welcome

[Nash Elias Everard]

Nash was a sentimental fool. Emotions could be so cumbersome, and right now, Nash was really feeling the weight of that. If he weren’t able to feel guilt, then he wouldn’t be sitting at the bar, thinking about what an idiot he was. However, he couldn’t help but feel that he has royally screwed up this whole ‘fresh start’ thing he’d had going for him. Admittedly, moving to a small town and getting drunk out of your mind every night wasn’t a positive fresh start, but it was something new. He didn’t have any rules for himself any more, nothing tying him down, and nobody keeping him in line. It was a significant difference from his normal, respectable life back in California. But Nash was accustomed to it now; he liked it. He did whatever he wanted, and for months now all he’d wanted was to drink and brood. Fine, because he could do that. It was simple; the only thing he didn’t want to do was complicate this newfound sense of freedom. Yet, somehow, he’d managed to do just that.

Nash felt entirely secure in saying that his sleeping with Selna wasn’t his fault. He hadn’t meant too. Sure, it had only happened because he’d been drunk, but honestly? It wasn’t like he was out in public, drinking himself into a stupor. He’d been in the privacy of his own home, fully expecting to remain uninterrupted. It had been Selna to come over late at night, and it had been Selna that started it, not Nash. And well, Nash was drunk, he couldn’t be expected to think rationally or to remember his resolve not to do anything that would change his situation. Nash had just been enjoying a nice, quiet wallow in self-pity, he hadn’t counted on a drunken fling. Something that wasn’t his fault, however, was now the very thing that kept nagging at his mind, like an annoying fly buzzing around our bedroom when you’re trying to sleep.

Because Nash had done something that made him feel ashamed, which was completely his fault. He’d been a right asshole to Selna the next morning. She hadn’t asked for it (Well, yeah she had. After all, she was the one who decided to stay the night). But what Nash was getting at was that she hadn’t known where he stood on the subject of relationships, especially sexual ones, at the moment. She certainly hadn’t counted on him being upset about it the next morning, just like he hadn’t counted on her coming over in the first place. She hadn’t meant any harm by sleeping with him, really. And he shouldn’t’ have snapped at her for things that were out of control. It wasn’t her fault that he was divorced and incredibly bitter about it. That was Nash’s state of mind by his own choosing. So it only went to follow that he shouldn’t have taken out his anger and disappointment on her.

Now normally, Nash would have brushed off his guilt and gone back to sulking, like he usually did. But there was tiny sense of remorse this time; because after all, he was trying to turn over a new leaf and if he kept on being mean, then that certainly couldn’t happen. If he fell back into the habit it would be harder to break. Sure, he was still absolutely awful towards people he didn’t like. But he had liked Selna; she was his maybe-sort-of friend. Nash didn’t like applying the word friend to anybody, because he didn’t like getting attached to people and that’s what it promoted. But Selna had at least been nice to him, even if he wouldn’t have called them friends. It was the least he could do to repair the acquaintance. And with a little alcohol already in his system, Nash felt like it would be a perfectly admirable goal to achieve.

It was this train of thought that had caused him to leave the bar and walk down the street to the school. He was arriving later on in the evening, it would seem, and the people at the entrance didn’t seem bent on keeping him out, too distracted with what was going on inside. He said that he had a personal message for Selna Glenn and they let him in without a second glance. It took him a couple moment to adjust to the lighting, and when he did he felt slightly out of place. He was dressed in a plain shirt and a casual jacket It was a Halloween dance, and it seemed that the majority of the attendants were masked. He groaned to himself, wondering if he couldn’t have picked a worse night to be inspired to do the ‘right thing’. All the same, this presented a problem. How was he supposed to find Selna in this crowd? Nash stood uncertainly, tough he didn’t show it, glancing around. There was a band playing in the background, but Nash didn’t pay them any attention. He decided that he didn’t like their music, and the atmosphere only increased his desire to get this over and done with.

[selna skylar glenn]

Selna was a chaperon at the dance. She signed up for it to get a certain person out of her mind. In fact she decided that should the need arise and she see him again, well she'd give him only a fraction of what he gave her. Now she was brooding on him and couldn't help but get a scowl on her face. Before the incident whenever she thought of him she would get happy because he was a friend. At least to her he was but now she was loosing self confidence by calling herself stupid and just not liking the situation she had gotten herself into. She should just go back to Russia. Not many people knew her family, so she would be accepted. Of course she had to fool them about herself but at least she wouldn't have to fool herself about herself. At least the music was somewhat good. Not her exact tastes but it was better than any pop fluff that seemed to top the charts.

