Just a Night Out (Noa)

[Deleted]

Set on November 29

Zach really needed this. This night out. For all the stresses he'd been put through over the past couple days with Thanksgiving, and all the stresses he was expecting from Monday onward with finals just around the corner, Zachary Bishop really needed this. He needed to be with someone friendly but sympathetic to his needs. Someone he had a connection with, but had no expectations. Someone who knew of his habits, but would give him the gentle nudge he needed to get out there and do something.

Which was why this person was not his best friend Oliver.

Though the other half of the reason was because Noa was...she was nice. And a girl. And they were friends.

But that was it.

Right?

Anyway, after a little mishap that morning with some hot chocolate, and then suddenly the entire household returning from wherever they'd gone to, Zach hit the ground running again and by the time the day was mostly over, he was practically running for the door to get a breath of fresh air. By the time he reached the car, he had already shot the text out to Noa, telling her to meet him at the Churchkey bar.

Fifteen minutes later, Zach was watching the entrance to the bar from his seat in one of the booths as he waited for his companion to arrive.

[Noa Reese]

Finals were kicking Noa's ass. She probably should've spent more time keeping track of her notes and things in September and October, instead of spending all her free time working on Rocky. Then again, if she hadn't done Rocky, she wouldn't have met the awesome people she met, or gotten to spend time with them. ...Or hook up with them.

Somehow, her little tryst with Zach had gone the way of most of her hookups: friends. She wasn't really interested in a relationship anyway - she may have been slightly terrified of commitment. But, unlike most of her previous friends with benefits, she found it easy to be honest with Zach. Not that she usually lied to her other friends, but she certainly didn't let them see her when she wasn't in high spirits. Zach, on the other hand... maybe he just seemed so harmless. He didn't seem like the type to gossip or talk behind her back, or share anything she didn't want shared.

In any case, they'd met a few times for lunch, when their schedules matched up, and texted back and forth a bit, and now it was Thanksgiving weekend and Noa was free for three more days. Well, two and this evening.

Entering the Churchkey, after showing her fake ID and mentioning that she'd be the designated driver this evening, she pulled off her coat and glanced around for Zach.

Her choice to be the designated driver tonight was exceedingly purposeful. The last time they'd been together around alcohol - the cast party for Rocky - Noa didn't remember much except that she was pretty sure she'd given a couple of lap dances, and one of them was (probably?) Zach. She wished she remembered more, and she was curious to see Zach with a couple of brews in him. Which was why she was in more of an observational mood than she'd normally be on a weekend night.

[Deleted]

Zach rose his head at the sight of Noa coming into the bar and flashing her no-doubt fake ID.

….Zach wasn't sure if he should be condoning that kind of thing, Noa was underage.

He lifted his hand to get her attention. As usual, Noa looked splendid. Beautiful. And about as sharp as a knife. Their one night together may have clued him into how very attractive she was, however, he wasn't sure yet if that would progress into something more.

Zach stood as Noa approached the table, offering out an awkward hug(handshake?kiss?) to his friend then gesturing her to the table. "Thanks for coming on such short notice. I'm sure…um, I'm sure you had other things you wanted to do." He sat down himself, an exasperated look briefly crossing his face. "I really had to get out of there. You know, I think my siblings might actually be a circus troupe."

[Noa Reese]

Noa refused to allow Zach to get away with an awkward hug. Oh no- her hugs were legit - real full-contact warm squeezes that didn't let the receiver wussy out - especially after the exhausting week she'd had. She would've preferred to be given the bear hug in the first place, but that would be too much to expect of Zach. Even if she imagined a bear hug from him would be incredibly comforting.

"Thanks for coming on such short notice. I'm sure…um, I'm sure you had other things you wanted to do."

Noa waved him off as she sat down. "Your endearing awkwardness is unnecessary - I'm just here to get you drunk." She smiled, one of those rare smiles that held no trace of a smirk. In all honesty, she didn't have anything 'better' to do. Sure, there was probably a party somewhere that she could crash, but actually being invited somewhere meant a lot more to her. Also, she knew that a night with Zach most likely would not end with depression or vomit. Or at least she hoped not.

