Blame The Monster [Antisepticeye Fanfiction]

2

Seán examines himself in the mirror, sighing. Smoothing his sweater over his chest, he begins to doubt himself. Was he too old to be dating? Most of his friends were settling down and having kids.

Pushing the worries to the back of his mind, he grabs his phone and keys, heading for the door. He had a strange feeling about tonight.

He wanted tonight to go well. He liked her. They had been texting for a few months now and now that she was back in Brighton, he was finally taking her out.

Locking his apartment door behind him, he made his way to his car, hoping for a good evening. He hadn't had any headaches in a little while. He was crossing his fingers that they wouldn't return tonight.

Arriving at the restaurant, he parks, sending her a text. Approaching the hostess, he sends her a smile. "I have a reservation for two under Seán McLoughlin." The woman glances down at the clipboard in front of her, scanning it before she nods, showing him to a table that stood next to floor to cieling windows with dark velvet curtains draped back to display the murky clouds hanging above, the edges of each fluffy one slathered with moonlight.

Once he was seated at the table, he shot her another text to let her know he was seated. She didn't respond.

The waitress asks if he wanted to wait to order and he nods, giving her a polite thank you before she scurries away to another table.

The tables were spaced out enough to give a sense of privacy and the dim lights helped sell it. Each table had a beautiful centerpiece made of candles, ensuring the couples could see each other and the food.

Seán checked his watch, growing more nervous the longer he waited. Flagging down the waitress, he gives her an apologetic stare. "Actually, I think I'll take a water. Thank you." She nods, dipping her head and quickly retreating once again.

When his water is placed on the table, he quickly scoops up the glass, raising it to his lips and gulping down several swallows.

It feels like an eternity has passed before someone approaches the table. Lifting his gaze, he finds her smiling shyly, a purple velvet dress with spaghetti straps clinging to her form. He felt his heart sail and his stomach swim with nerves. He was so afraid she wasn't going to show.

It's only once she's seated and the candle light graces her face that he notices her hair is wet and wet droplets cling to her face and eyelashes, dripping from her hair, down her shoulders and into the shadow between her breasts diving beneath her dress.

She gives him a pitiful look. "I'm so sorry, it started pouring out of nowhere and the roads were awful," she apologizes, sincerity shining in her beautiful amber eyes. His heart clenched as he mentally scolded himself for thinking she might not show.

He opens his mouth to speak, but notices her nipples peaking through her dress as a slight shiver wracks her shoulders.

He shakes his head, trying to rid the thoughts that invaded his mind. "God, no, not your fault. You must be freezing, here." He stands, shrugging off his blazer and helping her into it. She smiles at him, her eyes sparkling beneath wet lashes. Seán can't help the smile that jumps to his own cheeks.

"Thank you," she says softly. He nods, his stomach mixing. Butterflies, he thinks.

Finally, sitting back down, he quickly flags down the waitress. "What would you like to drink?" He asks her.

"Just water is fine. Thank you," she tells the waitress. Then, she turns her beautiful gaze to Seán. "I kind of feel silly," she laughs gently.

Seán quirks a brow. "What? How?" She averts her eyes and he feels the loss of her attention in his chest.

"I mean, besides the fact that I'm drenched and my makeup is ruined?" She gives a self-deprecating laugh. "Seán, you're... you. And I'm just... well, me." She looks up, giving him a sad smile.

He honestly had no idea what the hell that meant. But he knew that he didn't like the thought of her not thinking she was good enough, not even for a second.

Reaching across the table, he clutched her fingers tightly, pulling her gaze to his as he turned serious. "Hey. Don't talk like that, okay? It's not healthy. Besides, I like who you are, so never be any less, alright?"

She beamed, her cheeks flushing. She nodded. "Okay." Satisfied, Seán smiled, dropping her hands and plucking his menu from the table. "Anyway, we should figure out what we want. And get some hot food in you to warm you up," he gives her a playful grin.

She responds with a glorious smile of her own, her glossed lips showing gleaming white teeth. She was stunning, even with her wet hair curling around her neck and down her shoulders. Her skin looked dewy and soft, her lashes dark feathers against her cheeks.

He had to fight to push his gaze down to his menu. Even then, his brain couldn't absorb the words he was reading. He fought off the mental fog, excusing it as nerves.

Deciding he would just get a steak, with potatoes and a side of asparagus, he snaps the menu shut as he gives up processing the printed words. He takes the time to study her as she reads over the menu carefully.

Her lips pursed every so slightly as she thinks. She glances up, opening her mouth to address him, then blushing when she realizes he had already been watching her. She can't fight the upturn of her lips. He desperately wanted to kiss them.

"I'm not sure what I want," she admits softly. Her voice was like butter and he loved it. Savory. Sexy.

"I'm getting the steak and potatoes with asparagus," he tells her. She nods. "Steak sounds lovely." With that, she closes her menu softly.

As if on cue, the waitress shows up, pen poised over her notepad. "Are you two ready?" She asks politely.