Posted by Ensign Chloe Kendrick (Nurse) in Graduation Week - Earth 2383

Posted by Lieutenant Nathan Harland (Assistant CNS/ Child Psychiatry) in Graduation Week - Earth 2383

Posted by Ensign Chloe Kendrick (Nurse) in Graduation Week - Earth 2383
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
“Come on doll down the hatch, you can do it Kelly… I see you take it father, so has Dante and half the class… so come on down the hatch… down the hatch!” Nathan said as he sat by the bar, filled with fourth year cadets and Ensigns with a small spattering of what his drinking buddy loved to call the JG’s as they stood surrounding Kelly Schultz, friend and ex fling whom Nathan loved finding chances to tease her whenever she came back to Earth.

Kelly slammed the glass down on the table and looked around at the graduating class. Life had changed so much for her over the past year just like it was going to change for this new batch of cadets. She and Dante had taken to the stars only to return for a briefing to find themselves back during graduation week. Well Dante was only for a hot minute. He had taken off as fast as he could to spend time with Natasha. It had to be true love for the man to be hanging out stocking the hypo cabinet at the hospital on a Saturday night. The more Kelly thought about it the larger her smile grew. Dante had left the bar feeling no pain. This probably meant he was doing things in the supply stockroom that could bust you down a rank if caught but that was true love. It made you do stupid things and the only thing that made Dante stupid was a dark haired blue eye feisty Russian. Since Kelly was going to be flying solo tonight Nate was just as good as anyone to hang out with.

“I’m impressed, six shots, you got seven in you Kelz or are you gonna slink back to your ship and sleep it off?” Nathan asked, smiling widely at the gorgeous blonde. The irony was Nathan and Kelly where never truly serious, it was this hot spark that only lasted a month, but he always enjoyed her random calls to bars even after they split where they talked trash and tried to see who could drink the most.

Her eyes drifted around the bar looking to see if anyone interesting caught her eye before replying. Nate knew this look in her eyes. Heck anyone who had been drinking with Kelly knew this look. “Debating,” she said scanning the room a second time.

“The Constellation will survive without you you for a few hours, plus you promised me you would wing man me… you owe me after the last date you set me on… that Andorian girl was a freak but she had more screws lose than a Ferengi freighter.” Nathan said as he took back a shot as the music and crowd seemed to get louder.

“Hey I warned you that night it was slim pickings and there was no guarantee I was finding you a woman to bring home to your mama,” she southern drawled out the last word as she pointed a finger accusingly at him however you are in luck,” Kelly snapped her fingers twice to grab the bartenders attention. “Tonight I am going to find you a prime time, one hundred percent perfect girl suitable for steamy date nights, church functions, and most importantly meeting your mama. Now we need to narrow the field. You have never been picking about blonde, brunette, or red heads but red heads are crazy, along with anyone named Ashley, Shannon or Tiffany. We want someone pretty but you have to focus on the pretty-psycho scale as Duncan and I created. See the prettier they are the more psycho they are,” Kelly took one of the shot that was just delivered and handed the other to Nathan. “Case in point,” she downed her shot. “I am hot as all get out so it takes a strong man to handle the truckloads of baggage I bring into a relationship, sort it out, and stay for longer than a week.”

“You are hot as heck, it’s why I picked you up in a bar when it was snowing in New York as you tried to fight those Klingons for cheating in that trivia game. I knew then if I went out with you it would be trouble. Luckily we found we liked sex better than just truly dating and it was best to be friends… maybe not as fun on some dark stormy nights but it’s worked out so far… you have gotten me the last three out of six girls. In baseball you would be batting 500 which isn’t too bad.” Nathan snickered a bit as he couldn’t help but shake his head as some of the past memories.

Looking around bar Kelly pointed to a red head in the corner. “How about her? I know I said avoid the red heads but she is wearing glasses which I have no idea why except that maybe it is like a force field holding back the crazy? She seems cute though.”

“Oh no, I dated her back when I first came in… she was nice until she tried to suck on my toes, that was a game changer… hommie don’t play that, next.” Nathan said with a wave of his hand like he was some king ordering someone out of his court.

“You know you just made me throw up a little in my mouth right,” Kelly side eyed him.

“Brunette two o’clock,” Kelly called out another candidate to the the ‘lets find Nate a Date game’.

“See she might be nice, but I saw her own YouTV on that show and she couldn’t name the original Federation members, which is literally the first thing they teach you in primary school. She put that video up for all to see too, it was… it was bad.” Nate said as he shook his head, as if to say he felt sorry for the generation they were growing up in.

