A/N: I wanted this written sooner but my laptop didn't agree so it took a while. I did most of this on my phone though so be proud of me. This takes place in the future and just don't think too hard timelinewise. Just enjoy the story lol.
Say my name and everything just stops
Cause I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off
Taylor Swift
The dress was just hanging there, not even ruffled by the cold air rushing out of the vents above Maddie's head.
But it was taunting her. Daring her. Mocking her.
It was too flirty for her, starting with just the color, a bold red. And it was too short. Too low cut. Too slim fitting.
But it was staring at her, calling to her.
She took the hanger, held the dress up, put it back. No. It just wouldn't work.
That's what she told herself, anyway.
But it called to her despite her warring thoughts and she picked it up again, heading for the fitting room.
It wouldn't fit right, she knew that. And then she'd be convinced and just put it back, no more doubts.
But when she was inside the room, once she'd changed into it, wiggled the zipper up the last inch, and looked at herself in the mirror...she liked it.
She really liked it.
She liked it more than she thought she'd ever like a dress again. She found herself smoothing the material down, gliding her hands over it. It was so soft. Soft and red and feminine. Everything she'd avoided lately, opting for ripped jeans and ankle boots and high cut sweaters, anything to avoid attention.
This dress asked for attention. This dress practically demanded it.
She shouldn't get it, she realized, putting it back on the hanger, sliding back into her jeans and sweater.
But when she left the store, it was in a bag over her arm.
Chimney was tired. He'd worked three days back to back, and now he was off. Maddie's schedule the past few weeks had literally been the opposite of his; when he was working, she was off and vice versa. It had been frustrating, to say the least, but they'd made it work with texts and even a phone call or two.
He'd wanted to ask for more, but it wasn't like they were dating. It wasn't his place.
But now, here they were. They both had the same day off, and he'd asked if she wanted to get dinner, and she'd said yes, and he'd gotten reservations at a new Mediterranean-American fusion restaurant that she'd said she was curious about.
He yawned as he buttoned his shirt, wishing he'd given in to his desire to sleep in until noon. He'd had errands though, and coffee had only taken him to...he checked his watch. Now. 4:30 pm. It was too early to be tired. It was too early to be getting ready for this, but he wanted to beat the traffic driving across town and he could find something to do while he waited for her.
Or...
He could take a nap...
He was so tired...
His hands stilled on the buttons and he sighed. Screw it. He'd brave traffic and just leave later.
He needed the extra sleep. He picked up his phone and set an alarm, and then walked to the bed, just meaning to lay down for a bit.
He was asleep only a moment after his head hit the pillow.
Maddie's phone buzzed and she pulled it from her pocket, reading the words there. Running late. Sorry! Only just left.
Chimney was almost never late. She couldn't even remember the last time he was, and it usually meant something had gone wrong.
She tried to not worry, smoothing down her sweater.
If he was going to be late, she'd have time to change.
Into the dress.
No.
She wasn't going to even think about it. It was silly. Total nonsense.
But...
She might as well. Chimney had hinted that they were going to that Mediterranean place and they were a little fancier than jeans and a sweater.
Oh god. Should she do it?
She shouldn't.
She did.
The sweater was tossed aside and she shimmied out of the jeans. She had time, too much time now, and she might as well go for it.
She pulled the dress over her head, zipped it up, and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked excited. She looked younger. She looked just like she'd imagine a girl getting ready for a first date would be.
And though that thought frightened her, it also steeled her nerves.
She was ready, she thought. She was ready for these things with Chimney to be labeled dates. She was ready to make that step and she just hoped he was.
One thing was for sure, she thought as she brushed on eyeshadow and mascara. She'd figure it out from the look on his face when she opened the door. Because just friends didn't wear dresses like this.
He pulled in to Maddie's driveway, put the car in park and sat there for a moment, just breathing. He wondered how tonight would go. She'd had a lot of rough nights lately; they'd ended up having earlier nights the rare times they had been able to get together.
Which was fine. Chimney wasn't complaining. He just earnestly hoped that tonight was easier for Maddie. Things had been rough period since Christmas. While it had helped her to decorate the tree, he wondered if it had also brought up more questions, more hurt.
It had brought the past back in a real way. And, as they said, sometimes dealing with hurt, it was hard to take a step forward without taking two steps back. Especially with trauma like Maddie had. Because yes, you had to work through it, but dealing with it meant thinking about it.
Sometimes Chimney would take avoidance over tackling the hard stuff. In his own life at least. With Maddie, he was ready for whatever she needed from him.
He was so ready.
He stepped out of the car, straightened his collar, checked himself in the car mirror. He'd never truly loved his reflection, but today he liked it more than usual, even with the glaring scar on his forehead.
Hey, Maddie seemed to like him just fine though.
He jogged forward, rang the doorbell and smiled up at the camera, waiting, ready for a cozy evening with great food and company. He and Maddie always had good conversations too, and he was looking forward to continuing an argument from earlier in the week as to which character in the Harry Potter series was best.
Harry Potter was one of the few media items that they had in common. She'd read the books; hadn't been a huge fan of the movies. He'd read them too, long after the movies had all come out, one very broke summer that he'd cancelled cable and internet to save money.
They were good. Better than the movies for sure; Chimney hadn't believed at first how much he'd missed.
He realized after a moment that he was still waiting for her, and wondered if anything was up, slowly coming out of the cloud of his thoughts to focus.
Was she okay?
She was usually ready and waiting, even if he was early, one of the reasons they made such a good match.
