We'll Meet Again (Original Book)

|4| Her First Ever Dance Partner

She had anticipated that day more than she was supposed to. Nathalie knew that she shouldn't be getting her hopes up. She knew she wasn't beautiful. She was anything but confident. She was a nerd. She knew nothing beyond her books, her science, and her research. She had never done this before. She shouldn't be calling this something as ridiculous as a date in her head.

But she did.

She did get her hopes up. She did anticipate it with impatience. She pulled out the best dress she had in her wardrobe. It was that dress that she had only dared put on once before. Getting dressed and prepared for something shouldn't have taken her as long as it did this time.

Usually, it only took her ten minutes, barely ever brushing her hair because she always convinced herself so effectively that there was no point in trying to look pretty. There was no point in spending too much time on dolling herself up. There was no point in trying to pick up clothes and stare at what her closet contained. She always convinced herself that this was all too useless, and too time-wasting of her precious time.

But today, her precious time was just no longer precious. What was precious, was looking pretty, even though the very thought of it was so stupid. Nathalie kept scolding herself throughout the entirety of it. She had to understand that there was nothing wrong with wanting to be beautiful.

She wouldn't understand that anytime soon.

Nathalie even left work earlier than she usually did. Usually, she'd complete a full twelve-hour shift with a million things to write on her lab book the moment she'd go home. But this time, she left at the exact eight hours that she was supposed to, and all of her cousins stared at her in utter confusion as she passed by. She wouldn't blame them. She left early – 5:00 PM was way too early. She should have stayed longer.

It was around 6:00 PM when a knock came on her door. Nathalie almost tumbled over and crushed on the floor, but she somehow kept herself from potentially breaking a leg or both by throwing her hands on the counter of her kitchen.

She was all ready and waiting for him, but still nervous as hell. She just wanted to see the look on his face when he'd lay eyes on her.

What the hell are you thinking? Of course, you look terrible! That voice in her mind was always there to keep her calm.

It would always tell her that there was nothing to hope for, and it somehow kept her calm. She had never imagined being with someone. Maybe she shouldn't be starting now. It had worked so well for her so far.

It was out of a miracle that she didn't break a leg, but finally made it to the door. She dusted her dress back in place and made sure it was him, before twisting the doorknob and opening the door.

As a Burgess she was supposed to be living in the Burgess Mansion with all the other members of the family, but she preferred an apartment of her own. It wasn't too far, but far enough to give her some peace and quiet from her large, noisy family.

When she opened the door, what she saw wasn't exactly what she was expecting. It took all the willpower she had not to start laughing right then and there. Nathalie brought her hand up, to cover her ever growing smile. She cleared her throat instead and she tried her best to keep her composure.

"Um... wow," was all Nathalie said, and she almost started laughing but she turned it into a cough.

"What? You don't like it?" Tedric pointed his thumbs at himself. At that chestnut-red dress jacket that he was wearing with a yellow shirt beneath which was the only normal cloth on that outfit. His pants were the same chestnut colour, and then there was this tie – this damn tie.