A/N: Hello guys! How are you doing today? I'm fine, really tired because I've had a strenuous week, with exams and all that shit; but fortunately everything went good, really good. But I'm exhausted. Hence the reason why I think I won't talk too much today, and why I updated earlier than usual. I want to clear something, because apparently it wasn't so clear the way I wrote the last chapter, so some of you didn't get it; my fault. So, here we are, at University of Michigan and Darren and Freckles met again, after a whole year they haven't talked nor seen each other because of Jim's fault since that day after the prom. That's a general summary. Now it's time to see what's gonna happen to them and how they're gonna react to this surprise. I think that's all; if you don't understand something, just let me know and I'll explain; sorry for any misunderstanding! Now, I'll start answering your reviews!
alicegursk: My wife is not only a zombie, she's a swearing zombie! Just when I thought it couldn't get better! Yeah, fuck Jim! That asshole deserves the worst! I hate him too. And I agree with your comment that this world is too hard for them that it's very unfair! But things always happen for a reason, I think! Will Joey like her? Maybe, maybe not. That's a mystery that you'll find out sooner or later! But things are complicated. And Darren and Freckles! Ah! Let's see what will happen now! Your feelings always amaze me, I'm still trying to find out what kind of feeling 'AUSJDJKCKDKDKSKDKKVK' is! Just kidding! I just love your messed feelings!
nicole: Yes, it was Jim! Have you wondered why it was Jim and not Karen? Hmm, I won't say anything! Yes, and of course it wasn't Darren; I can be cruel, but not so cruel! I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I dared to write that Darren wanted to do it! Joey and Darren; well, I think it's interesting what's going to happen to them. Darren and Freckles' love story is kind of dramatic and unstable, full of difficulties, isn't it? But I do believe in good things! Come on, come back from Pigfarts! Have you seen Rumbleroar?
vicky: Starkid! Love them too, but I gotta admit that is hard to write them. I could never write the awesomeness that they are! Yes, that's exactly what happened! I could never write that Darren wanted to leave Freckles on purpose; I'm a bitch, but not so bitch! haha. And yes, he spent ten months looking for her and therefore he may still love her. The point here is Freckles; what will she do, eh? She has a different appearance, she's at University of Michigan; is she different? And then there's the fact that they haven't seen each other for a whole year.
Guest 1: So we're two crazy brains! I do think it's more interesting when you have a crazy brain; normal things tend to be boring, right? Of course! Darren is not an asshole! Poor Darren, he's cute! I'm not so cruel to write something so terrible about Darren; but I'm still cruel because I make you believe that it's like that! Oh yeah! Team StarKid forever! I love them! Though it's hard to write them because I just can't; they're too awesome and I cannot be like them! Oh, oh, Joey! There's gonna be an interesting thing with Joey, Darren and Freckles! I won't spoil it anyway! You love The Beatles! So maybe you'll like this chapter! 'So Voldys out bitches' I loved that!
Vcriss: You could wait a week! Here it is the new chapter! Things will be different now, I think! After a year they finally see each other! I'll just let you read it!
Mockingjay-Potterhead-9: It's okay that you forgot, don't worry about that! I do have the power to make you speechless and that's a good power! Yes! I have a power! I needed to write about StarKid! Even if it's hard because they have that thing that only a StarKid member can have, that little thing called awesomeness! I know, a year is a really long time and everything is different; and I do have a plan for them! Muahaha! I think the way they will react is weird, but I'll let you opine about it. And Joey-Darren-Freckles, what can I say? Things will happen, that's all that I'm gonna say!
Guest 2: Yes, I think Darren really enjoys being at college; he's studying what he loves, he met awesome people (hey, StarKid!) and his life is different; yet, there was this thing missing that is Freckles. But now she's there too! I think you'll be surprised by the way Freckles is gonna act with Darren. And you said it, Freckles is the best actress, she even made Darren think she was W! And you're right about that; it was tough for Freckles all that happened and being so skinny now could be one of the consequences of being so sad for what happened! And about Jim and Karen... Well, yes, there's something else behind all of this, but you won't know what it is for a long time! Now it's time to be focused on Darren, Freckles and their encounter!
Kaylacriss332: I can suck, yes! Okay, please don't mind what I recently wrote. Of course it was Freckles! Who else could be? But it's funny how Darren was so clueless about that. My answer was pretty confusing, yes, I know! I tend to write that kind of weird things sometimes! It was like a riddle! I really need to try to stop answering in weird ways, people sometimes don't understand me, even my closest friends here cannot understand me sometimes. I just wrote chapters with a lot of HP references! Thank you for saying that I write StarKid well! It's really hard because I'm not even close to be as awesome as them, even if I love them!
SamCollinsHolmes: You stuck with that name and I love it, Gab! Joey fucking Richter, all the way! I had to write about Joey because, it's Joey! And he's awesome. Yes, I also wanted to write about StarKid! Even if I cannot write them so well because they're totally awesome and I am not! But StarKid anyway. I knew you were going to love the part when Joe Walker appeared! I'm excited because you're excited because of the excitement of having StarKids! Yes, I like the new appearance of Freckles and I do agree with you that it was time for her to embrace her sexiness! I think you'll like the new Freckles, or not! hahaha omg! I really loved writing that part when Joey and Darren were checking her out, always Ron and Harry! After all, men are like that, always drooling and checking out (not that women aren't like that because if they put a Joe Walker in front of us, I do think we can be even worse). What would Freckles do? It's something interesting. If I were her, I'd slap him too; and slap him so hard, maybe punch him (do not think that I'm an aggressive bitch!). But let's see what Freckles does. I know the story of Joey at the beginning it's sad! And Kelly, that bitch! I know, I know. And yes, it's sad that she was Darren's first; but I tried to make it realistic: men are not like women when it comes to sex; they only want sex (sometimes). But I do have something interesting coming for that based on some things that a male friend told me; only that you'll have to wait for it. Why do you think that you know who Joey's hook up was? Ah! Maybe you know, maybe not. Again, nothing will be revealed so soon. If a zombie apocalypse appears, I don't wanna die! I don't wanna be part of The Walking Dead! I haven't seen the picture you sent me! I had a really stupid busy week because of stupid hard exams and I couldn't be on Twitter! I'll do it, tho, my Sherlock! :)
SkittlesPanda: I have you on Twitter now! Yay! Maybe we'll be able to talk more whenever I have free time to be there and tweet! I love to get to know my readers, so beware because I could be a pain in the ass! Maybe you'll regret to have found me! So the college Freckles sounds like you? That's interesting! Should I assume that you love colorful things and you have short hair? If you love colorful things, I may or may not give you a virtual Scarfy! (The Scarfy was my inspiration to write about the colorful Freckles, lol, I'm weird!)
JustCallMeNicola: Yes, you had to wait! But you could make it! Now you finally can read this new chapter! Are you excited to know how Darren and Freckles will react? Finally they saw each other!
caarolineboeira1: You really sounded like very confused! Maybe your confusion will disappear with the next chapter. Well, maybe not with this one, but in the other chapters! You'll understand more things, I think. Yes, Jim was the asshole and eventually you'll know why he has done it; but you'll have to be patient. Yes, Freckles has changed and she looks completely different, and again, you'll find out which the reasons are, but not in this chapter. And Kelly; I'll make you hate her even more with time, just as much as you hated Mandy. And this second part is way more different than the first one! The topics are different, so I really hope you can still like this story anyway!
MeMi83: Yes, please! Keep doing the fairy claps, even in the times I don't deserve that, just pretend the fairy claps! I'd really like to feel like Disney! Well, I wrote already several chapters of this second part and I must admit that there aren't so many cliffhangers, but the twists remain! So I hope I can keep you intrigued and interested on the story! Thank you a lot for saying that this is a brilliant story! I'm not sure if it's so like that, but it's really nice to hear that and it makes me feel like more encouraged to keep writing! Thank you very much! I needed to write about lines that StarKid said in different shows! I always wanted to do that and college was like the perfect excuse!
wujoka: First off, I loved your expression 'oh my fadizzle!'. I didn't know that you loved me, but now I know and I love that! I must admit that as soon as I read your review I totally searched 'Darren Criss palm reading' on YouTube! I was very intrigued! That was so funny! Omg! 'He only sees sex'. You're right! That fits with what I wrote! Maybe the professor communicated with me telepathically and forced me to write something about it! Anyway, the professor said that he only sees sex until he finds a love. And I screamed because... because dammit! I had it planned too! What if the professor took over my body and wrote for me? This is super weird and thank you very much for letting me know about the existence of that video!
amritsoomal: Have you started reading this last week and you're already in this last chapter! That's impressive and I'm so happy that you've done it! So, well, well, first off I should welcome you! I really hope you can enjoy this dramatic story and I really hope you can keep reading it! You'll always read a new chapter every Saturday and if I get to have a fit of madness, I could post a chapter before Saturday. Darren Criss is supermegafoxyawesomehot; I second this, always! I love that hobbit!
