He cleared his throat anxiously, something that happened more whenever they were hanging out. Zay didn’t mind what she did in the slightest, but it was still a bit uncomfortable for him to discuss sex so openly– ala, the craft store. He had missed most of the standard “locker room” discussions that happened in high school, as well as sex education, and even though he’d had sex before…Zay felt that he was in a constant battle of catch-up. What was he catching up to, he wasn’t sure, but it had to have been something. “Uh, if I was a subscriber I think I’d be happy just to see your ass at all,” he shrugged with a light blush creeping over his cheekbones, “I don’t know if that helps at all, but I do think you should go for it.”
Zay hung back and held the basket as Nel scanned the colors. He wasn’t an artist by any means, but the fact that there were over one hundred shades of blue made his head hurt. Whatever happened to just light blue and dark blue? His eyes shot down at the toes of his shoes– they were getting pretty worn out. He’d have to start owning two pairs of shoes at a time. “Why not? You’ve been there before and, you know, there’s some really pretty landscaping in the back that we could use to change the scenery,” he suggested. She would look so pretty lying nude in the grass, especially since flowers were starting to bloom. “Alli and Sanem leave me alone most of the time, and Joey is usually out and about. I don’t think they’d even realize I had a girl over,” Zay took a step next to Nel, grabbing some orange to toss in the basket.
“You’re right– I didn’t tell anybody that you…we…,” he glanced back at the wall of color before settling to look into her eyes. A sheepish smile crossed his face as he continued to speak. “It’s not my business to tell, y’know? They know that I’ve been hanging out with you, and…,” they know that I’ve completely flipped my lid about you.
“Alli, uh,, she actually found a picture on my laptop from when we started, uh…working together,” he admitted, “I– I must’ve forgotten to X out of it before getting food a-and she suggested you actually…come over for dinner, or something sometime…,” he felt like an ass. He should’ve been on his laptop in his own room instead of the dining room, but of course he needed to be closer to the refrigerator. “She thinks you’re pretty and, I guess, she wants to just meet you or something,” he babbled.
It was a bit hard to get used to, if she was being honest. Someone being nice for once. There wasn’t anything malice or not genuine about Zay-- if there was, she knew that it would have been the softest, most pure insult she had ever heard. It would be a back handed compliment, except with no ill-will. “I appreciate your approval, Z,” Nel bit at her lip, eyes taunting their way back to him. Be careful, she thought. This can get you in serious trouble.
There wasn’t much to hide when all of your dignity was spread over the internet. That was by choice, and she wasn’t ashamed about it. Not unless someone tried to undermine her success or work ethic. Nel was one of the most hard working that she knew, she’d fully commit that trait to herself. It wasn’t hard to see that she would help anyone with any shift at the bar or diner, and she was doing OnlyFans as her main contribution of money. At the same time, she didn’t want to flaunt her body to everyone she met. That wasn’t how she worked, nor was it the impression that she wanted other people to see. Just because she was a sex worker didn’t mean she was looking for attention. “Yeah, I guess we can try that,” Nel would feel better knowing that there wasn’t anyone else there to see her. Maybe she wouldn’t have to be fully nude. There was just something about being with Zay that made her feel that she had to work at a higher standard than most-- maybe she wanted to be better because of him. It wasn’t a feeling casual to her.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” She quickly iterated, not wanting Zay to feel that he had to be a certain way around her. Talk about her in a certain way. All he had to do was advocate for her... as a friend. “Right, I appreciate that. I-I mean, you don’t have to lie to them if they say anything...,” A bit of a trail off sent her eyes back to the man again, wondering if he would mention it if it was brought up. She wondered if he would be ashamed. “I don’t-- well, I don’t want you to feel like... uncomfortable with all this. You know?”
A slow nod elicited from Nel’s neck, her eyes troubling down to the floor. Without him having to even tell anyone, someone knew. This person in Zay’s life most likely questioning why a woman would interfere with someone so innocent-- her worst nightmare would be to have someone think she was taking advantage of the boy. In reality, she was. Having a friend was one of the most comforting feelings in the world-- all of her secrets? She knew they’d be locked and sealed under Zay’s discretion. “Dinner...,” A few more nods engaged. “I-I mean, uh,” She put a few paint brushes in the basket, her eyes not involved in the task at hand anymore. They were more racking her head again the fact that she’d have to explain to someone in Zay’s friendship proximity that she wasn’t illegally hiring him for sex work. “So she believed you when you said we were friends, huh?” A slight laugh left her lips. “I don’t know if most people would believe you if you said you were real life friends with the girl sitting in front of a camera with her legs open.”
