Hope you'll like this update to start 2021! Happy New Year!

Chapter 16

That Saturday, William just came back to his apartment after getting lunch at a nearby diner when he decided to Skype his family in California. He sat on his couch as he pulled out his phone to call his mother's phone. After a few rings, Penny picked up her phone, focusing the camera to include Leonard who was sitting beside her.

W: "Hi mom! Hi dad!"

P: "Hi sweetheart! We miss you!"

L: "Hi son! How's Princeton?"

W: "I miss you guys too! Princeton is just fine dad. My supervisor and I started to work on my dissertation."

L: "That's nice to know son. At least you're hitting the ground running."

W: "You're right I guess."

Sarah then suddenly appeared on the screen, squeezing between her parents.

S: "Hey jackass!"

W: "Hi sis! It's nice to see you too! How are things over there?"

P: "Everything is fine here sweetheart."

W: "That's nice to hear."

S: "So, who's Erin?" William was surprised and didn't know how to react.

W: "What do you mean?"

S: "Are you hanging out with her?" (she said giving his brother a straight look)

W: "Uh Erin is my neighbor. She lives across the hall with her friend Kim if that's what you want to know. Where are we going with this? Am I in a deposition?"

S: "Cut the crap William! I know she invited you over for dinner at her apartment!"

W: "So?"

S: "You better not be cheating on Halley or I'll come over there and kill you myself!"

W: "Where the hell did that come from!? Are you high or something?"

L: "Okay, you two cut it out! Your brother is not cheating on Halley, end of discussion!"

S: "Well, did you went over to her place to have dinner?"

W: "They invited me over. What was I suppose to say? And I was just being a nice neighbor!"

S: "See that!? You know for a genius like yourself, you sometimes act like an idiot!"

P: "Hey! Don't talk to your brother like that!"

S: "Fine! Then tell me mom, how did you and dad started out?"

P: "Uh I don't understand."

S: "Isn't it that you and dad started to know each other because dad always invited you to their apartment for dinner for how many years until you became a couple and then got married eventually?"

L: "Uh honey, I think that's a different situation with me and your mom."

S: "Really dad? If I remember correctly, it was you who invited mom over to dinner when you first met her, right?"

L: "I did, but that was because your mother just moved in and I had a huge crush on her from the get go."

S: "And don't you think the same thing isn't happening with jackass over there?"

W: "Hey! Enough with the 'jackass' alright!?"

L: "Okay, you two should just relax and take a deep breath. William is not cheating on Halley and you young lady are just overthinking things. Alright?"

Sarah sighed and frowned, folding her arms. "Fine."

"And don't you dare say anything to Halley, you got that?" Penny said sternly to Sarah.

"I got it mom." said Sarah.

W: "Okay, this was a really nice family discussion huh?" Leonard and Penny laughed as Sarah stayed quiet, brooding between her parents.

P: "When do you think you can come home and visit us sweetie?"

W: "I don't know mom. I mean, I just started at the university and I figured I'm gonna be spending a lot of time over there."

L: "Well, we know you can figure it out son."

W: "Thanks dad and I promise, as soon as I get a break, I'll come home for maybe a few days."

P: "Just tell me if you're coming home so I could at least clean your room alright?"

W: "Okay mom. I will. Listen, I gotta go. I'll call you guys again next week okay!"

P: "Okay sweetheart! Just be careful over there okay?"

W: "Don't worry mom."

S: "We miss you! And don't cheat on Halley you got that!" (William laughed out loud)

W: "Don't worry I won't!"

L: "Bye son!"

W: "Bye dad!" he said as he put his phone down.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

That evening, Erin knocked on William's apartment. William opened his door and saw Erin dressed up for the party.

"Is that what you're wearing to the party?" Erin asked smiling at him.

"Uh?" said William, puzzled by what she said.

"Did you forget? Tonight's the party at my place!" said Erin, hitting him lightly on the arm.

"Oh yeah, that." said William.

Erin looked at him. "Wait, you're coming right?" she asked.

"Uh yeah sure! I'm just finishing some stuff with my laptop." he said.

"Great! Listen, the party won't start until maybe after eight so you have plenty of time to finish whatever it is you're doing." she said.

"Okay great. I'll come over maybe nine, nine-thirty?" he said giving her a weak smile.

"Sure thing William." she said. "I'll see you later okay?" she added.