Alright guys, that was all! Now I'll let you read this new chapter in which Darren and Freckles will finally interact after a damn whole year! Are you intrigued to know what's going to happen? You only have to read this new chapter of Teenage Dream! Until next week, guys! Have a totally awesome week full of RedVines, rainbows, and warm fuzzies!
Teenage Dream – Chapter 32 – The reunion.
I was looking at Freckles in shock. No, no, no; she couldn't be there, she was not real, I was just imagining this. Which were the chances that she was at University of Michigan? Which were the chances that she was Meredith's roommate? But that girl was Freckles; her eyes were the same, her smile was the same, her face was the same; the cute freckles. But she looked completely different at the same time; she was way too skinnier, her long hair was now short hair, the clothes she was wearing weren't the clothes she used to wear. She looked flawless, though; brighter and sexier than ever. I couldn't move and I couldn't say anything at all because I was in shock, my body was literally shaking, my heart was beating really fast and the pressure on my chest was painful, I could barely breathe. She was there. I was feeling bad, I was feeling dizzy and my head was about to explode. I couldn't help it but feeling glad to have seen her again but also feeling really sad because I remembered why I haven't seen her before, and feeling nervous because I didn't know what was going to happen now. I had no idea how she would react now, I had no idea what her feelings for me were, I had no idea if she could remember me, I even had no idea if she expected to see me or to talk to me. Fuck, I needed to stop trembling. Yeah, she turned around with that cheerful smile, but she first saw Joey and then her gaze drifted to me and her smile faded. She looked at me frowning and kind of disturbed. Man, those were the most painful and long seconds of my entire life. If I was nervous before, now I was freaking out. I didn't know what to do and I couldn't do anything because I couldn't think. She couldn't be Freckles.
"Darren?" She asked gingerly, still looking at me straight in the eye, frowning and disturbed.
Oh holy shit! I heard her sweet voice again and it wasn't in a video, it was here, in real life, in this place, right in front of me. I heard her voice again, something that I was yearning for so long. And she said my name. This seemed to be very surreal and I started feeling very thrilled. I cleared my throat because I already had that lump in throat.
"Freckles." I said softly with choked voice, looking at her straight in the eye; trying not to shed any single tear of thrill.
"Oh my god." She exclaimed in a whisper, stunned, walking directly to me.
As she was coming closer, I started feeling more and more nervous and my heart started beating faster and faster. What I wasn't expecting was what Freckles did next. She started walking to me slowly and when she was closer, she walked faster as almost running to pull me into a hug. That hug took me by surprise, so I didn't hug her back immediately. But when I felt her arms around my neck, her chin on my shoulder and the warmth of her body again; I felt even more thrilled and my body started trembling fiercely for the strong emotion. I hugged her back, placing my hands on her waist and pulling her a bit closer to hug her tighter; I buried my face on her shoulder and I smelled her enthralling perfume again. Now that I was hugging her, as I've always wanted to do, I didn't want to let her go; I wanted to stay like this with her forever; I wanted to get back all the lost time when we were apart; crap, I missed her like hell. She was back, finally I found her; she was with me and she was hugging me like old times when we were together and we were teenagers in love. I didn't know how long the intense hug lasted, because my perceptions were deceptive; for me it lasted like an eternity. When we broke the hug I could look into her big and beautiful eyes again; those bright eyes that I loved. She also looked into my eyes. I tried to smile at her, but I couldn't because I was still in shock and dizzy and this all seemed to be a dream, something unreal. I wanted to say that I was sorry, that I missed her, that I still loved her with all my being despite that we were apart for a bit more than a year. I wanted to tell her that I never stopped searching her, that I never stopped loving her, that I could never take her off my mind, that she was still the one for me; that during all the year, there was not even a single day in which I haven't thought about her. But nothing came out from my mouth. I wanted to hold her hand, I wanted to kiss her; but I did nothing because I just couldn't. So she stepped back and I regretted of not having done anything at all.
"Do you guys know each other?" Joey asked frowning and curious, also confused.
I totally forgot that Meredith and Joey were there. Anyway, I didn't answer, I just remained looking at Freckles in silence in a way as if it was going to be the last time that I was going to see her. Freckles looked at Meredith and smiled slightly. Her smile was just as beautiful.
"Yeah..." She answered with an uncomfortable smile. And I heard her voice again and I couldn't stop looking at her. "We..." She said awkwardly, looking down. I didn't say anything because I couldn't. Though, I was intrigued to know which her answer would be. "We went to the same high school."
"Really? What a coincidence!" Meredith exclaimed amazed, with eyes wide open and a huge smile, looking at Freckles and at me. I was looking at Freckles who didn't say anything about us, who didn't give them any description of our relationship in high school.
"You never mentioned her, Darren. You always talked about Jen, but never about her." Joey said still confused, looking at me.
But I didn't look at him and I didn't answer him; I remained looking at Freckles who looked at me furtively and then looked down frowning before looking at Joey with a slight smile.
"I guess it's because we weren't so close." She answered shrugging and Joey looked at her even more confused. I looked at her kind of hurt. Was that really her answer?
"But that hug... Man, it was like you were really close." Joey said and I wanted him to shut up. I knew that Freckles was uncomfortable because she was playing with her fingers. She didn't change it.
"Oh well, it was because it's always nice to meet again at college an old guy or girl of your high school. Right?" Freckles asked looking at me now with a smile. But I didn't smile and I didn't answer, so she looked down uncomfortable. I needed to say something.
"Yeah, right." I answered hoarsely and curtly. She looked at me and forced a smile.
"Oh, let me introduce myself." Freckles said now smiling brightly, looking at Joey. "I'm..."
"Freckles? Yeah, Darren said it." Joey said laughing and Freckles chuckled nervously.
"Yeah, it's been a while since I wasn't called like that but... I guess... I guess you can call me like that." She said a bit uncomfortable.
"Why Freckles, anyway?" Joey asked amused.
"Well..." Freckles started saying.
"Because of the cute freckles on her face." I answered in a whisper, with chocked voice; looking deeply into Freckles' eyes. Everybody listened to me and Meredith and Joey chuckled amused and Freckles looked at me furtively to then look down.
"Yeah, that's right. I bet that Darren gave you that nickname. He always makes up the quirkiest nicknames for people." Meredith said still laughing.
"Yeah... Yeah, he gave me that nickname." She answered with a forced smile.
"And what kind of relationship did you have, guys?" Meredith asked curious and Freckles looked at me furtively again as I was looking at her fixedly, without saying anything at all.
"Just... We just shared a class." She answered looking at Meredith and I felt really hurt, this wasn't cool. "Spanish." She said and Meredith and Joey nodded. "Right, Darren?"
"Yeah..." I answered gloomy still looking into her eyes.
"And you are...?" Freckles asked curious, looking at Joey.
So it meant that Meredith didn't tell her our names; so Freckles didn't know I was coming; so when Meredith said that Freckles was excited to meet her friends, she still didn't know that I was one of Meredith's friends. Maybe Freckles didn't want me to be there; maybe she didn't want to see me. I had no idea what she could be thinking.
"Sorry, I'm Joey. Darren's best buddy, right?" Joey said looking at me.
"That's right." I answered nodding, still gloomy.
"Oh, it's nice to meet you, Joey." She answered smiling cheerfully and she walked to him to hug him.
I looked at them hugging, astonished and feeling jealous. Why was Freckles hugging Joey? And then I remembered that Joey was there because he wanted to meet Meredith's roommate because he thought that this girl could be someone with whom he could finally set down. And Joey liked her the first time he saw her; he really liked her and it didn't happen in a long time. But as much as I wanted Joey to be with a girl; he couldn't be with Freckles. No way. And now Joey was hugging her back with a surprised but joyful face. No, it couldn't happen. Meredith, in the meantime, walked to me.
"She hugs everybody. It's her way to greet people. I was kind of shocked when she hugged me the first time we met. That is why I thought she was weird; but she's a nice girl. Was she nice in high school?" Meredith whispered in my ear.
