All That Glitters

By angellwings


Neil


Nate didn't know how he felt about what was coming. Ella had arranged for them to meet her new semi-boyfriend. Ella said she was in the "pre-relationship" stage. He had no idea what that meant, but she'd insisted on knowing what they thought of him before she made any sort of commitment. Nate had been deciding whether he was going to keep an open mind or be purposefully negative. He'd decided long ago that he wouldn't like any of her boyfriends. That may have sounded terrible, but Nate thought he had a good reason.

He was in love with her, and every other guy she'd dated had truly been a jerk. He didn't expect this one to be any different. He glanced around at his friends as they waited for Ella and her date to show. The restaurant wouldn't seat them until their entire party was present. The other guys looked just as thrilled as he did, but the girls…well the girls looked eager. Like they'd been let in on some sort of secret.

The door opened and they're eyes all simultaneously turned toward it when a large amount of light reflected into the room. Nate smiled at the sight of Ella in a silver dress that was littered with sequins. It had a boat neck and cap sleeves (terms he'd learned after spending hours watching Ella sketch) and a flowing skirt that stopped just a few inches above her knees (which brought his attention to the mint colored tights she was wearing.) She looked gorgeous. Of course, she always looked gorgeous. His smile fell however when he noticed the man she was dragging in the door behind her.

Nate noticed everyone turned toward him and looked between himself and Ella's new almost-boyfriend. There was a striking resemblance. His hair was a little longer and he was a bit taller, and this guy looked like he was dressed for a business meeting though and not dinner with some potential new friends. Nate noticed New Guy's eyes were a dark gray and his ears didn't stick out as much as his own did.

She was dating a more polished version of him. Nate 2.0. He looked away and scowled. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut. There was a dull ache in his chest and he had a feeling it wasn't going to go away any time soon.

Ella smiled brightly and waved at them with her free hand. "Hi, guys. I'd like you all to meet Neil."

Neil waved and smiled forcefully at them. No one else seemed to notice but Nate did. He didn't seem very excited to be there. "So," Neil said as he looked around. "Why aren't we seated yet?"

"They were waiting for the whole party," Dana said as she turned and motioned the hostess over.

"Yes, well, we would have been on time but Ella wouldn't change her dress," Neil said as he tossed a look that appeared teasing, but Nate could see the veiled contempt in his eyes.

She rolled her eyes and smirked at him. "I like this dress. Why would I change?"

"Because you look like a disco ball," Neil said with a less than genuine chuckle.

Neil had just made Nate's decision for him. He was going to be purposefully negative. He didn't like Neil one bit. Even as the rest of the group chuckled and accepted his comments as playful. He wasn't being playful. Nate knew what playful sounded and felt like. He often teased Ella about the very same thing himself, but Ella always knew he wasn't serious. Her eyes flashed with anger and hurt and Nate's dislike for her date grew.

Nate caught her eye and winked at her. "Well, I think you look great, Sparkles."

She blushed and chuckled. "Thank you." She playfully smacked Neil's shoulder. "See, he knows. Glitter is for life, Neil. Not just Christmas."

Nate laughed softly as her eyes sparkled again. She may wear a lot of sequins but that's not why he called her Sparkles. Her eyes were what had inspired the nickname, but no one knew that but him.

Neil didn't react. He just craned his neck and searched the room. "Where is that hostess?"

A second later the hostess gathered them together and led them to their table in a back room. As if they're friends were conspiring against him the only seat left open to him was the seat next to Ella. Neil was seated across from her and he turned a glare on Nate as Ella sat down. The minute Ella looked up the glare vanished, but Nate filed that away in case he needed it later.

Ella turned and smiled at him before she patted the empty chair he was staring at. "Have a seat, Nathaniel."

He nodded and forced a grin. "Don't mind if I do."

"So, Neil," Caitlyn said as she gave Nate a knowing look. When Neil looked up she matched his gaze. "What do you do again? Ella told me but I can't remember."

"I'm a public relations representative at Star Records," He said proudly as he straightened his tie.

Nate resisted rolling his eyes but couldn't help muttering under his breath. "Of course you are." He would be employed as a professional liar.

No one heard him, thankfully, and he busied himself with his menu.

"Wow," Mitchie said with a smile. "So, then you must work with people we know. Tess Tyler and Luke Williams are on that label."

Dana nodded and smirked. "And my dad owns it."

Neil's eyes turned to Dana sharply. "You're Axel Turner's daughter?"

She sighed and waited for the shock that would inevitably follow.

Nate looked up and caught Neil's slow smile. Like he finally had a reason for being there.