"Yeah." he said nodding his head as he waved goodbye to Erin.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

After a few hours, William knocked on Erin's apartment as he heard some dance music coming from the inside. After a couple of minutes, William saw Erin all dressed up as she opened the door, welcoming him into the apartment. William stepped inside as he saw a handful of people having drinks and some of them dancing to the music being played by a DJ in his small music equipment setup.

"William!" Erin exclaimed, welcoming him into the apartment. "Come in! Make yourself at home!" she said pulling his hand inside. "Hey everyone, say hello to William!" she announced as the rest of them turned to greet him.

"Hi William!" they greeted him, raising their drinks as William nodded in response.

Erin quickly ran to the fridge to get William something to drink. "I got you some non-alcoholic beer so you and I won't get into trouble!" she said whispering into his ear.

William took the bottle and looked at the label. "Thanks Erin. That's so thoughtful of you." he said smiling at her.

Erin smiled back. "You're welcome Will, there's a few in the fridge if you want more alright?" she said while squeezing his arm.

"Thanks." he said as Kim went over to join them. "So do you guys throw parties like this all the time?" he asked.

"Well not all the time." Kim said.

"Yeah, it's just something we do to let off some steam from time to time." Erin said. "Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone." Erin said pulling William's hand.

Erin and William went around the apartment to meet Kim and Erin's friends. A few of them were working students having day jobs while attending community college at night while some of them worked various jobs like office assistants and maintenance crew. Erin's friends were impressed at William's accomplishment considering his very young age. They were even surprised when Erin showed them the videos of William's 'acting career' when he was young.

Erin and William continued talking and mingling with her friends when the music suddenly stopped, as everyone looked to the DJ asking what happened.

"What happened man!?" Nick asked.

"I'm not sure. The power just crapped out!" said the DJ whose name was Dennis.

"Just when I was beginning to show my killer dance moves, then this happens!" said Andy who has been dancing with a few girls since William joined the party.

William put his bottle on the side table and went to the DJ. "Do you mind if I take a look?" he said to the DJ.

"Uh, do you know any of this stuff Will?" asked Erin.

William looked at her and smiled. "I'm a genius remember?" he said laughing a little.

"You had half a bottle of non-alcoholic beer and you suddenly turn into this confident, smug electrician?" said Erin as the others laughed.

"I'm just joking." he said as he tried to find what's wrong with the music equipment as Dennis helped him out. "Does this happen a lot?" he asked Dennis.

"This is the second time. The first time I just reset the power and everything went normal again but now it doesn't seem to work anymore." said Dennis.

"Well I think I found the problem. This wire here is coming loose." William said as he tried to plug it back. As soon as he plugged it back, sparks flew and he was thrown a few feet away from the equipment.

Erin screamed. "Oh my god William!" she said as she knelt beside him to see if he's alright. Erin held William's face and saw that he was unconscious. "Oh crap he's unconscious!" Erin exclaimed.

"Oh my god, what are we gonna do? Are we gonna call 911?" asked Kim as she began to panic.

"Give him some space. I've seen this happen before." said Erin as she straightened William's arms and feet and tilted his head. She then gave William CPR, blowing air into his mouth then pumping his chest to resuscitate his breathing back.

"Where did you learn how to do that Erin?" asked Kim.

Erin didn't answer and continued performing CPR on William. "Come on William, you can do it!" she said pumping her hands and arms on his chest. She then gave William a final blow of air into his mouth and felt William come back to life. They didn't know what got into them as they find themselves kissing each other, feeling Erin's soft and sweet lips lock onto his as the people in the apartment watch in disbelief. They broke off as William opened his eyes, seeing Erin looking him in the eye, similarly surprised by her actions. Erin then pulled William to sit up, glad that he was out of harm's way.

"I'm sorry." Erin whispered as William looked at her in disbelief. "Are you alright?" she asked.

William nodded. "What happened?" he asked.

"Well, you were trying to fix the DJ equipment when we saw sparks flying, throwing you across the room." said Erin.

"Thank you. You saved my life." he said as Erin suddenly hugged him, kissing him on the lips.

William was shocked but found himself kissing her back.

"Oh!" exclaimed the people in the room as they witnessed the tender moment between William and Erin while Kim was speechless.

"Erin!" Kim said.

They broke off, looking into each other's eyes until a few guys helped William to his feet while Erin did the same.