“There is a place for all in Starfleet. The dumb ones just get red shirts,” she laughed but was partially serious.

“Okay what about that blonde with the fruity drink that has the cute little umbrella?” Kelly shook her head not even letting Nate respond before she spoke again. “She has to be from Connecticut with a name like Olivia or Ava. You can tell by the prep girl sweater and headband thing she has got going. Only girls from Connecticut look like that because they are close enough to New York City to land a wealthy doctor or lawyer but far enough away they can wear their beige skirts and plaid sweater discussing vegetarian recipes and vegan options for cheese.”

Ensign Kelly Shultz

“God no, that just reminds me back home. My family, the most real people I ever had was my dad’s servants. The people in the Vineyard were god awful, and I highly doubt Connecticut is any better… snobbish pricks… and yes I know the irony in my being snobby about snobs.” Nathan said, feeling like this was not going anywhere good as he took a swig from his drink and sighed. He liked having Kelz around but he knew it wouldn’t last.

The truth was none of the people here sparked him. He was officially an Ensign himself, having just graduated yet waiting assignment. Most of the people of the people here in this bar were ex cadets just a week ago, as he took a deep breath as he ran his hands through his messy brown hair as he looked back at Kelz, his icy blue eyes seeming to try and guess just what she might be planning for the night, or if she did indeed have some mark in mind to try and pawn him off she she could grab Dante and run off on some odd bender that those two always seemed to be getting into.

Ensign Nathan Harland

“You have got to make up your mind about your wish list. There is no way you are going to find the girl next door, that has a brain, will put up with you missing the hamper, make a decent sandwich, and make you bite your knuckle to hold back some bone head comment you can barely contain because not only is she sweet and innocent but plucky and feisty all in one. You are looking for a bar unicorn and they don’t exist. Trust me Dante and I would have found her by now if she existed but,” Kelly stopped speaking and her mouth slightly hung open. “She shoots. She scores,” Kelly made a dunkin’ motion as if playing basketball and sinking the winning shot. Spinning on the bar stool, Kelly face Nate.

“Fifty credits say I can score you a conversation with the brunette unicorn at seven o’clock,” she pointed to the petite brunette wearing medical blue sipping a beer in a four-seater table. The girl looked like she could be a greeter at church but leave and fit right in on karaoke night downtown in the city while only changing her shoes. She had a modest-quality about her yet something in the woman’s eyes convinced you she was only the good girl next door as long as she was not behind a closed door.

“She is cute… very cute in fact… you sure you have the skills to pull this off? My experience women in groups seldom leave the safety of numbers.” Nathan said as he took a deep breath but nodded as he looked back to Kelly

“Be right back,” Kelly tapped the bar twice before sauntering across the room.

Walking over to the table Kelly began to talk to the brunette. From Nate’s perspective, he could not tell if Kelly was singing his praises or sinking his chances. Twice the women glanced his was resulting in the classic motion of the brunette finger-combing her hair from her face yet surreptitiously locking eyes with him for a moment. As her eyes met his, Chloe Kendrick decided it was worth the chance. Talking to her friends, she then stood up and began walking over to the bar where Nathan was sitting. As she approached him, Chloe thought about how she was going to introduce herself. Introductions always set the stage for interaction. Seeing the expression on Nathan’s face there was only one thing she could say. Sliding into the seat next to him that was once occupied by Kelly she said, “Are you happy to see me, or is that just a defense mechanism?”

Chloe Hendrick

“I am always happy to meet a friendly face.” Nathan said with as he bit his lower lip eyes he narrowed his icy blue eyes on Chloe as he broke into a small smile as she sat next to him. Looking behind him he waved at the bartender to get the attention of them as they moved next to them. “I’ll have another rum and coke and she…” he paused as he looked over at Chloe as he squinted a bit as he looked her in her eyes, not once looking back to see what she had already been drinking as he looked back to the bartender. “And she will have a blue Hawaiian martini, shaking if I am not mistaking correct?” he said as he watched the bartender leave before bringing his attention back to her.

“You and her a tag team thing,” Chloe hooked a thumb at Kelly across the room with her eyes still on Nathan. There was no way Chloe was going to lose the bet she agreed to with Kelly.

Handing her credit chip over to the barkeep she said a polite thank you for the drinks and turned her attention back to Nathan.

“So does she have like a comm or are you really just that good?” Chloe was intrigued at how Nate had performed the feat and the part of her that normally would have said, go back to the girls was silenced by the fact it was Senior Week and a time to have fun.