She was wearing a black corset dress and white undershirt, two different colored stockings (not like anyone would see them), black boots and gloves. And to mask who she was, she wore a homemade bunny mask and well, she figured she would keep her white hair today. Besides, its not like many would know it was her, and even if they found out they would think it was fake. Besides, she seemed to have run out of the coloring she needed. Upon arriving, she was told she had to stand at the refreshment table. She knew she had the worst luck and would probably be put there. Besides not many people would go there, and she thought they didn't like her clothing, even if it did fit the masquerade theme going on. She patted her top hat and went off to do as she needed, which was nothing.

A few hours into the gig she was getting extremely bored, and was just sitting at a nearby table brooding. Which brought her back to the problem. She couldn't help but smack herself. Good thing none of the students seemed to bother her tonight. She was happy they were having fun though. The decor of the place was great. She looked around, then decided to look at the incoming students through the front when her eyes caught on Nash. DAMMIT. She must have some special powers to somehow make him appear here. Well good thing they all had masks. Now she just had to act like she was one of the students, but still had to be near the friggen refreshments. so she decided to just keep her back towards him and not look so uptight as she felt. And then she couldn't help but think of why he was here. Did he think she told someone about his so called wife and wanted to call her out and grouch at her about it. She hadn't even spoken to anyone lately. To busy being grouchy herself it seemed.

[Nash Elias Everard]

Nash hoped his information had been right; he had been informed that Selna was one of the chaperons. If he was wrong, then wow, he’d feel like an idiot. Yeah no big deal or anything, he was just a fully-grown man, hanging out at a high school dance, and he wasn’t exactly inconspicuous. He was tall, taller than most, and slim in build. His dress wouldn’t have suggested he’d walked into any more than a small gathering at a friend’s house. Quite besides that, he wasn’t making much of an effort to fade into the background. He stood blatantly, obstructing a small flow of people as they tried to make their way between the dance floor and the refreshments table. Some people mumbled at him, and those he ignored. What did he care if he upset a few teenagers? What were they going to do? Angst at him? Unless they had switchblades hidden in their sleeves, he doubted they could do more than that.

As he continually scanned the sea of faces and backs of heads, he started to grow frustrated. He didn’t feel like having to find the person he was looking for. He would much rather she had just been standing at the door waiting for him, but obviously real life didn’t work that way. Nash contemplated giving up, and just finding her the next day to apologize. But here was already here, and he would feel stupid if he just turned around and left again. Yeah, cause that wasn’t weird at all. Nash was turning to start making a circuit around the room, when something caught his eye. He’d been looking for Selna’s typical hair color, so he he’d overlooked it at first. But now that he noticed it, the white hair was an obvious give away. He didn’t know anyone else with white hair, and he didn’t personally believe that many teenagers would want to dye their hair white. Still, he was cautious as he approached, accepting the possibility that it might not be Selna.

The closer Nash got, the more sure he was; the style of dress certainly suited her, the build, the everything. There was a moment as he closed the difference, when he began to question himself. Why? Why bother making up with Selna? She was nothing special to him, was she? No, not really. Nash suspected it had a lot to do with the loneliness he felt. On a subconscious level, Nash had reveled in the intimacy Selna had provided for him, even if just for one night. Nash was sick and tired of being alone, and Selna had shown him somehow that he didn’t have to be if he didn’t want to. It wasn’t love, it wasn’t even like really, not in the highschool crush type of like. But he did like her as a friend. Still, in that moment Nash realized his motives for apologizing were driven in some part by sexual lust as much as his desire to ‘turn over a new leaf’ and start being a better- well, not better really, but at least a different person. Still, this was a step forward for Nash, because his thoughts had never before acknowledged that fact that he liked havign someone else around every now and then, not since his divorce.

Selna’s back was turned on him, and had been the whole time, leaving him to hope and plead it wasn’t just some Selna look-alike from the back. He reached out a hand and touched her shoulder lightly to get her attention. “Selna.” he said, not certain whether he ought to expect her to be able to hear him over the music. Well, he’d gotten this far, now what? “I’d like to talk with you.” He said stoicly. His mind was already skipping ahead to how he would word what he wanted to say. Though, he had temporarily gone blank; how did regular people apologize any way? A simple ‘You’re right,’ had always been good enough for Silvia, even when she wasn’t right. But that was how Nash had avoided arguments, by letting her be right. But this wasn’t that type of falling out. Nash didn’t’ usually try to make amends for these sorts of things. So-called-friends came and went, and Nash’s opinion on the topic was usually that there were plenty more where they came from.