"Yeah, she was the nicest girl." I whispered, still looking a Freckles and Joey hugging. So Freckles hasn't hugged me because it was me. She only hugged me because she hugged everybody.
"I think that she and Joey will make an adorable couple. We need to pair them, Dare." Meredith whispered and I felt really bad.
"Yeah..." I answered curtly, still looking at them. Then finally I looked at Meredith. "Can I use the bathroom?"
"Yes, sure." Meredith asked with a slight smile, also looking at Joey and Freckles.
I went away from there as fast as I could to the bathroom and once there, I locked the door and I let myself to drop on the floor. I needed to be away because I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. I always wanted to see Freckles again but not this way. I thought that the day I could get to see her I was going to feel excited and happy. And yeah, I was happy to see her again; hell yeah I was happy; but at the same time I couldn't avoid feeling this pressure on my chest because she and I weren't the same as always, our relationship wasn't as same as always. I never thought before that seeing her again was going to be tough; because it was tough to have her but to have her so distant, pretending that we were nothing. Yeah, I could understand her reasons, because surely she was still thinking that I left her because she didn't want to have sex with me that damn night; yeah, considering this, she acted super nice because she could have ignored me or insult me; but she didn't. I planned what to tell her if I ever met her again; but now that it happened, that plan vanished. And I was feeling weird because for the first time I didn't know how to act with her. I didn't know if I should go or stay, if I should talk to her or not, if I should or should not do all the things I wanted to do such as hug her, hold her hand, kiss her. And there was another complication that was Joey. I insisted him that he should find someone; hell yeah, I wanted that but not with Freckles. And he seemed to like her; no, he indeed liked her and I was sure that he was going to love her personality because it was impossible not to love Freckles. What if Freckles also liked him? What if Joey starts dating Freckles? No, I needed to tell Joey who Freckles was and how important she was for me; I needed to explain him, finally, my past that I was avoiding to explain. He was going to understand me, he was going to forget his desire to have a date with Freckles, he was going to help me to get her back. But what if not? I needed to try it.
"Oh man." I exclaimed in a whisper, propping my forehead up with my hand, troubled. "What am I doing?" I said shaking my head slowly, still propping my forehead up with my hand.
When I realized where I was, what I was thinking and how I were feeling; everything seemed ridiculous and stupid. Freckles was back after a damn long year I haven't seen her and I was alone in the bathroom instead being with her and exploit my time with her. I was thinking and worrying about things that didn't happen yet instead doing something for getting her back. I was feeling sad instead feeling happy for finding her. I couldn't stop thinking how much I missed seeing her eyes, her smile, hearing her voice and laughter, smelling her perfume; instead being with her to feel it all in person now that I had the chance. The fuck was wrong with me? Damn! Freckles was here and that was super weird and extraordinary! I needed to be with her. I stood up and washed my face to try to dissimulate that I've been crying before walking out the bathroom.
"Hey Darren! Come and join us!" Meredith yelled as soon as I left the bathroom.
They were sitting on the floor in a circle with a bottle of Tequila on the center. Oh well, I presaged something bad, so I looked at them suspiciously. I knew what they were going to do, but I played fool.
"What are you guys doing?" I asked suspiciously.
"We're gonna play a game." Freckles answered with an amused smile.
"What kind of game?" I asked looking at the bottle of Tequila.
"A drinking game, duh." Joey answered.
"Come on, Darren, sit here." Meredith said patting a place that apparently they reserved for me; in between her and Freckles.
"I'm not sure if I wanna play this game..." I said unsure and Joey looked at me like saying 'what the fuck?' "Tomorrow morning I have to go to class."
"We all have to. It's just a simple game, Darren. Do not be a party pooper right now." Joey complained.
"Oh man, I know you pretty well and I know that the bottle of the center is not precisely water." I said raising an eyebrow.
"Oh c'mon! What if it's not water? Since when alcohol disgusts you?" Joey asked incredulous.
"It's not that!" I defended myself, frowning. "It's just... Not today. I don't wanna get drunk and be so drunk that I can't even walk to my room, and to then have a hangover next day and miss my class because I fell asleep in the middle of the campus." I said serious and everybody laughed; even Freckles laughed. Oh yeah, that amazing laughter.
"You're gonna win an award for being the king of overreactions, Darren." Freckles said still laughing and Joey and Meredith laughed even louder when they heard that. I looked at Freckles kind of amused and curious.
"Oh, are you making fun of me?" I asked looking at her amused, raising an eyebrow as she looked at me with an innocent smile.
"No! How would you think that? I'm not making fun of you; I'm having fun with you." She answered while chuckling.
"Oh yeah, I get it. Cool." I answered looking at her fixedly while smiling amused.
"So? What do you say? Are you playing?" Meredith asked.
"Sorry, but no. I really have..."
"You really have to go to class and you don't wanna get drunk to the point you won't be able to walk to your room and you'll fall asleep in the middle of the campus and you'll miss your class. Yeah, we all already know that." Meredith said rolling her eyes. "Listen, if that is what worries you and that is what prevents you from playing, you and Joey can stay here this night so you won't have to walk to your room. And I can wake you up tomorrow morning, so you won't miss your cherished and sacred class."
"Yeah sure, you'll wake me up..." I said sarcastically nodding.
"Why don't you trust me?" Meredith asked pretending to be offended.
"Oh, let me think... Maybe because you don't have class in the morning and your bed is your lover and you won't let it go for anything in the world?" I asked looking at her fixedly.
"Oh crap... Maybe you're right." Meredith said shaking her head.
"Oh well, I could wake you, Darren. Just play." Joey said.
"You don't have class in the morning either. And you and Meredith are equal." I said looking fixedly at him.
"Yeah, yeah..." He huffed.
"I do have classes in the morning. If you want I could wake you." Freckles suddenly said shrugging and I quickly looked at her. Man, every time she talked to me my heart skipped a beat.
"Will you?" I asked looking intently at her, raising my eyebrows in surprise.
"Yeah, why not?" She replied shrugging again. "My first class is at 8am."
"Yeah, mine too." I said still looking at her.
"That's so cool! Then you don't have excuses, Darren. You could sleep with her in her bed, so when she wakes up, she wakes you..." Meredith started saying but when she was saying that, Freckles looked down apparently feeling uncomfortable, so I interrupted her.
"Meredith, I don't think that's a good idea." I said roundly and she looked at me frowning. "If I stay here, maybe the best if I sleep with Joey and you sleep with Freckles... I don't know."
"But... Neither Joey nor I have classes in the morning... And I thought that Freckles wouldn't mind to sleep with you since you know each other from high school." Meredith said confused.
"Have you asked her if she wouldn't mind?" I asked looking serious at Meredith.
"No, I..." Meredith started answering nervously. Apparently I made her feel uncomfortable. Then she looked at Freckles. "Would you mind to sleep with him?" She asked Freckles.
"Umm... well... No." Freckles answered in a whisper, looking down. Then she cleared her throat and spoke louder. "No, of course not."
"Are you sure?" I asked gingerly, looking pointedly at her. Then she looked up at me with a nice smile.
"Yes, sure." She replied and I just stared at her amazed.
"Cool! Now get your ass over here and let's play!" Meredith exclaimed excited.
I walked slowly to sit right in between Meredith and Joey. They started explaining how the game was, but I wasn't listening. I was just thinking how weird the idea of sleeping with Freckles again would be. I never could control my impulses whenever I was near her, so I wasn't sure how I was going to react while sleeping in the same bed than her, and more considering how much I missed her and all the feelings I had for her. I didn't know if I was going to be able to control my urge to snuggle up to her and kiss her. And her bed was a twin size bed; so we were going to be really close. Anyway, the idea of sleeping with her again was driving me crazy; I wanted to feel her closer again, even if I couldn't do anything; not until I could get to talk to her about what happened to us in the past.
"So Darren, did you get how the game is?" Joey asked.
"What? Oh no, you talked really fast and I got lost." I lied and everybody looked at me frowning. Why?
"Darren, Joey spoke really slowly." Meredith finally said. Oh well, I was screwed.
"Doesn't matter; I'll explain again." Joey said and I thanked him inside. "We're gonna put these questions and answers cards in the center. The game begins by choosing one person as a chaser and another as the runner. The chaser picks a question from the deck and reads it aloud. The runner decides whether to play or pass. If the runner passes or gets answers wrong then he or she must drink. If the runner answers the question correctly then the chaser has to drink. Each turn is for only one question, and the runner and chaser position each rotates one person clockwise each turn; so everyone gets to play."
