Exeuntes, a Story Based on Final Fantasy XV

Chapter IV: Nervous

Pictured: Clock tower at the University of Accordo in Primalupo, Valmuccia

Songs used:

5. Nervous by Shawn Mendes   

6. How Come You Don't Want Me by Tegan and Sara

August 5th, 2020 - Continuation of The Tapas Transference™. What is below is now a fully re-edited version of what was once here... (I legit just finished editing this one; the previous chapters were edited quite a long time ago...)

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Nathan's not sure how he finds himself sitting across Jordan. All he remembers is getting into Jordan's car and looking up at the moon as it follows them through the cloudless sky.

They're at a ramen place not too far from the university. Apparently, Jordan goes here when he's too lazy to make some food on his own but Nathan's never even seen it. Well, admittedly, he rarely strays far from the university's compound and he's much too busy to bike anywhere this far. Trying to delay conversation for as long as he can, Nathan surveys the establishment. He wouldn't exactly call it a restaurant—the place only has a few tables and there's only one chef (a middle-aged man who looks Lucian) but he's not complaining. He rarely goes out to eat anyway. Finally, he works up the courage to look at Jordan, appreciating the fact that he brought him here. Of course, he's not going to admit that to his face, at least not now.

"Eos to Nathan, you there?" Jordan asks, interrupting his thoughts.

He quickly averts his eyes, "Uh... yeah... yep, I'm here." Nathan responds, purposely looking in the opposite direction.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," Nathan answers, unconsciously grinning. He swiftly moves his hand to cover it.

"Good, I thought I was going to have to talk to myself this whole time," Jordan teases, noticing the other's smile before he can fully cover it.

"What are you having?"

"I'll have whatever you're having, I guess."

"Wow, lazy much?"

Nathan rolls his eyes but he can't help laughing. Is this really happening? Am I actually eating dinner with my crush? Seems like something that could only happen in one of those silly fanfics I read online...

"Can we have 2 bowls of tonkotsu ramen?" Jordan asks the waitress, waving his hand to grab her attention.

She gets up from her chair behind the counter, "Sure thing! I'll tell him to get it ready right away," the waitress says, pointing her head towards the chef.

Jordan turns back towards Nathan, "You haven't been here, have you?"

"Uh... I don't go too far from my apartment. I don't have a car..." Nathan replies, trailing off as he notices the older boy's confused expression.

"I guess it's good that I'm here to take you to new places," Jordan says while laughing.

Nathan can't help but laugh as well, things almost felt normal.

Almost. Almost except for the fact that he saw Accordo's queen collapse with his own eyes earlier in the day. Almost except for the fact that he sees their dinner as a date rather than two friends (can he even regard Jordan as one?) hanging out. Almost except for the fact that he's somehow more nervous than when he was taking his final exams last year. How can Jordan make him more nervous than the most difficult of exams? How can he make him more nervous than when he was waiting for his acceptance letter from U of A? He doesn't stop to consider that he might be overthinking this but he's much too inexperienced to know any better.