Talia - King Princess
Nathan saw Nicole the very next night. Eva had called Nathan round for a night filled with trashy television and pizza. Take Me Out was playing on the flatscreen in the background as Eva and Nathan conversed about Eva's temporary job. She was currently worked at a small electrical store in Paddington, but wished to leave the job as soon as she got an offer from the dozens of places she had applied for. She didn't really care where she ended up, as long as it wasn't back in that cramped, poorly ventilated store.
'You sure you don't wanna waitress? There's a shit ton of jobs going at Westfield.'
'I'd smash twenty plates in the first five minutes. Westfield is a good shout, though, let me look that up.'
Eva had been laughing at Paddy's ridiculous impression of a horse when she heard the front door open. Nathan had been too immersed in the world of job vacancies to take notice. He had only realised that Nicole had arrived when she had walked into the living room. Their eyes locked once again and he gave her a faint smile. She nodded at him softly. He could tell she was fatigued. Hair slightly out of place, eyes droopy, Nicole still looked as lovely as she had the first day he had met her.
Nathan's eyes were then directed toward Adrien. He greeted Nathan and Eva, whilst he rested his hands on Nicole's waist, guiding her toward the kitchen. He joked that the DJ had played a lot of Drake, hence the exhaustion. In the kitchen Adrien helped her grab two pints of water and some pizza before the pair retreated upstairs.
Nathan pondered about the night the two might have had. He concluded that they must have danced until their feet were aching; they looked extremely tired. Nicole wondered what drink Nicole ordered, whether she enjoyed fruity cocktails or straight vodka. Then he remembered what she had said the previous night.
The two may have claimed that their relationship was platonic, but it seemed so effortlessly romantic. It appeared as if they both understood each other's thoughts and needs perfectly.
Nathan speculated what it must have been like to be Nicole's partner. From what he had seen from Adrien, the man would be very protective. Not overly, but Nathan had noticed how Adrien had rested his hand on Nicole's waist so casually. He also spoke up for Nicole when she was dazed. He seemed like the perfect bloke for Nicole. As much as Nathan wanted to despise him, he seemed like a genuinely good match for her.
Nathan wondered whether Nicole had ever thought the same.
~
Nathan had loathed Eva's boyfriend with a very strong passion since the very first day he had met him. He lived in a flat with three of his so called mates in Camden where he simply lazed around all day, using the benefits he was claiming to fund his heroine addiction. Eva had fallen for his charm and wits, but stayed despite the fact that those features had almost completely faded away. Countless nights Eva had turned up at Nathan's flat defeated, choking with tears. Every single time Nathan had advised her to leave him, but she somehow always ended up back in the man's arms the following evening.
Eva was leant up against the corner of the sofa shoulder to shoulder with Nathan, her hair beginning to fall out of her temporary bun and shaping her face. Instagram was open and she was scrolling through endless photos from her boyfriend's night out. Nathan had zoned out as soon as she had begun complaining. Eva knew Nathan's view on their relationship, but continued to grumble on, knowing Nathan would listen silently.
Nathan shut his eyes and exhaled quietly. He knew Eva wasn't stupid, he knew she wasn't crazy, but he did know that she was fragile and easily manipulated. She only had Nathan and her boyfriend in her life realistically; she didn't really get along with the people that went to her uni. A majority of Londoners were snotty, Eva had learned that the hard way.
So Nathan put his arm around Eva, tipping her head so she was leaning on his shoulder. Eva sighed, switching her phone off and placing it down before snuggling into Nathan.
'I don't get why he still pulls this sort of shit.' Nathan's thumb caressed Eva's upper arm just by her shoulder, knowing that tears were incoming.
Eva ended up falling asleep with puffy cheeks and red eyes that night. Nathan didn't want to leave her in such a vulnerable state, but he had work in the morning. He popped a pillow under her head, tucked her body under a blanket and switched the lights off before he left. He sat in his Uber on the way back to his place, staring blankly out of the window at the city lights.