"I'll have to tell him about this tomorrow at the office then," Neil said with a chuckle. "What a small world."

Dana gave him a strange look and Nate knew those weren't the words she'd expected. "Um, yeah, yeah I guess."

Nate's line of sight connected with Dana's and she motioned to Neil with her eyes before she looked back at Nate and rolled her eyes. Nate smirked and nodded. Finally, someone else appeared to get it.

Neil turned a soft gaze on Ella. "Did you figure out what you wanted?"

She bit her bottom lip and chuckled. "I'm still a beginner at Italian, Neil, and there's not a single word of English on this menu. What do you think?"

He laughed and shook his head. "You'll pick up on it, Ella."

"I'm sure I will, but until then…order for me?" Ella asked as she flashed him a pleading pout.

"Last time I ordered for you, you fussed at me," Neil said warily.

"I won't this time. I promise," Ella said with a grin.

"That's why I started trying to teach you Italian in the first place, lady," He said with a shake of his head.

"Oh, come on," Ella begged with a pretty smile and fluttering lashes. "Please?"

Nate buried his face in the menu. He didn't want to hear this. He didn't want to listen to Neil being nice. He would much prefer it if he continued to act like an ass, and then Nate would continue to have real reasons to dislike him.

"Fine," Neil said with a smug smile. "But next time you're ordering for yourself. No exceptions. Okay?"

"You drive a hard bargain, Mister," Ella said with a grin as she stuck her hand across the table for him to shake. "But I'll give. Deal?"

He gave her hand a strange look and cleared his throat. "Ella, you're reaching across the table."

She pulled her hand back and her brow furrowed. "So?"

"It's bad manners," He said in a quiet scolding tone.

And suddenly all Nate's reasons for hating him felt justified again. Ella looked embarrassed and her face flushed pink.

"Right, sorry," Ella said as she looked down at her menu and put it aside.

Neil snapped his fingers and the whole table looked at him in shock. It got the waitresses attention too and she stared at him strangely from the table just outside the room. He snapped one more time and looked around anxiously. Clearly he was looking for the waitress. She excused herself from the other table and awkwardly made her way to him.

"Yes, sir? Can I help you?" She asked hesitantly.

"I'm ready to order."

"Oh, well I see a few more people at your table are deciding so I was going to—"

"I'm sure they'll be ready by the time you finally get to them," Neil said as he stressed the word finally in an insulting tone.

Ella's eyes widened and she winced. She gave the waitress an apologetic look.

"I—um, well of course, sir. What can I get you?"

Nate looked down the length of the table at Jason and tried not to be pleased at the anger in his oldest brother's eyes. Jason viewed common courtesy as priority number one. A polite attitude fell in place just under that one, and he always went out of his way to be extra nice to anyone who might serve him food. His biggest pet peeve had to do with people who were rude to waiters and people who left cheap tips. Slowly but surely Neil was convincing more and more people that he was totally wrong for Ella without Nate's willing assistance.

The waitress turned to look at him and Nate smiled softly at her. "Hi. How are you?"

She sighed and her shoulders visibly relaxed. "I've been better. What would you like to order?"

"If I can just get the grilled salmon and a side of asparagus? Pastas and red meats aren't really recommended for me," He said kindly. "If you don't mind, that is."

She nodded and returned his kindness. "It would be my pleasure, sir."

"Thank you so much," Nate said as he handed her his menu.

Ella met Nate's eyes and smiled thankfully at him. He reached under the table and squeezed her hand. She gave him a startled look and pulled her hand away. Nate winced and looked away from her. That might have crossed a line. He inwardly cursed his own stupidity.

Everyone else at the table appeared to have the same idea he did, and were all extra nice to the waitress. He had a feeling she'd be getting a very large tip from most of them.

Neil's phone rang and Ella gave him a stern look. He sighed and glanced down at the screen. "It's work, Ella."

"Neil, we talked about this—"

"And I never agreed. I have to take this," he told her. "It might be an emergency. It won't take long."

He stood up immediately and left the room. Ella's jaw tightened and she ran a hand through her hair. She looked down the table and tried to ignore the pitying looks her friends were giving her. It was official they hated him and probably thought she was stupid for even thinking about dating him.

Which, it turned out, was possibly true. She closed her eyes and stood from the table. She needed some air. When she stood every one stared at her. She blushed furiously and gulped. "I—I, um, excuse me."

Nate didn't wait to hear anyone else's response. He immediately followed her.

She headed out a set of French doors that were in the back of their private room. They led to a patio that wasn't in use at the moment. It was still a little too chilly to dine outside. There was a hedge of roses blocking the view of the street and Ella stopped to stare at them.

