Realistic or Modern Title: Could They Share The Night... MxF

[allybanks00]

She opened the door and her eyes glazed over him slightly. "Hi!" she says to him letting him come inside. He was dressed nice, but not overly nice. Casual, but still formal. She liked it.

She was dressed simple herself, a pair of jeans, a long sleeve top, she had pulled her hair down and let her natural curls flow down her back.

"Come on in.. So we're gonna do sushi tonight huh?" she asks him. She thought she was playing herself off well. Maybe she wasn't, but she thought she was.

 

[NewToThis]

It wasn't his first time being around an alcoholic. Chris was unusual for a number of reasons, and besides from her obvious failed attempt to hide her state, he could smell it on her. Of course she had smelled of booze earlier, they were in a bar.

While his.....poorly behaved side wanted to pull her close and inhale her scent with his nose near neck. He reminded himself...they didn't know each other. She didn't know him. He...knew much about her based on his experiences.

Still Chris played through it. Everyone had a story, and while he might have wanted to....get lucky tonight. Her state helped him behave and take solace in getting to know her. Victoria had a lot going on. He knew that. He knew that from when he first took interest in her. He knew what he was starting when he rolled the dice.

"I figure sushi requires me to eat like a human being. Plus I like it and it is one of those foods you want to enjoy but you rarely eat too much of." He chuckled as he led her out, carefully guiding her by the arm.

 

[allybanks00]

She chuckled slightly. " Alright, sounds good." she said to him. She followed him out locking her door behind them.

They got to the sushi place and she sat down at a table with him, the two ordered some sushi rolls and they sat and chatted with one another. She debated on getting a drink, she wanted one... but she knew she shouldn't. So she chose not to. She didn't want to make him think she was this big whole mess, but he was bound to find out sooner rather than later.

She sipped on her water. "So what did you do today?" she asked him curiously. Trying to keep the conversation going on anything but her.

 

[NewToThis]

"Today..." He snorted slightly at how...cheesy it was about to sound. "Hit the gym, did some house work, you can't have the neighbors giving me the stink eye over my yard. Basic cleaning. Pretending I wasn't hoping to hear from you." The last part he said rather quickly and at a lower volume before he put a bit of Philly roll in his mouth after dipping it in eel sauce."

Chris debated on how much he wanted to tell her. About what he knew of her. He was...intense if he wasn't careful. Few people paid much attention to other people. For him...it was hard not to. He could laser focus without realizing it, and to....tell people about themselves or at least what you suspected. Could quickly scare them off. It had been one of those things at times made his childhood, and relationships hard. He had had self control since his teenage years, but that didn't make it hard nonetheless at times.

He flipped the switch back to cool and calm. Victoria was who he wanted...to get to know...yeah get to know. He was a confident man, if at times a little scatter brained because of his inner monologues and thoughts.

"So, the weather, we could discuss that next. Or find some other subject to reach for and make small talk about." He smiled a disarming smile, like someone who had laughed at their own joke. "Or we could be a little honest about what want from each other..."

 

[allybanks00]

She laughed. “Fair enough.. can’t have the neighbors all pissy.. I get it.” she said taking a piece of a lobster roll and eating it. She ran a finger through her hair and she casually glanced over at the clock on the wall. It had been two hours since her last drink, and its not like she NEEDED another drink right now, she was starting to think about another one though.

“The weathers always nice, it’s been pretty chilly recently.. what do you think?” She teased him before sitting up straighter. “So be honest, what do you want from me?” She asked him curiously. He was a hard man to read, he seemed nice and he seemed very calm and collected, but what did she know. She had just met him yesterday. She took a long sip of her water, her left foot tapping the ground lightly as she waited for him to speak.

 

[NewToThis]

"I want to get to know you." He put it plainly. And then he spoke more.

"I'm not allowed to say I want to master everything that gives you pleasure and enjoyment. As if I was consuming your very soul through the delights of your body. Only the guys in my books say that." And then he just played it off as if it were the most natural thing in the world to say...intentionally.

"But seriously, that's what adults do. We can skip around a bit and play coy but I want to get to know you. I can't enjoy our time together if I don't know who you are." He let that statement linger for a second. To see how much of her attention he had. To see if she was captivated or if she wanted to get up and run for the door. Chris knew he had to live genuinely....well as much as he could....bring himself to.

