"Oy! Trouble! Are you ready?" Gabriel came barreling through my front door a little after 10 o'clock that morning.
North and I were snuggled on the couch watching a movie and we both glanced toward the entryway upon Gabriel's exclamations. I tried to sit up, but North's arms were unrelenting. He kept me pressed into his chest and released a slight huff when he felt me try to get up once more. I turned to him, and kissed his cheek softly. "North, please?" Another grunt from North, and he reluctantly let me go.
Gabriel rounded the corner into the living room with a smirk on his handsome face, his eyes a light with his teasing.
"Ready for what? Are we going somewhere?" I was a little confused. Wasn't tonight my date with Silas?
"Hi Meanie!" I was so happy to see him. I'd seen him not even twenty four hours ago, but that was still too long. As I ran toward Gabriel, he dropped the bags so that he could catch me when I leaped into his able arms. Gabriel tightened his hold on me and turned his head towards my neck. He breathed a deep sigh, releasing me back to the floor.
"Hey, my beautiful girl. I'm here to get you ready for your hot date!" He wiggled his eyebrows at me suggestively. "Now march that sweet ass back to the couch while I gather all the stuff that I need." All the stuff that I needed? What exactly was going to be happening tonight? When I asked Gabriel if he knew, he popped me on the thigh. "Stop asking questions. You don't need to fucking worry about it. I have everything under control." He gave me a wink and nodded his head toward the couch. Telling me to just listen and do what he says. I huffed in exasperation. When weren't these boys hiding secrets from me?
North stood as I was heading towards the couch. Sweetly, he kissed me on the cheek. "I've gotta head out Sang Baby. I'm helping out at the diner during the lunch shift." I pouted out my bottom lip. It didn't matter how long I got to spend with the boys, it was never enough. North gave me a tiny smile. "I'll be back later. Promise." All I could do was nod my head at him. "You!" He pointed his large fist at Gabe. "Behave and keep your fucking hands to yourself. If I hear about any funny business going on while I'm gone, I'm gonna kick your ass." With that, he strode out the front door towards the diner. Gabe just rolled his eyes, and sent me a conspiratorial grin.
"Alright Trouble." He clapped his hands together and rubbed them as if he were trying to warm them. "Let's get busy!"
Nearly four hours later, I'd been scrubbed, primped, polished and coiffed to perfection- according to Gabriel anyway. He had washed my hair and styled it in loose curls that were casual bit still very pretty. My toe and finger nails were painted a soft pink and my makeup was light and natural. When I looked in the mirror, I was pleased with what I saw. Gabriel had done an amazing job. Sometimes I wonder if he might just be magic.
Luke and Nathan had showed up over the course of the morning and had spent the time making jokes and all around goofing off. Whether they meant to or not, the boys had calmed my nerves and set me a little more at ease. If I thought about the date with Silas too much, then it got my heart racing. I still didn't know what was expected of me. Generally, I had an idea of what typically happens on a first date, I'm not completely out of touch. Hand holding, laughter, sharing stories and maybe even a kiss or two before the night is over. But just thinking about some of those things made me panic slightly. I hated not knowing what I was supposed to do and I didn't want to disappoint Silas. Was he expecting these things from me? Would Silas hate me if I did something wrong and messed up our date? Suddenly, I felt the need to lie down.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Nathan watching me. "Hey, Peanut. You okay?" Gabriel and Luke looked over at me as well, concern clearly written across their faces. Nathan deliberately rose from his spot, crossed the room and came over to sit down beside me on the bed. Carefully, he reached over and grabbed me, pulling me into the security of his lap. I snuggled in, grateful for any sort of distraction. "What's the matter sweetheart? You look like you're going to be sick." This was so embarrassing. I didn't want to tell him what was wrong, but I was the worst liar. Nathan and the others would know if I held back or fudged the truth even just a little.
"I'm just a little nervous." I explained. Did I need to go into details?
"What for? It's just a date Sang. No big deal." Luke wasn't very sympathetic towards my plight and it looked like he might even be thinking this was funny. Gabriel reached over and popped him in the back of the head. "Oww! What the hell, Gabe!" Luke sure didn't think that was funny.
"It's her official first fucking date you dick! Of course she's nervous. Don't you remember what it was like?" He was glaring at Luke. I knew that I could count on Gabriel to understand. He always just knew and it warmed me. Gabriel's eyes softened as he turned his gaze on me. "There's nothing to worry about darling. Everything is going to be fine. Silas has an awesome day planned for the two of you, trust me. Trust us." His eyes implored me to believe, to listen.
"But…" I hesitated.
Nathan squeezed me around my stomach. He leaned his head down to whisper in my ear. "Just be yourself beautiful. There's nothing to worry about. Just go and have a good time. Silas will take good care of you." As he spoke, his lips traced lightly over the shell of my ear and his breath heated my skin. It sent warm waves of pleasure down my spine. It jumbled my thoughts and made it impossible to speak. My body hummed in delight.
"Okay. Here…"Suddenly, a wad of clothing hit me in the face. "Go and put those on." Gabriel instructed.
Averse to the thought of leaving the comfort of Nathan's embrace, I slowly rose from his lap and headed towards the bathroom, clothes in hand. Once there, I took a look at what Gabe had thrown at me. It was simple enough. Just a basic soft, form fitting cotton baby pink tee and a pair of cut-off jean shorts, which were definitely not school regulation. Casual but cute. I changed quickly and headed back to my room. There, Gabe threw a box at me containing some grey, slip-on sneakers. "You don't need socks." Was all he said. Then he winked at me and jerked up his chin, silently demanding I put them on. I looked at the clock and realized that the past hour had flown by. Silas would be here in less than 20 minutes. Once again, the butterflies attacked my stomach. With shaking fingers I attempted to open the box.
