Dedicated to shiffah

Question of the day: "How do you like to be comforted when you're sad or upset?"

"Some moments are like cotton candy. they're wonderful and sweet, but you know they just won't last."

****

"My dresses are here!" I say with gratitude as I try one after another.

"I can see that by your excitement." Shorty says from my phone.

"Do me a favor and don't look at me while I change."

"Trust me, I have seen better naked girls than you and yet I am still gay."

I laugh. "OK. The red one or the blue one?"

"Definitely the blue one." I nod and after a brief talk while applying makeup, I'm ready for the date.

"OK got to go."

"Not yet. I gotta prep you first."

"What? Shorty, it's not my first date with Nate."

"I know, but, some points are crucial."

"Alright. Go ahead, dear master."

"Be nice. Smile a lot. Blink. Don't forget to blink. Men like women who blink."

"How do you know that? You're gay."

"Not the main point." The bell rings. "Oh, go! And remember, definitely don't be yourself."

"Wow man. That's your advice? Anyways bye." I hang up and put my phone in my purse. I take a deep breath to clear away my nervousness and open the door.

"Wow." Nate says. "You look... gorgeous." My blue dress is knee length with spaghetti straps with little sunflowers all over it. That makes it look very.... summery, though it's fall now.

"Thanks. You look amazing too." Nathan's navy blue shirt and khakis make him look authentic. A piece of a modern museum.

"Shall we?" I nod and put my hand in his. He opens the door for me like the gentleman he is and I laugh.

"I can open my own doors"

"I know. But you're cute. Makes me want to take care of you." Has anyone's heart ever melted right at the beginning of a date?

****

"I haven't been to the movies in ages." I say.

"Me too. I usually just Netflix something. But I wanted to do something old-fashioned for tonight."

"Good. I like old-fashioned." I smile. We decide on an action movie that fails to entertain any of us. So we badmouth the actors clothing and accents to pass our time. (And mind you, I'm very much myself.) I force him to order a large popcorn and large drinks but by the middle of the movie it gets over. He then tries to fumble with his phone and take pictures of me, but its too dark. So we spend the next hour sneakily texting each other emojis so that the staff doesn't catch us.

Do you wanna get out of here?

Very much yes, I text back.

He suddenly grabs my hand and pulls me out of my seat. "Wanna do something crazy?" He whispers, his breath giving me chills. I think for a while. From false promises to flipping my friend's husband off, my day can't get any crazier right? The people behind us in the hall room tell us to move, so I listen to them.

"OK"

"OK?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Why're you repeating everything I say? Let's go!" He drags me out of the theater. "Hey, go slow on me. My hand hurts." He leaves my hand as we take our seats in the car.

"So here's the thing. My friend just made me part of this only men's club. There's a party there right now."

"And you are suggesting..?"

"Only men are allowed there."

"Let me get this straight. You want me to dress like a man and enter with you." He nods. "God." And here I thought my day couldn't get any crazier. "OK, let's go."

"You are really up for it?"

"Uh-huh. I need your clothes, though. And a cap." God, I feel like a conspiring bitch.

"Won't it look odd if you wear a cap during the night?"

"Do you have any other way to hide my big brown hair?"

"Yeah, that's right."

****

After a detour from his house, here we are. I'm wearing one of his shirts and jeans that's way too baggy for me. But it's the only way to hide my curves, Nate said. I blushed when he said that. I don't even know why I am doing this, but, so far it's hella nerve wracking. My hair is smartly hidden inside the cap and my bangs are out to give me a bad haircut look. I also had to remove all my makeup so that I look like a guy who has yet to hit puberty. I hope they let me in.

Nathan puts his hand on my lower back as we stand in line. "Why aren't women allowed here?" I whisper, trying to ignore the electricity that his touch just sparked in me.

"I don't know. I never asked."

There's a scary looking guard on the entrance who scrutinizes me with a disapproving look. "Is this boy even old enough?"

"Yeah, he's 18." Nate lies smoothly. Eighteen! Well if any man where to actually call me 18, I would blush. The guard nods and lets us in. Well, that was easy enough.

"So what do you do here?" I whisper-ask.

"I don't know. I came here for the first time." He replies looking around for someone familiar I guess.

"And you brought a date? You really are dumb, Nate."

"What can I say? I am handsome, after all. And-"

"-handsome men are dumb." I complete for him and smile.

"Who's your friend Nate?" We look up and see Kaushik. What the hell?

"Yeah so this is the Za-Zane. And Zane, this is Kaushik, my colleague." I smile sweetly at him and nod.

"You look familiar."

"Yeah, of course," Nate says nervously. Trust me, he's not the only one who's nervous. my heart is beating like a crazy sheep right now. "He's my nephew. You may have seen him in family pictures. Maybe in my trip to Bahamas pictures?" Wow from ex-girlfriend to nephew, Nate and I have a serious relationship going on. I try my best to stifle my incoming giggle as I sigh inwardly in relief.

"I guess." He looks speculative. "Let me show you around." He takes us deeper into the club. This place is full of men and men. And I am surprised to see women at a corner. That is where Kaushik is leading us. I shoot a dirty look to Nate and he shrugs. But when we get closer I realize the woman's true intention. They're strippers. Damn it.

"How do you like that?" Kaushik asks. An arm wraps around his arms and he turns to kiss that woman. I wince I look at Nate and he is uncomfortable too. I gasp when one of the women wrap themselves around me. They're wearing less to no clothing at all. I cringe and try to get her off me.

"What happened Zane? Let loose a little bit. Nathan tell him." Kaushik says and I look at Nate again. He looks conflicted I'm about to speak when the woman around me takes my cap off. Shit. My hair falls like a veil around us. Kaushik's eyes widen and many men stop their talking and stare at me. The woman who did it, steps away from me.

"Zara?" I nod, my heart in my mouth. "I knew it! That's why you look so familiar!"

"Get out of my club." A man with a heavy voice says from behind us. Before I can turn and see him, Nate grabs my hand and we start running like crazy till we're outside.

"What was that?" I ask him, breathless from running. But when I look at him with his face scrunched up, I can't help but fall into a fit and of laughter. Nate joins me and we stand there like 2 crazy people laughing endlessly in an alleyway.

"I guess you lost your chance of going there ever again." I say.

"Maybe, but hey, if I knew it was a strip club I wouldn't have taken you."

"What else did you think an 'all men's club' would be?"

"Right. How did Kaushik know you?"

"He used to date Claire."

"I see. It's a small world. I wish my boss doesn't fire me."

"That man was your boss? The one who told us to get out?" He nods and I laugh which makes his face darken. I try to lighten the mood. "It was so unfair that we got caught. The fun was only beginning. But hey, think of it this way. You got something to take off your bucket list. 'Go on a strip club with a date.'"

His expression softens. "You're funny."

"No, I'm cute. And you're handsome. And dumb." I stick out my tongue.

He smiles and it's a peaceful thing to watch. We stare at each other. Nate has the kind of smile you'd want to lock in a jar and look at forever.

"You're pretty darn special, you know that, Zara Audrey?" his words make my stomach flutter.

"So are you, Nate. So are you." I say and kiss his cheek.

A/N: I just realized that  Thursday passed without any updates. Sorry peeps, i was inactive as I said. The exams are killing me(only sorta), but i am afloat till now. AND THEY RESCHEDULED IT! MY EXMS WILL START ON 7TH OCT NOW!!

Ok, back to our story! How did u like this date?

Does anyone reader of NAF remember Kaushik!? 

Don't you guys agree that handsome men are dumb?

Have a nice day ahead and happy reading!!