He slapped the thought away. It didn't matter if they were a match. Maddie wasn't ready for that, and even if she was, that wasn't why he was friends with her. She wasn't a means to an end. He'd be friends with her even if that was all they'd ever be because he cared for her, he truly did.
And they were friends. There was no 'just'.
He heard footsteps and snapped to attention. Time to go.
The door opened and all of his thoughts vanished, his jaw almost literally dropping. Maddie stood there, nervous smile on her face.
"Hey," she said, hurrying outside, a sweater over her arm, her skirt swinging as she turned to lock the door behind her. "How are you?"
"I'm good," he replied, unsure of what to say.
She was wearing a dress, and oh my god, it was more than a dress. It was magic, it was crazy how different she looked. Usually she dressed to hide, and tonight she was dressed to show off, in a fitted red dress that made him dizzy if he looked at her too long.
God, she was beautiful. She'd always been beautiful but tonight there was a quiet confidence hanging on her like a perfume.
"Maddie," he managed, clearing his throat. "Um, you ready?"
"I am," she said, not making eye contact. "Thank you for driving."
"I'm just sorry I'm late," he said.
"I'd rather you be late here than late at a restaurant, and have me alone there," Maddie said, as they walked to his car. He opened her door for her, and Maddie paused before getting in.
"Chim," she said, looking up at him with steady eyes, big eyes, brown eyes, beautiful eyes. "I just want you to know, um, how..."
She was hesitating, struggling with her words. "Hey," he whispered, lowering his voice so she'd lean in. "You can tell me later. There's no rush."
Her eyes widened, and suddenly she was standing very close to him, reaching out with one hand and placing it on his arm.
"Chim, I'm ready," she said simply.
"Ready for what?" He asked, confused, and she moved closer.
"For anything," she replied. "If it's with you."
"Maddie," he began, and she pressed her finger against his lips, brushing over the lower lip, making him feel weak in the knees. "Maddie," he repeated, and she stepped even closer, wound her arms around his neck and stepped into his arms, which settled very nicely around her waist.
He liked her waist, he realized, holding tight.
"Is this okay?" She wondered, words so quiet they were more like a breath.
"It's more than okay," he replied, wondering what the next step was.
"Can I kiss you, Chimney?" She wondered.
She was always so polite.
"That depends," he replied, and he felt her stiffen a little, tensing to hear his reply. "Can I kiss you back?"
Dinner was amazing. It was filled with high quality alcohol, lots of appetizers, and finally a shared entree, finished with a shared chocolate mousse.
It was marked by Maddie slowly extending her hand across the table so he could take it, it was marked by her fingers slowly stroking his wrist, it was marked by him finally lifting her hand and pressing a kiss to her inner wrist, smiling at her the whole time.
He had never been so happy. He couldn't remember another moment when he'd felt like this, cherished for who he was, not who he might be. He couldn't remember a time when he'd been more intensely attracted to a woman either, not where sex had been the last thing on his mind.
Well, not quite the last thing. But he couldn't remember being okay with waiting. Waiting indefinitely, maybe waiting forever, because he wasn't waiting, he was cherishing. Taking every moment he got, thinking each one precious.
Maddie was precious. A diamond in the rough, glittering but only if you looked. Only if you took time.
Time was on his side, he thought, lifting her hand again, kissing each finger.
She had a look on her face that he'd never seen before. Contentment. Almost peace. Happiness. She was happy.
Had he ever seen her so happy?
They paid and walked out, strolling down the street. "I wonder if it will rain again," Maddie said. "I liked that night."
"Did you?" He wondered.
"Didn't you?" She asked.
"I loved it," he said, and stopped her, pulling her into a hug, his arms wrapping tight around her waist. "I love every minute that I spend with you."
He wasn't sure if it was Maddie's own boldness, or the alcohol, but his lips were loosened. "I love you, Maddie."
He felt her breathe, in and out. Slow and deep. She turned in his arms, moving to face him, tenderness in her gaze.
"Chimney," she whispered, and moved in, kissing him.
Her lips moved against his, slow and smooth, and he teased them open with his tongue, delighting in the taste of her mouth, feeling her own tongue come to meet his. Her arms rose to wind around his neck, as they had earlier, and she pressed her body tight against his, making him again feel weak.
He could feel every inch of her, and she was so sweet, and so good, and he wanted her, in this moment. He wanted her desperately. He wanted to keep her forever, he wanted to know that she'd be in his life for a very long time.
And he wanted her in his bed.
Something he'd never admit, something he shoved down when the thought came to mind, something that wasn't on the table right now, didn't have to ever be on the table, and he was fine with that.
But he still wanted it.
He tasted her lips again, deepened the kiss, threaded his hand into her hair. This was so good.
She moaned, matching his intensity, upping it. Her hands were on his back, clutching his shirt, holding him close.
And then they parted. Her lipstick was smeared, and he brushed his fingers over it, rubbing it off her cheek. "Maddie," he whispered.
"Take me home, Chim," she replied.
He felt the smallest pang of disappointment. "Of course," he said.
"No," she said, shaking her head as if to clear it. "Um. Take me to your place. Buck's still at mine."
He stared at her, because now he couldn't catch his breath. "You sure?" He whispered.
. "I'm sure," she replied, and, as if to prove it, kissed him again.
A/N: okay guys. Chapter one is done. Chapter two is on the way. This chapter was definitely just T rated. Next chapter will be a HARD M so be careful and aware. ~Meowser