[selna skylar glenn]

She had hoped he was drunk enough that time not to remember her natural hair color. With each passing second she grew more nervous, wondering if her hiding in plain sight idea had worked. She hoped he wouldn't find her, or did she really. He played with her heart like a Marionette Manipulator and he didn't even know it. Not that she could really tell him at all. She almost turned around but her courage grew stronger and she stayed put. No. He would have to beg.

Her mind was so twisted into hate and love and she almost didn't respond when he tapped her shoulder and called her name. It was sweet, like she had imagined. Then she gave herself a good kick in the rear, at least in her head anyways, and turned around. And there he was. Sure he didn't look like he had really come for the party. She had to put on a straight face. Remember. Mom said never to cry over a guy. Unless you were married to him, thus making sure you should be the only woman to really cry over him. And well from that night she gave him reign to be his own man. She just couldn't figure it out anymore.

"What about?" she said, a bit stand offish. She wanted to seem strong, and maybe bitchy at him for what he did. Although, on the inside she felt like maybe she deserved it. Maybe that was why she moved back from New York. Because she deserved all the bad luck she had. Heck, her family was run out of their mother country when she was two, just because of rumors. Just to seem a bit more impatient with what he was doing, she crossed her arms and aw heck she couldn't seem angry wearing a bunny mask. She took it off, which was probably a nono but still. She wasn't wearing makeup tonight, because she knew the bunny mask would hide her face, and that wasn't normal for her, along with her natural hair showing. Not that the teenagers crowding around them minded. IN fact in her own world it was just the two of them, right there, next to the refreshment table while the bands music played on. She mentally kicked herself again, bringing her to reality.

[Nash Elias Everard]

About what? Well… duh. What else would he want to talk to her about? Really there was only one thing, and it had to do with what had happened last time they’d seen each other. What else would be relevant to them right now? Sure, if he wanted her could talk to her about the weather, but why would he? He didn’t expect her to want to talk about anything with him. Nash wasn’t slow, and he wasn’t going to waste his time with that. He really wasn’t the type to beat around in the bush, and seeing as he had something to say he meant to say it. Not preclude it with a bunch of senseless, meaningless drivel that Selna wouldn’t care about anyway. This being a very obvious point, Nash was convinced that Selna also knew this, and the only reason she had said ‘what about?’ was to have something to say. It was a senseless filler. Still, Nash thought it might be best just to answer.

“About what I said to you.” Nash replied despondently. He glanced around at the people surrounding them, suddenly self-conscious and uneasy. This was private; Nash already felt like he was putting himself out on a limb by coming here with the intent that he had. He didn’t need other people to spectate while his attempt at an apology potentially crashed and burned. Doing his best to keep up a stony façade, he quickly fabricated a plausible reason for wanting to get out of the flow of wear students by the refreshment table. “Could we move someplace quieter? I can hardly hear myself think.” He said, gesturing vaguely to the edge of the room, in an area where the traffic of students seemed to be non-existent. It looked like a slightly more private place to have a conversation, and without the incessant babble of the merry-makers in the room, it should be a little bit more practical.

However, Nash’s mind was still at a roadblock as to what to say exactly. He tried many different sentence starters, and none of them seemed right. ‘I’m a douche bag.’ Seemed a little too harsh on himself, and he wasn’t quite that miserable about the whole situation that he would degrade himself to make up with her. Humble himself a little, maybe, but surely insulting himself wouldn’t do. A simple ‘I’m sorry’, seemed a little bare, and sounded stupid in his head. No, he couldn’t say that. Once again, he started second-guessing his decision to say anything at all about it. Wouldn’t it be that much easier for Nash just to let things sit? Then he wouldn’t have to say anything at all. Sure, he would have lost an acquaintance, but really? Did he need Selna around? No, not really. But then again, he supposed he rather did like having her around. He was selfish enough that his own personal wants overcame what would be easiest for him. No chickening out for Nash. But all the same, he had to wait to see how Selna reacted before he could say anything at all.