"I really had to get out of there. You know, I think my siblings might actually be a circus troupe."

"Hm." Noa's noncommittal noise may have belied her indecisiveness on the topic of family. She hadn't gone home this year. It was the first year in a long time that she hadn't. She was avoiding her problems, she knew, but she just didn't think she could talk to her parents or brothers about her little breakdown in September. And she definitely didn't want to see her extended family. She'd much rather stay in Vermont, as Noa, than return home and be meek and mild Jenny.

But, of course, tonight was for partying and forgetting about all that stress, and she needed to get over herself and get into the swing of things. She should be making a joke of this. So, barely a second after her little hum, she added, "Oh yes, the flying Bishops. Quite popular at the Vatican, I hear. The only circus approved by the Catholic church."

[Deleted]

Ok, apparently they were hugging. Good to know someone knew what they were doing, because clearly Zach did not. At least not when it came to one-on-one or even two-on-one interactions, Zach was usually hopelessly lost and just went along with the show. And that was pretty much how he liked it 90% of the time. The other 10% was when he was alone and could run the show himself.

Or when pushy girls were pushing him into taking charge, which he wasn't quite sure if that was in the first category, the second, or in a completely different one altogether.

Zach blinked at Noa's admission, not quite sure how to take it. "O…k…thank you?" An honest, if not awkward, expression of appreciation, considering that was the point of him coming out in the first place. To get away, de-stress, and get drunk. "Though, I don't think I drink quite as much as you're probably intending to get me."

Of course, Zach had no reason to know of any of Noa's issues with her family, and so his comment was innocently given, and he as well innocently received her reply with a laugh. He appreciated the return in humor, even though he knew it wasn't that great of a joke. "The Flying Bishops…" He considered the name. "That has a nice ring to it. I think we could market this." Though Katy was the only one who of them who could actually fly. "With our powers combined, we could….take the world…by storm…? I dunno…"

[Noa Reese]

"O…k…thank you?"

"You are so very welcome." Noa glanced around the bar, vaguely curious if anything interesting was going on, but her attention was brought back to Zach.

"Though, I don't think I drink quite as much as you're probably intending to get me."

Almost as soon as the thought popped into her head, Noa voiced it. "Yeah, I don't either, really - the cast party being an exception." Should she be embarrassed about that? She was out in public, around people, so the answer was no. Never feel shame. No shame Noa. "But since I'm not drinking tonight, I was gonna get vicariously drunk through you." That was a lie, she didn't really do that, but it was a harmless lie. What else would she have said? 'Oh, ok'? Public was performance time, she needed to be entertaining.

Although, with Zach, it wasn't really a pressured performance, more like a slightly exaggerated version of herself. She liked to entertain. But really, that joke had been a weak effort on her part.

"...With our powers combined, we could….take the world…by storm…? I dunno…"

"Yeah, sorry, I didn't exactly set you up for success with that. Not on the top of my game, joke-wise, I was grasping at straws there. Finals are kicking my ass in the least enjoyable way." She shrugged, her over-confident over-energetic facade cracking a bit as she flashed a tired smile. "But enough of my complaining, I'm sure you have it ten times worse." It was his last year, right? He probably had some sort of thesis or something... "Let's get you a drink and you can bitch as much as you like. Or, y'know... talk about whatever. I'm just so glad to be out of my apartment."

[Deleted]

There wasn't much interesting going on. The only that might have caught his eye was the karaoke machine that they would probably have going later that night. And if Noa managed to get him that drunk, then she'd get to see him really perform. But that was not happening sober. No definitely not

"Yeah, I don't either, really - the cast party being an exception."

"So we agree that the cast party was…a special occasion." Zach raised a brow just to confirm. He might have had a few beers that night, but nowhere near enough to have him acting like Noa had…which was actually quite something to behold. Zach couldn't recall if he had ever gotten a lap dance before. No, wait, scratch that. He hadn't.

"Well, I look forward to watching your vicariousness through my actual drunken eyes and wow that did not sound creepy at all…" Really, Zach just needed to order a brew already so he could get away from this awkward. Especially considering that failed attempt at humor, really where was he going with that?