"Alright, yes, get it." I said nodding. "What kind of questions are?"
"Just general questions about whatever." Joey asked taking one of the cards. "Alright, I'll be the first chaser and Meredith will be the first runner. So, Mere, if you pass or get answer wrong, you have to drink; if not, I drink. Then you're gonna be the next chaser and Darren will be your runner." He explained again just if there was any doubt, but everybody nodded. "Okay... The question is: Speedy Gonzales frustrates who in the cartoon Moby Duck?"
"Hey, that's an easy one!" I exclaimed amused while Meredith smiled widely.
"Daffy Duck!" She answered quickly.
"Damn you, Meredith!" Joey complained but amused as he took a long sip of Tequila. "Oh shit, this burns!" He exclaimed while placing both of his hands on his throat. "Alright, your turn, Mere."
"Yay!" She exclaimed excited while grabbing one of the cards. "Are you ready, Darren?" She asked amused and I nodded energetically, anxious to hear the question. "Who was Nigeria's first President and has been described as the father of modern Nigeria?"
"What the fuck?" I asked looking at Meredith horrified, frowning. "Hey, no! No, no, no; hold on!" I exclaimed loudly completely bewildered. "That's not fair, man! Why the hell did she have to answer that easy question and I have to answer this shit? Who knows that answer? Who?" I asked looking at them and they only were laughing.
"Sorry Darren, answer or drink!" Meredith laughed making fun of me.
"You did this on purpose, I'm sure! You cheated! You cheated!" I complained pointing at them.
"We cheated my ass, answer, Darren!" Joey said still laughing.
"Yeah, yeah, the answer is the president go to hell you all." I said kind of upset, already grabbing the bottle to take a sip. "I want to know the answer first."
"It's Nnamdi Azikiwe." Meredith replied with difficulties in pronouncing it.
"What? Oh, suck my balls! I can't even pronounce it! Who can, huh? Who? That's shit, suck my balls!" I exclaimed loudly, in disbelief as everybody laughed even louder.
"Drink, drink, drink!" Joey started cheering as Meredith and Freckles joined him in between giggles. I took a sip of Tequila and it literally burnt my throat. Oh whoa! That was strong, dammit.
"Stupid game, this is a stupid game!" I exclaimed in between coughs because my throat was still burning. Anyway, I grabbed a card and I read it. When I finished reading it, I smiled mischievously and then I looked at Freckles. "Oh well, well, I think you'll be taking a sip of Tequila too." I said mischievously as Freckles smiled amused and looked at me intrigued as if she was eager to hear the question. Oh man, she was adorable. "Who wrote Breakfast At Tiffany's?"
"Truman Capote!" She answered loudly and excited, really fast, and my smile vanished.
"How the hell did you know that?" I asked in disbelief with eyes wide open.
"I read that book and I like reading, so I know a lot about that stuff." She answered with a slight and amused smile while shrugging as I was still looking at her in disbelief.
"Yeah, that was a stupid question; you were always good at English and literature. I'd never forget that essay you helped me to write; I've never got a better score than that time." I said nodding and she giggled softly.
"Yes, I remember. You didn't even know who Jules Verne was." She said still giggling.
"I'm still not sure who that man is, but whatever." I answered frowning.
"I can't believe you still don't know who he is. You should read one of his books considering how much you love the science fiction genre. I have a book by him here, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea; I can lend you it." She said kindly, smiling. I looked at her dumbfounded, just too distracted seeing her sweet smile to listen. We were having an actual conversation and not an uncomfortable one; this was good, so good.
"Yeah, maybe I could read it." I answered smiling back at her.
"Alright, alright, you two! Stop talking and Darren, take a damn sip of that Tequila!" Joey exclaimed loudly and then I remembered that we were playing this game. Damn, I didn't want to drink again that shit.
"Fine, fine!" I answered resigned, taking another sip and feeling how my throat was burning again and I coughed because I almost choked with it. "Alright..." I said shrilly because my throat was still burning. "Your turn, Freckles."
"Okay!" She said excited, taking one of the cards before looking at Joey. "How far can a dog run into the forest?"
"What is that question, man? How am I supposed to know that?" Joey asked confused, frowning, just as disturbed as I was minutes ago.
"Ha! Take that, Richter!" I mocked him.
"Shut up, Criss!" He answered kind of annoyed.
"Hurry up, Joey!" Freckles said giggling.
"Come on, man! My question was harder than that!" I laughed, totally making fun of him even though I didn't know the answer either.
"Do you know the answer?" He asked looking at me and I shrugged with an amused smile. "I don't know, it depends... Is the forest a big forest or not?"
"Just a forest, unspecified. Answer, tell me your answer!" Freckles hurried Joey, really amused and entertained.
"I have no idea, man. Er... 8 miles?" He answered with a question and everybody looked at him stunned and then we laughed.
"8 miles, really Joey? What is that? A super dog?" Meredith said laughing.
"I don't know! I can't think about an answer!" He defended himself, frowning. "Let me guess... I have to drink, right?"
"Yep." Freckles replied smiling really amused and nodding energetically. "The correct answer is halfway; because after that it will be running out of the forest."
"What? No! No way! It was a trick question!" He complained agape, grabbing the bottle of Tequila and taking a sip. "Damn, I feel I'm gonna get drunk any soon." He said shrilly, now taking a card. "Okay Mere, better if you answer wrong this time. The question is: In which city did Steve McQueen take part in the car chase in Bullitt?" He asked.
"Oh that is a really easy one!" Freckles exclaimed loudly, smiling joyfully.
"Yeah, hell, it is!" I agreed, exchanging a look with Freckles and now chuckling along with her.
"I don't know... How do you know that, eh? Where was it?" Meredith asked looking at me and Freckles.
"You're not allowed to ask them anything! And you can't answer; otherwise you'll have to drink too!" Joey warned looking at us. "Answer, Stepien!"
"No, no. I pass." She answered shaking her head.
"No way that you passed!" I exclaimed looking at her with eyes wide open and then I looked at Freckles.
"Darren, Freckles; do the honors of answering the question." Joey said smiling mischievously.
"San Francisco!" Freckles and I answered loudly at the same time, very cheerfully as Meredith grabbed the bottle of Tequila to take a sip frowning.
"Okay, okay. Darren, the question is: On which Rubber Soul track did George Harrison play sitar?" Meredith asked and I looked at her smiling widely. I knew the answer.
"I'm not sure..." I started saying, playing dumb as Meredith smiled because she was thinking she wouldn't have to drink. "Of course I'm kidding!" I exclaimed as Meredith's smile disappeared. "Norwegian Wood is the correct answer, 100% sure!"
"Screw you, Darren!" Meredith exclaimed upset as she took another sip of Tequila.
"What? Of course I'd know the answer, I totally love The Beatles; I'm kind of obsessed with them." I answered chuckling and shrugging.
"Are you? I love them too! I didn't know you loved The Beatles!" Freckles exclaimed excited next to me and I turned my face to look at her flabbergasted. "I love all their songs that is too hard for me to choose one! In my Life is amazing!"
"There are places I'll remember all my life though some have changed, some forever not for better..." I started singing really happy as she was smiling brightly.
"Some have gone and some remain; all these places have their moments with lovers and friends I still can recall." She kept singing and now I looked at her stunned and agape.
"Oh jeez! Your singing has improved like a lot!" I exclaimed admiringly. Yeah, man, that was true. She always had a sweet singing voice but she was always out of tune; now that has changed and she was a good singer.
"Oh well, I've been practicing. You know, someone once said that music can express what cannot be expressed with words; so I had to make something to get it right." She said shrugging, still smiling brightly. Man, she still remembered what I told her once.
"You're awesome." I said looking at her enthralled.
"Guys..." Meredith said.
"Oh yeah, yeah; sorry!" I apologized because again I started talking to Freckles and forgot about the game. I took a card and read it. Oh yeah, this one was super hard! "Okay... You haven't taken a sip yet, Freckles. I guess it's time for you to do it..." I said in an intriguing way, looking at her mischievously.
"Shoot!" She exclaimed excited.
"A princess is as old as the prince will be when the princess is twice the age that the prince was when the princess's age was half the sum of their present ages. What are their ages?" I asked and I saw her disturbed face.
"Ouch, that is hard." She said frowning. "Just give me a second, I need to think." She said almost in a whisper, very concentrated and thoughtful.
