Chapter 3
Rachel's POV
Wow was right, I didn't know what was happening. Well, I did. I was making out with Nate Ruess, and he was making out with me, it wasn't a one sided thing! After a few minutes of staring into each others' eyes, with big smiles on our faces, I sat back a little, keeping my hands on his neck as it was dark and I could just barely see him inside the bus. "I-I think I should get home soon.." I said, slightly saddened that our kiss had come to an end. However, I could feel Nate's body tense when I said it. He leaned in towards my ear "You don't have to go" he whispered, almost in a begging sort of way. Nate, wanted me? I was definitely not going to complain. "Maybe a little while longer" I smirked, leaning in a pecking his lips playfully. "But it's a tad dark in here don't you think?" I joked, a sudden sense of confidence washing over me. As if Nate had been reading my mind, he jumped up, the sudden movement screwing with my eyes and I had to re-adjust. "I'm going to fall!" I squealed as I stood up, holding my arms out in front of me as I walked. Slowly making my way towards the door of the bus, I felt a guiding hand at my waist, and then another grab my hand. "I got you" Nate cooed into my ear as we found the light of the now opened bus door.
Hopping out onto the street, it was chilly. I shivered slightly, and Nate's grip around me tightened both out of feeling the cold himself and wanting to keep me warm. Looking out around me, there was a fresh blanket of snow everywhere. I loved the snow, it made for perfect cuddle weather. It dawned on me that there was no need for Nate to be staying at a hotel, for he had a home in the city. I hadn't been paying attention though, on the bus. We had stopped, Andrew and Jack had gotten off, and we'd continued on. When I looked around to see where we were, it was oddly familiar. "Where are we?" I asked curiously, knowing I knew this building, but being so disoriented from the events of the night thus far, I couldn't align anything in my brain. "Home sweet home" Nate said excitedly. I was at Nate's apartment.
"Wait, what's this address?" I asked, knowing the surroundings were all too familiar to not be important to her life. When Nate recited the address, my eyes lit up. I looked down the street and there it was. My apartment building, further up the road. "No way.." I trailed off, still standing out in the cold snow with nate held close to me. "What?" he asked confused. "That's my apartment…" I pointed down the block, across the avenue. Nate's face fell when I pointed out my apartment. "A-are you going to go?" he asked me sadly. I looked over at him, a feigned pout rising on his face. "After that bus ride?" I smirked, tugging at his arm and walking forward into the building.
Nate's POV
I fumbled around in my pockets for the key to my apartment. It was probably a mess, I hadn't been here in months. "Ah" I sighed, pulling the golden key from my pocket and sliding it into the doorknob. "No judgements" I warned with a laugh "I haven't been here in a few months" I finished, as I flicked on the lights. Not shabby, not as bad as I was expecting it to be. I held the door for Rachel as she walked in. "How's your hand doing?" I asked, taking the hand in mine and examining it as if there were no bandage.
"It still hurts a little" she replied, and I felt bad again. "Listen, I really sorry you got pushed over like that" I told her sincerely, a saddened look on my face. "But on the bright side," I smirked, pulling her hand up to my lips and kissing it softly. I dropped her hand and began to slide of my coat, while walking to the closet to hang it up. I walked back and took her coat from her, and then did a walk through of the apartment, surveying how I'd left it. I settled into the kitchen, opening the fridge and examining the lack of food in there. I grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with tap water. "Can I get you anything?" I asked Rachel, but she didn't respond. Glass in hand, I walked out of the kitchen, she was in the music room. "Rachel?" I said softly, not wanting to disturb her.
Rachel's POV
This room, this piano, the everything. I know he doesn't play piano, but it's gorgeous anyway. I sat down at the bench, running my fingers over the clean ivory keys. I looked around at the open notebooks everywhere, with lyrics scribbled into them, and stray pieces of manuscript paper with short lines scratched into them. I picked up a notebook and began to read the words in it. The book looked like it hadn't been touched in a long time. I was so intrigued by the surroundings in the music room, I hadn't even noticed Nate walk in. I read the words written in the notebook.
I feel so all alone
No one's gonna fix me when I'm broke
How do you cry with inanimate eyes…
I knew those lyrics. Thinking for a moment, my fingers flew to the keys of the piano and I began to play bits of All Alone. Quietly humming to myself. I jumped when I felt a warm embrace from behind, followed by the sound of Nate's voice in my right ear. My fingers lifted from the ivory as I turned to see Nate standing beside me. "I didn't realize you'd come in here" I said, embarrassed of my playing, I wasn't the greatest. "Don't stop playing" he begged, signaling for me to slide over on the piano bench. I started from the beginning of the song, playing to the best of my ability and listening as Nate sang, throwing in little harmonies where I could.
Nate's POV
Was there anything this girl couldn't do? When we finished singing, I leaned my head on her shoulder. "You're really talented, you know?" I said seriously. She was talented, she could make it if she wanted, I'm sure. I could tell it made her uncomfortable to talk about herself though, she tensed up when I said it. I thought quickly on my feet. "Want some coffee or something?" I asked, then realizing it was nearly 4 am at this point, no point in trying to stay awake with caffeine. "Decaf" I assured her, seeing her look for a clock, as she didn't have her phone to check. "Sure" she responded, as we both got up and walked into the kitchen. I turned on the Keurig, took out two k-cups and two mugs and waited for it to heat up.
"So, tell me about you" I said as I prepared the coffee "How do you want it?" "Black is fine" she responded "and what do you want to know about me?" she asked. "Well," I told her "I don't know much about you other than you live in the city, you're a musician, you're a fan of mine, you cut your hand open trying to meet me, and you're an amazing kisser." I said with a smirk. "Brownie points for that last one" she said with a light giggle. "Well, I'm hoping to go into some kind of a music career, maybe teaching. I've been a die-hard fun. fan since I first heard Aim and Ignite, and I still can't believe this is happening right now." she explained. I brought the coffees over and slid one across the table to her, taking a sip of my own. I swiveled my head around to check the time above the oven. "Wow it's late" I said, noticing it was almost 4:30 am "or is it early?" I joked. As we finished our coffees, I took the mugs and walked over to the sink with a yawn, rinsing out the mugs and putting them away. When I turned around, I noticed Rachel had fallen asleep on her elbow at the table. Don't just leave her there I thought to myself. I carefully picked her up bridal style and carried her into my bedroom.
I had a larger queen-size bed. Gingerly, I slid her shoes off of her feet and lifted the blankets and placed her under them. I grabbed my pajamas, which consisted of a pair of boxers shorts and socks. I quickly changed in the bathroom, brushed my teeth and all that jazz, and tousled my hair before shutting the lights. I blindly made my way back to the bed and slid myself in next to Rachel. Subconsciously, I pulled her in close, wrapping my arms around her as I drifted off to sleep beside her.