content warning: several mentions of spiders and badly written attempts at fluff..?

Sent [18:32]
WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME

Received [18:35]
In about an hour? Are you ok?

Sent [18:35]
Yeah. I'm being stupid again

Received [18:39]
Please don't tell me it's another spider.

Sent [18:42]
Shut up. Just come home and get rid of it please!

Received [18:42]
I actually work you know. Stick it out.

Ginny slid her phone back into her pocket and leaned against the wall. This was the most embarrassing thing she had done. Honestly, who was this terrified of spiders at her age? Nobody, that's who.

"Um, hello, Ginny. Are you locked out?"

Ginny looked down the hall to see Chris, another tenant, climbing the stairs. Chris was the one who may or may not be flirting with her on a regular basis. She always seemed interested, except for the fact that she never asked Ginny out on a date, or for her number, or tried to give her's to her, so Ginny was at a loss. It didn't matter though, because whether she was a future significant other or a potential friend, it didn't give a great impression to be scared out of her apartment by a tiny spider.

"Oh, hey Chris." She decided to lie - it seemed easier than telling her the truth. "Yeah, I'm locked out. Didn't want to bother Mr. Goldberg, so I'm just waiting for my roommate to come home."

Chris grimaced apologetically. "Well, when will she be back?"

Ginny shrugged. "I'm not really sure. Soon, I hope."

There was a short pause, and Ginny tapped her fingers against the carpeted floor to fill the silence.

"So…" Chris shifted her bag on her shoulder, looking significantly more nervous than Ginny had ever seen her. "You're going to be out here for a while?"

Ginny nodded, shrugging slightly. "Probably."

Chris nodded as well, almost to herself. "Well then, um… do you… want to go out for coffee? If you're going to be locked out for a long time?"

Ginny brushed her jeans, looking up at Chris in shock. "Are you proposing a date?"

"Yes?"

"A romantic date?" Ginny checked.

"Um… yes, a romantic date. If that's okay with you." Chris's hand flew up as if it were going to brush her hair behind her ear, but at last second she brought the hand down to her side again. It was one of her nervous ticks. The fact that Ginny knew that was a nervous tic made her pleased, and she bit her tongue to stop herself from saying anything stupid.

"Yes, a romantic coffee sounds lovely."

Sent [18:45]
Don't worry about coming home early. I'm actually quite fond of that spider now.