"Take all the time you need." I said smiling victoriously because I knew she wouldn't get the answer; it was actually really hard, I had the answer, but I had no fucking idea why that was the answer.
"Oh, she's not gonna get it." Meredith said also smiling mischievously.
"I got lost with the princess thing. Why it has to be a princess?" Joey asked frowning and confused as Meredith and I laughed while Freckles was still thinking. I knew that Joey was already tipsy.
"Er... I think..." She said very thoughtful after a while. "I think that the princess is 40 and the prince is 30."
"No fucking way!" I exclaimed really puzzled, looking at her open-mouthed.
"What?" She asked suspiciously.
"No fucking way! She got it, she fucking got it!" I exclaimed astonished, looking at Meredith and Joey who were now also just as astonished.
"Really?" Freckles asked really excited.
"Yeah..." I answered bemused as she bounced happily. "How did you get that?"
"Well, it's a bit messy… But using simple algebra... It's just a mathematical calculation." She answered smiling merrily and shrugging.
"Oh wow, you're super smart." Joey whispered puzzled.
"Hell yeah, she was always the smart one. She's the smartest person I know. Whoa, you're amazing." I exclaimed admiringly.
"Thank you." She smiled in a humble way.
"Yeah... But you know? It's not fair! Now I have to drink again! Damn." I exclaimed frowning because I didn't want to do it. "Why cannot you answer something wrong, baby?" I asked looking at her.
As soon as I asked this I realized the stupid thing I've just done. Fuck, I called her baby. Now Joey and Meredith were looking at me suspiciously and confused and Freckles was looking at me perplexed and then she looked down, uncomfortable. Shit, everything was going so well and I screwed it. I was so used to call her baby whenever I talked to her in my mind when we were apart that I didn't realize that I couldn't call her like that now. Oh, I needed to make up something now; I needed to play fool. I only grabbed the bottle of Tequila and I took a long and deep sip of it and it burned like hell, but it was nothing for what I needed for this awkward moment.
"Okay, your turn, Freckles." I said while coughing.
"Yes." She said quickly, grabbing one of the cards to read it quickly. "Joey; who said: All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl?"
"The amazing Charles Chaplin, duh!" Joey answered quickly, excited; apparently forgetting the way I called Freckles. "Ha! You'll have to drink, girl! Drink, drink, drink!" He cheered excited.
Oh yeah, he was tipsy. Freckles chuckled amused and grabbed the bottle of Tequila to take a really long sip of it; apparently she also needed it. Oh geez, but it was a really long sip and now her cheeks were rosy and she was coughing while rubbing her throat.
"Uh-huh! You know how to drink!" Meredith exclaimed looking at Freckles with eyes wide open in surprise.
"Oh, boy!" Freckles exclaimed shrilly, frowning and as if she was suffering while still rubbing her throat. "This tastes good." She laughed, but I noticed a hint of sarcasm and everybody did, so everybody laughed, including me.
"Mere, the question is: What percentage of the human body is composed of water?" Joey asked.
"66 percent!" She answered quickly and amused and then she shrugged when we looked at her. "What? I'm a nerd!" She laughed and Joey took a sip of Tequila as Meredith grabbed another card. "Oh, this is interesting!" She said looking at me and smiling maliciously. "Press the right button and I'll come all over your face; I usually get spread over your hairy parts and when you wipe me off, I get white stuff on your towel. What am I?"
"Oh what the hell is that question, man?" I asked incredulous when I heard it as everybody laughed. Meredith and Joey were already tipsy and Freckles was still fine. "Man, the fuck..." I exclaimed again because I couldn't believe how wanky and perverted that question was. "I can't think about anything but a dick."
"Oh, you dirty mind! Take that bottle of Tequila because the correct answer is shaving cream!" Meredith exclaimed really loudly, laughing out loud as everybody did.
"Suck my balls! Shaving cream? Geez!" I laughed, shaking my head, taking a sip of Tequila. "My mind is perverted!" I laughed as everybody did while nodding. Man, I was starting to feel hot and a bit dizzy; I knew I was getting tipsy because I've already drank too much Tequila. "Alright, Freckles, this is an easy one... Which 60s icon was backed by The Band?" I asked looking at her, but she was looking at me astonished.
"Well... I... I don't know." She answered frowning.
"You don't know? Really?" I asked in disbelief and she shook her head. "Oh man, this is for the history! Freckles actually doesn't know something! This is unbelievable!" I exclaimed laughing.
"Shut up, Criss!" She said shaking her head and chuckling as she took another sip of Tequila. "Damn!"
"The answer was Bob Dylan!" I said still laughing and more when I saw her face after drinking the Tequila. Man, the Tequila was taking effect on me already.
"Oh yeah, I'll remember it. Joey! Oh great, it's easy. What is the song in the beginning of The Lion King?" She asked.
"Oh man, not The Lion King again!" Joey complained amused and he was looking at me on purpose. "I'm not sure if I can get the correct answer, but I'm sure Darren will. Stupid Darren and his alarm of Hakuna Matata!" He made fun of me and I laughed. "The answer is The Circle of Life! And I owe it to Darren." Joey exclaimed and I laughed again. Damn, I couldn't stop laughing.
"Damn you, Joey!" Freckles complained really loudly, grabbing the bottle of Tequila and taking another sip.
"Okay, Meredith! Who played Anita in the first Broadway production of West Side Story?" He asked.
"Chita Rivera! Chita Rivera!" Meredith answered loudly and excited as Joey frowned and took a sip of Tequila. "Darren! What is Bugs Bunny's catchphrase?"
"Oh man!" I said laughing out loud and I cleared my throat to imitate Bugs Bunny's voice. "Eh, what's up, Doc?" I said and everybody laughed out loud as Meredith took a sip of Tequila.
"Oh my god! That was so funny! That was amazing!" Freckles exclaimed giggling and I looked at her amused. I loved the way she was laughing non stopping. "You're such a nerd when it comes to cartoons and Disney!"
"Hey! You did not just say that!" I exclaimed looking at her raising my eyebrows amused as she was still giggling. "I'll take it as a compliment." I said smiling widely. "Alright, the tremendously easy question for you is: In which movie did Alec Guinness first appear as Ben Obi Wan Kenobi?"
"What? What the hell is Ben Obi Wan Kenobi? Is that a tongue-twister?" She asked in confusion as I looked at her incredulous.
"Oh man! How the hell can't you know the answer? How the hell don't you know who Ben Obi Wan Kenobi is?" I asked still incredulous looking at her.
"I don't know." She answered frowning and pouting.
"Well, the correct answer is..." I said looking at Joey and Meredith who also knew the answer. "Star Wars!" Meredith, Joey and I exclaimed loudly at the same time.
"Oh dammit! It's not my fault that you all are nerds who watch that stupid movie!" She said laughing as she took a sip of Tequila.
"Stupid movie?" I asked in disbelief.
"Oh no, you did not just say that!" Joey exclaimed in disbelief looking at Freckles.
"Haven't you watched it?" Meredith asked also looking at Freckles in disbelief as she shook her head.
"Oh bab... Freckles!" I exclaimed and corrected myself in time to not say baby again. "You really need to watch that movie! Is one of the best movies of all the times! Star Wars is like... Is like... I don't know what life would be without Star Wars, man!" I exclaimed loudly in an exaggerated way as Joey and Meredith nodded in agreement.
"Whatever!" She exclaimed, now feeling a bit ashamed. Her cheeks were already rosy and she looked adorable.
"Let's make a deal. You lend me that book of Jules Verenti or whatever his name is and I'll read it, if you only accept my invitation to watch Star Wars tomorrow night." I proposed looking fixedly at her. Of course I had to take advantage all the times I had to be as near as her as much as I could now she was here again. And this was a great excuse.
"Okay, deal, deal." She answered rolling her eyes but with an amused smile and when I heard her response, my heart skipped a beat of happiness. Yay! I got it! "Joey! Question for you is: What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' and if you don't get it, you have to use your hand?" She asked smiling and looking at him mischievously; so mischievously that it was sensual.
Oh fuck, that look and smile was so hot! If she looked at me that way I wouldn't be able to control my urge to kiss her as passionately as never before. Oh man, she really knew how to be sexy; I could totally imagine her looking at me that way in an intimate moment... Oh shit, I needed to stop thinking about that because her sexiness and the alcohol weren't helping at all to remain controlling the typical impulses of a man. I knew that Joey was thinking the same as me, because he was looking at Freckles' lips open-mouthed. He was surely also thinking that Freckles' lips were addictive and I knew it more than him, because I kissed them in the past. Damn, Joey, stop staring at her that way and answer the damn question!
