Work Text:
"I'm hoping you don't see what it does to me
When you say my name randomly
And I can't compete with my heartbeat
You're taking over me
I surrender"
-I Like It, Cimorelli
Reggie is freaking out. Luke watches him run around the house trying to get ready. Luke is so amused. He's never seen Reggie like this before. He feels Alex on his side. Luke looks over to see Alex's eyes wide as he watches Reggie look through the fridge for his wallet. Okay, their bass player had officially lost it.
"Reg," Alex says. Reggie looks over. Alex grabs Reggie's wallet off of the counter, holding it up for him. "Are you okay?"
"Sorry," Reggie says. "I'm just nervous. Is my outfit a lot? What about my hair?"
"Okay," Luke says, grabbing Reggie's arm. "Alex and I are going to help you get ready and maybe shake out those nerves of yours."
"Hey," Alex says, putting his hand on the shakey bassist's shoulder. "Everything's going to fine."
"But, what if," Reggie gulps. "What if I mess this up? I really like her already and I don't want thing to go bad."
"Dude, you're Reggie freaking Peters," Luke says. "You got this."
"Okay," Reggie nods. "I got this."
Alex ends up fixing Reggie's hair, which is surprising because Reggie never lets anyone touch his hair. Then Luke and him help Reggie get out of the weird outfit that Reggie was wearing. Well, it wasn't weird, just not Reggie. Now Reggie is wearing a nice pair of non-skinny black jeans (a little different, but still similar to Reggie's normal look.) He has on a white button-up on that's not tucked in and his leather jacket over it. It's like Reggie's typical outfit, but fancier.
"Are you sure?" Reggie asks. "Shouldn't I tuck the shirt? Wear a blazer?"
"You want to be yourself," Luke says. "And this looks like you, just a bit more dressy."
"Plus, you aren't taking her to some fancy five star restaurant," Alex says. "Wait, where are you taking her?"
"I couldn't pick a place," Reggie says. "So, I asked Bobby for help."
"You trust Bobby over me," Luke whines. Reggie rolls his eyes. Bobby actually used to be their rhythm guitarist before Julie came along. Bobby decided that music was more of a hobby for himself and decided to quit the band. All the boys still love Bobby like a brother. Reggie has always been the closest with Bobby and well, let's just say if it weren't for Bobby, Reggie probably wouldn't even be here.
"That's him," Reggie says, when the door rings. He goes and answers it. Bobby walks in, carrying a basket. Bobby said that a picnic in the park would be an adorable first date and special. Reggie decided he's probably right, since Bobby is happily married.
"Okay, so you memorized the plan," Bobby asks. Reggie nods. Bobby sets the basket on the table. He has tears in his eyes. "They grow up so fast."
"I'm only two years younger than you," Reggie says, squirming in the hug Bobby pulls him into.
"Okay, let's let him leave," Luke says, shaking his head. "We don't want him to be late."
"I hope this works," Alex says. "I want nieces and nephews."
"What?" Reggie pulls away, looking at Alex. "What about Luke and Julie? Or, Bobby since he's the married one. Why me?"
"Come on," Luke rolls his eyes. "We all know that if anybody has kids first, it's going to be you."
"What the crap?" Reggie asks out loud, looking up at the ceiling.
"Come on, loverboy," Bobby says, pushing the basket into his arms. "You have a date."
Reggie knocked on the door of Bailey's apartment. He instantly felt butterflies. He heard some shuffling on the other side of the door. He ran a hand through his hair. The door opened and Reggie gulped as he saw her. She was wearing red, which has always been his favorite color but he's sure he loves it even more now. She has a smile on her face, smoothing her flowy dress. She had a jacket over it, which made Reggie a little sad because now he can't do the cute thing of giving her his jacket when she gets cold.
"Hi," he says, shaking himself out of his daze. He holds out the roses he got. "I got you some flowers."
"They are beautiful," she says, taking them from him. Her soft fingers graze his hand. "I'm going to put them in some water. Come on in."