“Oh that? I am really just that good… I’m Nate by the way.” he answered as he couldn’t help but have that devilish smirk that seemed plastered on his face as his eyes seemed to squint slightly as he looked her over. The more he learned about people, the more he could figure them out and Nathan always figured everyone out.

Nathan Harland

“I know and your last name is Harland,” she didn’t immediately introduce herself back. Compared to most of the men that looked like he did with an eye smolder registering about an 8.5 on the lost in your eyes scale, Chloe needed to see if his mind was as stimulating as he penetrating stare.

“Do you now, and here I thought I was the one with parlor tricks, though yours seems a bit more obvious.” Nathan said as he shook his slightly, he figured Kelly couldn’t do anything without trying to just throw away all the cards. Whatever happened to the art of playing someone up was lost on her, she always had to turn something into a competition.

Taking back the card from the bartender, Chloe placed it in her purse and turned to face Nathan.

Nathan watched as she palmed the chip, the front part showing just seconds of details before he looked back at her.

“So according to that blonde that sent me over here I am the first contestant on the Let’s Date Nate game. She said I was to skip looking at your amazing blue eyes because that was not going to be enough to forgive you for missing the hamper in ten years,” Chloe shook her head as if confused by her own statement. “She also said you were a psych major and that you bored easily with the types from Connecticut again whatever that means,” Chloe picked up the drink the bar staff had set down for them. Taking a sip she let the flavor mingle on her tongue before swallowing it. “You know I half think you both are dating and in some weird fight which is why she gave me such bizarre dating tips for you,” she tossed her hair over one side of her shoulder, “but figured what the heck. It’s Senior Week and since Starfleet has seen fit to send you out to counsel the crazies in space, I better make sure you are up to the job. I am going to ask you three questions. They are going to be mentally based. If you answer them I will tell you my name. So are you game to play a game or off duty or looking for an easier score because my friend Sadie is still looking for a date for the night.?

“Some of that is correct, but I think you may have been misled by my friend on some of the details… you know women so bad at keeping it straight.” Nathan said, knowing then and there this could make or break them and was curious which direction it would go with the gorgeous woman in front of him.

An unexpected bubble of laughter erupted from her lips as she processed his semi-anti feminist comment. Chloe, however, wasn’t mad and frankly far more intrigued by it than offended. Most men put on their best behavior when meeting someone. Nathan here seemed to be laying all his cards down instead of stockpiling a few away. That meant he was confident or arrogant. Since he wasn’t talking about himself exclusively or demonstrating any other narcissist traits Nathan Harland had to just be that confident in himself which was rather attractive.

“As for the questions, knock yourself out I don’t mind at all.”

“So your first question is,” Chloe moved her drink from her napkin and pressed it to her lips. Instead of the expected lip print, Chloe made sure she smeared it enough to create a circle-ish blot. “What does my modified Rorschach Test say about me,” she asked laying it on the bar between them.

Chloe Hendrick

“It says you need to think of better methods of figuring out psychoanalysis and not use antiquated methods disproved to have any real merit over three hundred years ago… I mean what kind of blue are you sporting modern psychotherapy barley knows what that is, let alone uses it…” Nathan said as he paused, this wasn’t going to win anyone over by nitpicking their data as he smiled at looked back at the napkin.

“No, but it could have given you some insight as to what is on my mind. That is the key to these meet and greets. Figure out what someone is actually thinking versus what they are saying,” Chloe took a sip of her drink.

“I think though if I had to be honest, it says that shade of lipstick would look amazing left somewhere on me later… but that might be to on the nose and quite frankly just goes back to an idea of every thinks with their second brain… but I think the real question is, why did you believe my friend when she said I was a psychiatrist? I mean I am very good at bs and I can work my way through a lot of situations by faking it… but I digress, its hardly your fault. Kelly is a great many things, but she never in the two years I known her figured out the difference from a psychiatrist and a neurosurgeon… she hears works on brains and just tells everyone I analysis people.” Nathan said as he took a swig from his drink before looking back at Chloe.

“For a neurosurgeon, you sure do talk like a psychologist,” she crossed her arms over her chest raising an eyebrow playfully. There was a reason however for this Nathan would never admit to if he was smart. That was Nathan Harland was a player and a decent enough one that could use charisma and charm to convince any lady across from him the world rose and set by her if she was just willing to take the chance. The issue was the sun always came up and men like Nathan would not be there in the morning. Since it was graduation week, Chloe didn’t expect a lifetime of sunrises with the man across from her. This meant both of them were on the same page so whatever happened, she and Nathan understood there were no strings attached.