"Do you need me to repeat you the question?" Freckles asked looking at Joey amused and still mischievously and damn, it sounded very flirty.
Could she be flirting with Joey? No man, that wasn't possible; not while I was also there and considering that we were... Actually we were nothing now, so she could do whatever she wanted. No, I didn't want to think about it.
"Yeah, please." Joey answered still looking at her lips, like enthralled.
"What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' and if you don't get it, you have to use your hand?" She repeated with the same mischievous smile.
"You won't cheat me as Meredith has done with Darren! The answer surely isn't fuck!" Joey finally answered. "Damn... I can't think about something else. Just gimme a minute!" Joey begged and Freckles laughed. "It's a fork! A damn fork!" He replied after a while.
"Hell yeah!" Freckles exclaimed giggling and then she looked at me mischievously. Oh no shit, why the hell did she have to look at me that way? Now it was me the one who was looking at her lips like a fool. "I think you're the only one who has a dirty mind, Darren." She said almost sensually.
"Yeah..." I answered like a jerk, still looking at her lips. "Man, you shouldn't be allowed to smile and look like that, you can kill people..." I said and I didn't realize I said it loud. Damn the alcohol!
"What?" She laughed as she took a sip of Tequila, looking at me fixedly. But I knew she got what I tried to say, because she was still looking at me in that sensual way. "This Tequila really tastes so good." She said, now leaving the bottle and licking slowly her lips, still looking at me.
"Oh fuck, stop doing that." I said looking fixedly at her lips, open-mouthed. Man, that was really hot and I knew I should stop looking at her that way, but I couldn't.
"Stop doing what?" She asked, again licking her lips and now biting her lower lip as she was smiling sensually.
"You're so cruel." I whispered, still looking at her lips in desire. I really wanted to kiss them and taste them again.
"Am I?" She asked raising an eyebrow and looking piercingly into my eyes in a flirty way. Man, why was she doing that? Maybe she was also tipsy. "Why?" She asked sensually biting her lower lip and I was still agape and besotted.
"You have no idea..." I whispered as I leaned closer to her lips, still open-mouthed looking at them. She didn't move but she glanced at Meredith now.
"Hey, Darren, are you here?" Meredith asked and I quickly looked at her.
"What?" I exclaimed nervously because finally I realized what I was about to do seconds ago.
"I asked you the question and you never answered!" Meredith complained.
"Sorry, wasn't listening." I apologized nervously, trying not to look at Freckles.
"Yeah, I figured." Meredith said raising her eyebrows. "Question is: If you had a ton of feathers and a ton of stones which would be heavier?"
"The stones!" I answered quickly without thinking.
"Are you serious, Darren?" Freckles asked chuckling amused.
"What? What?" I asked confused.
"Darren, the correct answer is neither because they both weigh a ton." Meredith said laughing.
"Oh dammit, that was a trick question! Do not blame me, I couldn't think about anything when I had to answer!" I said looking fixedly at Freckles, letting her know that it was her fault. I took a sip of Tequila, aware that after this sip I was going to be officially drunk. "Shit. Freckles, the question for you is: A rooster lays an egg at the very top of a slanted roof. Which side is the egg going to roll off on?"
"Er... Left?" She answered with a question and I laughed.
"I can't believe you got it wrong!" I laughed loudly and she looked at me frowning. "The correct answer is neither! Roosters don't lay eggs!" I said laughing and Joey and Meredith laughed along with me.
"Oh fuck." She exclaimed and took a sip of Tequila with a face of suffering. "Damn, I couldn't think about anything when I had to answer." She answered the same as me, looking fixedly at me just as I did. But she looked at me mischievously and sensually again. Shit, shit, shit. She really needed to stop looking that way. "Joey! Hey you, answer this question oh my god I can't believe it is so easy, if you get it wrong I don't know what life is anymore..." She said rambling and slurring her words. I knew that when she talked like that it was because she was drunk. "Question is what is the world's second longest single span bridge?"
"What the hell? That it's not easy! What am I supposed to be? An expert of bridges to answer this shit?" Joey complained, also slurring his words.
"Answer something!" Freckles yelled amused.
"I have no idea man! The Great Wall of China?" Joey replied and everybody laughed.
"Are you serious man? The Great Wall of China? You gotta be kidding, that it's not even a bridge!" I exclaimed laughing out loud.
"Darren, do you wanna answer it with me?" Freckles asked looking at me amused.
"Golden Gate Bridge!" Freckles and I yelled at the same time while laughing.
"Not fair! All because you two are from San Francisco!" Joey complained as he took another sip of Tequila.
Freckles and I looked at each other and started laughing and we high-fived; but we failed surely because the alcohol was screwing our vision. When we tried to do it again, after laughing a lot, Freckles lost the coordination of her body and when she tried to extend her hand to high-five me, she didn't control the force and, by the impulse, she fell on me, hitting my chest with her head as she tried to place a hand on the floor to maintain balance. I quickly held her to prevent her for hitting. I looked down at her as she placed a hand on my leg to try to sit while she was looking at me, laughing uncontrollably. Her laughter was so compelling that I ended up laughing along with her as she now placed her other hand on my chest to try to sit again. Oh man, I loved her peculiar clumsiness. And she was still trying to sit, but she couldn't because she couldn't stop laughing.
"Do you wanna some help?" I asked amused.
"Yeah, yeah." She answered in between joyfully giggling. I placed a hand on her shoulder and another hand on her waist to help her to sit again as she was still laughing and she was still making me laugh. "Oh Darren, oh my god! You're tickling me!" She said laughing.
"Oh really?" I asked amused, looking at her mischievously. "I remember a young girl who liked to be tickled." I said maliciously and she looked at me with eyes wide open with an amused smile.
"Oh no, no, no! I know what's on your mind! Do not dare to do what I'm thinking you'll do, Criss!" She exclaimed really amused.
"Too late!" I exclaimed just as amused as her.
I started tickling her all over the sides of her abdomen, her knees, armpits and neck; she started laughing out loud while she was shrinking, trying to stop me. Oh geez, this was much fun; I really missed doing these simple and funny things with someone; and the fact that I was playing with her, was even more awesome. I don't know how she did it, but on her desperation and anxiety to stop me, while she was doing twitching movements of the head, limbs, and torso; she ended up lying on the floor, with her head on my lap; still laughing uncontrollably; so I stopped tickling her and I took the risk to lean and wrap my arms around her waist and rest my head on hers, still laughing as she was calming her laughter slowly. I looked at her: She had her eyes closed and her face radiated joyfulness and amusement; her cheeks were rosy, she was shedding tears because of the laughter, she had a bright smile and her short hair was tousled. Yet, she looked completely beautiful.
"Having fun there?" Joey asked suspiciously and so then both Freckles and I looked at him.
"Yes!" She answered cheerfully with a giggle as I looked at her and I giggled.
Now I was thinking that it was very good to have her back, even though we still had to talk, but right now, I wanted to enjoy this. I rested my head on hers again as she closed her eyes again.
"I'm so sleepy." She whispered while yawning.
"Do you wanna go to sleep?" I asked also in a whisper.
"Yes." She answered with her eyes still closed, but she didn't move.
"Well then, let's go to sleep..." I said not knowing why she wouldn't move.
"Yes." She answered again with her eyes closed but didn't move. I unwrapped my arms around her, because I thought that maybe it was for that that she didn't move.
"Freckles, are you already asleep?" I asked in a whisper, looking at her.
"No, no!" She exclaimed quickly, opening her eyes abruptly. Yeah, surely she was dozing and it made me giggle. "I think I'll go to bed." She said.
She tried to stand up, but apparently she couldn't control the movements of her body, so she staggered and almost fell on the floor; but fortunately I caught her on time and I placed my hands on her shoulders to prevent her from tumbling.
"Whoa, whoa!" I exclaimed because it scared me when she was about to tumble. "I'll help you." I said standing up while still holding her.
As soon as I stood up, she dropped the weight of her body on me with her eyes closed; so I raised her up as she wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder. She was drunk. I looked at Joey and Meredith who were still drinking and laughing.
"Hey guys, I'll take her to bed." I said.
"Is she drunk?" Joey asked when she saw Freckles on my arms.
"Yeah, surely she's drunk. She hasn't eaten anything at all since breakfast; so surely the effect of alcohol in her was quick." Meredith said serious.