Luke intercepted my unsteady movements and pulled out the shoes. "Here Sweet Pea, let me." He knelt down in front of me, dragging his right hand down the back of my leg. He tapped first my left leg and then my right, indicating when I should lift my feet. I rested my hands on his shoulder for balance. After both shoes were on Luke stood up, dragging his hands back along my legs as he rose and gripped my hips once he was all the way up. He caught my gaze and squeezed me once, shooting me a knee weakening grin. My breath caught in my throat and my heart hammered in my chest. He had to know how he affected me. It was so confusing. How could each of the boys make me feel this way? Wasn't this only supposed to happen with one boy? It seemed impossible that all nine guys could make my insides turn to jelly.
My internal ramblings were interrupted by the doorbell. Immediately, Nathan and Gabriel jumped up and ran for the door. "I'll get it!" Gabriel shouted. Nathan reached out and grabbed the back of Gabe's shirt, flinging him backwards into second place. "No, I'll get it!" Nathan laughed and ran down the stairs. I giggled as Gabriel complained about Nathan cheating and followed after him. Luke turned from watching them, and smiled warmly at me. "Come on beautiful, let's go." He grabbed my hand and threaded his fingers with mine, pulling me towards the stairs.
When we reached the top of the stairs, Gabriel sing-songed at me "Oh Sa-ang! It's for you-ou!" I could hear Nathan and Gabe snickering as Luke and I came down the stairs. Gabe and Nathan were standing in front of the open front door, with their arms folded across their chests, and mock stern expressions on their faces. It appeared that they were giving Silas, who still stood on the doorstep, a hard time.
"… and she better be back here by no later than 11 o'clock. She has a curfew you know." Gabriel was teasing Silas.
"And never leave her alone. Stay with her at all times." Nathan piped in. "And remember…"
"Keep your hands to yourself!" Nathan, Gabe and Luke chorused. This made me giggle, but Silas didn't seem very amused. He rolled his eyes in annoyance. At the sound of my muffled laughter, Silas turned his head and met my gaze. Instantly, like a light was flipped, his face lit up in a heart stopping smile.
"Aggele Mou." My name left his lips in a reverent exhalation. "I missed you." He barged between my self-appointed body guards and walked toward me, grabbing my hand from Luke's grasp. Slowly, he lifted my hand to his lips and lightly kissed my knuckles. It was very sweet, and very unexpected. Before I could contemplate his actions, Silas pulled me towards him into a toe curling hug. I could never get enough of Silas' hugs. They were perfect in every way. In one gesture, Silas was able to show me how much he cared- that he would always keep me safe.
"I missed you too, Silas." I spoke into the skin of his strong neck, my lips brushing across his warm, smooth skin. He shivered with my movement and slid his hands towards my lower back, pulling away just enough to give me a tender kiss on the cheek. His lips lingered slightly as he began to straighten and I couldn't help but to be disappointed that it didn't last longer. My cheeks heated with the thought. I couldn't look away from Silas' heated gaze. It captured me, making promises that I knew wouldn't disappoint.
"Oy!" Gabriel shouted. "You can't do that!" Upon his remark, Silas and I broke apart. The boys stood around us with looks of surprise on their faces.
"Who says?" was Silas' firm retort. "I'm doing nothing wrong." He seemed to be reminding the boys of something, but I wasn't sure what. The remark was lost on me but it seemed to snap the boys out of whatever state they were in. Silas returned his eyes to me. "I have something for you Sang. It's for today." He walked back toward the front door and picked up a gift bag from where it was hidden.
As he moved forward to hand me the bag, the tips Silas' ears tinted red. "It's just a little something for today. No big deal." But it was a big deal. I wasn't used to people giving me things, especially for no reason. Silas had bought me something, just for our date. My eyes stung with the threat of tears. Would their kindness never end? If this was a dream, I didn't ever want to wake from it. "Hurry, Aggele Mou. Open it." Silas fidgeted. Was he nervous? He always seemed so strong, so sure of himself. This wasn't like him. I opened the bag in eagerness, curious to see what Silas had brought me.
I reached through the layers of tissue paper and pulled out two things, the first being a hat of some sort. When I turned it around I noticed that it was Red Sox baseball cap, navy blue with their signature decorative 'B' front and center. I beamed at Silas. He had given me my first ball cap! Immediately, I stuffed it onto my head.
"Sang! Watch the hair for crying out loud." Gabriel lamented. He had spent quite a bit of time making my hair perfect and I felt bad about smashing all his hard work but I adored my new hat! Next I unrolled a bundle of fabric. It was a Boston Red Sox vintage remake t-shirt, in red. The print was faded and the fit seemed snug. I loved it. Silas owned a few of his own Red Sox tees and now I had my very own. A piece of Silas, for my very own. I couldn't stop smiling! It was perfect.
I held it up towards my chest to help me visualize what it would look like on. Gabriel huffed. "Oh, just go put it on already. You know you want to." I was so excited. I shot Silas a smile and ran towards the bathroom to put on my new favorite shirt. Already, this date was amazing and we hadn't even left my house yet.