Neon Moon

Ch. 12 Girls Night

After the night at the fair things had been surprisingly perfect. Everything was so natural and wholesome, and you honestly couldn't be any happier.

You hurried over and grabbed your table's order and delivered it right away with ease. Even the early morning shifts have been going really smoothly, as well as everything lately. It was pretty nice for once in your life to have a certain stability to rely on. It made everything so much easier like things were starting to fall into place for you.

Clyde and you had found a cute little routine you were really enjoying. He'd work late at the bar some nights in which either you'd hang out till he got off helping him close up, or he'd come by when he got off. If you were working at the diner he always made it a point to stop by to get a cup of coffee, grab a bite to eat, or just say hi.

One of your favorite things he's been doing lately is if you worked a late shift, he'd come in and find a booth in the back just reading till you got off. He respected that you worked and he knew you liked it even though it was a lot. You liked having him close knowing he was there just for you. It made you feel a little special.

Then the past weekend you basically lived at the bar. You'd do your little gigs and hang out with Mellie and Joe or Jimmy and Sylvia while Clyde bartended. He'd take frequent breaks bringing you a new drink or just to check in wrapping his arms around you from behind. It made your insides melt into a puddle completely soft for him. You both would close up and go straight to his place since it was closer and neither of you could hold back your urges for the other any longer.

You liked staying at Clyde's every once in a while. He kept it clean for a bachelor. The only thing that there was an abundance of was his books which you loved. It was one of those things you hope he never lost interest in. You had gone through and picked a couple from his stash and kept them on the little nightstand next to his bed so when you had a free moment you could enjoy a good story. It was heartwarming to watch him read. He would get so focused his brows would raise a little while his eyes darted across the pages so fast. Clyde could get so drawn into a good story.

The other night you couldn't help it, you were so tired from working a double shift at the diner. You curled up next to him on the couch. He placed his prosthetic arm around you pulling you into his side making sure not to lose the page he was on. In a soft voice you said, "read to me."

He thought for a minute then refocused on the book. Clyde's low drawl filled the air letting calmness and security ease into you. You settled into him letting your head rest in his lap. A metal hand traced little circles into your arm as he read.

"You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since-on the river, on the sails of the ships, on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in the wind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets. You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with." (Great Expectations by Charles Dickens)

His reading engulfed you realizing that Clyde was such a significant part of your life now. Every second with him filling your stomach with butterflies. Ever since walking into that bar in hopes of getting a job doing something you loved you found something or actually someone special. You curled into him even more, closing your eyes, letting his words overtake your thoughts as you drifted off peacefully.

With all that being said you really liked all the time spent with Clyde, but you couldn't help the nervous excitement that filled your stomach when Sylvia and Mellie invited you to have a girls night out.

Growing up you were never really able to make really good friendships because your dad and you were always on the move. In almost every town you'd lived in you made good acquaintances but never good friends. Not the type of friends to invite you to a birthday party or big sleepover, but more like the ones you talked to because you didn't know anyone else.