"Don't worry, I'm..I'm in the same boat," he dismissed the failed wit with a nod and a short laugh. Yeah, he had it pretty bad, but luckily it was almost over. And luckily, he was almost done with his thesis and would be presenting it next week. How he had managed to find the time to work on it at all this semester was beyond him. "Sure," he agreed. Zach looked 'round his shoulder to find the server and raised his hand to flag him down. A few moments later, Zach had put in an order for their IPA. If he wanted to get drunk quick, then that was the way to go.

[Noa Reese]

Noa's eyes paused for a moment on the karaoke set up. ...Oh, she was so going to make that happen.

"So we agree that the cast party was…a special occasion."

She matched his raised brow, and raised him an amused smirk. "It doesn't have to be." Her tone was teasing, jokingly flirtatious, though the sentiment was true enough. Mostly because she knew he'd never take her up on the offer. Which was kind of a shame. Cause she was certainly curious about a repeat performance when she wasn't drunk as hell. "...Actually, you should come see me at the House." The invitation came from a place of wicked mischief, prepared to laugh out loud at the look on Zach's face when surrounded by scantily clad dancers. Admittedly, she hadn't been on in a while, but it might make for a good winter exercise regimen.

"Well, I look forward to watching your vicariousness through my actual drunken eyes and wow that did not sound creepy at all…"

Noa laughed out loud. "Sounds like your head is already in the drink," she grinned, though there wasn't a touch of maliciousness to her voice. She wasn't sure if Zach could even pick up on the fact that she wasn't laughing at him. She legitimately found what he had said to be funny. She enjoyed pointing out when things were awkward, and it was nice to have someone else admitting to it, too.

As Zach ordered, Noa smoothly interjected, "Make it two, please." Not that she'd be drinking one.

He wanted to get drunk, right?

[Deleted]

"It doesn't have to be."

Zach made a queer, uncertain expression, his mouth hanging open as if it were trying to form words as he was not sure how to take that. While it had definitely been nice, he wasn't sure if it was something appropriate for repetition. Sure, he enjoyed it, who wouldn't a lapdance?(perhaps a sexually retarded eunuch like Zach?) But it was hard to take too serious after seeing that petite red-head consume so much liquor.

Though at her invitation, Zach's look became even queerer. "A-at the H-House?" There was a slight raise in pitch on that last word. He'd never been in a place like that before. It wasn't that he wasn't interested (who could tell if he actually was), just that it'd never crossed his mind to go there. He had few people to go with and even fewer who would agree to it. And Zach couldn't even imagine Ollie going there, it wasn't exactly his scene. Nor was it Zach's. "I…I coooould. If you w-wanted me to."

And no, he couldn't tell if she was laughing at him or the "joke" but it was pointless to worry about it. If he worried about what people thought of everything he said, he'd be back in high school again. And besides, Zach thought it was amusing too, even if he didn't express it quick as vivaciously as Noa had.

Two drinks? Zach had thought he'd maxed out on the queer in his face, but apparently not.

"Soo…." he drew that vowel out a moment before continuing with, "What have you been up to? Outside of the insanity of finals, of course."

[Noa Reese]

Zach's face was (as Noa had suspected it might be) priceless. "Calm your tits, Zach, I'm just kidding with you." Lie. She almost felt a little hurt by his reaction, but she had to keep reminding herself to change her expectations when it came to Zach. He wasn't exactly as quick as some guys were at picking up on cues.

Her invitation, though, that she was not taking back. And his cartoonish reaction made her snort a little.

"A-at the H-House?"

"Yeah, Scooby Doo, I work there sometimes," She teased, rolling her eyes. She assumed he'd never been there, and that seemed to be a correct assumption. "I feel like I should probably remind you that you've already seen me naked." Considering the cast party, she added, "...And you've seen me strip. This would be that but less naked and more dance-y."

"I…I coooould. If you w-wanted me to."

"Lovely, I'll let you know when I perform once I've gotten back on the set list." She said this as though it were settled. Because, according to her, it was.

