Chapter Text
"I just have a bad feeling."
Natalie sat on the bed as she watched Lottie pace back and forth using the little space Natalie's bedroom provided. Natalie held a cigarette in between her fingers, which Lottie stole from her around every hundred paces.
"Lot. Chill out. It's gonna be fine."
"I really don't feel like it is."
"What part are you nervous about? The plane? The hotel? The game itself?"
"I don't know," Lottie said a little more frustrated. She took the cigarette from Natalie's hand and took a long drag of it. Smoke poured out of her mouth as she continued talking. "Something bad is going to happen. I can feel it."
"Are you sure you-"
"I'm not crazy, Natalie."
"I didn't say that," Natalie said as she snatched the cigarette back, now a little frustrated herself. "I just think you're working yourself up."
Lottie didn't respond. She just resumed pacing the little route she had paved in Natalie's cluttered room.
Natalie sighed. She felt bad, truly. But she also knew Lottie always had a bad feeling about something. She was a constant ball of anxiety, always listening and waiting for something to happen.
Natalie put the cigarette out as she scooted all the way up onto the bed, then laid backwards onto the mattress.
"Come here. Lay on top of me."
Lottie paused and raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Just get over here, Matthews."
Lottie dropped her shoulders and complied, slowly crawling over Natalie's frame and settling on top.
Without saying anything else, Natalie lifted the back of Lottie's shirt and slipped her hand underneath, gently scratching her nails on the surface of Lottie's skin. Up, down, and in circular motions all over.
Lottie melted. A small sigh escaped her lips, involuntarily and full of relief.
"Jesus, that didn't take long," Natalie commented with a smirk.
"It feels nice," Lottie murmured into Natalie's chest. She slipped her arms underneath Natalie's body and grasped it tightly.
"Aw, all you need is some love and attention, don't you?"
Lottie was too blissed out to care to respond. She rubbed her temple into Natalie's sternum, and Natalie laughed at the sight of her.
"You are such a sucker for this."
"Shut up," Lottie whined through a smile.
"No, look at you. You're literally rubbing your head against me like you're a kitten."
"Maybe I am."
Natalie smirked as she kept her nails scratching, finding all the right spots Lottie loved.
"Everything’s going to be fine," She said softly into Lottie’s ear as she brushed some hair out of her face. “I’ll make Jackie give you a valium. And I’ll scratch your back too. Your helpless, touch starved, adorable little self will sleep the entire time.”
“Were that many adjectives really necessary?”
“Always.”
Lottie fully closed her eyes and focused on Natalie’s grounding touch. Everything was going to be okay.
Almost everything.