Chapter twenty
"Congratulations" I exclaimed flinging my arms around Dan's neck and pulling him close to me. We stood in embrace for a few moments before we broke apart and he kissed me on the cheek. I moved on to Phil flinging my arms around him as well.
I ushered them in and told them to take off their jackets. Ally was waiting for us in the living room when I led the boys through the hall. I stood back and waited for something to happen. Luckily Phil walked over to her and they mumbled some things to each other before Ally gathered the courage to pull Phil into a congratulative hug. Dan and I glanced at each other and smiled mischievously.
"Let's not stare, give them their privacy" I whispered to Dan next to me and grabbed his arm turning him to face me so we didn't look like we were creeping on our friends.
"Why, it's so fun. Just seeing him with a girl he obviously likes and who obviously likes him back. It's like the first few times we hung out, I would have loved to have been able to creep on us. That would have been so hilarious"
"Yeah, we were so awkward back then. All I did was try not to be awkward even though I failed, also I tried not to fangirl way too much, 'cause you didn't know that I already knew who you were yet, and at the same time I tried to make you like me because I mean I thought I loved you already" I reminisced.
"I'm glad we're not like that anymore" he said stepping closer and pulling me all the way into him. I answered with an "Mhm" as Dan kissed the top of my head. We stood there until I heard some throat cleaning and soft coughing from next to us.
We broke apart and saw that Ally and Phil had joined us where we were standing. They were kind of awkwardly shuffling back and forth and looking down. Goodness, why were they still so shy?
"Ok, so what do you guys want to do to celebrate?" I asked the boys.
"I don't actually know" Phil admitted.
I looked at Dan questioningly.
"Well, I know what I want to do, but it's not really a group activity" he smiled.
"Dan" I said embarrassed "Shut up" I looked at the other two who had obviously both also understood what Dan was hinting to and it looked like it had made them even more awkward. I was going to have to do everything wasn't I?
"Ok, I guess it's up to me then. Well, I would suggest going out to a bar or a club or something, but that's not quite our style. I don't really have much in the way of food or anything really at the moment, so what I suggest is that Dan, you and Phil go down to the shop, get some alcohol and some snacks and Ally and I'll set up some stuff here. Sound good?" I asked the group.
"Sure" Ally was the first to answer and the two others nodded in agreement.
"Ok, good" I walked over to the table and took my wallet "Here's some money, if you need more you can chip in your selves, you're going to be consuming it as well. I kind of feel like your mother" I blabbered while I handed some money to Dan and started shooing them though the hall.
They hastily grabbed their coats and put on their shoes and left.
"Ok, Ally. Finally alone" I said exasperatedly as I walked back to the living room.
She was standing in the same place as we had left her when I shooed the boys out. "Ally, what is wrong with the two of you?"
"I don't know, what's wrong?" she asked confused.
"Ok, he calls you to tell you that he's accomplished something really big, obviously he wants to impress you. Then he comes over and you even gather the courage to give him a hug. Why all the shyness and awkwardness?"
"I don't know. He's just so shy and awkward, so he kind of brings out those sides in me. I guess . . . I don't know. I'm never like this, it's like I'm a whole different person when I'm with him. I don't know if I really like that person, but I like being with him, so I don't want to stop that"
"This is really frustrating, especially since I'm so emotionally invested in your relationship"
"I know. Uhg" Ally groaned "Let's not think about that now. I guess I just have to work on it and then we'll see when they get back"
"I'm just worried that you guys are so shy and awkward around each other that nothing will ever happen, and we don't want that"
"No, but let's just think about right now. What did you mean when you said we were going to fix some stuff here?"
"I don't know. Let's set up some games, activities and make the place a little more festive I guess"
To start with we hung up some streamers and cute fairy lights that I found in my random-objects-cabinet, where we also found a few good board games, we got out some bowls and serving plates for whatever the boys brought back. I remembered that when I moved I had brought the old PlayStation2 from my parents' house and our Sing Star games. Then came the task of trying to hook it up to the TV which of course was too technical for Ally and myself so we decided to wait for the boys and see if they could help us with that.
