Chapter 2: Massages and Mischief
Rating: K+/T
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.


Patricia sat back and observed as Eddie once again limped into the common room, sitting gingerly onto the couch opposite to her. His face twisted into pain and he grumbled under his breath as his body lowered to its surface.

One of the biggest meets of the season was fast approaching and practice for Eddie as of late had begun to get intense. Thus far, he had refused her every attempt at assistance, but that didn't exclude her from having to listen to him whine about it every afternoon when he got home. By now, it was yesterday's news to her that every part of his body ached. And while she did feel bad for him, she felt that he only had himself to blame for it. He wanted this. He chose to join the club.

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help? Don't take this the wrong way or anything but… You just look pathetic."

Eddie managed to strain out a small laugh at her bluntness.

"Yep, you always have known how…" He leaned his head back to get more comfortable, gasping out at the sharp pain before relaxing again. "…to boost a guy's self-esteem, Yacker."

"Oh, this is ridiculous," she rolled her eyes and started for the kitchen.

"I'll be fine," he called out to her. "Everything will go back to normal once the Wincott Academy meet is over with. We have to get a win against them to build on last year's ping pong victory."

Patricia mouthed the words along with him as she made her way back to him. She struggled to hold back a heavy sigh; it wasn't the first time she had heard that in the last few days either. He hadn't admitted to it, but by now she had suspicions that he was doing this just to try and impress his dad. And that suspicion was the only thing keeping her patient through this…

She had been there a time or two with her own parents.

"Here, drink this," she shoved a warm cup over his shoulder without any other explanation.

He took a full swig without question, "Seriously, Yacker…tea? Really living up to the stereotype today… How exactly is this supposed to help me?"

"It's relaxing," she defended. "You don't have to be British to know that."

He rolled his eyes as he took another unwanted drag just to humor her but nearly spit it back out when she slid her hands along his tense shoulders, her fingertips leaving a burning trail in their path.

"Mmm! Patricia, ow! Easy, easy!"

"Don't be such a baby!"

She massaged back over the same area, applying even more pressure than with the first few passes. Eddie whimpered under her ministrations and could practically feel her eyes roll from behind him.

"Please stop touching me, Yacker!"

"Hmm, never expected to hear you say that," she teased ignoring his cries.

"I never thought I'd say it either," he grit through his teeth. "Ahhh! Owww!"

Her hands switched positions so that her thumbs were kneading at his tight muscles instead and a victorious grin crept across her lips when he let out the first contented sigh. She took his cup from him and set it aside to work her way down his arms in the same rotation.

He accepted that she knew a thing or two about making him feel better when some of her hair fell in his face allowing him to inhale her familiar mixture of shampoo and perfume. He didn't know how he'd gotten so lucky to be dating this perfect girl leaning over his shoulder with magical hands… Or maybe more specifically… Why he hadn't let her do this sooner.

"How's that feeling for you?" she inquired smugly on her way back up.

"Perfect. You were right, Yacker, thank you," he looked up at her with hazy eyes and she placed a kiss against his lips, her voice soft and relaxing when they broke apart.

"I learned it from the best, Neanderthal."

Eddie smirked at her reference to the masquerade ball where he had massaged her hand as she moved around to help pull him from the couch.

"Wait, aren't you going to do the rest for me?"

She brushed off the suggestive tone in his voice, "Nope. You are going to go take a hot shower."

His newly limbered arms snaked around her waist, Eddie clinging to her in a pout.

"Pretty please? You're so good at it," he whined against her neck. "Just my back? I won't even ask for anything else if you'll do that."

He sucked a sharp breath through his teeth when she obliged, hitting an extra sore spot between his shoulder blades.

"See, that hurts worse. As the first Anubis House sports star in this relationship, I say a shower would help you quite nicely. I was right the last time, wasn't I?"

"Yes, fiiiine," he grumbled, lightly kissing her neck as he pried himself off of her. "I'll go take the shower."

"You won't be sorry, trust me."

"Yeah, yeah." He waved a hand at her as he retreated.

She fought but couldn't resist the urge as she watched his figure stagger away, "Go team!" she cheered, reaching out and slapping him across the butt like she'd seen so many teammates do before.

Eddie howled in pain as she scrambled for the stairs full knowing he wouldn't dare try to tackle those in his current state. She barely heard him emerge from the common room over her own fit of laughter.

"Oh yeah, you're hilarious," he sneered.

"Sorry! I had to do it," she chuckled regaining her composure. "Tell you what: Text me when you've finished and maybe I'll come back down and make up for it…"

"You'll finally rub my back?"

Patricia was taken aback that he'd turned her down, hadn't he seen the eyebrow raise? She studied the sadness in his eyes and realized that he must really be feeling worse than she originally thought.

"Yeah, I'll rub your sorry back. But you'll owe me!"

"Deal, baby."

And just as quickly his suggestive smirk was back.


A/N: Thank you for reviewing so far! There will be actual swimming coming up. Feedback appreciated.