(Untitled)

[armanimanbangs]

Who: Nate, Neil & Open
What: Nate's at work and Neil decides to pay him a visit
Where: The newly-opened Abercrombie & Fitch
When: Friday night
Rating: PG
Status: Incomplete, Open

Comments

[notdead_poet]

Neil practically skipped over to the store, barely noticing the chill in the air until he'd stepped inside and felt the contrasting warmth hit him. He'd just gotten through with practice, and visiting Nate seemed like a great way to follow a great rehearsal.

Tugging off his gloves as he scanned the store, Neil smiled as he spotted the figure toward the back of the store. For a moment, Neil just watched Nate, who seemed engrossed in his task. It was easy to get caught up in watching him, and now even more so, because Neil was really proud of him for how determined he was to succeed at his job.

He snapped out of it when another employee asked him if he needed help finding anything. "Nope," he answered with a smile. "I know where it is."

After that, he crossed the store and approached Nate quietly from behind. "That would look really nice on you."

[armanimanbangs]

Nate spun quickly, his lips curling into a broad smile as he pulled Neil into a tight hug. "Hey you," he said softly, planting a kiss on his cheek as they pulled apart. "Heh, I like it a lot. Too bad it's more than half my paycheck."

Really, fifty dollars for a T-shirt didn't seem unreasonable to him. The unthinkable part was working for minimum wage.

"What're you doing here? I thought you had stuff you were doing today."

[notdead_poet]

Neil hugged back just as tightly, grinning as he took in Nate's scent and loved that his visit seemed to make Nate so happy. When they pulled apart, he glanced at the shirt in Nate's hands again, making a mental note of what it looked like. He still hadn't come up with a brilliant idea for a Christmas present.

And now, he'd have a little more money to spare. Which he was really excited to tell Nate about.

"I did. Rehearsal ended a little early and I thought I'd stop by and see how my favorite retail salesperson is doing."

[armanimanbangs]

"Good. I'm on folding duty," he said, motioning to a pile of badly-folded T-shirts. He knew it didn't look great, but hell, before a week ago, he'd never worked an honest day in his life. On top of that, he'd never actually folded any clothes. Ever. And contrary to whatever Chuck would like to believe, he actually enjoyed making his own money. And he saw how demeaning it must have been to his father all those years.

"How'd rehearsal go? Did you get to sing your song?" Nate loved Neil's song. The way he'd burst into it in the shower or something just put a grin on his face. And he made no secret of how much he enjoyed that.

[notdead_poet]

"Great, it was great. And yes, I did," Neil answered with a smile. He was beginning to think Nate was more passionate about Neil's solo than Neil was. Not that he minded. He loved seeing Nate interested in his shows, not to mention, it made him feel less guilty for practicing it in the apartment all the time.

"Also..." he laid a hand on Nate's forearm, grinning wider in anticipation of sharing his news. "Dr. Byrne, you know, the man who runs the theater? He pulled me aside today and offered me a permanent spot in the company. I'd actually be getting paid to act!" He knew he was practically bouncing at the thought.

[armanimanbangs]

Nate's eyes went wide again. "Seriously?!" He exclaimed. This was Neil's dream. Or at least a big step in it. He'd heard stories about how hard it was to be a successful actor or actress. Apparently Neil really was as talented as Nate thought he was. "That's amazing!"

He grinned wildly, pulling Neil into another tight hug. "God, this is going to be the best Christmas ever."

[notdead_poet]

"Thanks," Neil laughed as he was grabbed into another hug. And his mind echoed Nate's comment with, God, I love you.

But his mouth didn't follow suit. No. Not yet.

"I think it will be," he said instead, taking his time in leaving the hug. "Definitely."

[armanimanbangs]

"So Lulu mentioned something about a party or Karaoke something on Sunday? She thinks we're going... are we?" He did his best to fold another one with just the word "Abercrombie" scrawled proudly up the side.

[notdead_poet]

Oh right, the karaoke party. In the business of the week, Neil had almost forgotten. "Yes. I mean, you don't have to go if you don't want to. But I was planning on it, and... hoping you would?" Why was he still nervous asking Nate to go places with him? He could only assume it had something to do with the amazing blue eyes always looking at him so carefully like that.