[selna skylar glenn]

Selna looked over at the place Nash indicated. It did offer some quiet private time, but the last time she had quiet private time with Nash it seemed to have exploded in her face. Should she really chance to have some more private time with him. And what more was there to say about the "Get out of my apartment" episode. It seemed very clear to her. She looked back at him and gave her best glare. She wondered vaguely if he was drunk for surely he could never have this much nice courage to him if he were sober. She was tempted to go and smell his breath, but she didn't want the students thinking she was weirder than normal.

"Fine," she said finally making up her mind. And it was good that she made him wait too, because well she was very confused about him. She moved out of the way of many of the students, glad to be away from the refreshment table at last. Besides her anger seemed to be dissolving like a little girl who found a fallen star and wished upon it. Oh why did she just reference her dissolving anger to joy. She shouldn't be happy about that. Anywho so there she was at the edge of the room. she sat at the farthest table from the crowd, and looked over at Nash. He was so handsome in the decorated light that was on in the gym. She really ought to smack herself. She prided the fact that she never needed a man. Love is graceful, love is kind, the hell. Love is really going out of your mind. And Selna was loosing it alright. But she wasn't sure if it really was love.

"Here we are. Now I suggest you talk." she said looking at him. "Теперь" she demanded, Now. It seemed much easier to slip into Russian. Especially since she knew he didn't know what she was saying at it seemed easier to say words of endearment in a way to make him think she was insulting him. And then she could feel better about herself, and go to sleep without thinking about the problem she had created for herself. Okay so maybe she would swear at him too, to boost her confidence in not needing him. It wasn't the end of the world if she was rejected. She had other people she could fling with. Well maybe they weren't eager to line up at her door but still.

[Nash Elias Everard]

Nash hadn’t drank much that evening, only half a beer. That was all he’d had time for before his conscious had decided to make an insistent appearance. He now was thinking he should have had a couple more before he came, then he probably wouldn’t be so nervous about this. But as it was, his stomach had twisted itself into a knot and his mind was stumbling over words even before he could form them into words. It he was having this much trouble stringing together a sentence that didn’t sound stupid just in his head, what would it sound like when he actually said it? This was what made Nash hesitate ever so slightly in following Selna to the area he suggested, and he sat down next to her still deep in thought. Surely he should not be so uneasy? Perhaps he was coming down with something. Maybe rather than embarrass himself, he should just go home and rest. But this thought flew from his mind quickly; after all, he’d already gotten himself this far. He couldn’t back out without seeming like an idiot.

Nash didn’t know what ‘Теперь’ meant, but he thought that he got the general idea, judging by the context she’d placed it in. He chose not to comment on it, in case he was way off on his guess, and instead cleared his throat. Well, he didn’t know what he was going to say, but here he went. “I was… rude, to you the other morning,” he started falteringly, feeling that the way he worded that hadn’t exactly been the smartest thing in the world, but forced himself to continue “and, well, I was angry but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.” Nash didn’t really feel that what he’d said had been all that big of a deal, but it had made Selna angry with him, and that was enough to make him feel guilty about it. He sure as hell hadn’t been very polite and it was uncalled for, he’d admit that.

Nash glanced at the tabletop for a moment and drew his lips into a thin line while he thought. He wasn’t sure what he’d said had been sufficient, and so added, “I guess you could say I’m trying to apologize.” He admitted awkwardly, feeling tense with the situation. Nash wasn’t used to saying his was sorry, because he usually didn’t. Not unless it had involved an argument with Silvia. But Selna and Silvia were two very different people, and it made the conversation entirely different. Nash felt odd, saying these things, and he hoped to God he’d never have to repeat them. Nash was quite sick and tired of feeling bad about this though, so at least, even if she didn’t forgive him, Nash could know he’d tried and hold no more guilt over the subject.

[selna skylar glenn]

She looked over at him. Almost wondering why he had chosen to sit next to her instead of across from her. She put her small purse and her mask on the table top, knowing that no one would steal them with her closeby. What he first said made her snort, which was very much like her.

"Angry?! That was like twenty years of frustration and people not wanting to have sex with you blown in my face." She said. She tilted her head away. Well at least it wasn't what she had thought at first about him and the demanding of the keeping of the wife secret. She wondered why he wasn't here with her too. Maybe she was on a business trip. Selna never saw them around town together, well she never really saw Nash either. When he said he was apologizing she had to make up her mind there. She always went on what first came to her mind and currently she had a bit of a problem in her mind. Did she really want to make up with him. Yes. she did but she didn't want him to see that. And no matter what she could never stay angry at Nash.