"If we all we are now is a chapter in someone else's book. I don't want to live it thinking I know who you are. You thinking you have to hide anything from me....me trying not to hide anything from you." Again he let his words linger.

"If I'm too much, I'm too much, and we part as friends, strangers but friends, and you get to tell your friends that you met some crazy guy and he was kind enough to respect your boundaries."

"If you don't think I know there might be things you want to hide or are afraid to be found out. Then you would be assuming I haven't paying attention to life this whole time and merely have been focus on where I get to dip my stick." He took a sip of his water. "Which in fairness is most guys. But I've never been most guys. They're boring....a little pathetic."

"So if you like me and want to see where this can go. We can talk and laugh more....Or if I was too much I can get the check, and drop Cinderella back at the castle before midnight. Either way I'll be going home alone, and wishing I knew the taste of your kiss."

He watch Victoria with careful eyes to see how she would react.

 

[allybanks00]

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Hm.." is all she says at first. It was obvious no one had ever spoken to her that way, and she didn't mind it. She liked it. It was just.. different.

"Fair enough.. fair enough.. I'd love to talk and laugh some more." she said to him. She sighed slightly. "If you wanna know my whole life story you're gonna have to give me bits and pieces of your own.. I won't just spill." she said to him with a smile. Making it obvious she felt special that he was taking the time to get to know her. Would she tell him about the alcohol? No. But in all fairness she'd tell him about anything and everything else.. so that has to count for something right?

She racked her brain, thinking of where to start her lfie story.. if her story would be to much for him to listen to.. as it often was for guys. Which is why she had built up this big huge wall, and was afraid to let anyone in, in fears that someone would crumble the wall that took her so long to build.

 

[NewToThis]

"Well I wasn't thinking I would learn everything in one night, or even several. I figure a few months worth of nights, and say some breakfasts would be needed for that." Sometimes he dripped innuendo.

"Something I like to be up front about is two things...and again I understand it may be too much for you. I get it. So there will be no hard feelings." Chris tried not to appear shaken, he tried to remain calm. But she was a vanilla after all. Things had to be done more tactfully and subtly with them. He took a more than a sip of water and gently let it out.

"I'm a sex, intimacy, and affection addict." Chris was quick to move to next part. "Three years ago I lost my fiancee to a car accident. And I've dated since then but it's not fair to keep ghosts; so to speak, from people when they were living they were a big part of your life. I don't compare people to her. She was unique, just as individuals we are all unique. We have our flaws, our messes, and if we are lucky our redeeming qualities. I took an interest you, out of instinct, and when I do that...well it tends to be the case I will like you. And if you let me, fall in love with you, flaws, messes and redeeming qualities. So...I chose place to eat nearby your place so if you felt the need you could walk home."

Chris had to force himself not to laugh. He knew any utterance would come off as nervous....and a touch sad. After all, this wasn't his first rodeo so to speak.

 

[allybanks00]

She looked at him and nodded her head understandingly. "Okay.. that's not gonna make me grab my stuff and book it.. but I'm glad you're honest." she said to him with a nod.

"I have abandonment issues... my dad left my mom when I was twelve, she filled the void with drug dealers, straight out of prision addicts.. shit like that. I don't trust men, and in all honesty you are the first guy since my ex that I broke up with over a year ago to even let inside my apartment.. I've messed around and what not, but never had anyone since him in my house. He was an ass... um.. beat me and shit.. nothing extreme or anything I guess but I figure that's something I should tell ya about." she said. Now she was looking back down at her hands, fiddling with her keys again. Anxious habit of hers she couldn't beat.

She was craving a drink now, she didn't like speaking about it but she did. He was honest with her so she was trying to be semi honest with him, at least as honest as she could be.

 

[NewToThis]

He nodded through kind eyes. "Thank you for sharing your truth with me. You will aways be free to"

He reached across the table slowly and at first rested his hand over hers. Then in silence he fiddled her keys away from her hands till she only his finger and callused hand to fiddle. Unaware of it, she smiled let out an unconscious coo that made her turn her face more inwards as she started to blush.

"I wish your story was less common." A note of sadness haunted his baritone voice. It came out as a grinding of stones.