"How are you feeling?" asked Erin.

"I'm okay now." said William. "Thank you." he said.

"Hey! It's working now!" Dennis exclaimed, referring to the music equipment as he started to play the music.

Nick went over and gave William a shot of tequila.

"Oh no, William isn't allowed to drink. He's barely nineteen." said Erin in protest.

"Come on. Just this once. He nearly died. It's the least he can do to celebrate after coming back from the dead!" said Nick.

"Oh what the hell!" said William as he took the shot, drinking it in one gulp. "Argh, that is strong." he said trying to keep his composure.

"Hey! Are we having a party or what!?" said another guy. "Let's hear it for William! The Hero of the Party!" he added as the people in the apartment chanted his name while raising their drinks to him.

"William! William! William! William!" they chanted a the DJ turned up the music while everyone danced in celebration.

Erin took William's hand and pulled him to the middle of the dancing crowd. "Come with me, we need to dance and celebrate." she said.

"Uh, I'm not much of dancer Erin." said William.

Erin quickly kissed him on the cheek. "Don't worry, I'll teach you!" she said as she pulled William close, dancing to the rhythm of the music.

Nick went beside him giving him another shot of tequila. "Here, drink this. Might help loosen you up!" said Nick.

William hesitated. "Uh I don't think I can drink anymore." he said.

"Come on man. You're basically a hero now! Chicks dig scars! Right Erin!?" Nick said.

Erin laughed and gave William a lovely smile. "Yeah, we kinda do!" she said.

"Okay, but this will be my last. I don't want to get sick and throw up." he said as he drank the tequila in one swig. "Argh, that's intense." he said taking a deep breath.

"Great! Now go back to your girl Nick! William and I are trying to dance here." said Erin as she pulled William close, holding onto his arms and dancing to the music.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

After a few hours, William was laughing and giggling as he opened his apartment door while his arm was draped around Erin, trying to support him and keep him from falling on the floor.

"Come on Will, just open your door! You're getting heavier by the minute!" said Erin, laughing and giggling from being drunk.

William managed to open his door as Erin guided him to his bedroom, gently helping him onto the bed. "You really cannot hold your liquor huh?" said Erin as William lay on the bed with arms and legs stretched across it.

"Thank you for saving my life Erin." he said. "You're really great!" he said.

"You're welcome William." she said as she removed his shoes from his feet and started to loosen his shirt.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm loosening your shirt so you'll sleep better." she said.

"Where did you learn CPR anyway?" he asked as he looked straight up the ceiling.

"Oh, I was a lifeguard at our community pool when I was in high school." she said.

"Really? That is so amazing!" he said. "If I wasn't drunk, I'd probably kiss you right now." he said, surprising Erin.

"Okay mister, that's the alcohol talking, not the genius scientist." she said, laughing a little.

"I'm serious Erin! Tell me you didn't feel anything when you kissed me earlier?" he said looking her straight in the eye.

Erin looked at him and blushed a little. "William, I…." she said hesitating.

William then stood up and walked towards her, trying not to fall over. "Erin, I'm gonna kiss you right now and you're more than welcome to stop me." he said as he held her by the arms. Erin felt goosebumps as William moved close to her as they kiss, feeling each other's passion.

William suddenly broke off and ran to the bathroom. Erin stood there transfixed as she heard William throw up on the toilet. She then decided to follow him in the bathroom. "Oh sweetie, you really can't hold your liquor huh?" she said as she rubbed his back as William continued throwing up on the toilet. He sat up on the floor, looking at Erin.

"You know what?" he said as he wiped his mouth with a small towel.

"What?" Erin said as she sat beside him.

"My mom always called me sweetie, or sweetheart for as long as I can remember." he said.

"Until now?" Erin asked.

"Uh huh. That's what I love about my mom, she doesn't shy away from telling us how much she loves us." he said.

"Sounds like your mom is pretty incredible huh?" she said.

"She is." said William as they sat quietly on the bathroom floor.

Erin stood up and pulled him towards his bed. "Okay, I think you should get some sleep now mister. We'll talk again tomorrow when you're sober." she said as William laid on the bed.

"Thanks Erin. You're pretty great you know." he said as he stretched out his arms and legs across the bed.

Erin leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Get some rest Will." she said as she turned off the lights before going out of the bedroom. She smiled when she gave William a last look as he started to snore loudly.