Nate did not go to a lot of galas. They just werenât exactly a big thing in the dairy farming community of rural Idaho. But with good enough manners and a couple well-to-do friends on his side, he felt like he had successfully navigated most of the evening with either no faux-pas, or none big enough for anyone to give him a look, and his hands were barely sweaty and his heart hardly beating too fast at all.
But still, he was glad to escape the activity in the hopes of finding a room that was not currently being taken over by the upper crust (and the employees of the upper crust). He was also glad to smuggle out a couple sandwiches from trays being passed around, because even with that dinner he was hungry. Thereâs a chance he was too nervous to eat everything at dinner and had just now realized it.
âIâm hoping you know where youâre going,â Nate joked as he followed her lead. âBecause Iâm⌠yeah, Iâm probably already completely lost in here.â
Tabs had grabbed his hand and encouraged him to follow her, barely sending a look back as she led him through a few corridors in the back halls of MACUSA. She knew her way around almost as well as she did her own school, given the number of times she'd visited in her free time. Her dad was a popular figure, and the Ogletrees knew where the lines were with the most important people around here, so when they were seen they could get away with it.
âPssh, I've been here often enough to know exactly what I'm doingâ Tabitha replied, confidently rounding a final corner with an âAha!â, escorting Nate into an empty, small conference room.
âProbably the only empty, unlocked room in this place and you found it just like that. Itâs like magic,â Nate half-joked with a half-smile, happy to be led into an unoccupied conference room by Tabs. With less people crowding around him, in suits that cost more than his house and eating food that cost more than his suit, he could breathe a little easier, think a little straighter, and talk without his tongue getting in the way the whole time. With a casual kick at the doorstop propping open the entryway to their room, the door slammed shut. It was a little louder slam than he had anticipated.
Nate winced slightly. âUh. Whoops. Maybe I should have just used my hands.â
Tabitha laughed at that, leaning in to give her boyfriend a kiss. âIt doesn't matterâ she replied, leading them to a double couch under the window. âAt this stage of the evening, the photographers stick like glue to the pros in the hope of seeing them mess up, and none of the kids ever care.â
She adjusted her dress as she sat down, pulling the pink chiffon up off the floor.
âYou know, I donât think Iâve ever been so happy to be ignored.â Nate sank down on the couch next to her, careful not to tread on her dress. âOr, well, I guess almost ignored.â He looked down and shrugged sheepishly, almost embarrassed as the half-smile spread into a full-on goofy smirk, not the kind you would usually see on the polished politicians posing for pictures across the building.
Looking back up, he cleared his throat, which made his attempts at very casually shifting the subject a little more obvious than he had intended. âAre you excited for your birthday? Itâs a whole different world on the other side of eighteen, you know.â
âYou're not being ignored over hereâ she smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder and snuggling into him. Sure, that meant some of her gown was splayed across his legs to the point where she may as well have been sitting in his lap, but who cared about that? Tabitha certainly didn't.
At his question, she waved her hand a little, not being dismissive so much as waving away concerns, âWell, I'm of age, and I've got plans, so⌠I don't know? It's just like another birthday, really, apart from being the last one in high schoolâ she added, thinking about how she'd still be here in NYC by the time the day came.
Nate put his arm around her waist, enjoying the closeness for the moment. It wasnât often that he was able to shut off his brain and relax, especially if he was talking to someone, and especially if he was talking to someone alone, but he felt at ease right now. With the door closed and Tabithaâs head on his shoulder, he felt like he might actually be able to breathe for a minute without second guessing himself, which was a goddamn miracle.
âIn that case, mind if I give you your gift just a little bit early?â
He stuck his hand in his pocket, where a small present was wrapped for her. It had been wrapped by Maggie. And she had helped him pick it out. But it was still generally his idea, so he could say it was from him.
âOh?â Tabitha enquired, turning her head so that her chin rested on his shoulder, almost sighing with contentment at the proximity they currently shared. It wasn't always possible to get this far at school, at least without being interrupted.
She put her arm around his waist to match their pose, keeping them close as Nate pulled out the box from his pocket. Tabs couldn't help but be intrigued as she took the beautifully wrapped gift, beginning to open it. âOoh, interesting!â she grinned and kissed him again, wondering what was inside.
Nate tried not to look at the package as she opened it, wondering if, in the context of all this splendor, the necklace he got for her would look unremarkable and plain. For a second he couldnât even remember what it looked like, imagining a tarnished old chain in its place. At school, with the uniforms and the limited opportunities for showing off, it was easier to ignore the small, incidental ways some of his friends displayed their wealth, but this was a different ball game. In his only suit, with an embarrassingly modest present dressed up like it was something special, he felt himself getting more nervous than he wanted to admit.
âItâs nothing all that special, Iâm not really good atâI mean, I donât have sisters or anything, so itâs not likeâthough Maggie helped me pick it out,â he stumbled through his sentences, stopping just short of silently berating himself for not managing to finish a single one before starting another. âI, uh, I still hope you like it.â
If Tabitha had been able to read his thoughts fully, she would have berated him a little for not giving her more credit. At a minimum, she was brought up to be gracious, and for people she cared about she was just pleased that they cared enough back to buy her something. Especially when, as in Nateâs case, money was not as easy to come by as it was for her.
She gave a genuine smile as she opened the box, tactfully ignoring his stammering and falling over his words. âIt's beautiful! I love itâ she explained, giving him yet another kiss (it was easy to be so tactile without her parents or their colleagues observing). âHelp me put it on?â
That was not an attempt at getting him to touch her. Nope.
