Seth's handwriting was deceptively good. It tricked you into thinking they were the soft type of person who didn't sweep boxes and boxes of tea into a shopping cart in the middle of an unemployment-induced meltdown. It tricked you into believing that they could never hurt you, could never cut you with words when the words that they wrote seemed so delicate. Morgan had stuffed the note into her bag and was still thinking about the argument two days prior. She was worried that dinner would be their first chance to talk, and all their emotions would come pouring out over appetizers. Sadie, Dalton, and Bennet made such a happy throuple, Morgan was more than a little bit afraid that she and Seth would end up fighting in front of them and ruining dinner.
But Morgan was also hopeful. So hopeful, she was wearing a dress. It was lacey and black and she only brought it out on days when she dressed to impress. It was true that she was trying to impress Seth, trying to wave her hand and be like, "Look at me, I'm wearing a dress and heels that match. I am pulled together, I can help you." Maybe her heels wouldn't convey as much as Seth's handwriting did. Before she left for class, she tucked a sunflower pin into her hair to complete the look. Sunflowers were Seth's favorite flower and Morgan just wanted Seth to realize how much she'd been thinking about them these past few days.
Seth wanted to look nice for the dinner as well, wearing a dark blue button-up covered in constellations that reminded them of Morgan. They buttoned up the shirt all the way to the top and thought about all the t-shirts, sweaters, and hoodies they would be wearing once they were allowed to lift their arms over their head again. There were a lot of simple pleasures that Seth missed right now, the warmth of a hoodie, the way Morgan usually ran her hands through their hair, late-night half-asleep conversations about attractive people and outlandish dreams. Aside from hoodies, the only thing Seth really missed was Morgan.
There was something tense and timid as they got ready for dinner together, Morgan touching up her lipstick as Seth fidgeted with the collar on their shirt.
"Let me," Morgan suggested, and Seth nodded, letting Morgan straighten the back of the collar, "You look nice, Seth."
"Thanks, I like your sunflower." Seth was just as jittery and nervous as Morgan. They hadn't really had the chance to sit down and talk all day, so it felt like there was a cloud of doubt hanging over them.
"Are you ready to go?" Seth asked, digging their fingernails into their left arm out of habit. Morgan nodded, forcing a smile.
They didn't talk in the car. They should have, Morgan wanted to, she wanted to say that she was sorry and Seth wanted to say the same and obviously they were both too stubborn to say anything.
"Babe! How are you?" Sadie, wearing a cold shoulder dress covered in a rainbow array of butterflies, ran over and pulled Morgan into a hug like they hadn't seen each other fairly recently. The hug was a distraction, something warm and fuzzy to make Morgan forget, for a moment, that she and her best friend were on shaky terms.
"I'm doing alright," Morgan's smile was as deceptive as Seth's handwriting, though when her hands fell from around Sadie's shorter frame they were trembling a little.
Bennet slung an arm around Seth in a quick but loving hug and then Seth and Dalton shared their secret handshake.
'"Let's eat," Morgan said, gripping her little purse in her hands and trying not to freak out.
"Table for five please," Dalton said, still dressed in the black pants and black button-up of someone who might work at this restaurant rather than eat here.
"Of course, sir, right this way," The server led them towards the table.
"Do people ever call you sir?" Bennet asked Seth thoughtfully as they took their seats around a round table. Bennet was wearing a cozy yellow sweater and some grey jeans. He and Dalton were holding hands so casually it was as if they didn't realize their fingers were interlocked. If Dalton were to hug Bennet right now they would look like a bumblebee together, standing next to their social butterfly.
"All the time," Seth muttered.
"Me too," Morgan said with a laugh, running a hand through her hair like she was a model.
"Sometimes as an accident, and sometimes as a weapon," Seth concluded, unrolling the utensils from the fancy napkin and squishing the fabric in their hands.
"Gender and love, the two things that shouldn't be used as a weapon but almost always are," Bennet said dramatically
"A lot of things shouldn't be used as weapons," Dalton pointed out, "medicine, diseases, plants, grades, hobbies, most cookware, sexuality…"
"I already said love," Bennet pointed out.
"I meant the sex bit, not just attraction," Dalton said gently squeezing his ace boyfriend's hand. Bennet blushed and nodded and Morgan sent him a sympathetic look.
"You're both right, babes," Sadie agreed, putting a hand on Dalton's shoulder, "but let's talk about something a little more dinner appropriate."
"How's the job search coming?" Bennet asked, "I could probably find you a job at the flower shop."
"Yeah and Sadie's bar is always hiring," Dalton added.
"Or the Community Center, it doesn't pay much but they always have spots to fill," Sadie encouraged.
"Thanks, but, um, those are all temporary solutions. I mean, they would be for me. I don't want to sound ungrateful, or picky, but I really want to find a job I could see myself having for a long time. Somewhere that appreciates my talents, not just my training."
"I totally get it," Sadie assured, "it's not selfish or picky to want that for yourself. You deserve it. Just don't feel too down if it doesn't happen right away. You've succeeded at lots of temporary jobs so far, there might be a few more in the mix before you find one that's more permanent."
"I'm not going to give up searching, as long as it takes," Seth said, eyebrows furrowed in determination.
