I'm running late as usual. We are meeting up with some of your friends at a bar in midtown, it's the first time I'll be meeting some of them, and of course, I'm running late. I'm so sorry, babe. Rehearsal ran long and I had to shower and look presentable. I promise it was the quickest shower ever, though.
I texted you when I left rehearsal. You know I'm running behind. You know I'm always, kind of, running behind. I'm nervous. I wish I wasn't late and we were going together so you could hold my hand and calm me down like you always do. You don't even do anything, just having you there next to me calms most of the quiet storms I face.
We've only been dating for a few months and everything is still new. What if I'm too goofy and aloof and your friends hate me? What if you wake up out of this bubble we've been in and don't know what you were thinking? What if you decide always having to wait for me to finish rehearsal is too annoying, and you'd rather date someone reliable and on time?
These are the thoughts circling around my brain while I'm on the subway- my iPod can't even drown them out. Instead I try to quell my anxiety by people watching. There's a cute, young couple sitting across from me. They're absorbed in each other, holding hands, smiling, nuzzling, chatting. I can't stop watching them. They make me so happy, and I feel myself start smiling at the way you and I are on the subway. You're always so protective of me, ushering me on, your hand at the small of my back, making sure I'm comfortable and glaring at anyone who bumps into me too hard. It's adorable. Sometimes when it's really crowded and we have to stand, I'll let you hold the pole and I'll stand behind you, my hands holding above yours, my head on your shoulder, enveloping you, protecting you, breathing you.
When I get to my stop I'm calmer than I thought. The bar isn't too far away from where I get out, so I put my ipod away and check my reflection in a shop window. I haven't texted you since I got on the subway so you know I'm on my way, but you don't know when I'll get there. I smile at the thought of you nervously checking the door every few seconds, watching for me, or looking whenever anyone new comes in with excitement. I can't wait to see that excitement on your face, babe. That look that you get whenever I walk into a room…it sends shockwaves through me.
I grab the door handle and make my way inside. It's dark, but not too dark. The music is noticeable but not overbearing. It seems like a pretty good place to hang out and actually get to hear conversations going on. I look around for you, and spot you over near a window against the wall. You're laughing at something one of your friends just said and you look so, so beautiful. I lose my breath when I see you and once my heart starts going again it's a mile a minute and I hope this feeling never goes away. Your face is shining, sparkling, lighting up the whole room. Oh, god, babe, whatever I did in this life to make you mine, I would do every single day for the rest of my life.
I start making my way through the crowd, you haven't seen me yet, so I stop at the bar to open a tab and get us both some drinks. The bartender is cute and flirty, but I don't really pay attention. I can't stop looking at you. You're still giggling and stomping your feet with laughter every few minutes and I can't wait to kiss you.
The bartender finally hands me out drinks and I thank him with a small smile. I turn around and weave my way through the crowd, over to you. Your friends see me first and one of them squeals out my name before you can turn around. But, when you do baby, you give me that look that makes me think I can fly. Oh, god, that look will be the death of me. I meet your eyes and smile my special smile just for you quickly before I say hi to your friends. I hand you your drink as you peck my cheek with a cute 'thanks, baby' and start introducing me to your friends.
Suddenly I'm the center of attention and everyone starts bombarding me with questions. I feel your hand at the small of my back as you giggle and tell everyone to calm down and let me catch my breath. You start telling a story about something that happened to you last week, I've heard it so I can tune out for a minute and recalibrate. I needed a second to get used to everyone's attention, and I'm so, so grateful that you picked up on that. I don't know how you do it, but it feels like we've known each other forever.
I quietly sip my drink, needed some liquid courage, needing the anxiety to abate, before I can be my fun, bubbly, exuberant self. Everyone laughs at your story and I laugh too, feeling the last of my nerves shake off. I apologize to everyone for my tardiness and start explaining why rehearsal took so long. Your friends are all interested in where I dance, one of them has even seen some of our performances and is super impressed that you're dating me.
You haven't seen a performance yet. I won't let you. I'm saving it for this next one, the one we're working on now. It's going to be amazing and blow everyone's minds.
You're jealous of your friend who's seen me perform, telling them I've been holding out on you. That spirals into conversation about how I held out on you for some other fun stuff, too, until recently. We all laugh and I blush. I can feel you radiate heat next to me and know you're blushing, too.
As the night wears on, I have a few drinks and you have a few drinks. I buy everyone a round at one point, which you fight until I just leave to do it. Your friends are so fun and funny and awesome. I'm so glad to finally meet some of them. And you, you're so different with them. You're this magnetic, charming, character. I'm still learning all the different sides of you. I love all of your sides, even grumpy you, especially grumpy you. But this one, this one is a major turn on.
Plus, you keep leaning in to me all night, to ask me quiet questions, tell me quiet secrets, quietly comment on something too inside for me to know or quiet suggestions for later. I love it when you lean into me like that, like you want to seal us into our own little circle. Like you want to make sure I know that I still have your attention. I can feel your heat, your breath, your you. I can smell your perfume, your sweat, your you. You kiss me on the cheek a few times, your arm wrapping around my waist, or my shoulders, like you want to touch me all night.
Baby, we can touch all night and all day.
When you lean into me to ask me if I want another drink, your eyes get dark, dark, dark and I see you lick your lips. You linger and I can smell your perfume.
I shake my head no, and your eyes light up. You squeeze my hand and start telling your friends we're going to head out. They're bummed but also grateful one of us decided to look at the clock, it's later than we all thought. Your hand makes its way to my back and you lead me over to the bar so I can close our tab. You try to hand me cash, but I roll my eyes at you and shove your hand away.
You're so cute, sometimes.
We pay and walk out with your friends, hugging and parting ways outside the bar. You and I walk across the street towards the subway. Your hand lands on the small of my back again and you bring yourself closer to me. I can almost feel you vibrating next to me. Before I know it your hand has wound its way down to my ass, sliding into my back pocket. I glance at you and see a smirk on your face.
Before I know it I hear a 'fuck it' and you throw your hand out for a cab. Immediately my heart starts racing and the butterflies that took up residence in my tummy the day I met you start fluttering madly.
If you can't even wait for the short subway ride to take us home, it's going to a good, fun, long, delirious night.
A/N: Oh my gosh, you guys! These comments are making me feel like a million dollars- you are all so sweet and wonderful. Don't worry I have plenty more planned for these two. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Again, I know I don't post much but my tumblr is open for any questions or comments related to these idiots.