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[Taeyeon Kai]

the party outfit

"hey, it's me. wanna meet me at the club? I miss you and wanna see you, robbie."

She had sent that text message hours ago, when the urge to go clubbing had hit her like a speeding garbage truck. She also missed being around her best friend. Sure, they had slept together and he had left before she woke up, making it feel like a one-night stand, but within time, Tae had understood why he had done it.

It was just the way he was.

So now she was in the club, wearing a shirt her aunt would probably grin about and her uncle to have a heart attack, with killer shoes she had bought months ago and a skirt that was a little more than a scrap of denim. Heated looks were thrown her way as her dark hair coiled and bounced along her back and shoulders, her long bare legs moving as her hips swayed to the music. Her eyes closed, her back to the wall as she waited for Robbie to come.

Or leave her hanging there.

[Robbie Wilkes]

Receiving the text from Tae had been a surprise. He had meant to call her after they hooked up but suddenly homework piled on and assignments were assigned and his hot chocolates with Ann have been pretty awesome. It was surprising how quickly he got over the part about wanting Ann as more than friends after the third mug of pretty damn good hot chocolate.

The invitation to the club was promising. Robbie did not like playing the role of a student. Not one bit. So yes, he was gnawing at the chance to release some tension. No, he was completely unaware that he had done any damage towards his childhood friend and he was just glad she was the one who invited him.

He quickly took a shower and changed into some dark wash jeans and a dark blue button up shirt, leaving the top button unlatched before grabbing his cell and wallet and announcing to Jared that he was going out and not to stay up for him.

After being warned about not staying out too late, Robbie managed to get out of the compound and to the club. After paying the entrance fee, Robbie tried looking for Tae and finally spotted her being grinded on by a boy. Robbie's eyebrow raised at the sight before he gave the girl a wave.

[Taeyeon Kai]

She felt someone behind her and she knew it wasn't Robbie. The person just didn't feel right. Luckily he kept his hands to himself and just danced with her; that way, she wouldn't be thrown out for attacking another club-goer, even if he had been the one to start it. As the songs changed, Tae opened her eyes and noticed Robbie standing there, looking so handsome in his simple clothes. She smiled and made her way through the crowd.

"You came!" she exclaimed happily, hugging him around his neck. Her sweaty skin pressed against his, most of her midsection and back bare because of her shirt. Hair clung to her skin and cheeks, her skin rosy and her eyes bright. "Thank you."

The songs changed again, and she grabbed his hand. "Dance with me?" she asked him, giving him puppy eyes. She knew they would work on him; he had never been able to resist. She was still his best friend...but was he something more to her, or just someone she knew from her childhood?

[Robbie Wilkes]

"Needed a break," Robbie admitted with a small grin as she clung on to him. Why didn't hugging her feel like hugging Estelle? Was it because he had slept with Tae? Not that he would want to sleep with Estelle. Ew. That would be...yeah, she was pretty oh was Estelle pretty but no. Sleeping with her would probably require putting a bag over her head. Ugh, no...crap. Now that thought is going to be stuck in his head for the remainder of the evening.

He was glad for the reprieve in the form of Tae asking him to dance. "Yeah, what I came here for." He followed her and started to dance. His previous worries melting away to only the two of them right there on the dance floor. He wondered if Estelle would like this kind of place. He doubted it. The girl was a little too wholesome for places like this. And she liked gymnastics not...dancing perse.

Now why was he thinking about Estelle while he was dancing with a really hot girl? Robbie shook the cobwebs out of his mind concentrated on dancing. The song ended and Robbie made a gesture to Tae that he wanted a drink. "I'll be back. You want one?" He asked over the music.

[Taeyeon Kai]

As she danced with him, she felt something...off with him. Was it because they had slept together? Did he see her as another hot girl he could hit on? Or did he still see her as the friend he had made back when they were still in diapers? The thoughts running through her head made the allure of the night fade, even though the urge to be with her best friend was still strong.

When the music faded, Tae nodded and looked around, waiting for Robbie to return with her drink in hand, feeling a bit thirsty herself. The music started up again and she waved a hand over her face, feeling the heat get to her in the confined space.

A space cleared in front of her and all she saw were dark eyes in a handsome face. A flash of white as he grinned and she was entranced, almost moving when he gestured. Remembering where she was and who she was with, she shook her head regretfully, watching as the figure shrugged his broad shoulders and walked away.

[Robbie Wilkes]

After ordering two non alcoholic drinks, Robbie took a sip from his before getting back to Tae with hers. "They were being lame and not serving alcoholic stuff to anyone below eighteen." Robbie rolled his eyes at Tae. "Oh hey, sorry about not calling you earlier." Robbie grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck out of habit. "I suddenly got a buttload of assignments. One of them was Math I mean seriously. Who gives out Math assignments? Demon spawn that's who."

He shook his head before starting to move his body. "So what have you been up to?" Robbie asked Tae.

[Taeyeon Kai]

As soon as the man left her sight, Robbie came back into the picture. She grinned at his explanation and took her drink, sipping lightly. The drink, even non-alcoholic was strong, enough to make her almost drop her drink. Her energy level spiked as the music did, and she felt her hips sway.

