Chapter 8: I Bend But Don't Break

Sometimes, Nozel really wished he was an only child.

"Why did I even ask you three to help me," Nozel asked, sighing, covering his face with his hands, as Noelle had a tablet in her hand. He and his siblings were sitting in his home office. Or rather, they had taken over his home office, while he sat at his desk wishing that his mother would come home and put a stop to this nonsense.

Nebra and Solid crowded her, pointing at restaurants and places that Nozel could go for the date he had planned with Vanessa. Well, he didn't exactly know what to do on a date, since he's been on a total of zero dates in his entire life. And Vanessa asked him, him, out on a date. Nozel couldn't even freak out to Charlotte, because Charlotte was on her honeymoon with Yami, and Nozel was loath to interrupt. Actually, Yami pointed his finger at him at the reception and said in no uncertain terms that Nozel was not allowed to bother Charlotte while they were on vacation. Nozel agreed. It was a wedding gift that he decided to not bother Charlotte.

But Charlotte was usually his sounding board for good and bad ideas.

"Because you're hopeless when it comes to romance," said Noelle.

"Be grateful for our help," said Nebra, haughtily.

"Oh? How about this place," Solid asked. "It's got five stars!"

"No way! Vanessa hates places like those," said Noelle, wrinkling her nose. "Oh! I know. How about this place? It's not too posh."

Nozel rubbed his temples and wondered how he could get out of his siblings trying to plan his date for him. Surely Vanessa would prefer if Nozel took the time to plan the date.

"Absolutely not. Our brother is not going to be taking his date there," said Nebra. "It's not good enough."

As Nebra and Noelle descended into an argument with Solid egging them on, Nozel got out of his desk chair and slipped out of the room. The noisiness of his siblings was muffled behind closed doors. He pulled out his phone and checked his messages for the seventh-hundredth time since the wedding two days ago.

He hadn't heard anything from Vanessa.

Yes, she had asked him out and planned to meet tomorrow at 8 pm, but he hadn't heard from her otherwise. Did she change her mind?

God, he was like a teenager again.

Then, his phone buzzed in his hands with a notification. Startled, Nozel almost dropped the phone.

It was from Vanessa.

"hey, handsome, still up for that date? If so, meet me at the recording studio tomorrow at 8pm. Wear something comfortable and easy to move around in. 33"

Nozel's face felt warm.

"Where did you go," Nebra yelled, marching out of Nozel's office. "Oh my God, Noelle, Solid! Nozel is blushing! Where's my phone? I need a pic or it didn't happen!" Noelle and Solid came rushing out of the office.

Nozel scowled, good mood evaporating. "I don't need your help planning a date. Vanessa did the planning."

"Aww, that's great," said Noelle, grinning mischievously just like their mother. "But you need an outfit!"

Sometimes, Nozel really wished he was an only child.

After another two hours of arguing with his siblings, Nozel decided on a comfortable outfit. If comfortable meant slacks and a black button-up shirt, then that's what Noelle insisted upon. Nozel stood in the lobby of the Vermillion recording studio, waiting for Vanessa. He half-smiled because it was just like her to be late. He could hear her apologies already.

"Made it," said Vanessa, running into the lobby. "Hey! I'm here! Let's go, let's go!" Vanessa was so beautiful. She was dressed in skinny jeans and a tye-dye t-shirt. Her hair was up in a high ponytail.

Nozel let Vanessa grab his hand so that they could hold hands.

He hoped his hand wasn't too sweaty, as she hurriedly walked. "Where are we going?" Nozel was a planner so not knowing what the plan for the night was out of his depth, but Vanessa knew him well enough to not go so crazy.

He hoped.

"Somewhere fun, I promise," said Vanessa, giggling happily. Ten minutes later, they were at one of the bigger parks in the city where there were food trucks everywhere. Vanessa squeezed his hand and said, "Today is the International Food Truck Festival! What luck! I hope you're hungry. Charmy gave me the list of the best food trucks to get from."

Nozel understood why she wanted them to wear comfortable clothes, as the crowded park with lines of foodies and families lay before them. "Lead the way."

Vanessa smiled widely.

They held hands the entire time.

Nozel didn't usually venture outside of his normal food (his mother called him a picky eater, but he knew what he liked and that was that), but Vanessa insisted that he try everything from the list at least once. "How can you know if you never tried it," she asked, challenging him.

He couldn't argue with that logic.

They ate churros at a park picnic table, sitting across from each other. Honestly, Nozel had more fun than he had in a while. "The next date, I'll plan it."

Vanessa smiled. Her smile was so pretty. "I'd like that a lot. So did your sister help you pick out your clothes?" Vanessa was scarily good at reading him.

Scoffing, Nozel said, "What do you think? You've met Noelle."

"Oh," said Vanessa, laughing delightfully. "Yes, she can be stubborn when she gets her mind on something. How much did she and Nebra bully you?"

"A fair bit," said Nozel, wryly. "But that's par for the course with them."

"Well, Noelle did a good job. You're so handsome," said Vanessa, eyes twinkling under fairy lights that the park department hung up for the festival.

Nozel coughed, face warm. And he blurted out awkwardly, "You're always beautiful."

To his delight, Vanessa turned red. "Charmer."

Face still warm, Nozel chuckled awkwardly, "Only around you."

Vanessa, still red-faced, said, "Oh, you're getting better at flirting. I think I'm in trouble."

"No, that's still me," said Nozel.

"I like you," said Vanessa, gently. "A lot."

Nozel nearly crushed his churro in his hand as he whispered, "Oh, I like you too." I'm in trouble because I love you and want you to stay with me.

Messages to Charlotte Roselei on Nozel's Phone:

Charlotte: I told you that Vanessa was wonderful, didn't I?

Nozel: Don't act like you planned this.

Charlotte: I'm happy for you.

Nozel: Seriously, this wasn't your doing.

Charlotte: Hmmhmm, sure. I'm already going to be Vanessa's maid of honor, so you'll have to ask Fuegoleon to be your best man.

Nozel: We just went on two dates. Go harass your husband.

Charlotte: Pink gold is a good ring choice.

Nozel: Charlotte!

~to be continued