Chloe opened her mouth to reply and was silenced by the first few notes of a popular song that rang through on her personal communicator. Not even looking to see who it was, Chloe pressed a button declining the transmission.

“Im sorry please continue,” she took a sip of her drink.

“So… that is one thing she told you that was wrong, I think instead of this whole three questions I get a chance to reverse it… what else… if anything else… did she get wrong?” Nathan asked as he wondered if this would be a wrench in her cog or if she could still work with some of the details she was giving being incorrect.

Nathan Harland

“Two truths and a lie then,” Chloe leaned back in her seat. “Okay, first one. She told me you were an avid fan of....baseball. You played as a kid in the open lots and parks until you were old enough to play on the big boy teams for a school. You tried out in middle school for one of those select leagues and they soon realized you were so good they fudged the age requirements to have you play up. You played high school ball until you graduated early and entered Starfleet,” Chloe summed up her story. In truth, Kelly hadn’t told her anything she could share with Nathan at this point but she had seen the last name on the back of a jersey when she attended the home games in the spring. Back then she only oogled him from the stands and had never met him but based on what she knew of him it had to be close enough to the real story to pass the mustard.

“Interesting, yes I do play but…” Nathan looked at the wrist band she wore, it was hidden under shirt but it was the distinctive blue and gold of the Starfleet Lions Baseball team. The truth was he hadn’t see the face, but the hand and that bracelet he had seen from the stands as he would enter and leave from games where fans tended to reach out, the monogram of CK on the side let him know it just wasn’t luck but indeed the same person. “You knew that already, big fan… you often come to the edge of the stadium and get a little handsy, hand behind the crowd as you reach for the guys, very uncouth of you but I can appreciate the desire.”

Ensign Chloe Kendrick

“Second,” she held up a finger. “You are at the top of your class and didn’t have to work for it. Things come easily for you sometimes too easy. When you don’t get what you want you become frustrated. When you are frustrated you get sloppy. To hide when you fail you turn on that smile. Your smile coupled with your charm hides all your flaws except for the people that know you.

“Getting sloppy is for lesser mortals. Sloppiness gets people killed, and my smile has nothing to do with failure, I’m just naturally a happy guy.” he said with a small wink as he took a deep swig from his drink.

“The third is that you are the baby of the family. You were showered with attention and that is why you are so confident and I dare say cockey. They always said yes to you and you don’‘t know how to take no for an answer. You had all....sisters,” Chloe guessed for no other reason than it as a fifty-fifty chance it could be brothers.

“Nothing wrong with being sure of yourself, but you are wrong again… you do know how this game is plaid don’t you? At some point you have to guess something right…”

“Fourth,” she liked the idea of guess about his past instead of listening to him drone on with pick up lines or quotes about how amazing her eye color was.

“Wait wait wait… if this is two truths and a lie then why is there four options? Or is one of them merely a fact you are trying to state, and if so which one? If we are going to play a game my lovely… you know you have yet to tell me your name. I am not sure I can play any games with someone so beautiful if I can’t at the very least have the courtesy of her name.” Nathan said as he looked her over trying to decide what to do about his nameless friend in front of him. “I mean if you want I could make up a name while we play, but that feels so impersonal… so come, out with it… don’t be shy you don’t strike me as one who is”

Nathan Harland

“Reeni,” Chloe answered without missing a beat. “Irene Ckoldchk,” she held out her hand finally making a true introduction.

Ensign Chloe Kendricks

“See how can you expect me to start playing if you are going to lie like that to me.” he asked of her as he narrowed his eyes as he looked her up and down. “You aren’t very good at these games, first you you bend the rules… next you are trying to lie about your name, Chloe darling I have been completely honest with you so far, can’t you just give me the same courtesy.” Nathan said with a smirk as he flashed back to the moment her chip came out to pay, it had her name Chloe Kendrick’s on it. He had only seen it for no more than two seconds, but Nathan tended to remember all things he saw.

“Excuse me,” she cocked her head to the side with an utterly confused. She was not upset but more trying to figure out when she had let her name slip out as Chloe instead of the standard bar name Reeni.

“Besides, none of these games have been played correctly, I am supposed to tell you the two truths and a lie, you pick… so far you have been doing random stabs in the dark and very poorly I might add, like only 20% at best accurate. You do do better when you are on duty I hope right? If I had to guess from the way you hold yourself, knowledge of the field but a cocksure you don’t see in most other doctors… Nurse I would wager, that plus the medication in your bag, caffeine pills for the long hours, very common in medical field, plus you are trying to quit smoking but you don’t want to use the hypo to flush out the nicotine, instead you are relying on older methods with the gum supply cause you don’t want people to have it on record what you do on your free time cause it just isn’t their business… see look I can take guesses too and I pretty certain I hit better than 20% so far.” Nathan stated, smirk in tact as he got out of his chair.