"...You know, if you keep making that face, it'll stick that way." Her tone was wry and sarcastic as she grinned at his continued melodramatic reactions. "I kinda thought you'd expect this from me, I don't see why you're so surprised." And with that, the drinks were ordered.

"Soo…. ...What have you been up to? Outside of the insanity of finals, of course."

Noa shrugged. "Staying sane." Her fairly even tone hinted that maybe that wasn't a joke, as the words might seem. It was tough. The winter didn't really help her depression, and neither did thinking about the holidays. She frequently associated them with an odd hollow feeling of dread. In truth, she hadn't done much. "I think I have cabin fever. I sleep a lot, I never leave the house, I have to keep reminding the voices that I'm busy listening to the other voices..." That was a joke, of course. ...Or the last bit was, at least.

"What about you? How's the writing going?" She crossed her arms on the table, and set her chin on them.

[Deleted]

Indeed he wasn't quick, Zach was slower than a turtle when it came to picking up social cues. Last time he and Noa were "together", she had to practically spell it out for him before he finally caught on. A little embarrassing on his part, he had to admit, but the night had been…nice.

He wouldn't mind a repeat, of that and the cast party, just the two of them if it happened to happen. But Zach was probably far from being the one to initiate it under normal circumstances.

"Lovely, I'll let you know when I perform once I've gotten back on the set list."

"Sounds like a plan," Zach agreed with a nod. He really needed to get over it, seeing Noa perform at the House was no different than if seeing her under any other professional gig. The point was, it was professional. And that was something to admire.

"I kinda thought you'd expect this from me, I don't see why you're so surprised."

"You're right, I should know better by now," he countered with a roll of his eyes. Then he quickly changed his tune, smiling to show that he meant nothing by it.

Zach nodded at Noa's next words. Yeah, he could understand the staying sane part. He was having a hell of a time doing that himself. And hence the need to get a few drinks in him. He wished he could help her more, but as it was, Zach was going to be pretty nonexistent for the next couple weeks until finals were over. He did manage a half smile at her attempt to lighten the problem. "As soon as all this insanity is over, we can…I don't know, hang out or something. Go see a movie, get out of the house. I'm sure going to need it."

"Writing is….long…and hard. Not really hard, though. More time consuming." He furrowed his brows, thinking over the projects he still had to complete, then shifted his eyes back down to Noa, a smile slowly forming on his face. He sighed. "Thanks for coming out." Zach paused. "I already said that, didn't I?"

[Noa Reese]

"You're right, I should know better by now."

Noa had to grin at his sauciness. Zach talking back made her happy. And she certainly didn't mind being the butt of his humor, since he meant it all in good fun. Besides, he was right. He really should.

"As soon as all this insanity is over, we can…I don't know, hang out or something. Go see a movie, get out of the house. I'm sure going to need it."

Noa nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that." She'd been starting to feel like her room had become a den, the things piling up around her until she was walled in by discarded clothes and papers and bags and things. She'd had almost a week without wearing makeup, so she felt like a slob, and her self image had been slipping each consecutive day she wore sweatpants. Going out had been a lifesaver, and Zach didn't even know. A swell of gratitude warmed Noa's chest, but she nudged it aside, although her eyes and smile certainly softened for a moment or two.

"Writing is….long…and hard."

In what was surely a testament to how unlike herself she was feeling, the obvious crude implications didnt even pop into Noa's mind.

"Not really hard, though. More time consuming ...Thanks for coming out." His smile earned him a matching one in return, "...I already said that, didn't I?"

Noa shrugged. "I think I've gotten used to you both repeating yourself and apologizing or thanking too much." She really wasn't surprised by this behavior, and it didn't even make her roll her eyes as much as it would when they first met. "Besides..." I wanted to talk. "Like I said; I needed to get out."

The sentimentality of it was starting to make Noa feel too.... weak. So she shook her head, ridding herself of the soporific effect of gratitude, and was incredibly glad to see the drinks approaching. "You know what you need? Beer. And also you need to sing karaoke."