"Well I'll think about it. But right now I have children to 'refresh'." She said getting up. She knew that the kids could go get what whatever they needed but she was somewhat motherly. Maybe it was because she always wanted a kid but never even attempted it, even with a drunk. Which brought her to the question. Did her and Nash use protection? She knew it was somewhat stupid seeing as they must of. She just had to make an excuse of not making herself too close to Nash. He didn't want it, and she knew that when he had politely, she was stretching that word a bit, told her the day after she was well in a way trying to apologize to him/

[Nash Elias Everard]

Nash was shocked, not to mention a little offended by what she said. He was also hurt. She had no right to comment on his personal history, she knew nothing about it. So what if he hadn’t had sex in awhile? What was it to her? The reason he hadn’t had been because 1) The last several months of his marriage was to a pregnant woman, and he wasn’t a cheater and 2) because maybe he didn’t feel like having sex so soon after his divorce! Excuse him if he was a little bit jaded towards human relationships and maybe wanted to hold off on sex with random people for awhile. Wasn’t that a perfectly respectable thing to do? Of coarse, Selna knew none of this; as far as he knew, she thought he was jus tin a bad marriage. Even so, why would she say that? Wouldn’t that be even worse? Didn’t she think it would hurt someone’s feelings if she so blatantly commented on their lack-of a love life?

“I didn’t deserve that.” Nash said quietly. He thought she was over-exaggerating. It wasn’t like he’d gone on a rampage. He’d hardly done anything actually, besides be a bit harsh and slam a cupboard door shut. And here he was, trying to apologize and she decided to insult him rather than listen to what he was saying. It annoyed him, and made Nash second guess as to whether or not making up with Selna was worth it. It wasn’t fair to him if he was the only one with anything to apologize for. He certainly hadn’t asked her to stay the night. He didn’t know how to voice his current frustration, but he was especially irritated that he had gone far out of his way to try and make things right only to be thus responded to. It irked him; Nash didn’t like doing things like this all for nothing.

Come to think of it, Nash didn’t want to leave here without having accomplished something. It was the only reason why, when Selna stood, he did anything about it. “Please sit down. They can pour their own punch for a bit, surely it’s not that hard.” Maybe it would just be best for him to set the record strait with Selna. Nash didn’t usually like talking about himself, but Selna seemed to think he was being irrational, or something. She didn’t know what was going on with Nash, but maybe if she did she’d be a little bit more considerate. And maybe she’d get why he had been angry as well. Maybe if she understood, then she’d forgive him. It was really the only other thing Nash could do. If it didn’t go over, well then, he could walk out of here guilt free knowing he’d done his utmost to repair their friendship. Beyond that, it would be Selna’s loss, not his. He stared at Selna, searching her face with his eyes, waiting to see whether she’d sit back down or not.

[selna skylar glenn]

"Alright. Fine. I probably shouldn't have intruded on your closed up life, anyways." She said, sitting down again. His quietness had tugged at her heartstrings. God she was stupid for doing this. She kept her hands in her lap. Now she was doubting herself. God how stupid she was. Well maybe he was angry at her because he loved his wife and didn't want to cheat on her. That made Selna sigh because she wanted a family herself. It was one of her life goals. She may be a music teacher who excelled at the violin and piano but she was somewhat normal right?

"Maybe it was better to be just phone friends. And I'm sorry for that night. And I wished it never happened." Selna said, hoping she said everything that Nash had wanted to hear. It was much better to just let people hear what they want to and not what she really wanted to say. Well of course she did want to apologize for having wonder rampant sex with him, well not really. She just wanted to apologize about how it ended up happening like that. Note to self, never happen upon a person at 11 pm, results may be good right then but bad later. See this was why she left New York. To many results in relationships like this and well she should never trust anyone at first sight. She had a few purses stolen like that. Not that she ever had much cash.

[Nash Elias Everard]

“You shouldn’t have.” Nash agreed, and then “I would have told you… if you’d asked, and I thought you genuinely wanted to know.” His tone was somewhat disgruntled. He was irritated at having his privacy invaded, yes. Nash was an overly protective person, especially when it came to what he viewed as his. His space meant a lot of him, and sure, he usually didn’t volunteer information about himself. But Selna had never asked either; so he had no reason to believe she was interested in any of it. As far as that went, Nash simply believed that Selna had simply wanted to get laid and he had been the most convenient person around. His reasoning for this thought was that Selna had never shown any other romantic interest in him, so why would he think anything else? It was perfectly logical, if a little unflattering to his mental image of Selna. Which was why he didn’t voice it out loud: it would be a rude and hurtful thing to say.