“How did you,” she looked around as if someone was behind her with a PaDD feeding him answers. Not finding one she turned her bewildered expression back on him.

“Come on I know you are wanting to know more of what I just did there and I would rather do it as some place far more interesting… trust me I’m not gonna steer you wrong hon.”

Nathan Harland

Chloe knew the open mouth posture was not at all ladylike nor doing anything to hide the fact how stunned she was Nathan seemed to have hit every box, tab, and memo about her life. If she hadn’t known him from Adam, Chloe might have thought she had an admirer but Nathan was not the type to pine from afar. There had to only be one explanation. Opening her purse she pulled out a small penlight used during all routine examinations. Clicking it on she shined it directly in his eyes. “You are Betazoid aren’t you,” she asked checking for the telltale black pupils. If the bar was better lit, she would not have had to go to such extreme measures but it was as pitch black for details as Nathan Harland’s Betazoid eyes.

Chloe knew his eyes were blue. She had been staring at them for the last fifteen minutes but nothing else made sense. He didn’t have a leaf print stuck to his head so he wasn’t Napean. There was that numbered species she could never recall but at least remembered they looked like extras from the Aliens movie. No pronounced hairless bulge ruled out being Ullian. No facial spotting ruled out Trill and Enaran. His full head of hair clearly did not make him Deltan however, Chloe had often wondered if the rumors were true with that race of individuals. No elf ears ruled out Ocampas and Vulcans but Chloe was at this point down to mages and magicians.

Reaching out she took his wrist and began to take his pulse. While man species had similar physiologies, things like respiration and heart rate were the key to differential diagnosis at the anatomy and physiology level.

Ensign Chloe Kendricks

“You know there is easier ways to a man’s heart than checking his pulse…” he said as he squinted slightly as he watched her. He wasn’t quite sure what she was checking, but if he could wager a guess he suspected he thought he had been cheating somehow by not being what he seemed. The irony though was as she touched his wrist he couldn’t help but have his heart rate go up ever so slightly, who wouldn’t want the lovely lady to touch them. “Satisfied? I can give you a blood sample later if you want.” he added as waited to see if she would let go and get out of her chair to follow him.

Chloe had no idea what to say to him but the one thing she did not do was let go of his wrist which was still gingerly being held by her thumb on the back of his wrist and her index and middle finger still on his pulse. It wasn’t that she was caring how fast his heart rate was right now. It was her debating how she was going to leave with him from the bar. He was almost holding her hand already. All she had to do was move two inches down and her fingers would not be on an artery but twined in his grasp.

“If you don’t wanna go, that’s fine. I don’t think though you are going to find someone you are going to have a better time with in this place… but it’s up to you Chloe… so I will ask one more time, do you trust me?” he asked once more as he looked at her with a sense of steely determination.

Nathan Harland

“Why do I feel like I should be asking you if I should trust you for my answer to give back to you,” she laughed. She was instantly attracted to Nathan and not solely based on his looks. It was his confidence that was really making her toes curl. No matter what he had planned was better than sitting in this bar all night. “You seem to know everything about me and I am still wondering how. Not knowing the answer is going to make me crazy so it’s not a matter of trust but mental health. I will come with you if you promise to tell me how you did that Harry Houdini because I am bingo on anything past street magician and for the record, I am a health professional. I would not smoke,” she said in a confident tone. Nathan was right on all the other pieces about her from the caffeine pills down to her business being her business. The smoking thing was her crutch. When she had a bad day or needed something to take the edge off, as bad of a habit as it was, sometimes the most archaic things were the most effective.

“Sure you don’t… ” Nathan said simply in a total non believing type of tone as he looked over at her. “We health professionals seldom take our own advice doll… I mean if I was to be giving advice to someone right now in my shoes I would tell them don’t listen to you heart… she’s pretty and smells nice and her smile could melt a snowman with it’s level of warmth. Clearly it’s just chemicals in the brain telling you to feel good and you should never listen to chemicals, yet here I am… not able to take my eyes off you wanting nothing more than to see if I can make you smile… I am very bad at taking my own advice.”