"It's okay," she told him, finishing her drink. "I understand homework, it's fine." She watched his movements and matched hers to his, keeping the rhythm with the sway of her hips. Soon a space cleared around them, not big enough to draw attention but enough for Tae to move freely. "Not much, man. School, a job. I got a new puppy." She grinned at him.

[Robbie Wilkes]

Her blase attitude towards his explanation earned her a big smile from Robbie. He didn't quite like having girls clingy and too emotional. Of course, he had no idea Tae had been a virgin. If he had, he wouldn't have even touched her. No, he wasn't romantic in any sense but he felt that the first time should be with someone special. Heck, even first kisses should be with someone special for him. So no, his Texas-sized guilt was not weighing on his shoulder.

"Cool, cool. C'mere." He pulled her close and started moving against her. As she told him about what's been going on in her life, Robbie listened and got excited for her when she announced her puppy. "Really?" He suddenly missed Zeus. Which Tae knew about! "How big is he? The puppy that is. Maybe you can come around when I go back home so he can play with Zeus!"

[Taeyeon Kai]

His smile was like the sun shining down and Tae basked in it, knowing she had created it. His touch, however, made her gasp and startled her enough so that she stumbled into his body, hers already finding his rhythm and matching it. The touch of his fingers on her slick skin did nothing to cool down her body temperature, or the blush on her face.

She laughed when he mentioned his dog. Of course, knowing his love of animals, that would be the one thing he picked out of her statement. "He's a welsh corgi, and his name is Bear, but my cousins call him Bubba. He's a month old and he's utterly adorable. And I would love to bring him to your home so he can play with Zeus." She leaned in close and kissed his cheek, her own face pink as she drew back and began dancing again.

[Robbie Wilkes]

"He sounds awesome!" Robbie exclaimed and showed a bit of surprise when Tae kissed his cheek. Yeah, he wasn't used to affection like this. Okay, to be fair, he was but even he could sense something bigger than affection in that kiss. He hated having to bear that responsibility. It was too heavy a burden. Estelle never did things like that. He could just know that Estelle would never love him or feel about him any more than that "annoying jerk who keeps hanging around me".

"That would be super. I know dad would love seeing you around and Joel, Desi and Agnes and Meredith are so grown up now. I don't think you met Mere. Man she's getting so big now. I just know I'm going to have to fend the boys off her." Robbie cracked his knuckles playfully but everyone who knew Robbie would know how protective he was of his three baby siblings.

[Taeyeon Kai]

His surprise hurt, like he had been expecting things to go back to the way they were before that day. If that was what he wanted, she would give it to him. She backed away a couple steps and kept dancing, listening to the music. He talked about his family and she was surprised she could remember their faces. It had been too long since she had seen his family.

"I would love to see your father again," she replied, thinking of the man who had become her grandfather's favorite among his subordinates at the Army base in Seoul, South Korea. "And I miss seeing your siblings. They must be big, if you're anything to go by." She grinned when he cracked his knuckles; she knew his game. "I have better luck fending off potential suitors than you, goofball. I know three different martial arts, remember?"

[Robbie Wilkes]

When she backed away from him, Robbie thought nothing of it as he continued to dance. The song was really catchy and upbeat and halfway through he was humming the chorus under his breath.

"That's great!" Robbie exclaimed when Tae voiced her eagerness to see his father. The senior Wilkes had doted on Tae for quite a bit when they were still kids. Robbie was sure having her around would buffer the tension at home.

"You haven't seen Mere have you? She came like...a few years after you left. She's 5 now but she's so big!" The blond weather manipulator said in excitement. It had been a few months since he had come home. Clearly the boy missed his family. "Oh please. My big brother glare is more effective than your judo nintendo whatever." He joked.

[Taeyeon Kai]

"I don't think so, mister." Her tone was affectionate, like it had been before that night. "A pretty girl like me, wielding three different martial arts...a LOT scarier than a big-brother death glare." The music beat through her blood like a tribal drum, making her heartbeat tune into the rhythm. "And I would love to see your family again."

Soon enough, the club was starting to thin out and Tae noticed the time. She slowed her dancing and took a deep breath. "Maybe we should head out? It's late, and I know we both have school in the morning." She smiled at him, wiping away sweaty strands from her face.

[Robbie Wilkes]

"Don't hate on the big brother glare. You've never been the victim of it so you wouldn't know." Robbie laughed and nodded when Tae reiterated her want to meet up with his family. Maybe he should drive her, Estelle and himself back to his house. He was sure the kids would adore Estelle.

When Tae mentioned that they should head out, Robbie nodded and pulled her out before sliding his arm out of his coat, patting the sleeve of the coat over Tae's sweaty face. "You're such a mess sometimes." Robbie chuckled. "Alright. I promise I'll text you. Want you to meet some of my friends! I'll call you kay? Take care. Walk home safely and all. Good to see you again."

Robbie planted his lips on Tae's left cheek before ruffling her hair. "Bye chica."

[OOC: Wrapped for Robbie!!]

[Taeyeon Kai]

The music ended and people were filing out of the club when Tae pulled her coat on. Robbie pulled her close, which startled her, and blotted her face with the sleeve of his jacket, complaining that she was a mess. She laughed and swatted him playfully. "You better text me, or I'll come and kick your ass next time! Take care!"

She leaned up and kissed his cheek too before walking out the front door, clicking her way down home and waiting for the day she would hang out with her best friend again.

[fin.]