[Deleted]

Zachary had the feeling that Noa would benefit from getting out a lot more than Zach would. The introvert lived off of being alone and isolated. He preferred it most days and when he needed social interaction, he knew where to get it and had no problem doing so. But Noa….over the time that he'd known her, Zach had her figured for a performer. One who got their energy from entertaining others, from their reactions, from their acknowledgement. It was a completely different need than Zach's, but he did equate Noa's outgoing personality similar to those of Gaige and Katy.

Then again, maybe he was just reading into it too much.

"I think I've gotten used to you both repeating yourself and apologizing or thanking too much."

"Well, that makes one of us," Zach said with a smile. He was still the kind of person who apologized too much and then apologized for apologizing. It was a habit he really needed to get out of, but likely wasn't going to anytime soon. At least Noa didn't force him to not say it like some tended to do.

"Besides...Like I said; I needed to get out."

He nodded. "Glad I could help." If this outing did them both some good, then it was more than worth it.

"Karaoke?" Zach peered over at the idle machine. "I…need at least three drinks in me before I do that." It was a confidence issue. And it was easier to not care that people were watching you when you were drunk.

The drinks were set on the table and after a thank you, the server left again. Zach quickly claimed one for his own, still unsure if the other was for himself or Noa. "Did you want to sing too? You'd probably rock it." Zach winced at the use of that phrase. It made him sound like a 40 year old hippie trying to sound cool. He drowned his embarrassment in a long chug of his IPA.

[Noa Reese]

"Karaoke? ...I…need at least three drinks in me before I do that."

"Should I go ahead and order the third, or do you want to finish these two first?" Noa smirked as the drinks arrived, signaling the waitress to bring her a water when she was able. She was curious to see what Zach might sing, if given the opportunity. She had him pegged for a fan of the Cure or the Smiths or something, but she couldn't be sure. For all she knew, Zach was secretly a big fan of country music. ....Fuck would that be unfortunate.

As Zach only took one of the beers, Noa leaned over to put the other one in front of him as well. "I'll refrain from the sophomoric chanting, but let it be known that I'm urging you to chug, my friend." She leaned back, almost smugly, waiting for the entertainment to begin. "I made a fool of myself at the cast party, now it's your turn."

"Did you want to sing too? You'd probably rock it."

She laughed as he winced at his own words - they weren't that bad, really. "You're so self conscious, Zach, relax." She didn't lean forward, but she put her hands out to their fullest extent to brush her fingertips against his arm resting on the table. "Seriously, you don't give yourself enough credit."

There had been a question in there, though, hadn't there. "As much as I'd love to..." She snorted a little, "Yeah, being the only sober one doing karaoke is... Well, it's just not as entertaining as you expect it to be." In other words; she took herself way too seriously when doing karaoke, and it had embarrassed her more than once.

[Deleted]

"Miiight…be a better idea to let me finish at least one first." Despite Zach not being one to drink too often or too much, he was at least steady and would probably get these two out of the way within the next half hour. After all, if he wanted to get drunk, then he had to down them quickly, or else risk only being mildly buzzed.

But what was he going to sing? Zach was already searching through his brain, thinking of songs from his playlist that he might be able to pull off and not make a complete fool of himself doing. The boy might be able to carry a tune quite well, as well as his musically inclined brother and sister though he'd never acknowledge it, but he definitely wasn't one for stage performances. Too many nerves and too much awkward.

He smiled through his next drink. "Patience," he assured her. "It'll be gone soon enough." Though if she really wanted to get him drunk, she give him the hard stuff. That would have him stumbling over his words more than when he was sober.

Zach blinked up at her. "I'm glad at least you think so. I can…I can only imagine what my brothers would think." Specifically JJ. If there was something to poke at him for, those boys would find it.

Now her refusal to sing actually confused him. "But…you perform all the time at the House, right?" At least that was what he gathered. "I'm sure it's just as great…especially since you would probably make me look like a drunken fool." He didn't mean it to sound insensitive, if at all, but he honestly thought she would do well in a casual performance just as much as a professional. Zach took another large drink of his beer. It was already more than half gone.