Nerve [nurv] noun
1. One or more bundles of fibers forming part of a system that conveys impulses of sensation, motion, etc., between the brain or spinal chord and other parts of the body.
I doubt she'll ever get what a simple touch from her does to me. Her fingertips barely graze my wrist as she nurses the newly acquired gash on the top of my hand. It should hurt, as deep as the cut is, but I'm overcome with the sensation that occurs whenever we make contact, as inconsequential as it may seem. It feels like every nerve, every hair, stands on end and my last breath abandons me. I close my eyes, willing myself to not react, but the goose bumps…
"Cold?" she asked, dabbing a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol. That smile. I can't.
"Uh," I stutter. Then I laugh, because what else can I do?
She shakes her head, still smiling. "This could sting a little."
Again, I know how I should feel, but all I feel is…fire? Electricity? I feel like each nerve ending is absorbing something joyous beyond measure. This has no connection to alcohol, whatsoever.
She could never understand. I don't even understand.
Before I know it, she's applying a band-aid over the cut (one with hearts. Typical.) and smiling at me again.
"Better?"
"Much."
Nerve [nurv] noun
2. Boldness
I'm completely aware of how stupid this is.
This is Freddie. We've been best friend for years. The nice clothes, the fancy restaurant, and the fact that we have dubbed this a 'date' doesn't change any of that. Carrying a conversation and not knocking over salt shakers should come naturally.
"So the movie was a little more intense than I thought it would be," he said with a raise of a single eyebrow. He took a small bite of a mozzarella stick.
"Yeah, more violent than I expected. Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie!" I don't know why I felt the need to ease a blow that I never dealt, I just didn't want to offend him.
He shrugged. "It's cool if you didn't like it. I'm on the fence about it myself. I'm just glad that I got to spend time with you, regardless."
I think I'm blushing, which is, again, stupid. "Me, too." Then, as I reach for the pepper, I manage to tip over the basket of rolls in the middle of the table. One rolls to the floor and travels all the way to the table across from us.
"Oops!" Freddie laughed as he salvaged the bread that remained on the table.
"Freddie, how are you not a bowl of nerves?" I blurted, burying a hand in my hair. "Better yet, why am I?"
Freddie just smiled and gently laid his hand over the one I had remaining on the table.
"Maybe…maybe you know that, should this go well, this could be the start of something…incredible. Everything we've known about us would change. Well, not everything, but a lot."
He was right. "And that doesn't scare you?"
Freddie made sure to establish eye contact with me before replying, "Never has."
He squeezed my hand, easing the butterflies that were marching a parade in my stomach. Then he grabbed a roll from the basket and offered it to me. "Bread?"
A/N: Thanks for reading! As always, a review is most welcome. Have a great weekend!