"Yeah, right." I said frowning and concerned. How come she hasn't eaten since breakfast? She was way too skinny now; could she have an eating disorder? That was something I was going to have to talk to her too. "Which one is her bed?"
"Oh, the one that is next to the window." Meredith answered and I nodded.
"Well, goodnight guys." I said.
"What? Are you going to sleep too?" Joey asked.
"Yeah, it's 4am and I have classes in the morning, remember?" I answered and Joey nodded. I turned around to leave Freckles in bed, but then I had a doubt. "Umm... Meredith?" I asked kind of nervous.
"Yeah?"
"Um... What do I do? Do I let her sleep with these clothes or... or what?" I asked like an idiot.
"I don't know, Darren! What? Do you expect me to change her clothes?" She asked frowning.
"No, no! But... Never mind." I sighed, feeling so stupid.
"If you want I could change her clothes! I wouldn't mind at all." Joey exclaimed laughing mischievously.
"Ha-ha; so funny." I laughed sarcastically. "Goodnight."
I walked to Freckles' bed and I lay her down in there. She grumbled and frowned with her eyes closed and then she found a comfortable position and smiled slightly. I didn't know what to do know, if I should wake her so she could change her clothes, if I should let her sleep that way or if I should change her clothes. No, the last option was a terrible idea, even though I could do it because it wasn't going to be the first time. I shook her shoulder slightly to wake her, but she grumbled again, frowning, apparently annoyed. Hmm... Maybe I should let her sleep that way. She was taking up most of the bed and there was almost no space for me. And damn, I was used to sleep only on my underwear but I couldn't sleep like that now, it wouldn't be proper; I was going to sleep a bit uncomfortable, but with her. I shook her shoulder softly again to ask her to make room for me, but she snorted again and didn't move. Man, I was going to have to manage to lie down in that little space in bed. First of all, I took off Freckles' shoes and then I took off my shoes; then, as I could, I lay down in bed next to her and I covered us with the blankets. Finally she moved a little and gave me more room. I was face to face with her, both of us lying down in our sides. I was sleepy, but now that I was in bed with her, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop looking at her, she was truly beautiful. I wanted to snuggle up to her as before, I wanted to hold her in my arms as before, I wanted to caress her, to touch her, I wanted to kiss her goodnight. Man, how the hell I could have let her go? Not that I wanted it, but I should have searched for her even more; she appeared just right when I gave up on it. I had so many things to tell her, I had so many questions. I was intrigued to know how she felt when she saw me, where she was all this time, what I was for her now, what we were going to do now, why she was here, why she looked so different. She was Freckles, but I wasn't sure if I knew the girl who was in front of me now; what if she changed not only physically? Was she still the same person I fell in love with? Could I tell her that I loved her now? I certainly still loved her, and loved her so much, but I loved what she was in high school. I still wasn't sure if I knew the person who I loved. Man, I needed to sleep, it was too late. I heard Joey and Meredith murmuring things but I couldn't hear what they exactly were saying. Could they be talking about me and Freckles? I looked at Freckles again and I dared to move closer to her and when I noticed she didn't grouch, I placed a hand on her waist and I snuggled up to her. She didn't move and I could finally feel the warmth of her body again. So I dared to go further and I rested my forehead with hers and nuzzled my nose with hers. Again, she didn't grumble; instead, she smiled slightly. And so then, I took the risk to brush my lips with hers. Oh geez, how I wanted to do this! I missed her lips like crazy and they tasted just as good as before, despite the alcohol. I closed my eyes and I slightly kissed them, trying not to wake her. My heart started beating fast and I started feeling the pressure on my chest.
"I've missed you, baby." I whispered in front of her lips, still with my eyes closed and feeling her lips on mine. "I never stopped loving you."
"Darren!" I heard a voice whispering next to me.
"Hmm." I grumbled, moving in the bed when someone shook my shoulder.
"Darren, wake up." I heard the same voice. "Wake up; we have to go to class."
"Ugh." I snorted in annoyance.
"Darren, if you don't get up right now, I'm gonna throw you a glass of cold water in your face." The same voice complained. "You're warned."
"Argh!" I growled in annoyance and I didn't hear the voice again. Few minutes later I felt something wet and cold in my face, which made me wake up abruptly and frightened. "What the hell?" I yelled because of the startle; now looking at myself, all wet.
"Shh, Meredith and Joey are sleeping!" The voice said and I looked up to find Freckles looking at me amused.
"The hell have you done?" I asked in a whisper, incredulous and frowning.
"I warned you, Darren." She said giggling softly.
"I swear that I'll revenge." I said frowning, pretending to be moody; but the truth was that it was great that the first thing I got in the morning was to hear her voice and laughter.
"Whatever!" She giggled softly again. "Listen, I'll take a shower and when I come back, I don't want to see you sleeping again."
"What? Why have you woken me up if you still have to take a shower? Oh man, let me sleep again." I griped while frowning, lying down in bed again.
"Criss, I'll bring another glass of cold water again if you don't get up. My shower won't take long time and you surely want to dress up before leaving." She whispered looking at me fixedly.
"I'm dressed, do not bother me." I said hugging the pillow.
"You're not." Freckles said and I frowned before looking at myself. That was right. How the hell has it happened? I was sure that I slept with my shirt on. "You took it off during the night." Freckles answered quiet when I looked at her confused. "Get up now." She said bossy.
"What time is it, anyway?" I complained and huffed.
"It's 7am and we have class in an hour." She said grabbing a towel and some clothes.
"Oh damn, fine, fine, I'll get up." I complained, sitting on the bed and rubbing my eyes while yawning and then I huffed again, grumbling. I was still very tired. I heard her giggling again and I looked at her curious.
"I forgot how grumpy you can be in the mornings." She said smiling amused and shrugging and that made me smile, also amused.
"Am not." I said frowning.
"You are." She said raising an eyebrow.
"Well, maybe a little." I snickered.
"Okay, grumpy man, I'll take a shower." She said exhilarated and then she turned around to leave.
I got up and the first thing I did was to grab my shirt and put it on; then I sat in bed again, placing my elbows on my knees and propping my forehead up with my hands. I yawned and I started thinking how weird was to wake up like this, with Freckles in here; and how weirder was the way she was talking to me, as if everything was alright, as if nothing bad has happened between us; how weird it was that she was acting with me with such naturalness and perkiness after she disappeared completely for a year surely because she didn't want to know anything about me. I needed to tell Jen that I found her; hell yeah, I needed to tell her. She was the only one who knew how desperate I was to find Freckles because of what happened. I needed to talk to her, but I couldn't do it here, while Freckles was around and Joey and Meredith were there, sleeping. So I texted her.
To Jen: Jenny! You won't believe it!
From Jen: What, Darren? Have you fell off your chair because you saw a giant tarantula with cat paws, meerkat eyes and gator tail wearing a tutu dress and dancing Thriller by Michael Jackson?
To Jen: What? That's absurd; I don't know why you think things like those about me. Think, think! It's something like... Magical!
From Jen: Oh my God, you finally saw a unicorn.
To Jen: You're not trying, Jennifer Nedeau. It seems that The George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs is affecting your skills for guessing.
Yeah, Jen was in Detroit studying Psychology; but she said she didn't like it, so now she was studying Journalism at The George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs, in Washington D.C. Now we weren't so close and I didn't like it; but I was glad that she was studying it because she always loved that stuff, since she became the Student Body President at high school.
From Jen: Is that your way to say how much you miss me? Just tell me, Criss; I do not have much time to my first class.
To Jen: I saw Freckles.
From Jen: WHAT? You saw her for real or again in your dreams?
To Jen: For real. She's here, also attending the University of Michigan.
From Jen: Are you serious, Darren? This isn't another of your pranks, right?
To Jen: No, I'm completely serious. I slept with her last night.
From Jen: What? What the hell? I'm calling you.
To Jen: No, do not do that! I can't speak right now! My roommates are sleeping and Freckles is around. Do not call me, Jen!
From Jen: Ok. You need to tell me it all. How did it happen? Why is she there? How is she? How are you? Is everything alright? And what the hell do you mean with 'I slept with her'?
To Jen: Hey! Slow down with the questions! I don't know how it happened, she's the roommate of one of my friends; I still don't know why she's here. She's different now, physically talking, personally talking I still don't know. I'm fine, Jenny, you can picture how damn happy I am after a year... And I just slept with her, in the most innocent meaning of the word.
From Jen: Oh my god. I need to call you, Darren. We cannot talk about this in this way. Just text me when you can speak. Geez, this is extraordinary.
