Being a nurse for a team of ungrateful bastards often took its toll on you. Having to listen to complaints all day, surrounded by big dangerous men who are really just whiney little brats, wasn’t exactly what you imagined when you decided to become a military nurse. Some days, it was enough to make you dread clocking in.
Tonight, however, was supposed to be different.
For once, you had something to look forward to.
The guy was someone you’d met through a dating app. You hadn't even told anyone you used dating apps. It felt nice having something that was just yours, something none of those knuckleheads could stick their noses into. For once, you were going to be someone other than "the nurse."
Two days before the date you had picked out the most gorgeous berry colored dress, it was a bit risqué, it showcased your tits and had a cut out on the stomach. It was flowy and long, reaching your ankles. You wore gold jewelry and sandals to go with it. You thought it would be appropriate for the beach side restaurant your date had invited you to.
Thankfully all the boys were in the common room so you could sneak out of building without them seeing you like this. Christ, they would tease you endlessly if they did.
It was 6:00pm right now, your ride would arrive in fifteen minutes, and the restaurant was about a thirty-minute drive away. Your date wasn’t supposed to arrive until seven, meaning you’d get there a little early. It gave you a bit to breathe before hand. You’d be able to relax a little.
When you got the notification that your ride was here, you snuck off base and got in the car.
Your stomach immediately twisted into knots.
God, this was ridiculous.
It wasn’t like you were heading into combat. It was just a date. A normal date with a normal guy at a normal restaurant. Yet somehow your pulse had quickened all the same.
You wondered if he’d look the same as his pictures.
If conversation would come easily.
If there would be a second date.
The closer you got, the louder those questions became.
By the time the driver pulled into the restaurant parking lot your mind was running laps. You gave your driver five stars despite his… slow driving. He was a nice older man, made a bit of conversation that took your mind off the date for a couple of minutes.
But now you didn’t have that comfort. You were walking up to the island themed restaurant, clutching your purse to try to distract yourself. Your grip was so tight that it might’ve left marks on your palms.
The worker at the front sat you down at a nice table on the patio. You had a beautiful view of the water and beach from here, and decor on the table only added to the experience. You were excitedly nervous? Nervously excited? You were just jittery.
It didn’t take long for your phone’s clock to hit 7pm, he wasn’t there yet but who knows. Maybe traffic was bad. You of course gave him some grace, waiting 15 more minutes just for him not to be there. The waiter kept coming every few minutes to ask if you were ready to order and every time you just smiled and shook your head.
“No, thank you. I’m still waiting for someone.” The words became more embarrassing every time you said them.
Around the 5 time the waiter came, she gave you a slightly disappointed look and asked you once again.
“Can I at least get you started with a drink?”
You barely glanced at the menu before pointing at something colorful. Some fruity mixed drink with a name you immediately forgot.
A few minutes later, the glass arrived decorated with a wedge of pineapple and far too many bright colors. You took a long sip. It was sweet and cold. Strong enough that you could immediately taste the alcohol underneath all the fruit.
15 minutes then turned to 30, and 30 turned to 50. Your drinks did the same, 1 turning into 3, you could barely stomach the 4th.
You off and on checked your phone, thinking maybe you misses a text from him or something, but nothing, radio silence. You tried messaging him, but for whatever reason the texts wouldn’t go through.
Confused, you opened his profile, and that’s when it hit you. The missing profile picture, the vanished messages, the sudden inability to contact him, you’d been blocked. For a moment, all you could do was stare at the screen.
You felt stupid, embarrassed, humiliated.
You’d spent days looking forward to tonight. You’d picked out the perfect dress. You’d spent hours getting ready. You were so excited to eag and watch the sunset with a man who had been so sweet to you, up until the moment it actually mattered. You’d sat here for nearly an hour making excuses for someone who hadn’t even had the decency to cancel.
Your vision blurred and you could feel your eyes start to burn as tears ran down your cheeks. You knew that your mascara was probably running a bit.
You tried to compose yourself, asked for the check, and then left.
You sat on on the curb, crying while waiting for your lift back to the base. This was so humiliating, people gave you glances and made faces, but no one stopped to check on you.
It wasn’t long before a car pulled up and you got a notification on your phone saying your lift had arrived.
Wanting to leave as soon as possible, you immediately got up and opened the door, slidding into the seat, quietly buckling yourself in before turning your face toward the window.
As the car pulled away from the restaurant, the restaurant disappeared behind you.
Your tears didn’t end in the car, sniffling in the backseat. The driver didn’t say anything either, You weren’t sure if he was trying to be polite by giving you privacy or if he simply didn’t care enough to ask.
Right now, they both felt the same.
So you stared out the window as streetlights streaked across the glass, letting the tears fall in silence.
Too soon, and somehow not soon enough, the car slowed to a stop outside the entrance. “We’re here.”
The driver’s voice was gentle, breaking the silence for the first time since you’d gotten in.
You blinked away the fresh tears threatening to fall, murmured a quiet, “Thank you,” and unbuckled your seatbelt.
The cool night air greeted you as you stepped out of the car. You waited until the taillights disappeared down the road before turning toward the building.
By the time you reached the front door, you’d managed to wipe away most of your mascara with the heel of your hand. Your eyes still stung, and your cheeks were blotchy, but there wasn’t much else you could do.
You slipped inside as quietly as possible, hoping everyone had already gone to bed.
“Well look at that.” A sly voice huffed from behind you. Luck was just not on your side tonight. “Been lookin everywhere for ya lassie, didn’t expect ya to come home looking like that.” He whistled. You knew it was Johnny by his lack of verbal boundaries and thick accent, but when you turned to face him his whole demeanor changed.
“What happened?” He asked, taking in your tear stained cheeks, ruined makeup, and pout. He closed the distance between the two of you.
“I got stood up.” You whimpered. He wasn’t used to seeing you like this. Normally, you were the cute agitated nurse that they all liked to tease. But right now you were just a girl who had been hurt once again by the expectation of people being reliable.
“You what…?” He froze for a second. “Stood up? Like on a date?” He questioned, scrunching his brows as he tried to process this. He looked you up and down before letting out an almost offended scoff. “Looking like that? What a right bastard. Don’t know what he missed out on.” He stated firmly.
There wasn’t a hint of teasing in his voice anymore, if anything, he was mad for you. Mad at whoever that man was for trying to take his girl on a date, then leaving her crying. Johnny let out a long breath through his nose, pinching the bridge of it between his fingers.
“You deserve better than that.”
The words came so quickly that they caught you off guard. It made fresh tears well up in your eyes.
“Any man with half a brain would’ve shown up. Least he could’ve done.” He rambled, thinking of all the ways he could’ve done better for you.
“I just don’t understand why.”
“You don’t have to. ‘Cause whatever reason he’s got says everythin’ about him and nothin’ about you.”
You stared at him, blinking the rest of your tears away
“You got dressed up, showed up on time, gave the bloke every chance in the world.” He shrugged. “He’s the one who made himself look like an idiot.”
Your lip trembled, but his words did help. Especially coming from the man who complained the most at you every day. It felt more meaningful.
“I feel so embarrassed.” You huffed, a self deprecating laugh forced its way out of your throat as you sniffled.
“Don’t,” he hummed, walking closer to you and framing your face with his hands. “Forget all about tonight; him. Let me take you out this weekend, somewhere better. Somewhere you can really show off that pretty dress, ay?” He asked, staring down at you, a smile finally starting to peek out. You thought for a moment. Technically this wasn’t allowed. It was probably considered fraternizing, but you have seen the 141 break the rules with each other countless times. Maybe it would be okay, just once.
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