I've Come So Far to Meet You Here - A7X/M Shadows

The Party

Nora and Matt walked out the door at 7:20 when the driver arrived. He was already holding open the door of a late model blacked out Lexus LX SUV.

"Hey guys." The driver seemed polite as he greeted them with a smile.

As Nora climbed in first she felt Matt put his hand on the small of her back for just a moment. It made her feel like a wave of heat ran through her body. She sat down quickly and looked out the window, trying to get a grip. But she knew she wasn't crazy, Matt was definitely sending out signals. She just wasn't sure what he wanted, and she didn't quite trust herself not to get too attached.

Matt got in and shut the door. The bench seat they were sitting on had enough room for at least three people but he was sitting so close he was touching her. Nora looked at Matt. He was looking into his phone. She studied his features for a moment, right now he looked absolutely perfect to her. She felt her face get hot again so she looked away. She was more confused than ever.

"Fuck it", she thought, "I'm just gonna do what feels right. What happens, happens."

"So," Nora said, angling herself toward Matt, "can we stop by a gas station on the way? I need cigarettes."

Matt put his phone away and replied "Yeah of course, there's actually a store maybe a quarter mile away from the guy's house we're going to, if you want I'll have the driver drop us off there and we can walk the rest of the way."

"Sounds great." Nora said with a smile.

***

Nora walked out of the gas station and opened her pack of American Spirit menthols and lit one up. They started walking down a mostly empty street, but she could see a cluster of big, nice houses up ahead. They walked in silence for a while as Nora smoked and Matt looked ahead. Suddenly Matt took her hand.

"So there's gonna be some pretty high up people here tonight but they're all cool, there will be booze which is good because the only way these things are bearable is when you're drunk."

Nora laughed. "You shouldn't tell me that, I tend to drink too much and get stupid at parties."

Matt gave her a smile. He let go of her hand and pulled out his phone to text Syn.

"They're here." He said as his phone dinged with a new message.

A couple moments later they were walking up the driveway. Syn, Zack and Zack's wife were all standing by their car waiting.

"Why the fuck are you guys walking?" Syn said with a weird look on his face.

"Nora needed cigarettes so we got dropped off at 7-11 and walked." Matt said, smacking him in the arm.

"Yeah I needed a walk to calm my nerves before I go in here." Nora said with a nervous chuckle.

"Oh my god don't worry about these idiots in here." Zack said as he gave Nora's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"So where are the other two?" Nora asked.

"Being lazy assholes." Syn replied.

Nora turned to look for Matt and right on cue he came up and put his arm around her.

***

They had been inside for a while, Nora had been introduced to everyone and was waiting on Matt to bring her a drink. The house was amazing and so far everyone seemed nice. From what Nora could gather this was celebration of Derrick getting promoted.

Soon Matt arrived with a double shot of dark liquor in each hand.

"What?!" Nora said incredulously. "Are you trying to get me wasted or what?"

"Maybe," Matt winked. "It's Jack Daniels."

***

It had been a couple hours of socializing and drinking. Nora had a good buzz going. She had went to the restroom to pee and check her hair and makeup. When she came back out into the hallway Matt was waiting outside. He grabbed her waist and said "Come outside with me real quick." Nora followed him out the back door and around the side of the house. He pulled out a fat, cone shaped joint and lit it up.

"Thank god", Nora lamented. "You must be a psychic."

As Matt smiled tendrils of came from his mouth and blew into the sky. They stood there passing the joint quietly until Matt spoke up.

"Nora can I tell you something?"

"Sure" Nora said, smiling.

Matt stepped closer to her and took a deep breath.

"I really didn't know what to expect when you showed up here but I've had so much fun with you. You're one of the coolest, smartest people I've ever met. I know I just got divorced and I'm kinda fucked up, damaged goods and all that but I can't help but feel something every time I look at you. I don't even know where I'm going with this but I just wanted to tell you so you know why I'm acting like an idiot around you."

Nora was quiet for a moment, her brain was too fuzzy to really put a coherent thought together. She looked at Matt and she was overcome by the urge to kiss him.

So she did.