April 15th. Ichigo and Orihime.
Prompt: Nerves
"This isn't a date."
She blinked up at him, a smidgeon of hurt entering her bright brown eyes. Damn it. He hadn't realized he had said that out loud.
"I know that Kurosaki-kun."
She looked down at her slim green cotton dress, floating a light inch below her knees, a white cotton sash cinched around her waist and asked nervously, tucking a strand of her autumn hair behind her ear.
"Am I over-dressed or something that you would think that?"
"No, that's not- I didn't mean. You're dressed right." He said finally, stumbling on his words.
"J-just right?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, you look pretty good." He added gruffly, his eyes softening at the look of insecurity flashing in her eyes for a second.
"Oh, then," She pouted a bit, smiling uncertainly, "you didn't have to say it like that- I mean, would it be so bad if it were a date?" she blurted out unexpectedly, and went on in a careless rambling rush, her mouth running off with her thoughts before she could think about it "I mean, I know we're friends, but um, Kurosaki-kun saying this isn't a date makes me think that Kurosaki-kun would rather I didn't think this was a date and that's really fine, Kurosaki-kun, I wouldn't think about us going on a date or anything, but um, it's a little soul-crushing you know. I mean I- I don't really mean anything by it, so don't worry, but am I not pretty enough for Kurosaki-kun to go on a date with- I mean- wait- that's not what I meant- I – um I-ITs just a girl thing, I think…" she trailed off embarrassedly, unsure of herself.
Her honey brown globes went as wide as his following her lengthy outburst and stilled, heating up with a strange shyness, her entire face flushing prettily.
He coughed nervously, his nerves taut and he blurted out, not wanting her to misunderstand and feel stupidly insecure for nothing "A guy would have to be absurd to not want to date you. And blind or have completely dismal taste to think you're not pretty enough for him, Inoue."
"Oh!" She couldn't possibly have turned any redder than she already was, but she had, and he found his cheeks warming in response and matching the intensity of her blushes.
"Yeah," he said blankly and babbled incessantly in turn, "I hadn't meant to say- out loud I mean. I hadn't realized I had. I was just reminding myself – in my head- I mean, I know we're friends and nothing more, but um, well, Guys don't come knocking at you for nothing you know. Good thing Tatsuki beats them out before- uh Anyway, what I meant to say- Tatsuki and Rukia are pretty much the only girls I've hung out with. You and me, well, we haven't really hung out on our own much, have we? Chad or Ishida or somebody's always there. So well, um- you can't blame a guy for being nervous, right? I was just… reminding myself it wasn't a date… to feel comfortable…" he added nervously, "Sorry for the misunderstanding."
"Ohhh. I see." She smiled at him in awe, understanding, a strange softness melting into her smile, the glimpses of nervousness and uncertainty fading away, "I-Its okay Kurosaki-kun. And um, thank you. I'm sorry I over reacted.'
"It's fine." He shrugged casually, feeling a breath of relief soothing his uptight nerves. "As long as it's all clear. Are you ready to leave then?"
"Yup. I'm all yours today" she said sweetly, over still faintly blushing cheeks, a small impish curve to the tilt of her smile.
And just like that, his scrambled nerves relaxed. And weirdly enough, he found himself liking the strange, humming tension that settled between them.
It wasn't much, but at least he knew for certain she didn't find the idea of a date with him impossible to imagine.