He smiled a gentle smile and nodded. He didn't want her to think he pitied her. He wanted her to know he saw her, and wasn't afraid to see her.

"When you are ready, I want to be one you tell it all to." His voice voice remained gentle.

Looking at her, the beginning sheen of sweat on her face common to heavy drinkers. The weight of the moment. The point where two people stood at precipices that could go either way. He wasn't unkind.

"What do you need Victoria?" His hand clasped both of hers gently.

 

[allybanks00]

She shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah, it happens it's just a part of my story." she chuckled nervously.

"Need something? I don't need anything.. thanks for asking though." she said to him. "Uh.. if you would like to come back to my place after this that's all fine.. I just have to uh.. check in on my neighbor.. she's elderly and needs me to check up on her every once and a while." she lied. It wasn't fully a lie. She did check up on her neighbor but she was using that as an excuse to be able to go get a drink or two, just to settle her stomach a little.

It was clear she was getting antsy now, her hands having a slight tremble in them as she held his, so she pulled away from him, trying not to make it so obvious..

 

[NewToThis]

Chris didn't know if she was lying. Her words were odd....at least the timing. He didn't discount that he was merely too much. That he was way more than she was ready to sign up for. He didn't begrudge her that. No reason to be sore at normal people for being normal.

To blame it all on alcohol, or even a part of it, right off the bat would be selfish, if not outright callous he thought.

"If it be more convenient we could just call it a night. Let it all perculate for a few days, and see if you still want this. I know I'm asking a lot."

Chris cleared his throat. "And I know it might seem weird that I'm understanding about your truth....and kind of thing and we will discuss it more if you like....well..." Chris nervously laughed for the first time.

Chris accepted that he was vulnerable and that could not be changed. He could not force it to be any other. He had no right to. Sometimes you think you are driving, sometimes you are on a rollercoaster ride that will stop at time not of your choosing.

 

[allybanks00]

She nods. At this point the woman was just itching to leave, she needed a drink. "Please feel free to call.. text.. whatever it may be I'd love to speak to you." she said to him. "Dinner was wonderful." she said putting some cash down on the table.


With that the woman stood and left, when she got home she had no more liquor in the cabinet, so she walked down to the liquor store, it was just right down the street. She went in and nodded at the cashier who immediately recognized her. She bought a couple of bottles, enough to hold her over for the next few days.. and left.

She didn't even wait until she got home, she had bought 6 or 7 nips, and cracked them open, drinking them until they were all empty. Her shake was now subsiding. She felt guilty leaving Chris like that, knowing he had been very upfront and honest with her but she couldn't tell him about her drinking, he would think she was an alcoholic... which she wasn't... right?

The woman tossed the empty nips on the counter and opened up a bottle of tequila, she sat down on the couch and started sipping from it. The anxiety from opening up to someone new, and the fact that she had started to withdrawal slightly when she was out with Chris made her just drink more. She drank and drank, setting the now half empty bottle of tequila on the coffee table and passing out on the couch, only to wake up to puke.

 

[NewToThis]

Sundays were an odd thing for Chris. A slow among his hustle and hustle. He was sore from yesterday and figured his body needed a rest. He was almost perpetually set to be an early riser and so before seven am he was up and amongst the living in his home.

He wasn't going to eat anything till noon and he figured he needed a day off from caffeine. He didn't have to get work done but a good morning text before nine am to Victoria might kind of come off.....needy....creepy.

He kept playing the previous nights events over in his head, analyzing them as he was often want to do.

Grinding down every piece of minutia, every reaction. His memory wasn't truly eidedtic, but it was close enough. It would be easy to blame himself for how things went and it would be even easier to blame her. And he figured the truth say somewhere in the middle.

 

[allybanks00]

The woman was miserable, She had been up all night puking and trying to cure her nausea. She got up off of the couch at eight o'clock with a huge headache.

She thought about Chris and thought about texting him, but she decided against it. She felt like shit, she needed to feel a little better before she talked to him. He'd be able to tell right away something was off.

 

[NewToThis]

Nine o'clock popped on his wall clock as Chris mopped the tile floor of his home. He intentionally allowed another fifteen or so minutes to pass before he texted Victoria. He was almost tempted to agonize over how simple it should be but his cool side was running well and he simply messaged:

Got any plans for your Sunday?

