Not All Skin And Bones

"I Wont Just Buy You a Rose"

I place Nate's flowers in the nicest vase I have. Flowers? Really? Hmph.

I went on with my "date-look" routine, applying the usual: mascara, nude lip color, a little powder. I was right on schedule and made my way to the location for lunch, it was some cutesy diner or something.

...

"Hi, nice to meet you I'm Lizzie." I said to the particularly attractive guy waiting for me at the table. The girl from work was right, he's "not bad."

"I'm Sam, nice to meet you." He says with a thick, odd accent that I can not pin point.

"Sam, I am?" I'm terrible.

He chuckled softly, "Yeah- haven't heard that one before."

"I'm sorry." I chuckled back. "I don't usually do this."

"So you would call me an exception?" He says grinning.

I smiled. He was charming. "I suppose so."

I figured that I would make the most of this date. It's so rare that I do something like this, mind as well get a good story out of it, and plus, Daniella is going to want to hear all about this.

Before I could even take my seat though, a hand landed on my shoulder. I was spun around, and there they were. Those beautiful eyes, the ones I'd always imagined on him, finally staring back at me with such desperate intensity I thought that he was about to fall apart in my arms. It was Nate. It was really Nate. This was the Nate Ruess I had hoped for.

Spontaneous, passionate, cheesy in all the right ways, "Lizzie-" he said. "Lizzie you got to understand that I picked those flowers out just for you."

My breathe hitched in my throat. "Nate-" I began.

"You have to understand that I showed up at your doorstep and that's not really something I find myself doing every day. I don't find myself liking a girl this much every day."

He was beginning to scare me. I could feel heat rising in my face. I could feel anxiety building up into my shaky fingertips. This wasn't happening, not now. "Nate I'm-"

"Yeah, Lizzie, I like you. I really like you and I think you're great and I don't actually know you too well but I want to. Lizzie I hate people- the whole lot of them suck- but I see you and I just-"

"Nate I'm on a date." I sputtered.

He looked taken aback. The look on his face- oh, you can only imagine. "I know but-"

"Nate, you can't do this to me." I wasn't going to cry. "Nate, you don't want to."

"Lizzie, please." He wasn't going to cry.

"Go home, Nate, please."

"This was supposed to be-"

"It's not." I know. It's not your fault.
Please believe me. Please keep trying, don't give up on me, Nate.

Nate began to walk away from me. I could feel Sam's eyes on the back of my head, but he didn't matter right now. All I could think was: Nate likes me? Like. Like-like?

I watched him walk away and I realized that I can't keep putting up so many walls. I can't keep going on these shitty dates to kid myself that I'm still out there and being wild or whatever. I need something- someone- real. I need Nate.

He's wonderful. I've always needed him. On the radio, on the television, in my heart, mind, he's always been there. So why on earth was I letting him walk away?

Look at me, Nate. Nate, please, look at me.

He turns to face me. "Lizzie." He says in a voice so soft that it shatters what's left of my walls and my heart, of which was once made of steel, until he came along. "Lizzie, tell me that you don't feel a thing. Tell me you don't feel a thing for me and I'll walk away and never make any more scenes."

I breathe. "Nate." I say. Here I go.

"I've spent my whole life lying, convincing myself that happiness cannot be obtained along with success. My happiness with you would be a success. I feel something here. I have felt numb my whole life but you-"

"So you like me?"

"God damnit, Nate, yes."

He walks up to me, gives Sam a sorry but victorious smirk, and grabs my hand in his. "Sorry dude, this ones a keeper, and I'm not letting go."

Damn him, I think I love this guy.

...

SORRY ITS BEEN FOREVER. bUT YAY OMG FINALLY TOGETHER AHSJAKLADG.

~ thegreenofyoureyes