The five of them ordered a plate of calamari for the table and so appetizers passed without a scuffle. Morgan, Bennet, and Sadie talked about Morgan's new job and eccentric boss while Dalton gave Seth some cheap and healthy recipes to try while they were still job hunting. It was only fair that Seth did all the cooking if Morgan was paying for groceries.
They talked about movies, their families, and the recent Kentucky Kaiju attack. Morgan had a feeling that Fred was behind it in some way and Seth, who had been invited to see one of the many showings, was sure that that was the case but they kept their secrets. Even though Sadie, Bennet, and Dalton knew about the fight none of them talked about it or the lawsuit.
"Have you seen Simon's new cat?" Sadie asked her twin as they began to eat their entrees.
"Simon got a new cat? He never talks to me anymore."
"I think he forgets there are two of us," Sadie laughed.
"Mom too," Seth said with a shrug, looking at the pictures of their brother's new cat on Sadie's phone.
"I'll tell him to send you some of the pictures himself. He comes to the bar sometimes, but I haven't really seen him in a while either. He just texted me about his cat because he knows I like that kind of thing."
"I like that kind of thing," Seth muttered, a little bit hurt that their older brother was closer to Sadie than them. It ultimately didn't matter, Simon was a handful who really only showed up in any of their lives when he needed something. Still, Seth wanted at least a little bit of an indication that Simon at least accepted them as they were.
"Hey, don't think too much into it. We all keep things from each other. I mean you're the only person in this whole family who knows about my relationship," Sadie glanced at her boyfriends, having only been able to claim one of them in front of her parents, "I'm sure there's stuff Simon's told you that he hasn't told me, etc. Don't worry about it, Seth. Us Drake kids stick together." Seth nodded and let the conversation drift elsewhere as they ate.
Almost by complete accident, Seth wound up staring at Morgan. The way her bangs started to fall into her glittering brown eyes, kept back by years of practice and product, the yellow sunflower hair clip that reminded Seth of quiet days out in nature together, the dipping neckline of her dress… Seth's head dropped and they stared at their manicotti instead, finishing eating like they hadn't been staring at the twinkling star-shaped studs in Morgan's ears or the nude lipstick Morgan had chosen for a more professional look. All of the sudden, Seth had goosebumps. Had the air conditioning come on, in September? That didn't make sense.
"How was lunch yesterday?" Morgan asked, surprising Seth as they hadn't really talked to each other the entire dinner. Bennet, Sadie, and Dalton seemed to let out a breath they'd been holding all evening.
"It was good. I got to see Fred. Oh! His friend GoGo is going to teach me some self-defense, as soon as I can start seriously working out again."
"Oh, that's cool. You'll have to show me some of your tips and tricks."
"I will," Seth agreed, "I'll show you some weight lifting stuff too."
"Sounds fun, I look forward to it." After that, it became a little easier for them to talk to each other, but dessert didn't make them any less stressed when it came to time to go home, stomachs full and hearts heavy.
They made it all the way to the apartment parking lot before Morgan broke down.
"Hey," Morgan finally said, hand trembling on the door handle, "Are we okay?"
"What?"
"I pushed too far and did something dumb and it hurt you. I can't… I don't… I'm sorry. I was just trying to help but I didn't and I'm sorry."
Seth sighed, "Yeah. I didn't exactly… Y'know… Make things better."
"Right. We both messed up."
"Listen, you did overstep but I'm willing to hear you out later, if you, well, if you want to talk about what your lawyer dad has to offer us. Tomorrow, not tonight. Tomorrow."
"Really?" Morgan's eyes brightened, not even at the concession but at the word us.
"Yeah. I shouldn't have pushed you away like that. I was just so frustrated with everything that's been going on… I lashed out at you. I'm sorry, Morgan."
"I forgive you."
"Well, I forgive you too. I'm going to make some tea before bed. Are you sure you don't want any?" Morgan tensed for a moment, before taking a deep breath.
"Not tonight, but thank you. I'm gonna sit on the balcony, clear my head for a bit."
"Don't take off," Seth said suddenly.
"What?"
"I know you've gone on some night flights recently. I, uh… Please stay this time." Seth reached out and took Morgan's hand, squeezing it, "Please stay."
Morgan nodded, "I will. I absolutely will."
It was a bit late when Morgan came in, and Seth was half-asleep but they still called out to Morgan drowsily, "Whenever I eat dinner with you, Sadie, and the brothers-in-law, I always feel like people think I'm a fifth wheel crashing a double date."
Morgan laughed, "I honestly feel the same way."
"If my sister was like, dead, which one of them would you want to date?"
"Oh, Bennet for sure. He's just dorky and thoughtful enough to be cute."
"I'd definitely date Dalton. He's also a big dork but he makes me laugh and his banana bread is to die for. He gave me the recipe, I'll make it for you sometime."
"I can't wait. Good night, Seth."
"Good night, Morgan. I love you."
"I love you too." The roommates turned away in their separate beds, faces glowing from giddiness that the storm was behind them. From here on out, there would be no petty fighting.
The punks are no longer fighting! This chapter was legit hard to write, way harder than chapter 8 when they were actually fighting. The awkward dinner stuff? Not fun to write. I think the next chapter will be more fun!
If you want to see Angel of Vengeance come to life, check the "morgan & seth" or "stardust angel" tags on Tumblr.
Question of the week: What's your best ice-breaker question for small talk?