It was presumptive but they had both admitted to being functionally alone. Each for their different reasons. If she wanted nothing to do with him he figured she was a big enough girl to let him know. Once the work week began anew he was liable to get distracted by work and not be able to see Victoria before Friday night.

He didn't like that prospect, but such was nature, and he had come to understand his nature.

 

[allybanks00]

The woman looks over at her phone when it dings. She smiles slightly .

No not really, I've gotta go grocery shopping, but that's about it. What about you?"

She sends him the message, now that she's drank, she'd love to see him again. The sweat and the shakes have finally faded, and she had enough liquor in the house that she knew she'd be fine for a little while before she had to go to the store for it again.

 

[NewToThis]

Chris softly smiled. He responded:

"I'm pretty much done cleaning. I was thinking of grabbing lunch with a cute girl. Maybe I can help her do her shopping lol "

Chris tried to pretend he wasn't waiting for her response as he poured out the bucket in his driveway.

 

[allybanks00]

She smiled. "You want to go shopping with me? Let's go then." she texted him back.

She cleaned up her house a little, trying to make it look clean since it was a mess, which normally she kept her house clean, but not recently.

 

[NewToThis]

Chris had a pleased and content energy as he drove to Victoria's. He was happy she was welcoming in. Still he reminded himself to ease off the figurative gas.

He was new to her. Hell he could admit he was strange to her. He appeared strange to himself at times. His deliberate conduct, free of doubt, but also of nuance. He realized was something not too many people were used to experiencing. But that was how he saw life. It was short and could be lonely. So why not try to be happy.

His grey T-shirt and dark green cargo shorts that went below his knees made him look ready to be out and about. His hair was simple and plain. Admittedly his scruff could use some trimming at this point.

He strolled up and rang the bell. Would he push his luck some? He gave it to chance.

 

[allybanks00]

Victoria had cleaned up the house, the empty liquor bottles were in the garbage, her ice tea had a little bit of tequila in it that she was sipping on. Once the doorbell rang, she set the glass down on the kitchen counter.

"Hey!" she said opening the door for him. She was happy to see him, she was still nervous. He knew how to read her, and not very many people knew how to do that. It was all new to her, it made her uncomfortable, but it was a good type of uncomfortable. It was something she needed.

 

[NewToThis]

"Hey back." Chris said with a smile that reached his eyes.

His hands went gently down to her elbows, at first. And then lightly trailed down her arms to take her hands in his.

His eyes didn't quite stare, but they were...poignant. He took everything slowly, but he was deliberate. Giving her the chance to pull away if she didn't want this.

He bent forward and gently and warmly kissed her. He wasn't quick, but he didn't linger. His kiss was soft but full.

And he drew back beaming a smile. "Should we go shopping?" He motioned to leave with his head.

 

[allybanks00]

She kissed him back softly. She pulled away after a minute. "Let's go." she said with a smile. She locked the door behind her and the two made their way to the store.


She didn't need much. However, it was time for her to stock up on some things other than liquor. She needed some things for dinner for the following week, and a couple of snacks for throughout the week as well.

 

[NewToThis]

Chris drove the duo in his simple sedan. Idly they talked about music. From eighties songs to unique tastes. Chris liked his hard rock and metal, but threw her for a loop when he mentioned Sade and sang a little bit of "Smooth Operator" with a laugh beneath his tone. Even Alana Morisette with her "You Oughta Know...". Talent was talent, and he could he enjoy the variety.

The drive to the store went by quickly as the two discussed and laughed about music.

Walking towards the store Chris gently took her hand in his. Giving her a wry smile as he did so. He wanted to show her how sweet they could be together. To not be afraid to share her truth with him when she was ready. Even though he feared sharing his own.

 

[allybanks00]

The woman had enjoyed the car ride with him. She had really relaxed and the two had laughed and enjoyed one another's company.

She grabbed a couple things she needed from the store, adding them to her cart. She had glanced over at the alcohol. They were having a sale, but she has no excuse to grab it with Chris, so she tried to ignore that. "So what do you have planned for the rest of the day." she said to him as they walked through the grocery store.