Noah sat nervously in the back of Jack's car, drowning in the spare suite he had loaned him. Noah knew Jack was tall and built, but he had no idea of the size difference between them until now. Noah tugged at his baggy jacket, taking in the fine interior of Jack's car. Sleek cream leather lining decorated the car's seats, accented by black details along its sides. The car's roof was glass, allowing Noah a full view of the skyline above. It rode silent, the only sound being the jazz playlist Jack had turned on in the background.
Rachel sat in the front seat, her delicate form glowing in her white halter dress. Noah stared at her with a sense of admiration and respect. She looked right at home amongst the elegance surrounding her. It became clear to Noah that, unlike him, Rachel never belonged in a small town. She was always meant for something more.
None of that mattered to Rachel, however. She smiled in the same innocent manner she had since high school, looking back at Noah gleefully as they entered the heart of Delborn City. Jack's wealth and lifestyle seemed to have no effect on her, Rachel was just happy to be experiencing life with Noah.
But it wasn't due to Jack's lack of trying. It frustrated Noah that he had offered Rachel the front seat. But in her usual fashion, Rachel countered by saying.
"Only if Noah is ok with it."
And because of that, Noah was.
"So, what do you two think of the city so far?" Jack asked, turning off a ramp into the city's center. Glowing amber lights flowed overhead, illuminating the ornate architecture of old and new buildings. Young individuals and students sprawled the busy streets, and Jack drove through it all without struggle.
"It's amazing!" Rachel said energetically. She pressed her face against the car window like a child. "It's more beautiful than I realized!"
"Well, we are in the downtown district. Some parts are a lot rougher than this."
"Do you guys come here often?" She asked. Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"Yes and no. Honestly, I wish Godfrey had a city campus, every time I come downtown it feels like I'm not here enough."
"Honestly, now seeing it? I totally get it. I thought Godfrey was big..."
"But it's nothing compared to the city," Jack stopped at a red light, looking over at Rachel. The two caught each other's gaze. Electricity flowed between them while Noah watched silently.
"And you fit the city perfectly," Jack said softly. Rachel blushed and fixed her hair.
"I definitely don't feel that way." She glanced back out her window. An awkward silence hung in the air before Rachel jumped in her seat. "Oh my god! Noah look!"
"Huh, what?" Noah said, looking out his window.
"It's that retro-tech store you were telling me about! Remember the one from your reels you shared with me?" Rachel pointed at a large storefront with a Neon sign with the glowing words 'Tech Noire.' Noah couldn't help but let out an excited laugh.
"Holy shit, there it is!"
"We have to go Noah! You've always wanted to go!" Rachel said.
"I'd stop off if I could, but we'll be late, unfortunately," Jack said between their banter.
"Oh don't worry about it, that's a Noah and me date. You'd be an awkward third wheel." Rachel said with a laugh. Jake smirked and shook his head.
"Noted." Jack cut between the streets, bringing the three to the front of an ornately sculpted building. A line of expensive cars rested in front of them, valets dressed in black tuxedos servicing each car with smooth efficiency.
"Oh, did we take a wrong turn? Rachel asked. Jack glanced over at her with a smile.
"Nope, this is it. Dorsia's." He said cooly.
"THIS is Dorsia's?" Rachel said in shock, she looked back at Noah, giving a him wide-eyed expression that caused him to laugh.
"It's a tough place to get into. Hopefully, they won't boot us out for being late." Jack replied.
"Uh, are you sure Noah and I are dressed enough for this?" Rachel asked as she began to quickly adjust her dress.
"She's right, I feel out of place in this baggy suite," Noah added. Jack glanced back at Noah through the rearview mirror.
"What the hell are you guys talking about? You look fine!"
"I don't feel fine." Rachel and Noah said in unison. A set of valets came to Jack and Rachel's door. As they opened them, Jack adjusted his suit and smiled at them both.
"Just follow my lead and you'll be fine."
The doors opened, Jack stepped out while the other valet offered his gloved hand to Rachel.
"Madam," He said. Rachel touched her chest with her fingers and laughed gently.
"Oh my, so fancy!" She took the valet's hand and stepped out of the car, grasping onto her gold clutch tightly as Jack walked over to her side. The valet on the driver's side entered the car, adjusting the back mirror and seeing Noah slumped in the back.
"Will you be exiting sir?" He asked.
"Huh oh uh... yeah just give me a second here..." Noah fumbled over his door, struggling against the lock several times, failing to open it.
"The door is locked, sir." The valet said.
"It... it is?" Noah asked.
"Yes sir."
"Right," Noah fumbled with the door a little while longer, failing to find a way to unlock it as his face flushed red. After a few more moments of struggle, the valet cleared his throat. Noah looked at him through the rearview mirror.
