The clouds outside have darkened, so when we turned the lights off it was very hard to see anything. Violet nominated Eric to be the 'hunter' of the game and I was not surprised. He is the most intimidating out of us three, and I have no doubts that he will work hard to bring his predatory character to life.
He kicks us out of the living room, shutting the door behind us.
"Okay," Violet whispers, "We have forty seconds to hide!"
I smile sightly, replying in a normal voice, "Okay, where do we go?"
She raises her eyebrows, "We? You're on your own," with that, she skitters away, her socks causing her to slip around the floor for a while. I giggle quietly before heading in the opposite direction. But where to go?
I notice the glass door of Eric's indoor gym and make my way over, taking all the time in the world. It opens quietly, and when I walk in, I stub my toe on the treadmill, "Shit!" I whimper quietly.
Behind me, a stream of light flashes on, creating a single beam to flow out of under the door of the living room. I close the door as quickly and quietly as possible before tip-toeing over to the weightlifting set. Conveniently, there is a small door behind it and when I open it with a creak, all I see is darkness. It's probably a cupboard for old stuff. It definitely smells old. Not like Eric at all to have this in the apartment.
I climb in, minding my head. The space is extremely small. The walls press against my arms either side. And I cannot see a thing when I close the door behind me. My auditory senses are heightened. I hear Eric's footsteps out in the hallway, patient and slow.
I press my face against my knees, the humid smell of wood pungent in this environment.
He walks past the gym, footsteps fading away. I smile to myself, imagining Violet trying not to giggle from her large closet. In about five seconds, she will be busted. And then she'll probably somehow blame it on me.
For some reason, the gym becomes alive. Somebody is here. I watch the stream of light in the slit under the cupboard door, flickering back and forth. Unsure. I hear his heavy breathing. And then I hear him whisper my name.
I smile, leaning back against the wall and releasing a small hum. Next, Eric carefully opens the door, and the massive flashlight on his shoulder blinds me. Quickly, he puts it down, and even then when I close my eyes, I still see the bright orb in the middle of my vision.
"Shit, sorry," he whispers, noticing how my eyes are squeezed shut. When I open them, he looks anything but sorry, "Having fun in there?"
I smirk, reaching out in the hopes of him pulling me out. He grabs both my wrists and I grab his; our arms intertwine as he pulls me onto him. I stifle a chuckle, wrapping my arms around his neck. His grey eyes glisten in the faint light. Without any warning, his lips find my neck. I suck in a breath, eyelids fluttering closed.
"It takes everything for me to not just fuck you here on the floor," his whisper is harsh against my ear. I shudder, tilting my head back.
"Shouldn't we finish the game first?" he pulls back and smiles at me. I smile back. It feels like a long time because my knees start to ache. I dig my teeth into my bottom lip when one of his hands starts to brush up and down one of my hips.
After ages of fighting against his urges, he releases a breath, "Do you know where she is?"
I shake my head, trying to contain myself as he kisses my temple, "Maybe you should check her bedroom."
"We will," he replies. I feel his thumb tracing the bottom of my chin and when our eyes meet again, I cannot look down. My entire complexion flushes. I wonder if he can see it in the dark.
"Come on, let's go and find her," I pipe up, standing on my feet. Eric follows suit, not utterly convinced that I am enjoying this game. We could stay here and make out... but Violet is sat somewhere in the dark, waiting to be found.
Quietly, we both leave the gym, and Eric masters his position of balancing the squared torch on his shoulder. His arm muscles flex as he presses the torch further against his neck. I walk slowly behind him, trying not to lose my cool. Concentrate on the game, Tris.
"Come out wherever you are," Eric starts singing as we approach Violet's bedroom. I giggle quietly, pushing the door open. He walks in first, a smile playing on his face when he sees the curtains move. I bite my lip, deciding to stay in the doorway.
He lingers around the wardrobe, pretending for a while that he has no idea where she is. At one point, I see her peek out to try and make a run for another safer spot. Eric catches her before she can do anything, shining the light on her laughing face.
SHSHSHSHSH
The wine is taking longer than usual to knock me out. Perhaps I am building a sort of immunity the more I drink.
My legs are folded beneath me, the glass of wine perched in my hand. The TV is on, another episode of American Horror Story playing. Violet is on the floor, unraveling the game of Twister carpet. I realize that she can't play on her own.
Snow falls in huge flakes outside the window. It is completely dark now, but I don't think it's very late. I estimate it to be around six o'clock.
Eric leans down onto the floor, helping Violet set up the game. When she asks if he is going to play, he shakes his head. So I guess I have to be the one to save the day.
"Get up, Tris," Violet raises her eyebrows, hands resting on her knees. I smile slightly, glancing at Eric.
"I have to play?"
"Someone does," she says in her best 'duh' tone. I smirk wider and place the wine onto the coffee table. Eric moves away from the carpet, brushing a hand over my hip when I pass. I shudder, wanting so badly to lean against his touch. I notice him taking my seat on the couch, giving me a wink when Violet turns away.
"Dad, you spin the thingy," she tosses the spinner as if it was a Frisbee. He catches it with one hand before placing it on one of his knees. On his other knee he balances his laptop, which seems to be taking up most of his attention.
