Chapter Text
"It's cool if I use the truck today, right?" Nathan swept through the kitchen smoothly after dismounting the steps, trumpet case slung over his back, sheet music notebooks under his arm. Meredith was at the counter in their kitchen, staring into her SAT prep book, a semi-forgotten bowl of Cheerios on the granite next to it.
"Hm? Yeah, yeah. Knock yourself out."
He picked up the keys off the hook next to the kitchen light switch. He'd really only just gotten cleared to be driving without supervision, so everything still felt a little bit new. That, plus emotionally he was a little more buoyant than usual. He stood for a second, looking at his sister a small bit expectantly, like he wanted to say something but would leave if she was too busy.
Meredith seemed to catch on, noticing him stopping in his whirlwind. "Oh, right. Today's the day you're gonna go for it you think?"
Nathan couldn't quite keep himself from smiling. "I think so. I'll see how it's going though, if the mood is right." He fidgeted with his notebooks, the keys jingling from where he'd looped them through his fingers. "Do you think it's a good idea?"
She raised her hands up in a full, half-dramatic shrug. "Can't hurt to ask. I could see it going either way." She gave him a bit more of a serious, inquisitive look, more checking in on him than worried. "You'll be alright either way, right?"
He immediately made an effort to seem nonchalant and easygoing. "Oh, yeah. Totally. Like, I hope it goes well, but I would completely understand....obvious reasons."
Meredith seemed mostly convinced. They'd had this talk before, but still wanted to check in one more time, what with him just about ready to go for it. "If this becomes a thing...will you tell Mom and Dad?"
"Uhhhhhh...let's see how it goes first." She shook her head at him slightly - still, she got it. Best not to jump into anything before there were any answers. Nathan checked the digital clock on the microwave, caught the wind back in his sails. "Alright, gotta go. I said I'd pick him up at 2, he gets done at the marina at 1:30 today." He spun around, down the hall and out the front door. "WISH ME LUCK!" he called from mostly out the door.
"GOOD LUCK!" Meredith took a deep breath, exhaling, regarding her now-denatured Cheerios with a frown. However this went, tonight was going to be an interesting night at the Liu household. Best get as much SAT studying done as possible before it'd be time to be there for the fallout of that.