“Look, Selna, I told you that morning, I don’t care much about what happened between us. That’s not what upset me. But there was something else that was bothering me….” He paused, deciding now wasn’t a good moment to bring it up, then continued “But you’re right. I think it’s best for us to be friends.” What he didn’t realize is that his flippant words towards their ‘relationship’ might in turn hurt Selna’s feelings. But Nash truly didn’t see how there was anything between them but friendship. That was what he was comfortable with and that was what he wanted. Well, he may also want sex, but that was on a subconscious level and Nash wasn’t really thinking about that at all. He thought about Selna is terms of friends. Period. He actually thought that saying ‘ I don’t care’ might make her feel a little better, because at least it wasn’t her he had been mad at.

He continued to battle with himself about saying something about his marital status. He didn’t know how long he could go on letting Selna believe he was actually married. With a tiny amount of horror, he realized that his statements earlier might give the impression that he didn’t care about cheating on his supposed ‘wife’. Whoops. But then again, what did he care? It wasn’t true, he didn’t cheat and he had never cheated when he had been married. He could always deny he had cheated and be perfectly in the right. For the moment, it was simply much easier for him to stay in his comfort zone and not explain anything that he wasn’t demanded to explain. He would certainly prefer not to say anything on the subject, and he wouldn’t unless he had to.

[selna skylar glenn]

"I do want to know about your life. But you seem to not want to tell me." Selna said shrugging. This caused the cascade of inhumanly white hair to fall over her shoulders. She brushed it back swiftly, not being used to having her hair down, and in its natural color. Nash had never supplied anything about his past to her, whether by phone or in person. And well she had told him a little about herself, what person wouldn't. she was very thankful that they had chosen a very secluded area to have their chat because of the region their chat was going. She was never one to show her personal life to her students. When she heard what Nash said, her heart fell more into her chest. He really did want to be just friends. And she had let him.

"So I will see you later then, friend," she said stretching the last word to stop it from sounding fake. Well they had somewhat made up. At least enough for Nash to think so. It was okay for her, even if her heart went and splashed around in the stomach acid in her lower region. She really didn't need to cause herself more heartache. It was all good between them right? I mean you can't expect more than just friends from a married man. Sure she wondered why he hadn't mentioned her before. This elusive Silvia that Selna so envied. God she had to smack herself for even thinking of any feeling for Nash besides friendship. He was off limits by far. Who knows. He probably had a little girl named Anna who he treated to cookies and ice cream every time he was sober.

[Nash Elias Everard]

That was true, Nash didn’t want to tell a lot about himself to anyone. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. He had a solid idea of what he did when people asked him direct questions. Usually, he told the truth; if they wanted to know where he was from, he’d say ‘Seattle’. What he wouldn’t say was that he most recently lived in California, because they hadn’t asked that. Nash answered questions as they were, and didn’t volunteer extraneous information unless it was needed to answer a question. However, if it was something Nash absolutely did not think was appropriate for the other person to know… like say he’d just met a person and already they were prying into his innermost secrets, he wasn’t afraid of being blunt. A simple ‘that’s none of your business’ would suffice. He wasn’t afraid of hurting peoples feelings in that way; why should he care? He didn’t know them anyway.

Selna was a little different though. He knew her; he didn’t trust her, but he didn’t feel the need to shove her away either. Besides, trusting was something Nash just didn’t really do, so it wasn’t like it was anything extreme for him. “Yeah, I guess I’ll talk to you later.” Nash replied despondently, thinking deeply about what had just transpired. It seemed to him that he had successfully fixed his friendship with Selna, and so he was satisfied with that. But he couldn’t help but contemplate the manner of the relationship. It wasn’t really a friendship; he thought it had to go both ways for that to happen, where as Nash clearly wasn’t all that invested in human relations. There was just some part of him that longed to Selna’s company in as much a sexual way as an acquaintance way. But there was nothing beyond that. Nothing to support the true notion of a ‘friend’. So really, it was an acquaintanceship repaired.

Nash stood up, and smoothing the wrinkles in his jacket, turned to leave with a small wave so that Selna could get on with her duties as a chaperon.