I put my phone in the pocket of my jeans and I lay down in bed, not to sleep but to stare at the ceiling and think about this that recently happened. I knew that Jen would be surprised about this because she always helped me to search Freckles; because Freckles was her friend and she missed her and was just as worried as I was when we couldn't find her. She never wanted me to give up on looking for Freckles, but I explained her that I couldn't keep holding on this, so she understood. Now I was wondering why I didn't listen to her when she was telling me that, if I wanted, I could find Freckles. But it was pointless now, the important was that finally I found her, or she found me; or Meredith made us find each other, or maybe it was Joey when he insisted me to come here last night. Maybe it was just fate. Whatever it has happened, it just happened.
"Darren! I told you not to sleep again!" Freckles' voice suddenly said in a whisper, as scolding me.
"I'm not sleeping!" I answered, sitting abruptly on the bed with my eyes wide open. "I was just waiting for you to come out the bathroom so I could use it." I said looking at her from head to toe.
Oh geez, she looked amazing. She was wearing a bohemian floral long skirt, very colorful, and a white blouse. She also had phoenix tail earrings made of colorful thread and a very funny pair of Charlotte Olympia black suede cat flat shoes. How the hell was she now used to wear such extravagant clothing if she was shy? I don't know, man, but that was fantastic. I liked her new quirky and fashionable way of dressing.
"I like your shoes." I said laughing.
"Oh, you like kittens." She answered giggling softly, looking for something in the closet. "You can use the bathroom. Hurry up, we don't have much time."
"Yeah, sure, kitten woman." I said jokingly, standing up and walking to the bathroom.
"How did you call me?" She asked amused.
"Kitten woman!" I repeated, chuckling and getting in the bathroom.
When I was already in the bathroom, I realized that I had no toothbrush and I really needed one; I didn't want to have bad breath. I also needed a comb, a shaver and a deodorant. Oh damn, it was bad idea to spend the night here; now I didn't have time to go to my room to change my clothes, brush my teeth, shave my stubble and comb my hair. I couldn't go to class like this, and I didn't want to be with Freckles like this, looking scruffy and smelly.
"Freckles?" I yelled from the bathroom and I heard steps coming closer.
"Yeah?" I heard her answering from behind the door.
"Um, I... I need... I..." I started babbling because I didn't know how the hell I could say that I needed my personal stuff and I didn't even know why I called her to tell her this if she couldn't do anything about it.
"What? Is there something wrong?" She asked again.
"Yeah... I... I need..." I started babbling again.
"What do you need?" She asked.
"Umm, my toothbrush and a comb... among other things..." I answered awkwardly.
"Oh, I see..." She answered quietly. "Can I come in?" She asked and I frowned in confusion, thinking how weird that question sounded.
"Yeah, yeah sure." I answered and then she opened the door and entered the bathroom. I didn't know why I was feeling very uncomfortable. She didn't say anything; she was only looking for something in a cabinet that was there. She pulled out a little bag and opened it.
"You can use this toothbrush, I never used it, so don't worry." She said handing me a blue toothbrush. "And you can use my comb, if you don't mind." She said and I shook my head, of course I didn't mind. So she gave me a comb shaped like a mustache. I grabbed it, looking at it very amused.
"This comb is totally awesome." I said and she chuckled.
"You can keep it if you want." She said.
"Oh no, it's yours and it's amazing." I answered quickly.
"Yeah, but I can get another one like it..." She said quietly while looking for something else. "I designed it and made it by myself." She said shrugging.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Have you designed this shit?" I asked amazed, looking at that amazing comb.
"Yeah, I have. I like to design random stuff." She answered with a slight smile.
"You should start selling this stuff. People would love it!" I exclaimed still amazed. I couldn't believe that she could design things.
"Nah, I don't wanna do it. I do these kinds of things only as a hobby, not as a resource to earn money, I wouldn't like it." She answered quietly and then she pulled out another thing. "Here, you can use this deodorant, it's unisex and it smells good."
"Oh yeah, thank you. I really need it." I said grabbing the deodorant. "By chance... Don't you have a razor?" I asked shyly.
"Oh no, sorry. I don't use a razor for depilation. I prefer the wax, sorry." She said chuckling and I blushed like an idiot.
"I think it was too much to ask." I said trying to joke and not to seem an idiot.
"Yeah..." She answered giggling. "Anyway, I don't know why you want a razor. The scruffy beard looks well on you." She said shrugging.
"Gee, thanks." I answered shyly and I blushed again like a stupid. Man, she was the only one who could make me blush like a teenager.
"You're welcome. Okay, I'll leave you alone now... If you need something else, just call me." She said and I nodded. "Keep the comb, really."
"Okay, thank you." I answered, smiling politely and then she left.
So she liked to design things and she was really good at it; she also painted all those paintings that were on the wall and she also designed lamps and stuff. What was this? As far as I knew, Freckles was always good at subjects like politics, speech, English and math; but I didn't know she was good at arts. Since when? And why we shared the Costume Design course? Could she also be studying for a B.F.A. in performance and acting? I always thought that she was going to study something related to laws or writing, or stuff like that. But she was here and she could do all those awesome stuff. This was odd and this whole thing was intriguing for me. I really wanted to talk to her. After I finished my usual, not so usual now, routine in bathroom; I walked out and found Freckles already ready, waiting for me. She had an awesome boombox handbag.
"Oh my wizard god! Your handbag is totally awesome!" I exclaimed impressed. "Have you also designed it?"
"No, I haven't." She said chuckling. "But I can get you one if you want."
"No, it's okay. I bet you're the only one who has it." I answered.
"Yeah, but only for now. Soon it's gonna be released." She answered joyfully.
"Where do you get all that stuff?" I asked curiously.
"Oh, that is a secret. Maybe sometime I could show you it." She said looking at me mysteriously and amused.
"Yes, please. Maybe sometime we could go shopping together; I'd like it." I said intentionally. Yes, I was trying to get to spend all the time I could with her and I wouldn't stop inviting her to hang out together. Now that she was back, I should do that.
"Yeah, maybe some time." She answered shrugging. Well, I didn't like so much that answer because now I knew what women wanted to say with these kinds of answers and it was that they weren't really interested and it was indifferent for them. But I was willing to make her be interested on me again. "Let's go?"
"Yes." I answered and we both left.
It was weird to be walking next to her in silence and not holding hands. But I wanted to think in a positive way; so I took this as a new chance to make her fall for me again, as a new start for the two of us. It was like meeting each other again and it could be fun. And I was positively thinking that I could get her back as my girlfriend. Yeah, I didn't want to have a girlfriend, but she was the only exception.
"Dammit!" I exclaimed while we were walking.
"What's wrong?" She asked curious, looking at me frowning.
"I just realized that I don't have my bag. Man, how am I supposed to go to class without my bag?" I complained, annoyed with myself.
"Do not panic!" She exclaimed loudly and laughing and I looked at her stunned. "I have an extra notebook and pen if you want it."
"Really?" I asked and she nodded. "Oh man, you're like my savior!" I exclaimed loudly and she laughed.
"You're so theatrical and dramatic." She said shaking her head with an amused smile. Alright, it was time to start flirting with her.
"Yeah? And do you like it?" I asked looking at her with a mischievously smile. She looked at me and raised an eyebrow; and she kept walking without answering anything at all. I didn't care; I wouldn't stop with the flirting. "I will take your silence as a yes."
"Whatever you want, Darren." She said while walking ahead me. I ran to step behind her.
"I know you like it." I whispered sensually in her ear and she shivered before looking at me frowning and serious and then she kept walking. Oh damn, she didn't like it; maybe I was going too fast. "Hey, don't get mad, I was just joking and fooling."
"I'm not mad." She answered curtly but she kept walking ahead me.
"But you seem mad." I said now stepping next to her.
"I'm not mad, Darren." She sighed and then she finally looked at me. "You know? Um, I have to go to class really quickly. So... See you later, Darren." She said and she started walking faster away from me.
"Hey, wait! Freckles, wait!" I yelled but she didn't stop. "Can I at least have your number?" I yelled again, but she didn't stop and she didn't look back.
"Fool!" A random guy laughed at me and passed by, but I ignored him.
Oh shit, why did I have to flirt with her that way? I was indeed a fool. I really didn't want to screw this with Freckles. But the point was that I couldn't stop flirting with her because I wanted her back, and she didn't like this. Maybe we didn't want the same. That was a problem.