"Could you... could you open it for me?" Noah asked bashfully. The valet's eyes never left Noah as he clicked the unlock button. Noah gave him a polite nod.
"Thanks."
"Please exit sir," The valet replied. Noah nodded and promptly stepped out of the car.
As his heart raced, Noah saw Jack leading Rachel through the large double entry doors with his arm wrapped around hers. Noah tried to catch up with them, fumbling over his baggy dress pants with every awkward step. The doors closed in his face, Noah lost his footing, resulting in him slamming into the glass and leaving an imprint of his face. A service worker glared at Noah with disdain before opening the door for him.
"T-thanks," Noah said weakly.
He had never felt more out of place in his entire life.
Noah fumbled into Dorsia's. A dimly lit space with a high-end industrial aesthetic. Chandeliers hung over wooden tables and black leather chairs, and every dinner guest was more well-dressed than the last. Several couples passed Noah by, giving him a look of confusion as they did so.
God, he really didn't belong here, Noah began to feel his anxiety welling up in his chest. Rachel had left him for Jack. She had taken his arm and happily walked into a better life without a second thought. Noah clenched his hands as he aimlessly wandered the receiving lobby.
But before his thoughts took him to a dark place, he saw Rachel standing in front of the service desk, both hands resting on her clutch as she looked through the crowds...
For him.
And as soon as she spotted Noah, Rachel's eyes lit up as a smile stretched over her face. She waved at Noah with playful articulation of her fingers before walking over to him. Soft piano music played in the background. Rachel's body swayed gently under warm overhead lights. Her smile glowed as she reached for Noah and embraced him. His arms wrapped around her in return. He squeezed her tightly as her head buried into his chest.
"I found you," She said gently.
"You waited for me," Noah said.
"Of course I did," Rachel replied. She looked up into his eyes, leaning forward to kiss him on the lips gently. "I'm sorry I left you behind, I thought you were right behind us."
"Yeah well, Jack seemed more focused on you than me," Noah said, doing his best to mask his resentment.
"Oh, I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it." Rachel said gently. She stepped to his side and rubbed his back with her fingernails. "Remember, they're our friends."
"Right..." Noah looked around the dining area, taking in the countless high-class folks surrounding them. "God, I look like a clown."
"Oh Noah stop! You look very handsome!" Rachel said with a laugh.
"What are you talking about, I'm drowning in this thing!" Noah said, matching Rachel's upbeat attitude. She always had a way of calming him, it was as if the world melted away, and it was them. Only them.
"Well, what do you expect when you put something together last minute?" Rachel wrapped her arm under Noah's. "Next time we come here, we'll make sure to get you a suit that fits better. But for now, let's be grateful Jack had a suit you could borrow. We wouldn't have gotten in otherwise."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Noah admitted. Rachel squeezed his arm gently.
"We can feel out of place together, ok?" Rachel looked up at Noah, smiling as their eyes met.
"Deal. Now let's go find these guys." Noah said.
"They're this way, come on," Rachel took Noah's hand and led him to a long, very full dinner table.
Jack's interpretation of a few friends may have been slightly different to what Noah was accustomed to. He counted over a dozen dinner guests, all laughing and surrounding the four stars of Godfrey. Noah took a deep breath and tried to relax the tension in his shoulders.
Sure, there were a lot of guests. But Noah reminded himself it wouldn't be so bad if they sat at the end of the table. Hopefully, by keeping themselves hidden, they could get through this night without another incident.
"Hey, love birds!" Jack waved at Noah and Rachel, pointing to a pair of empty seats directly across from the four. "We saved you some seats!"
Noah gave Rachel a pleading glance. She squeezed his arm and leaned into his ear.
"It'll be fine." She whispered. Noah sighed and nodded, sitting alongside Rachel in the center of the table.
The four stared at them with gleeful smiles. For a moment, the conversations around the table died at the sight of Rachel. It was a response Noah had become accustomed to. As the silence began to creep over the table, Ethan spoke.
"You're looking good tonight Rachel, glad you could make it," He glanced at Noah, giving him a polite nod. "Oh, and nice suite bro. Swear I've seen it before."
"It's my spare, he didn't have time to head home to change," Jack interjected. Ethan snapped his fingers.
"Yes, now I see it! I knew I'd seen that one before. Gotta admit, it's a little big for you though."
"I'm well aware," Noah said dully. Mike, already three shots deep leaned over the table and laughed loudly at nothing in particular.
"This motherfucker looks like... uh... you know... like uh..." Mike tripped over his words while Jack and Luke looked at him in dismay.
"Mike, if you're going to open your mouth, make sure you've got something ready to say," Luke said cooly, he turned his attention to Noah.
"Despite it being a little large, the suite looks good on you man."
