"Why exactly would we be in your room?" she said putting her bag down on the floor.
"Well let's think about it burke. You've actually slept in my room more than I've slept in yours." He said pushing her seat in.
"look longo, my room has my pillows and my lotions and hair products that keep me looking this good. And at the end of the day my bed is worth a hell of a lot more than yours making it immediately more comfortable." Joey took her menu and ordered for the both of them. "Hey I was looking at that."
"We have an hour for lunch, you'll just spent fifteen minutes looking at the selection then order the same thing you always get."
"I like to see if they've anything new."
"Right so will I just come into your room early in the morning?" he said ignoring her attempt at a sulk.
"that wont work you'll have to pass her room to get there and god knows you're noisy in the mornings."
"I am not! I get up and out for a run before any of you are even awake"
"No you drop one of your shoes down the stairs as you try pull them on, then you bang your bedroom door and bang the back door and wake up next doors dog." She said thanking the waiter for her food.
"What, why have you never said?"
"well I know you enjoy that run, and you're trying to be quiet."
"That's really considerate Mel." He smiled and a silence attempted to settle in as they looked at each other until Mel coughed.
"So basically that wont work… you'll just have to bunk with me."
"You don't have a couch Mel."
"You think we can be adults for one night Longo? Or am I too irresistible." He let out that now all too familiar chuckle.
"Oh Mel. You forget I do your washing. I have seen all the pyjamas you own. Nothing could possibly transform you that much!"
"just try not to snore this time." She said before taking a large bite of her lunch.
/ / / /
It was late when she got back, Xander's picnic had completely backfired when it started raining so they'd ended up on his couch at home watching crappy television.
She tried to go down the hall as quietly as she could, which if she was honest about it she had gotten quite good at. She was passing her aunts bathroom when she heard voices.
"Did you text Lennox?" she heard Joe's muffled voice. Really he was in her room at half nine at night? Talk about a loose secret.
"Yes she was just watching the end of some show and then she'd be home."
"I don't like that she's over there by herself."
"Hey Joey haven't you learned by now that they're good kids! We have nothing to worry about. They're honest and open about everything…" Lennox smiled at her aunts reply.
"Guess that's more than we are" he laughed. Lennox nodded to herself and moved on.
/ / / / /
"What do you mean?" mel asked throwing a cushion to the floor.
"Well we're full on lying to her! I'm sleeping on this tiny patch of your bed to make her think we were stupid enough to sleep together." He said as she hopped in under the covers.
"Look just get some sleep! She has to see you leave tomorrow."
"Good night burke!" he said throwing the extra blankets over her.
"Night Longo."
She turned onto her side and stared at the wall for god knows how long. She couldn't get to sleep, she had these horrible visions of waking up curled into him and that ridiculous chest, like in a bad film or something. It made her a bit nervous to be completely honest. Turning over she snuck a look at him he was sound asleep one leg hanging over the bed, and his mouth wide open. She frowned then grabbing a pillow shoved it between them and huddled down into her blankets again. Praying that she'd still be in this position when she woke up.
/ / / / / / / / / /
Lennox groaned and rolled out of bed. Grabbing her phone she immediately checked her facebook, read a few tweets and text Xander before checking the time and tying her hair up in a high pony. She went down the hall and suddenly realised there was something wrong.
The bedroom door at the end of the hall opened and Ryder stuck his head out.
"Why does it not smell like breakfast. Is Joey sick?" he asked looking around.
"that's what it is!" she realised. Trust Ryder to latch onto the food already.
"I better go check is he ok." He made towards Joe's room.
"Well let's check the kitchen first no need to ring an ambulance." She rolled her eyes and followed him down. But as expected the kitchen was empty, there was no food on the table and it looked like they were the first ones down.
"I told you there was something wrong! Maybe he got knocked down on his run or maybe his weights fell on him…"
"Woah Ryder I didn't know you worried that much about Jo…"
"Who's going to feed me! I'm going to check his room." She watched him run off then made her own way back up the stairs.
/ / / / / /
She woke to the sound of a beeping car outside and was immediately surprised at how rested she was. Looking at her alarm clock she realised it was much later than she normally woke up, but it was a Saturday so there was nothing to panic about. Turning over she grabbed the pillow that had fallen beside her when she saw the other person in her bed. Then she remembered it all, and silently thanked whoever it was out there that had prevented her from waking up in an awkward position.
"Longo! Wake up! We've slept in." she said hitting him with the pillow. He jolted awake and sat straight up.
"What… Burke what are you doi… oh" he said lying back down as everything came back to him "How did we sleep so late! I better get down."
"Yes put on a pot of coffee would you!" she said rolling back over. He grabbed his jumper and opened the door.
"Yes Sir!" he rolled his eyes only to find them rest on Lennox standing in the hall. "Morning Len. I was just waking your aunt up. We're going out for the day. All of us."
"Right…" she rose an eyebrow at him and he smiled and walked past.