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Anonymous Thu 11 Jul 2024 19:49:14 No.67309293 Report

Quoted By: >>67309538 >>67309753 >>67310747 >>67311197

>>67309244
Next part please

Anonymous Thu 11 Jul 2024 21:11:52 No.67311197 Report

>>67309293

>A few days later and I've found myself making good on that promise of a next date. I text Nick letting her know I'm just about there, another block to go. I find her waiting out front as I approach. She's looking nervous again. She's making a real habit of this.
>"Heya."
>She nods at my greeting and leads me in. I find it a bit strange as I follow her inside.
>We go straight to the couch and settle in. I get a bit frustrated as she's still distant.
>"Nick?" she flinches as I address her.
>"Y-Yeah?"
>"You okay?" Nick looks panicked at the question, fretting heavily.
>"I- I uh" I sigh and put my foot down.
>"Nick cmon"
>She looks away and finally speaks.
>"How do we do this?"
>I blink at her, confused.
>"What?"
>She turns back, frowning deeply.
>"Sorry, just forget it." I snap a bit
>"Nick. Please."
>She flinches and looks as if she wants to shrink to nothing before speaking.
>"I don't want to screw everything up."
>I sigh a bit and scoot in.
>"Nick it's okay, relax." I feel a bit of pain watching her clam up and shy away.
>A pain wells up in me. Guess she wasn't kidding when she talked about being a complete beginner at dating. Can't say I'm too much better off myself. I start to pull away but get a clawed hand grasping my shirt.
>Her voice is shaky and weak.
>"Please don't go."
>I sit stock still in her grasp as we sit in silence, her quiet breathing the only noise.
>"I'm so sorry. I'm... I'm scared, Anon." she's wavering, the hint of tears in her voice.
>"Let's talk." I put on my most comforting voice.
>She takes a breath and I feel my shirt return to me from her vice.
>I settle back and she speaks, still barely holding up.
>"I hate having to be vulnerable around people." I nod, she made that clear before.
>"But I promised I'd try with you." she takes another pause
>"I'm so scared. I've been having nightmares." she starts to break, tears down her face.
>"A single wrong turn, a single argument and I'm worse off than ever and alone. Again."
cont

Anonymous Thu 11 Jul 2024 21:24:56 No.67311512 Report

Quoted By: >>67311799

>>67311197
>"Nick..." i try and console but she snaps at me
>"Stop. I don't think I can do this. I'm sorry. Go find someone who doesn't fall apart at the drop of a hat." her voice is away and cold.
>I get mad. A frustration not pointed at her but at life. I move in as Nick looks up at my surprised and crying.
>"I'm not going anywhere." I press into her and hug. She struggles against me weakly.
>"S-Stop!" I go for the strongest attack I can muster. I go for the tickling.
>It works and not but a few seconds along and she's looking up at me as I'm almost pinning her to the couch. Her face guilty but not threatening collapse as before.
>"There's something you should know about relationships." I speak to her confused face.
>"Part of it relies on supporting each other. You have to let me in. It's terrifying I get that but it's the only way." Nick scowls
>"It's hard." she still fights back
>"Yup. And it can fall apart at any time." she flinches again.
>"But you can't just be alone. I know that one from experience." Nick looks away.
>"...you'll be patient with me?"
>"Take all the time you need." Nick turns back and looks into my eyes. Hope.
>We hold the position a while, just looking deeply at each other.
>She finally lets out a defeated sigh. "You have no luck with women."
>I chuckle. "Guess so. They always say to keep away from girls with daddy issues. Probably should've learned my lesson the first time." I snicker back as we share a light moment, helping break the tension. I sit back and Nick sits up. I find her in my lap now, cuddling heavily.
>"So..." she starts to speak.
>"There's a reason I wanted to stay in and just watch movies." I don't interrupt.
>"It..." she clenches her fists
>"It's a warm memory of my parents. Just sitting in a blanket, watching animated movies. I miss it so much." My arms tighten around her.
>"Sorry." she quickly apologizes but I soothe her
cont.

Anonymous Thu 11 Jul 2024 21:36:23 No.67311799 Report

Quoted By:

>>67311512
>"You miss your family. Nothing to be ashamed of." she sighs and presses against me.
>"It's been over fifteen years. I should be over this." her inner worries find their way out.
>Her voice rises "It makes me feel helpless! Makes me feel like I'm a child..."
>I gently stroke her back as she grits her teeth at herself.
>She goes limp.
>"You wanna start the movie?" I call to her. She pulls back a moment, a little surprised but a gentle smile. She reaches over and hits play. It's an old animated film. I see.
>I decide to impart some wisdom I picked up from the Navy.
>"Hey, Nick?"
>"Yeah?" she keeps her eyes on the screen.
>"You know your blood family doesn't have to be your only family?" I feel her stiffen in my arms.
>"What?"
>"The people you keep around you can be family, if you let them." I think back to the guys on the ship. The stories they'd tell and the lives they ran from.
>I feel Nick turn her head up to me. Eyes glistening.
>"A-Anon?" I already know exactly what's going through her mind.
>"Yes, Nick. I want to try to be part of your family, if you'd let me." her eyes shut. A calmness I'd only seen on her sleeping face washes over her.
>She leans back and points her head right back at the movie. She speaks quietly. As if I wasn't even meant to hear.
>"Another chance at a family, huh?"

Fin

>>67309302
Alright Greene suffering it is.