"Ella?" Nate asked softly.

She sighed. "I don't want to talk right now, Nate. I know what you're going to say."

His brow furrowed and he was curious. "What was I going to say?"

"That Neil is a jerk and there's absolutely no sane reason why I would want to date him," Ella said in a hollow and tired tone.

"That's actually not what I was going to say," He told her. He grinned slowly and spoke up in a playful tone. "At least not right away."

Despite her situation Ella chuckled at that. "How considerate of you."

"I have my moments."

"So then what were you going to say?" Ella asked.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to talk and to let you know I'd be willing to listen," Nate said softly. "That's all. I promise."

She bit her bottom lip and sniffled. "I feel so stupid."

"You're not stupid," Nate told her.

"That fact doesn't change how I feel Nate," Ella told him.

"The only person who should feel stupid right now is Neil," Nate said as he stepped closer. "He's the one who literally snapped at our waitress."

Ella huffed. "I just don't get it. He's always been so nice…to me, at least."

Nate stayed silent for a moment and debated whether or not he should say what he was thinking. "Ella…"

"Yes?" She asked hesitantly.

"If a guy is nice to you, but rude to the waitress then he's probably not a nice guy," Nate said honestly. "You, he has a reason to impress and so, of course, he'll be nice to you, but the waitress he'll never see again so why should he bother to act nice?"

She didn't say anything but she did turn around to face him. So he continued.

"And he wasn't being so nice to you earlier tonight, Ells. What was up with those dress comments?"

"He thinks sequins are juvenile. He's told me this several times. When I wear sequins he says he feels like he's dating a high schooler or a beauty queen or something," Ella said with a huff.

"I'm just gonna let you think about that for a moment," Nate said flatly. Sequins were a part of who Ella was. In his mind the two were synonymous. One always made him think of the other, and he liked it that way.

There were footsteps behind them and they both turned to see Neil approaching.

Ella huffed and crossed her arms before she spoke to him. "You have to go, don't you?"

"They mixed up the press releases," He told her as if that would explain everything.

She sighed and gave Nate a pleading look. "I need to speak to Neil alone, if you don't mind."

Nate's eyes widened and he nodded quickly before practically sprinting from the room. The sooner he left the sooner Ella would end this…whatever it was…with Neil.

"Please tell me he's leaving," Shane said a little too loudly. Mitchie kicked him under the table and Shane winced. "Ow! What? I was just saying what all of us were thinking?"

"He's right outside, Shane," Andy said with a smirk. "He might hear you."

"Well, since I'm hoping we'll never see him again, I don't particularly care," Shane said as he rolled his eyes.

Nate returned to his seat and just as he sat down the waitress returned with their drinks.

"Where's Mr. Sunshine?" She asked Nate in a hushed voice.

Nate chuckled and motioned toward the patio. "Having a heart to heart with Sparkles."

"So, he won't be staying?" She asked hopefully.

"I doubt it," Nate said kindly.

She let out a grateful sigh and nodded. "Alright, well your entrees will be out in a few minutes."

"Thank you," Nate said as she left.

Just then Neil stormed through the room and out the door toward the main dining room. He tossed a glare at Nate as he walked away and Nate couldn't hold back a proud smirk. Neil was gone. The drama had ended before it had a chance to start. That was another thing that he admired about Ella. She always admitted her mistakes no matter how it may affect her pride. She walked slowly back into the room and sat down next to Nate.

She sighed and looked down at the rest of the table. "I'm sorry, guys. For Neil, for everything."

Nate reached over and squeezed her hand. This time she didn't give him a look. "It's not your fault, Ella."

"That guy's almost as much of a diva as Shane," Jason said as he winked affectionately at Ella. "Shane still holds his top spot though."

"Okay, that's nice. Pick on the brother with the good hair. That's fine," Shane muttered sarcastically.

Mitchie rolled her eyes. "You're not exactly helping yourself here, babe."

And just like that Neil was forgotten – or at least dropped from the conversation. Ella was currently stuck on what Neil had sneered at her out on the patio. She bit her bottom lip and gave Nate a nervous side glance. Was he right? Sure, he'd said it to be cruel and the end of his statement had hurt, but the real question was…did he have a point?

She mentally compared Nate and Neil. The resemblance was striking. And while Neil's personality was a bit more extreme - and crossed a line – there were similarities there as well. Neil was a bit grumpy and driven. His career was important to him, and when he did crack a joke it was dry and sarcastic.

Why hadn't she seen it sooner?

Neil was the poor woman's Nate, and apparently she was the poor woman.