Chapter 22:

A/N: Four days left of summer. Today is my birthday, hah. The most exciting thing I have planned is a trip from my house to Toronto. Fun. Hah. Ohwell. Birthday update:

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Calleigh opened her eyes, and noted Eric's arms wrapped around her tightly. When had she fallen asleep? It must have been after their little game, but she didn't remember closing her eyes. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was already one in the afternoon. So much for Breakfast. She wasn't even sure if they'd make lunch now.

"Eric?" She asked, wiggling slightly, so she'd wake him up.

"Cal?" He replied groggily. "When did we fall asleep?"

"I can't remember." She giggled. "I suppose right after the game, because I can't remember anything after that."

"Makes sense then." He nodded, making no move to release her from his arms. She didn't mind at all.

"Yeah." She nodded, enjoying the warmth his body radiated. "But I think we missed breakfast."

"We can go to lunch." He shrugged.

"I think we missed that too." She giggled.

"Oh." He sighed. "Well, we could hit the vending machines again, then." He suggested.

"Sounds good to me. I planned to gain at least three pounds on this trip, anyhow." She joked.

"Right." He rolled his eyes. "I highly doubt you need to worry about you weight."

"Where would I be if I didn't?" She rolled her eyes. "Vending machines it is then." Nothing more was said after that for quite a few minutes, as they laid there quietly. The moment was interrupted though, by Calleigh's stomach growling.

"Maybe we should go see about those vending machines?" Eric suggested.

"That'd probably be a good idea." Calleigh agreed with a smile, which she tried not to let waiver when Eric pulled away.

"You stay here, I'll go." Eric told her, and her smile was quickly restored as Eric headed out of the suite to go find the vending machines.

Eric shut the door quietly behind him. He had to keep himself from jumping around in celebration. He had never expected the trip to be this successful! He thought maybe, maybe by the end of the trip he could get a kiss… but this, was more than he had ever expected and he couldn't be happier if he tried. He made his way down the hallways until he reached the vending machines he was looking for. As he selected several candy bars and other assorted things that would keep them tied over until dinner he groaned, moving around to the other side of the vending machine to stay out of sight. It was her. He knew that if anything was going to ruin this trip for him, it was the brunette vixen who seemed to loathe Calleigh and like him a little too much. She made her way down the hallway right toward him.

"Eric!" She smiled brightly, too brightly, and touched him on the arm in a flirtatious manner that made him want to throw up.

"Hi Mindy." He said in his most bored tone. He didn't like being rude, or cold to the girl who obviously just had a crush… but if she was going to ruin things with Calleigh, he would do whatever it took.

"What're you doing down here… alone?" She looked around for the blonde that always seemed to be in her way.

"Getting food." Eric answered nonchalantly.

"Oh." Mindy smiled again. "Slept in?"

"Well you know, we were tired." Eric shrugged, accenting the word we so Mindy would know that him and Calleigh were together. Mindy's face fell for a second at the reminder, before she plastered another huge, and extremely fake, smile on her face.

"Well you know, since I work here, I can pretty much get food any time of the day…" Mindy trailed off, waiting for him to accept the offer.

"Actually, it's okay. Calleigh's waiting for me back in our room… I don't want to keep her waiting." The look in Mindy's eye might have scared him if she wasn't such a petite woman, or didn't work in the line of work that he did.

"Well, I'm sure she wouldn't mind waiting a little longer." Mindy bit her lip, hoping he'd say yes.

"Besides the fact that I know she hasn't eaten anything since supper yesterday, I wouldn't miss spending any time with her on this trip, because I love her." Eric explained smiling widely. It felt amazing to be telling someone that, especially since he knew if he was here with any other girl that wasn't Calleigh, he would have gone with Mindy. That was his nature. This just proved to him that things with Calleigh were different. Mindy, wasn't sure what to say. She mumbled something incoherent and stalked off in an angry, jealous rage. Eric collected the things that he had bought in the vending machine and carried them back down the hallway to the room. Letting himself in, he dumped the pile of snacks on the bed, and Calleigh sat up eagerly, giving him a kiss on the cheek as he sat down.

"I am starving." She proclaimed as she began to unwrap a chocolate bar.

"Hopefully this doesn't make us sick." Eric laughed as he grabbed a chocolate bar as well.

"We'll enjoy it anyways." Calleigh shrugged with a smile.

"Guess who I ran into while I was getting the food?" Eric smirked.

"Hmm…" Calleigh pretended to think. "Mindy?" She guessed.

"You got it." Eric shook his head. "The girl is incorrigible. She was trying to convince me to go down and eat with her, since she can get food pretty much any time, but I told her that I wouldn't keep you waiting. Because I love you." Each time he said it sounded more amazing.

"I love you too." She murmured as she lay back, leaning against his chest, as he leaned against the headboard of the bed. And in that moment, neither of them could have been more content.

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A/N: Hah now I've been in school for like, two weeks. And it is so boring it is not even funny, but I shall get through it haha. I'm just looking forward to winter break. Now that things with school are more regulated and I'm back on a schedule, I should be updating moree.