Chapter 2 – Awkward Awakenings
She's soo warm...that's the first thing Riley notices. She's warm and she's never noticed how firm her sofa was, she always thought the cushions were plush and soft, but they feel so firm and rigid. As she picks up her head slightly to get her bearings, a sudden thump crashes and she quickly plonks her head back down, no quite ready to deal with the hangover that's about to makes its presence known.
"hmmm...hmmm Riley" a murmur, but it hits the side of her head like a sledge hammer. Oowww...shhhhhh she thinks, before realising that the sound came from right underneath her. Tentatively peeling open an eye, she looks down only to see what can only be referred to a as a wall of chest. Gloriously tanned with a slight speckling of hair...jesus! That's a whole lot of man!
Shuffling slightly so she can get a better look, she sees a sleeping face that she'd know anywhere. In the middle of a crowd; on the subway; in the scrum at a hockey match – it's her Danny. Not my Danny she quickly chastises herself. Taking a moment to register her surroundings, she sees an empty bottle of vodka that they'd knocked back last night...this morning actually. My God, I'm going to feel so sick today.
She feels him move slightly, and instantly regrets moving. She doesn't want to wake him up, not if he's going to suffer the same way she is right now. In a 'hmphhh' she buries her head back on to his chest and hopes that her hero can make the ensuing headache go away.
Eyes...big brown eyes...that's what got me hooked all those years ago. It's always been the same... it's her eyes, those beautiful doe like eyes, so trusting, and smiley and full of every emotion you'd think of. It's hard to believe sitting here all these years later and I'm still hooked. Heck at times I zone out and forget about the conversation that's happening and I just stare into those eyes.
I remember like it was yesterday when I saw her down by the lake in that blue dress, never mind the girl that I came with, there was only one girl I wanted to be with. But she'll never notice me... I wish I would've walked right up to her there and then and scooped her up in my arms and kissed her deeply, let her know with every movement of my lips, my tongue that she was meant for me... "hmmm...hmmm Riley"
Suddenly he feels movement, small hands resting on his chest and he's awake...lord is he awake. He feels her turn slightly and it's like a hotline through his body, all the way down. Please don't move, please don't move he begs and he tries to tilt himself into a position where she won't realise that he's 'awake'.
"hmphhh..." & suddenly she flops back down onto his chest, and he's hoping this means she's asleep. He's twisted his hips at an almost impossible angle, but he'll hold it for as long as he needs too. He doesn't want her knowing that even the slightest movement has set his whole body aflame. Just imagining her reaction he squints his eyes even tighter and waits for her breathing to even out.
After a few minutes, her breathing is regular and slow. He shifts himself out from under her and lays her on the sofa against a pillow which she quickly snuggles into. How can I be jealous of a pillow..that's sad bro! Stretching himself out a little, he realises just how good he slept, that was until she moved and he realised she was on top of him. Making his way across her small apartment, he decides he needs to have a shower to take the edge off what he was feeling, especially before Riles wakes up and sees just how much he is feeling.
Hearing her shower turn on and the clack gurgle and fizz of the pipes means that she surely has to get up now. There's no way she can sleep through all that racket. Sighing to herself she sits up suddenly ready to get up and take on the day, but realises this is a mistake. Oh boy...that's not good. Without a thought, she quickly scoots across her apartment into her bathroom to be sick.
She thanked God that she made it to the bathroom in time, and was sorely disappointed that she wasn't even sick, so she had expended all that energy for no reason. It was probably just the sudden movement she thinks as she hugs the side of the toilet bowl.
Turning herself slightly she rests her head against the tiles hoping that some of the steam will help to even out her pounding head. Steam...why is there steam? Looking up she remembers that she heard her shower start up when she was on the sofa, and remembers that Danny came over last night to look after her. She can see him through the shower curtain...holy cow she can see him through the shower curtain...crap crap!
Riley sits up fully and pushes her hair off her face in a frustrated movement. What do I do?! I'm seeing Danny practically naked... don't want him to think I'm spying on him..crap crrraaap! Without realising it she speaks out loud "Crap"
"Riley?!" the shower curtain draws back slightly and she can see his wet torso peek out from behind the curtain. Their eyes lock, his face reddens although he's not embarrassed about his body, hell he works hard for it, but it's Riley and she's looking at him practically naked in the shower and he's not exactly 'standing down'.
"Danny?!" she has to get out of there now! "oww" she screeches as she smacks her head against the tiles in an attempt to get up quickly and scarper. Holding on to her head is all she can do as she waits for the stars in her eyes to subside.
"Riley are you hurt?!" leaping out of the shower he rushes over to her to check where she's hurting, if she's okay please be okay. "Danny I'm just...I'm sorry" she chuckles still holding on to the back of her head nursing the sore spot she hit. "Let me see Riles" he says as he tries to ease her arm away so he can check on her head "No it's okay Danny, I'm okay".
"I'm not asking Riles", his hands still on her arms trying to coax them away so he can get a good look at it. "Fine..fine" she slowly moves her hands away so he can check her out. Once he's satisfied there is no real damage he moves his hands slowly away, not noticing that her eyes are no longer closed. In fact they are wide open, and she's staring at him...and those eyes are so wide and inviting Oh damn...she's staring right at me. Crap..Crap say something...
Crap Riley say something...your best friend is right in front of you butt naked, and he certainly seems happy to see you. My gosh, look at his body...
Knock knock "Riley you home?! It's Ben, open up"