“I say go for the chemical overdose,” Chloe teased looking away from his eyes. She couldn’t decide if she like Nathan knowing her little secret. Currently, it was only the custodial staff and those down at the motor pool who knew what she did in the darkest corners and behind rubbish bins in the back of buildings. Would he use this knowledge for good or evil? Only time would tell.

As they exited the bar, Chloe allowed Nathan to set the pace and destination. There was something exciting and almost dangerous about what she was doing. It was not that Chloe feared Nathan type of danger but more the reckless spontaneity that had been missing from her life for so long. Chloe had a lot on her plate she kept hidden under a thick metal dome like a meal from a fancy restaurant. No one needed to see what was on that plate. All they needed was so observe her expression. Being a nurse, Chloe was adept at covering up the things that were bad or at least unpleasant. For a single moment, Nathan was offering her a chance to step outside of the life that she was living. It was not that her life as bad. It was just life had seemed to do a one eighty over the past six months and she was still adjusting. Being with him made her feel like she didn’t have a care in the world.

“So where are we headed,” she asked.

Ensign Chloe Harland

“McCovey Cove, near pier 48. I am fairly certain you know the location…” he said as he offered his arm for her to wrap around.

Before she realized it, Chloe had taken a position on his arm like they were an established couple. She should have taken his hand in hers like the barely out of their teens couple that they were. Chloe could have even walked out by herself like the numerous times she had left a bar for a quiet cup of coffee with someone she had met that night. Only that is not what happened and the fluidity of interlacing her arm in his surprised her.

As she did he reached with his free hand and moved gently back the long sleeve that covered the bracelet that he had seen at many events, yet this one was unique as he traced the CK with his finger before looking back up at her.

She instinctively shivered as his fingers delicately traced the soft skin on the way up to her wrist. If Nathan commented, she would point out that her reaction was just a physiological reaction to being tickled. If she was being truthful, Chloe Kendricks would have to admit it felt like something more. They were in full public view but the ay he touched her made her feel like they were all alone in a room lit by candlelight doing more private things.

“It’s a very pretty name, Chloe… you really shouldn’t use a fake one. Irene doesn’t fit you at all… and Clo is a much better pet name anyway, Reeni… no none of that will do.” he said as the moonlight seemed to shine and illuminate their path as they walked, edging closer to his ultimate destination, which was next to the cove itself.

“I use Irene Ckoldchk as an alias of sorts. You never know who you are going to meet and the last thing I need is some guy looking up Chloe Kendrick at the guard station trying to hunt me down. Please don’t take offense. It’s a safety thing. I am just about a buck wet with embarrassingly little muscle tone, failed the self-defense class twice, and sprained my wrist trying to do that flippy thing over your hip. You know the move,” Chloe let go of his arm and began to walk in front of him backward as she talked. Taking his wrist she held it up, stopped abruptly in front of him and tucked her hip into his groin area as if she was going to demonstrate the action. “See,” she said looking up as if she was going to do the move but clearly wasn’t. “My arm isn’t long enough to,” she stopped again mid-sentence eyeing him up and down. “My god you are tall. I had no idea until I had to look up at you. What are you like 5‘11?”

Anyone passing by on the street would so wonder what the heck was going on. There was a woman that was pressed up against a man holding his hand out by the wrist as if she was trying to defend herself. The man for his part had an open palm that clearly was not holding or grabbing any part of her and was also not moving a muscle staring down at her with a bemused expression; it was, however, San Francisco during Grad week so what happened during Grad week stayed in Grad week.

“Huh,” she nodded moving back to his side. “Oh and you promised,” as if Nathan could read her mind she opened her mouth to speak but he replied before she could finish her sentence.

“And yes before you ask I am more than willing to tell you my secrets, but you have to promise to at least be honest with me in return… I don’t bite unless you ask me to.” he said with a teasing soft tone.

“No secrets from here on out. If I don’t want to tell you something I think I will just plead the fifth,” she suggested slightly holding her breath. Talking to him felt natural almost too natural again like she had spent 15 years with him instead of 15 minutes.

“I think…” Nate said as he looked around as the pier was different looking at night when everyone was gone for the day as he found the gate he was looking for. “Here we go… if you hadn’t guessed this is the back side of Kirk Field, where the Starfleet Lions play baseball… which if I am correct you already knew didn’t you?” he asked her with a small smug smirk on his face as he began to jimmy the gate open as he broke in before looking back at her as he offered his hand for her to grab as the pair snuck into the park after hours.

“Um yes but,” she looked around and over her shoulder nervously. “If you are doing this to impress me you can stop. I’d rather spend the night talking to you anywhere but a jail cell,” Chloe again looked around like they were heisting a bank.

