’t understand why.”

---

Love had not been kind to Zoya. Her choice was as much to protect herself as it was to protect Nikolai. Of course he gave her that cheeky grin that could win over anyone and told her that she was wrong. That she was good enough. It was an expected argument. If only he understood it went much deeper than her being an outcast in town. It went back to her mother, losing her friends, and realizing that opening your heart could be the worst mistake one ever made. In that way at least.

Before Zoya could respond, Nina returned, talking about jello molds being all the rage. Nikolai’s sister certainly knew when to make an entrance. Zoya knew this little excursion was planned and if she hadn’t, Nina’s perfectly timed return made it painfully obvious. Zoya polished off the rest of her Coke and held it out to Nikolai.

“Thank you for the drink and chat, but I have to go. I hope your mother feels better.” She started to leave and then turned, gaze landing on Nikolai’s face. Some voice inside of her prompted her to stop. It whispered to her that she could do this. That she could survive the fall. To have faith. To open her heart. Zoya didn’t know if she believed it. Not really. Still, one date wouldn’t be terrible, would it?

“I’ll think about Saturday,” she said, a rare smile playing on her lips. “Good day to you both.” And then she was down the sidewalk and heading towards her house.

---

Nina stretched out her legs, as she resumed sitting on the porch. She didn’t have skin in this game, per say, though obviously she had opinions.

Nikolai nodded. “Thank you, Zoya.” And he couldn’t help the smile when she stopped and mentioned thinking about Saturday. Perhaps she would say yes to one date.

---

wrap!