Reggie looks around her apartment. There's so many cool photos that must be hers. There were a few that he recognized from when he looked up her Instagram. He may have stalked just a little. He found that he didn't do too much though. He wants to get to know her from her, not her Instagram account. Bailey comes back, setting the flowers that are in a vase on her coffee table.
"Ready?" Reggie asks. She nods. They make their way to Reggie's car and then to the park. Reggie did want to surprise Bailey, but he figured for a first date that might be a lot. He doesn't want her to be worried about being murdered, so he did say that they were going to the park. He was surprising her with the picnic part. They get out of the car and Bailey follows him to the back, where he grabs the basket.
"I love picnics," she smiles. Reggie smiles back, holding out a hand. She grabs it, letting him show her the way. Together, they lay out the blanket, before sitting down. They sit close, but aren't touching. Reggie opens the basket, pulling out the food that Bobby packed: PB&Js, an assortment of veggies and fruit, two bottles of water and Bobby's wife's specialty brownies. "This is a pretty good PB&J."
"Too bad I didn't make it," Reggie mutters. Her eyebrow raises questioningly. "I was going to after I asked my friend for advice for our first date, but then he told me that my PB&Js suck. I guess I don't know how to spread jelly and peanut butter on bread."
"Well, maybe I'll have to teach you," she says. She takes a bite again. Reggie watches as there is a little bit of jelly on the corner of her lip.
"You have-" he reaches up, wiping it away. When he pulls his hand away, they are both blushing. He wipes his thumb on the napkin he has.
They talk about almost anything. Reggie talks about his band and their music. He talks about where he wants to go on tour. Bailey tells him about her photography and some cool celebrities she's gotten to work with. She says that she was to travel the world taking pictures one day. They talk about the small things like their favorite color or favorite food. Reggie tells her stories about how he can't cook. Bailey tells him about how she tripped in front of her high school crush.
"So, what got you into photography?" Reggie asks. Bailey hesitates. Reggie sees her shoulders tense. "You don't h-"
"It's fine," she says. "It's just- a lot of people always feel sorry for me when I tell them the story."
"I promise I won't," he says. He puts his hand behind Bailey, leaning on it so he was close.
"So," she says. "I used to be a ballerina. I loved dance so much. I danced from about the age of 5 to when I was 16."
"Wow," Reggie says.
"Yeah," she says. "When I was 16, I got a back injury. It was so bad, I couldn't play again. I got really depressed and my brother tried everything he could to pull me out. Well, the day of homecoming that year, he was going, I wasn't. My parents wanted a picture of him and them, so I offered to take it. As soon as I held that camera, something clicked. After my brother left, I was going around my mom's garden taking pictures of everything. I went inside found a free photo editor and started editing them. I had so much fun. That's when I realized that that's what I want to do."
"It's cool how you found out that you love it by taking a photo of your family," Reggie says, smiling. "It's different."
"Yeah," she says, staring into Reggie's eyes. She gulps. "So, uh, what about you? What got you into music?"
"My Papa Joe," he smiles. "He loved music and taught me bass when my parents left me with him. He even taught me piano and guitar. Although, I connected more with the bass. In middle school, Luke, Alex and I decided to start a band. We met Julie in high school and we've been a band since. We got big our sophomore year."
"Yeah, I've heard some song," she smiles. "You're good."
"So, you're a fan?" Reggie smirks.
"Yeah," she says. "I mean, I don't know everything about you, but I like your music."
"So, you don't want a piece of my hair?" he jokes, earning a shove. She laughs a little at that. Man, Reggie loves her laugh.
"I had fun," Bailey says, as Reggie and her get to her door.
"So, we can do this again?" he asks, leaning close. Bailey gulps at the closeness. Reggie notices her staring at him, her eyes moving to his lips. His do the same. Reggie looks up, meeting her eyes. He leans in closer, his lips close to hers. When he sees her close her eyes, he moves forward connecting their lips together. It's the softest kiss he's ever had, but the best one by far. He pulls away, smiling.
"Yeah," she nods. "We can do this again."
Once Bailey is inside, Reggie texts Alex: We kissed!
Alex responded with: Where are my nieces and nephews?
Reggie shook his head, leaning against the wall for a second. He still has butterflies and he can't help but like it.