Who was this guy? Well Chloe did know who he was even if Nathan didn’t know her from a police line up. Nathan Harland was a senior with amazing eyes and a silver tongue that after a single night made a lot of co-eds they were going to be the future Mrs Harland. The stories of how he could make you melt only talking to you were not over exaggerated. Chloe couldn’t deny that the rumors of him being a playboy were baseless after meeting him tonight however something felt different. She has seen him at games wink and point to a girl in the stands. That was the player they all knew. This…Chloe has no idea what to classify breaking into a stadium was except trespassing but being with him was exciting and fun. Like a natural high and Chloe wanted more.

Entering at night when he wasn’t playing, he couldn’t deny this place felt so large and void like in it’s expanse. Nearly 42,000 people could sit in this place and watch the game, a spectacle that one never quite got used to when they were in the middle of the field. It was hard to imagine a more intimidating feeling as you stand to bat, or get to your fielding position as you have a chance to look around at the thousand of screaming fans. He could only imagine what the Giants felt like in their new stadium they had built in upper San Francisco that help twice as many as this stadium.

“Have you ever had a chance to get on the field?” he asked as he walked onto the grass from the back of the stadium, entering from right field as they began to make their way deeper into the park.

Nathan Harland

Chloe did not follow him as Nathan walked into the field. She was too mesmerized by the weight of the moment. So many open seats that in a few hours would be filled with people watching a game. It felt electrifying in her imagination. Her eyes traveled to one spot: the pitching mound.

“No I haven’t” she snapped out of her daydream. Moving up next to him, she walked next to Nate speaking in a happy but wistful tone. “I almost did though once. Last year I was supposed to sing the national anthem before the game,” she let out a small laugh and tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear.

“Oh? Why you any good?” Nathan asked as he looked back at her with a sly smirk as he took a deep breath as he took the scents of the smells.

“Yep. I am quite a song bird but,” Chloe shrugged. “We can just leave it to that I have been known to sing on occassion.”

Chloe Harland

“Well then maybe I can get a few bars from you, I can get the sound system running for you… belt your heart out for all … well me… to hear.” Nathan said as he looked over at her, curious if she would take him up on the idea.

Nathan Harland

“I don’t need a sound system. I got a set of pipes on me like an organ at church. I am not scared to sing in public. Loud and proud baby. Loud and proud,” Chloe laughed gesturing out with her hands like she was challenging Nate to a duet contest. “What song do you want to hear? National Anthem? Take me out to the ball game? Maybe you want a special request,” she added softly suddenly getting a bit shyer. It wasn’t that she was getting stage fright but more dating fright. Tonight was taking a turn down What are you doing drive. Bar pickups were supposed to be drinking, dancing, coffee and bad decisions. They were not meant to be date night where you found yourself wondering if he would call the next day or planning out how to run into him on campus when the sun made things clearly than the shadows under the moonlight.

Ensign Chloe Kendrick

“Surprise me, something special to you hon… something that means a lot to you. Something no one gets to know unless they really know you.” Nathan said as the pair walked as he got to one of the side walls on the right field wall as he lifted himself as he looked down on her as he waited to see what she would do. “I can hum some beats to help you if need some accompaniment.”

Nathan Harland

“You can sing,” she said eyeing him. “You look too straight to be a rocker.” Moving back about ten feet she wiggled her fingers at him. “Turn your flashlight on. I need a spotlight. If I am going to do this I want to do it right,” Chloe tossed her hair over her shoulder and shook it out some before clearing her throat. “Oh if you know the song you can join in.” Humming the first notes of the song, Chloe began to sing.

“You’d be surprised what I am into… but I can’t deny I am dying to find out where you are going with this.” Nathan said with a wide grin as he got the light on her as she began to sin.

She sits alone waiting for suggestions
He’s so nervous avoiding all the questions Chloe swirled her finger as she sung until the last word where she pointed directly at him.
His lips are dry, her heart is gently pounding
Don’t you just know exactly what they’re thinking Chloe pointed at herself and gave him an expression indicating she knew exactly what he was thinking watching her sing and do an impromptu dance as her voice rang out echoing slightly in the abandoned stadium. Chloe wasn’t sure if he knew it or not but continued with the next verse.

Nathan couldn’t help but smile with an impish grin as she kept going. He knew this song quite well as she sung it. Bobbing along he kept the light in the air as if it where a lighter, swaying and moving as she continued to sin.