Upon their return they did indeed handle the task at hand with ease. And so the festivities began.
We started with some finger food, consisting of tiny sandwiches, little hot dogs and some cut up vegetables as well, and played some board games. One of my favorites, called Fantasy, was particularly popular. The game was compiled of ridiculous miming, bad drawing and filled with lots of laughter.
As the night approached we started on the alcohol, the games became more fun, the conversation more outrageous and our laughter grew louder. We played some more games before hitting the stage. I was expecting us all to suck at Sing Star, but surprisingly none of us were that bad. Dan and Phil shocked me the most, especially Dan's high pitched girly singing which sent me off on a laughing frenzy every time.
All awkwardness floated away as we were all quite clearly intoxicated, and I decided to have as much fun with it as possible, as it seemed did everyone else.
An epic battle arose between the girls and the boys, and the highlight of the night was probably Dan and me singing our souls out to the song "Take On Me" by aha. It was a tight match, but I managed to bring it home for the girls.
"Woooh" I cheered as the results of our final match came up on the screen. Ally leapt up from her position, sitting to my right, and gave me a high five while giggling uncontrollably; she then flung her arms around me in a tight hug and released me when she had managed to stop giggling and regained her breath.
"We won" she announced. We turned around, an arm around one another, to the boys. Phil had also gotten up off the ground and was pretend-scolding Dan for not being able to beat me.
"How does it feel to lose boys?" I asked cockily.
"You guys should have to do some sort of forfeit" Ally suggested with the same attitude.
"I like that idea" I agreed.
"Ok, what do we have to do?" Dan asked challengingly.
"Well, at least you embarrass yourself quite enough physically on the internet already" I thought for a little bit "Oh, I have a perfect one thought out for you Dan. Ally you'll have to come up with one for Phil"
"Well what is it?" Dan questioned.
"It's kind of sexual so I'll tell you later" I winked at him.
"Ok I'm up for that" Dan agreed looking me up and down hungrily while biting his lip. Yep, that did it, I was already wet just thinking about it and seeing that look on his face.
"So what's my forfeit?" Phil asked Ally expectantly.
"Hm" Ally thought for a bit "Since these two look like they want to rip each other's clothes off at this very second I'd like to get out of here before that happens. So, you have to walk me home"
"Easy" Phil declared "I was thinking of doing that anyway"
"Fine, I'll think of something on the way and you can do it when we get to my place"
"No, wait. I want to see him do his forfeit" Dan complained.
"Too bad. You're coming with me" I informed grabbing his wrist and pulling him away from our friends "Have a nice walk" I shouted over my shoulder to Ally and Phil as I dragged my boyfriend down the hall toward the bedroom.
I shut the door behind us, and put my ear up against it. I felt Dan's arms circle my waist and his body press against mine from behind. I stiffened with anticipation.
"So, what's my forfeit?" Dan whispered in my ear.
"Shh" I shushed him "Just a second" he waited impatiently until we heard the sound of a door further down the hall close, signaling that our friends had left the apartment.
From my waist I pealed Dan's strong arms, turned around to face him and pushed him away from me lightly with my hand on his chest. Swiftly I moved around him, walked over to my bed and sat down. Over by the door Dan turned this time to face me and looked at me expectantly.
I leant back on the palms of my hands, crossed one leg over the other and smiled smugly "Now strip" I commanded.
"What?" Dan asked walking towards me with a seductive gleam in his eye.
I returned the look and with defiance I repeated "You heard me, strip"
"So that's my forfeit?" he walked even closer to where I was sitting till he was standing right in front of me, towering over me.
"Oh honey, there's more" I reassured him. I leaned even further back, now holding myself up with my elbows "But for now" I motioned to the space in front of me with a sweeping motion of my hand "The stage is yours"
Dan, obviously realizing I was serious, stepped back and the show began.