Chapter 9: L, is for the way you look at me
The group decided to all sleep in the living room. None of them wanted to leave each other, even if it was only for the night.
It was a bit of a squeeze fitting everyone in, but they managed. Lauren and Brian shared the sofa. They were lying side-by-side, both facing the edge of the room. Brian had his arms wrapped around Laurens waist. He could smell her freshly washed hair, and every time she laughed or spoke to the others he felt vibrations travel through her body.
Lauren liked the feeling of Brian's arms around her. Being so small, she was used to people picking her up like she was a doll, but she lacked adult human contact sometimes, especially because of how childish her group of friends were. She loved them to pieces obviously, but it felt nice to be held by Brian, his arms wrapped loosely around her waist as she giggled at something Meredith had just said.
The others had pulled down the mattresses from their beds, and added with the bean bags had made some kind of nest in the centre of the floor. It was some kind of free-for-all down there. Darren and Joe Walker were chatting comically about something or other, lying in the centre of the soft pile. Julia and Jaime were sitting up, leaning against the armchair that was occupied by Joey and Meredith.
Joey was sitting comfortably, holding Meredith who was curled up in his arms. She in turn had her arms around him, one on his waist and the other resting gently on his leg. Joey fiddled with her hair until she batted his hand away, laughing about how he'd get it all knotty.
Tyler and Joe Moses were having a good-natured pillow fight in the corner of the room, which quickly encouraged disapproval from Nick, who had been trodden on as it became more active. The rest of the group decided to join in. Darren grabbed a pillow and with an evil glare swung it at Jaime's head. Teams began forming quickly and Julia attacked Darren in retaliation to his hit at Jaime.
Joey chucked a pillow, aiming for Tyler but ended up hitting Lauren instead. She looked around, furious, and ran at Joey who couldn't react before she jumped onto his back. He gave a yell as he tripped over a neglected pillow and they both crashed to the ground.
The pillow fight was temporarily forgotten as everyone bundled on top of the pair who were shaking with laughter on the ground. They finally got up, most complaining of a pain somewhere or other. Lauren claimed that Brian had trodden on her cheek when she fell, and so he apologised by kissing her where she said it hurt.
'Better?' he asked with a wink.
She tried, and failed to look disdainful and said stiffly; 'a little.'
Brian grinned at winked again, as Nick said they should all get some sleep.
They settled down again in a similar formation to before, although all out of breath. Lauren rolled over to face Brian on the sofa. 'I can't believe you trod on my face, Bri.' She said, half-serious.
'I'm sorry Lolo, you're just so little I didn't see you.'
He grinned as she kicked him under the duvet. 'I really am sorry Lo.' He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss on the nose. Lauren didn't know how to react. She didn't really know how she felt. Brian was never usually this..well...touchy-feely. I mean, he always hugged her, but he'd never kissed her like that. Her brain was too scrambled from sleep deprivation to do much about it, so she contented herself with burrowing down under the covers, moving her head to lay across Brian's chest.
Brian stroked her back as she drifted off to sleep. He had no idea where he stood with her. He settled down, trying not to jostle Lauren too much.
Joey and Meredith were having a mumbled chat in the armchair. Meredith decided to ask the question that had been playing on her mind since the first night she'd been here.
'Joey?' She asked him tentatively.
'Mmhh?' He replied sleepily, stroking her back absent-mindedly.
'Did you kiss me on the first night here? On the forehead I mean, when you carried me up to bed?'
Joey froze. What the hell did he say to that? 'Um, yeah I think I did. Sorry Mer, I thought you were asleep.' What was he saying, that just made the whole thing sound a lot worse.
Meredith's heart beat faster s she thought about this. She had a weird feeling in her stomach which she associated with nerves and anticipation. 'No it's fine Joey, I was just wondering if I was going mad!'
'You don't mind then?' Joey asked, half regretting asking, scared of her answer.
'No, I don't. Night Joey-Joe.' She gently kissed him on the forehead and slid further down onto the armchair. Joey didn't move for a moment. He grinned to himself in the dark.
They had been speaking quietly, and only Darren overheard them from his new place on the floor by their feet. He smiled to himself. Joey and Meredith made a great pair, and Joey had obviously liked her for a while. Come to think of it, he did talk about her a lot and she was very pretty and extremely fun to be around.
Darren rolled over and settled down to sleep. He was looking forward to this surprise he had been planning. He knew the others would love it.
The group fell asleep one by one. Brian was the last awake. He lay there, looking at his friends who looked so peaceful. Lauren's eyelids fluttered as she dreamed, as an agitated look crossed her face momentarily. He gently pulled her hair away from her face and stroked her cheek. Her eyes opened the tiniest bit and she smiled at him.
'Go to sleep, Brian.'
He smiled at her. 'Sorry I woke you, Lo.'
She gave him a tight hug and fell asleep again, closer to him than before. Brian felt something he didn't usually feel. He looked down at the sleeping body beside him and as he saw her take deep breaths he felt himself fall a little bit harder.
