2019-05-30 - The Balloon Isn't Cool

So its been a few weeks? Four? Nate DOES come by the Pourhouse probably on the weekends when he isnt swamped with grading papers or lesson plans, but its getting close to the end of the school year and that's always a rough time. But tonight is a little out of the ordinary since she gets a text message late, <<Hey. Are you okay? Where are you?>>

Mariah was getting ready for bed, her hair wrapped up after a shower. She was dressed in cut off sweat shorts and a black tank top as she was dancing around. Having a bit of fun listening to some music. That's when she sees the text flash across her screen and she gives a look down to it. <<Hiya, Sweets! I'm fine. Just at home and prepping for bed. You?>> she texts back. She liked calling him sweets for some reasons.

There's a small pause before the phone chimes again, <<Okay. You haven't seen anything today have you? Cause I know I've been working a lot but on the way home from the school in the rain, I saw something I really shouldnt have.>> There's a pause, then the next line, <<Because if someone is fucking with me, this isnt funny. Even my students didn't know we watched that movie.>>

Mariah looks down to her phone and there's a pause, <<I haven't seen anything today. Nothing weird at least.>> she texts. Then there's more lines to read and her heart drops a little, <<What did you see? You didn't see a clown did you?">> she asks. Because that would be the ultimate fucking nightmare of things. <<Do you need to come over?>> she sends off.

There's another pause, then <<A caught a bright red balloon drifting out of one of the storm sewers downtown. I couldnt tell, but I think I was the only one that saw it. No one else commented. I was hoping that meant I was just seeing things. You know. Stress.>>

Mariah just stares down at her phone for a moment, a bit of fear starting to crawl into her features. Her fingers work on her touch screen, <<That is not funny. Even if it was a joke.>> she texts. Then after a few minutes, <<If you're super stressed and seeing things, you should come over, lets talk it out in person.>> she offers.

<<Kids can be cruel. I wouldn't put it past a high schooler. But, like I said. I didn't tell anyone. They're like sharks. If I imply I had a date with someone they know, the gossip will amplify overnight.>> There is a pause, then followed by, <<Tell me you havs some good bourbon and I'll bring cheddar popcorn.>>

<<So you didn't tell anyone about the date?>> Mariah sends, she's not upset by it, but she's crossing off things in her mind. She wasn't sure if her dad would have done something. <<I've got good bourbon. Just come on over and we'll sit and talk.>> she sends to him.

<<High School Teacher. Don't precisely have huge amounts of gossip time 🙂 Besides, wasn't sure I wasn't dreaming at the time, either. Be there in 10.>>

It IS pretty close to 10 minutes when there's finally a knock on her front door and a bundled up Nate is glancing around with a reusable grocery bag clutched to his side.

<<Be safe.>> Mariah had texted back. Then she'd put her phone down and headed for the living room to wait for the door. Once she hears the knock she opens it and lets him in, "Heya, sorry you're having a bad night." she tells him as she lets him in. "Mind if we sit in my room? Or do you want to stay out here?" she asks him as she zips up the hoodie she threw one.

Nathaniel offers a small smile when she opens the door, "I didn't want to keep you up. If you havent seen anything, then...I'm sure it's okay. I think some bourbon and a nap and I'll probably be better, but I wasn't going to turn down a chance to talk for a while, either." He steps aside so the door can be closed, probably noticably glancing out at the street as she does so, then lightly shakes his head, "Anywhere is good. I mean, if you were about to crash..."

After the door is closed, Mariah smiles at him warmly and reaches out to pull him into a hug, "First of all..." she gives him a squeeze. "That definitely needed to happen." she points out. "Secondly, I was getting ready to sleep, but I don't mind sharing." she winks at him. "So come on, we'll toss something on and just relax." she grins as she leads him to the bedroom.

Nathaniel closes his eyes for a moment and returns the hug tightly, bringing a slightly more relaxed smile to his face, and a nod, but when she mentions sleeping, he winces a little and offers, "My timing sucks, But...you're fine, you havent seen anything, and that's all I was worried about." He does trail after her, though, reaching out to lightly touch a warm hand to her back.

Mariah gives him a smile, "If I would have seen something weird...or dreamed about a big scary clown I most definitely would have been on your doorstep or waiting for you in another place." she tells him. "Sometimes the...the darkness can do evil things. I'm hoping that it was just a random occurence and not that." she tells him as she crawls onto the bed.

Nathaniel chews on his lower lip when she talks about the darkness, and hesitates a moment at a thought but does walk over and sit himself down on the edge, scooting back a little to put his back against the headboard, "I hope...well, maybe its just that. Bad thoughts that pick on you. This whole town seems full of energy that just tries to freak you out, you know? When I set off experiments in class, I've spooked students I never would have thought would flinch."

Mariah flops over onto her side and stretches out as she looks at him, "Everyone is scared of something. They just like trying to find all of our fears and exploiting them." she sighs. "So if they did set that balloon up...I can only imagine it was a one time occurence and they got their jollies." she frowns. She wanted to hit them with a bat. "Are you alright other than that?" she asks him.

Nathaniel takes in a deep breath and lets it go in a soft sigh, and when she asks if he's okay, he reaches out to run a hand out and gently through her hair. A smaller, genuine smile touches his face, "You're probably right. I just havent had something so directly targetted at me before. I was half expecting to see bright eyes looking at me out of the sewer and...well, I'll admit, it wigged me out a little."

Mariah scoots over to him and there's a smile when he pets through her hair, "I'm glad that you're doing better. I know I definitely would have wigged out as well." she admits. Then she gives a smile up to him, "So, I know you have school in the morning, but, I don't want you to go walking home alone tonight. How about you stay and I'll snuggle you and we'll get up a bit earlier so you can make it home to get ready for school. Deal?" she asks him.

Nathaniel thinks about that for a moment and glances towards the door, easing his arm a little more around her back, before nodding and snuggling her in a little closer, "I think..yeah. I mean, if I get to school a little rumpled from a hasty shower and throwing something on, I dont think the vice principle is going to complain too loudly. As long as you are really okay. I promise I don't snore...that I know of."

Mariah looks perfectly content to stay where she is, "If they complain, tell them to call me." she grins. "I don't want to get you in trouble, but I'm a little weirded out. And I don't want to wake up and see anything by myself." she whispers. She then leans up to plant a kiss on his lips, "So we'll watch a movie, have some popcorn and then some sleep. It'll give you time to wind down." she grins.

Nathaniel leans lightly into the kiss and nods once, settling down a little to tuck her in a little better against his side, where he can even rest his head lightly against hers. He does seem to relax a little and murmurs, "Careful. I might get very used to this. I'll have to find new reasons to come knock on your door and see if you want to fall asleep snuggling watching a movie."

Mariah laughs warmly, "Is that like...'don't threaten me with a good time'?" she teases him gently. She was a bit adoring at times. "So I'm going to veto horror in liue of things. How about The Princess Bride or Robin Williams?" she asks him. Then there's a look to him and she gives a bit of a grin, "Well, I mean, we could just start going steady and that would solve that problem." she winks at him.

Nathaniel rumbles softly, "Princess Bride sounds perfectly fine to me. As you wish, my dear." He scrunches his nose a little in amsusement, and laughs softly at the last comment, "Oh man. Should I slip you a note under your pillow before I leave in the morning? 'Do you like me? (yes) (no) (maybe)'?" He takes a moment to slip out of the snuggle to set the movie up and return with the popcodn, reclaiming his spot with a warmer hug. Clearly a much better choice as after a few 'INCONCEIVABLE's, thoughts of the clown have retreated to the backs of people's minds, and sleep is much easier to find.