Sonnets-Chapter Two

DGDB

Pg-13

Summary: Nigel's knackered, and in love. This isn't a good combination.

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Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all to short a date.

Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimmed.

And every fair from fair sometimes declines,

By chance or natures changing course untrimmed.

By thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest,

Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade

When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st.

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

William Shakespeare

Sonnet 18

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Nigel awoke early in the morning. The first thing he saw was a woman's lacy bra, crumple on the floor. The first thoughts in his mind were; Oh shit. What'd I do? But upon further investigation, he became aware that this was Jordan's apartment and he was only sleeping on the couch. He attempted to sit up, but face planted directly back into the pillow as a wave of nausea and dizziness swept over him. He took an internal vote and his stomach decided that the rest of his body would remain on the sofa, asleep. His brain concurred and he rolled over, pulling the blanket around him.

He vaguely remembered falling over the couch and passing out the previous night. He remembered a cool hand in his hair and the gentle brush of lips against his cheek as Jordan tucked him in for the night. Sighing, he allowed his body to relax and fall back asleep.

About an hour later, Jordan rolled out of bed. She hopped into the shower and took her time about getting out. The bathroom was filled with steam by the time she stepped out of the shower. Jordan wrapped a towel around her curvy body and looked at herself in the mirror. She wasn't bad looking. The birthmark on her upper lip needed to be removed, but she had a nice face if she said so herself. Yes, beautiful and confident on the outside, but inside; she was a mess.

Jordan went about her morning routine and stepped out of the bathroom. She peered over at the sofa where Nigel was still sprawled out, sleeping. One bare foot stuck out over the arm of the couch and his right hand trailed on the ground. His hair was a mess and hung down in his face, giving him an endearing vagabond look.

She went over and tucked the blanket back in around him, he moaned in his sleep and twitched fitfully. Smiling to herself, Jordan went into the kitchen to make some coffee and tea.

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Nigel smelled tea. Strong tea with a little sugar. He turned his head and crack open his eyes. Jordan was sitting on the coffee table staring at him.

"Er… Hello." Nigel said. The way she was staring at him was unnerving.

"Good morning. I made tea." she offered him the mug.

Nigel attempted to sit up, but an earth-shattering hangover prevented it.

"Bugger." he moaned, clutching his head.

"Aww. Poor Nigel, Let me go get you an ice pack."

Poor inebriated Nigel couldn't stop himself from watching her perfect bottom as she went into the kitchen. After all, he was in a perfect position to be looking at it.

"Damn!" he muttered appreciatively to himself.

"You OK Nige?" she called from the kitchen.

"Yes! I'm fine!"

Jordan returned with an icepack in her hand, she placed it lightly on the back of his neck. Nigel sighed in ecstasy as the ice chased the pain away and replaced it with numbness. Twenty minutes later, Nigel managed to flip over onto his back. He and Jordan stared at each other for what seemed an eternity before she spoke.

"What happened last night?" she asked quietly. "I've never known you to go out and get bombed without telling me first. It's not like you."

Nigel huffed aggravatedly.

"I've never known you to drink anyplace else but the Pogue, either. Where'd you go?"

"Some tavern a couple blocks from work. Why?"

"No reason. Now you care to tell me why?"

Nigel looked confused.

"Why what?"

"Why'd you get drunk?"

The lanky Brit felt his face flushing.

"None of your business." he mumbled.

Jordan grinned knowingly.

"Is it a girl!"

"No!" he lied.

"Is it a boy!"

"NO!"

"Is it a goat?"

Nigel glared at her a moment.

"Yes Jordan. I've met the goat of my dreams. Now where's my coat so I can go home?" he growled sarcastically.

"Uh uh. You're staying here. You're not fit to drive." she said.

"Then can you drive me home or call me a cab or something?"

"Nigel? What's wrong? You're never this-"

"I know! I know. I just want to go home and sleep in my own bed." he sighed and ran a hand through his hair distractedly. "Bugger all, Jordan… I… I can't talk about this."

Jordan gazed at him worriedly. Nigel heaved himself to his feet and staggered toward the bathroom to wash his face. Jordan heard the water splashing into the sink, and, moments later, Nigel turned it off and stepped out of the bathroom. He looked haggard and sick. It took all her willpower not to force him back onto the couch where she could keep an eye on him and take care of him.

"I'll just walk home, Jordan. It's only a few blocks." he said. Jordan glared at him disapprovingly. "Thank you. For taking care of me, I mean."

Her dark haired head nodded once and her eyes followed him as he walked to the door and let himself out. Once outside, he pressed his back against the wall and gathered what reserve he had to make the trek home.

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What do you think? I know these are short chappys, but I'm trying to get in all the sonnets. Much gnashing of teeth and angst in the next chapter.