His heart’s beating like a drum (like a drum) Chloe tapped her chest like she was beating out the rhythm she imagined his heart was producing
Is he gonna get this girl home? She pointed to herself and then gave a playful shrug
Well, soon, baby, we’ll be all alone
Don’t you just know exactly what they’re thinking?
If you want my body and you think I’m sexy Chloe ran her hands down her hips doing a little wiggle getting into the song.
Come on, sugar, tell me so
If you really need me, just reach out and touch me
Come on, honey, tell me so

Chloe

“Oh… so up front, I didn’t see you like that… but something deep down tells me you are just a tiny bit of a tease… and to be honest I really am hoping you are. I don’t put out that easily doll face.” Nathan said as he jumped back down as he came close.

Chloe had no doubt anymore about the chemicals between them. Right now her oxytocin was on overdrive. Oxytocin was better known as the “cuddle” or “love” hormone in medical circles. It was released when people snuggle up, bond socially, or were intimate with others. It also was produced just after labor from a child or when you scratched the top of a cats head forcing the creature to actually love you. It had to be powerful to make a cat actually love something other than itself so on a human it was like crack. If Chloe was feeling this way Nathan had to be feeling the same. He was also approaching her like there was only one thing on his mind. As he moved to within a hairsbreadth of her, Chloe closed her eyes, raised her chin slightly and waited.

Leaning in he kissed her cheek before grabbing her hand as he pulled her with him.

“What? Wait,” her eyes flew open as she felt her body spin as he kissed her cheek, took her hand, and then began to lead her away from the spot she was just occupying.

“We have so much more to see… I need to get you to the mound.” he insisted in an excited tone as he looked back, his eyes seeming to smolder as he looked back at her knowing she probably wasn’t expecting anything he had thrown at her so far.

Nathan Harland

“See,” she said quizzically. “Its pretty much pitch black. Like the Schemes of Royalty finale. Did you see that,” there was pure disgust in her voice as she walked with Nate. “Eight years of my life I spent on that show. All my high school Sundays and all four years of the academy wasted,” the ire in her voice was getting more pronounced. Her body was also becoming more rigid and her steps more purposeful. “You know what happened in the finale? I don’t because they shot it here…in the dark…the entire hour-long thing. Hell, I could have been blind and enjoyed the show more than I did watching it. Why,” she asked rhetorically, “because they shot it in the dark. Thought it would create suspense but it only created hostility. I mean what did they have against torches. The entire series was shot in a time set without electricity but I can tell you how Catelynn Blark died. She was killed at the Red Wedding. I can you how Jamie Bannister lost his hand. He lost it when Rooster Bolton chopped it off. I can even tell you where they kept the dragons. In the House of Undead in Marth. What do all these things have in common? You could see it. So why did I sit for an hour waiting for the battle to end all battles only to get eye strain and have me on the edge of my seat bobbing back and forth? I was waiting along with ten billion other viewers to get one torch lit to see Saria leap from the shadows to kill the Deathwalker only we didn’t get a torch. We got the death, but we didn’t see it. No, we had to remember that Brian was sitting under the weird tree from the previous episode to know where the heck we even were on the set and we only know that because Brian was in a wheelchair and said leave him there.” It would not take much for anyone to see Chloe was livid. Her palms were even sweaty in Nate’s hand but she didn’t care. They had crossed her point of no return.

Chloe

Turning to face her stared at her for a long moment. She hadn’t shut up once about the show as he walked up to her forcefully as he pulled her in and kissed her like he had just came back from war and he hadn’t seen her in ages as he let every moment of the kiss melt and twist and form a perfect moment before slowly letting go of her as he put a little bit of space between them so he could look directly into her eyes.

“Oh look you can shut up… come on you dork.” he said with a wink as he kissed her once more but more playfully so as he got her to the middle of the mound before leaving her a for a few second as he went into the dugout. Moments later there was a hum as lights came on as spotlights illuminated the night as night became day for Chloe up on that big dirt mound.

“If they had just hired me I could have giving them all the light they needed, you can even see how cute you are as you blush under the night sky.” came Nathan’s voice echoing in a boom as he came from the dugout back onto the field, pulling behind him a hovering machine with one hand, as the other held a bag over his shoulder as if it was bootcamp.

“If you can hit a ball I will let you tell me more about how awful it was, if you miss I will come up with random punishments that will make you blush and squirm and say to yourself ‘this isn’t baseball, it’s love making.’” Nathan said with a playful wink as he teased her as he tossed the bag at her feet. Inside as she opened she would find gloves, bats, and helmets for them to use.

Nathan Harland