I run a hand through my hair, feeling myself getting a bit lightheaded. I can't complain. This is exactly what I need.
Violet puts her hair into a ponytail, momentary getting her hand stuck in the hair tie. I am tempted to reach out and help her but I feel like that is not my place.
"Okay," she sighs after all the hair is out of her face, "I will go first," I like how she assumes that I know how to play Twister. I guess I am a very smart looking person after all. No surprise there.
"Go for it."
She gestures for Eric to spin the wheel and he does so with one hand, rubbing the bottom of his chin afterwards, "Right hand, blue."
I smile and watch as Violet slams her hand down onto the blue circle closer to her, as if making a point. This could get competitive very quickly.
"Left foot, blue," Eric calls out to me. I glance at him and see that he is too busy looking at his laptop screen to notice my mischievous smile. Violet, however, picks up on it very quickly.
"Left foot, blue!" she yells.
Three minutes later, our bodies are tangled up in the most uncomfortable position. My arms start to weaken around her and I genuinely fear that I might collapse and squash her tiny body. She has no fear in her eyes. Her brows are furrowed and her face is strained as she struggles to remain stationary beneath me.
All of a sudden, I squeal and roll away from the game, landing on my back. Beside me, Violet collapses as well, but instead of sounding like a wimp, she laughs and whoops, "Finally!"
I laugh softly, turning my head to look at her, "No more. Let someone else play."
Of course, I am talking about Eric. At that moment we both glance up at him only to see his head tipped backwards against the couch, hands rubbing up and down his face. Well, he's not the only exhausted soul in this room.
Violet turns back to look at me, eyes alert, "He's boring."
I smile, watching her sit up and turn her attention back to watching TV. I stay laying on the floor, lacing my fingers together on my stomach. It is quiet for a long time before Eric asks Violet, "Is she asleep?"
I answer for her, "No."
SHSHSHSHSH
Eric asks Violet if she is tired enough to go to bed. She answers with a yawn at which point Eric casts a small smile in my direction, "Say goodbye."
Violet turns around in the doorway, making a lazy attempt at waving at me. I wave back, leaning back against the couch after they both leave the room. Strangely enough, all I feel in my head are butterflies. I don't feel like I am going to pass out. And I am definitely not drunk. I had one glass of wine. One big glass of wine that came from Eric's dodgy company. Hmm... maybe I really am developing an immunity.
Hesitantly, I pull my phone out from the new jeans I got changed into after the shower. I switch it on, watching the screen come to life along with a little tune. The first thing I see is my phone call icon bouncing up and down impatiently, with a red circle underneath. In that circle, I see the number 26.
Once I press the button, Christina's and Tobias' names pop up. 26 missed calls in total. Are they really that worried about me?
I go onto my texts, scrolling down through a lengthy list of what looks like a bunch of complaints, all from Christina.
11.05 am
Well, I hope ur happy
11.10 am
Four broke our shelf in the kitchen, are u comin or wheat
11.11 am
What*
I roll my eyes.
After about ten messages, she starts acting concerned. It's nearly 10pm. I'm guessing that I should at least let her know that I am not out in the streets. I text her a quick reply, telling her that I am not coming back tonight, but I am with Eric.
Before she has a chance to spam my feeble phone again, I shut it down, shoving it into my back pocket.
Eric walks in, closing the door quietly behind him. He rubs the bridge of his nose before stalking over to me, "She's asleep."
"That fast?" I move over, creating space for him to sit. He falls back onto the cushions, hands landing behind his head.
"I guess it's been a long day," he replies. I wonder if he is taking a dig towards me and my baggage. Nah. Can't be.
I shuffle closer to him, being met with his big arm going around my waist. The room is totally quiet now. Violet is asleep. The TV is on mute. Only the faint blizzard wind can be heard on the outside. If you think about it, there is nothing here to stop us from fucking each other's brains out. But something does. Maybe he's right. Maybe it has been a long day.
He pulls me into his lap, and I bury my face in the crook of his neck. I hear his heart beating steadily against my ear, slowly lulling me to sleep. He pats my back before I can though, whispering something into my ear, "Come on, babe."
Getting to my bedroom is a blur, but I make it. Stupidly, I forgot to pack my PJ's in the fight with my best friend, but Eric is kind enough to lend me some of his. I pick a blue shirt from his wardrobe, knowing that he has never ever worn it before in front of me. I can see why. It's blue.
As I lay in the dark, snuggled up with the softest duvet I have ever had in my life, the image of Eric flashes at me. I hug the pillow. Maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea if I gave him a little visit. As long as I go back to bed before Violet wakes up, right? She won't know. It could work. If I am extra quiet.
Without further hesitation, I slip out of bed and make my way through the hallway, tip-toeing past Violet's room. I reach his door and open it as quietly as possible, closing it gently behind me once I am in. It's deadly silent.
I stumble through the room and finally reach his bed. With my hands, I pat down the mattress and lay down on one part of his enormous king size. Inch by inch, I shimmy my way closer to his warm body. Soon, I bump into his bare chest and then finally I can take a breath.
His arm wraps around me, "Make yourself known."
"It's Tris," I whisper back, smiling when he lands a kiss on the top of my head.
"Goodnight, Tris."
Apologies for those who thought Tris and Eric would have sex ;)
Review :)