Of course she was sweet about it, of course she was nice enough to smile and want to put it on and not mention the fact that his tongue and his brain were not even kind of cooperating right now, and there was even the possibility that she liked the necklace. Of course, he thought to himself, like Maggie would even let me get something cheap and tacky.
And with her smile, his shoulders relaxed, and Nateâs smile came easier. âI guess I could help with that,â he kidded and proceeded to fumble with the clasp. It was hard to get a grip on something that small when your hands were sweating, you know.
After a moment in which he did not get frustrated and embarrassed about his inability to unfasten a necklace, which was probably a universal skill and something no one else ever struggled with, it popped open. âOkay, now I can help with that.â He draped the necklace around her neck, carefully keeping the clasp open until it was in place so he wouldnât have to spend another several seconds trying to pry it open again. His hand brushed along her skin as he let go of the fastened necklace, coming to a rest on her shoulder.
âI have no clue if necklaces can be too big or small or whatever, but I, uh, hope it fits okay.â
Talking about fit and fashion? Now that was something Tabs can do.
âTotally depends on the style and fit of the outfit you're wearingâ she replied easily, her fingers brushing first against the necklace and then his fingers where they touched her. She was glad of the quieter moments like this. They seemed to give Nate the licence that bolshier boys didn't need to be more forward - not that she wanted him to be like those boys, of course, but she wouldn't complain if Nate did want to get his hands on her.
âWell, Iâm not sure about literally any of that, but I think it looks pretty dang good.â He took a steadying breath that was much deeper and more obvious than he intended it to be, and placed his other hand around her waist, giving her a light kiss on the side of her neck. âBut thatâs not hard, I think you do most of the work there.â He was smiling through anxiously gritted teeth.
The heaviness of his breath and the gentleness of his lips on her sensitive spots made Tabitha shudder for a moment before she took control of herself, knowing that the shyer one of the pair might take this the wrong way. Pausing for a moment instead, she tilted her head just enough so she could get a look at him, lacing her fingers through his.
âFlattery will get you everywhereâ she teased, pecking him on the lips before studying his facial expression thoughtfully. âYou OK there?â
Nate felt his shoulders relax a hair when she kissed him, and he let out a light, breathless laugh, because it was stupid for him to be nervous about just spending time with someone he spent plenty of time with as it was. But out of his element like this, he started to see himself in a different light, and second guess things he was already inclined to second guessâso third or fourth guessing, really, which he was unsurprisingly good at.
âJust, uh, thinking about how much I like spending time with you,â he said, squeezing her hand and running his thumb absently over the top of hers. âOr, I mean, I guess you could say I might love it.â
Tabitha couldnât help but let out a smile, even before Nate spoke those particularly sweet words. She was a pretty tactile person, and pampered as she was, it was as pleasurable for her as a cat being fussed over by their indulgent human. Not that Nate could be compared to a cat, she thought. She, Tabs, was the prissy one in their partnership.
âOnly might?â she grinned, a light and teasing tone ringing out from her voice. âBecause I definitely love spending time with you. Itâs just frustrating that we need to be in the inner sanctum of the government to get any privacy.â
âI guess it wonât be like that forever?â he said, and he hated how even more unsure of himself than he usually was. âI mean, not many people are gonna find us here, thatâs true, but eventually⌠we wonât be in school anymore and it wonât matter.â Nate didnât want to make it sound like he was planning too far ahead, thinking of anything past graduation, and the fact was that Nate still didnât really know where he was going to end up next year. Heâd applied to programs in all different parts of the country, and even if he ended up on the east coast, he didnât want to assume that some high school relationship was intended to last past graduation. âOr it will matter, but weâll act like it doesnât, and thatâs basically the same thing, right?â
Tabs didn't frown - she rarely did - but she couldn't help but think of how Nate seemed to be babbling again in his nerves. She really wanted him to relax in this, her world, and was wondering what she could do next. Instead, she ran the tips of her fingers through his hair, listening to him speak.
âWell, I guess it depends on how often we see each otherâ she said reasonably once he finished. She lowered her hand and shuffled a bit so that her legs were sprawled over his, following where the floaty material of her dress had gone some time ago. âBut then, if you don't see someone often you're more determined to find privacy, and if you see someone a lot you're more likely to have found somewhere you can both go.â
Nate put his hand on top of her leg, feeling the flowy fabric under his fingers. It felt like it cost more than his family's house, but he shoved that thought down. It wasn't productive. âI say we just make lists of all the best places to hide from roommates or family or whatever, and that way, no matter what, we're prepared,â he said with a small shrug. âOr, if it really comes down to it,â he smirked, and it looked way more goofy than smug, âwe can always break into the inner sanctum of the government. Right?â
Tabitha giggled - she really couldnât help it, given how happy she currently was - and leaned in to kiss him. Again. How many times now? She was pretty sure that sheâd lost count.
âThat is a very, very Nate responseâ she grinned, touching her nose to his affectionately. âBut hey, I bet all the people in dorms will be used to it when people want alone time.â
âAnd weâre not sending them off into the woods late at night, either,â he said. âNot that we should be sending people off into the woods now--especially not at at--I mean--â He pulled himself up short and shook his head. âKnow what, no woods, and also no breaking and entering. I think thatâs as much as we need to work out now.â And with a light smile, he kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose. |
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