Ralph had been respectful of my hangover and helped me nurse it. Maurice on the other hand was 'accedently' dropping things everytime I batted an eyelash. I was just happy that I did not throw up. "Well, this was an eventful stay." Ralph joked. I felt mortified. "By the way, some girl named Carrie called. She said she works with you and wanted to know where you were." My heart started to race. I had forgotten all about work. "Don't worry, I told her you weren't feeling well and couldn't come in." He informed me, handing my phone.
"Thanks." I murmered, pocketing my phone. "Has Andrew called, wanting to pick you up?" I asked not really caring about Andrew, but dreading Ralph to leave.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, but I told him I wanted to hang out with you more." He said blushing lightly. I had to do a double take to make sure I got it right. "He was a bit upset, but said okay." Ralph shrugged and unpaused the game he had been playing the past hour.
I felt a surge of pride flow through me. 'Take that Andrew! Ralph wants to hang out with me!' I thought as I went back to watching him play. "How about I treat you to lunch than?" I offered, ignoring another angry text from Carrie.
Ralph nodded, sucked in the Halo game. He was actually do well until some punk with an energy sword came up and killed him. "Shit." He said throwing the controller on the other side of the couch. "Where you want to eat?" He asked, giving me his attention. "How's your head by the way?" He leaned back and laced his fingers across his stomach.
"It's feeling better." I replied, pinching the bridge of my nose. "How about the deli down the road? They make good sandwiches." I suggested, propping my head up on my hand.
Ralph scrunched up his face. "Sounds good, but how about I pay." It was not really a question, but there was no way I would let him pay.
"It's fine. I'm cool with paying." I said getting up and heading to the bathroom to get ready. "Besides, I have to repay you for last night!" I yelled from the hallway.
Maurice popped his head out of his room. "Pay who for what last night? Did something sexual happen here and I wasn't apart of it?" He looked down the hall then back to me. "Are you paying Ralph for sexual activities? Shame on you Jack Merridew. I would've done it for free if you asked nicely." He grinned and shut the door before I could get to him.
I banged on his door. "It's not like that you pervert!" I yelled, but I could hear Maurice laughing his fool head off. I made a note to get him when he was off guard. Getting back on my previous track, I went into the bathroom and took a hot shower. Just feeling the grime from yesterday get washed off made me feel better. I am not sure how long I spent in the water, but by the time I got out, Ralph had changed into a plain red tee-shirt with a jacket over it that had the Union Jack on it. He also had on a regular pair of jeans and black converse. It seemed like Ralph could look good in anything he threw together. His hair was still messy from sleep, but still okay to go out in public.
"I hope you're not going out on that." Ralph laughed.
I looked down to find myself only clad in a towel. My face heated up in embarrassment. "No." I said defensively. "Give me a minute." I said slipping in to my room. I had to find something to wear that would impress Ralph. Tearing through my closet, I was able to find a pair of blue pleated skinny jeans and a white tee-shirt. I decided to wear the combat boots Bill got me one year for my birthday. I threw on my leather jacket with it. I ran a comb through my hair before rushing back out to Ralph.
"You clean up nice." Ralph commented as I lead him out the door. "So I got a text from a Daniel, and he said he and I are close friends." I gave him a funny look, but he ignored it and continued. "We got to talking and he seems to know a lot about me, so I guess he's telling the truth." He kicked a pebble that was on the sidewalk. "I think I'm going to meet up with him tomorrow." Ralph said giving me a sideways glance.
"That's cool." I replied not really meaning it. In fact it made me nervous. What if Daniel started giving Ralph his anit-Jack lecture? Ralph could decide not to hang out with me and then there would be no way I could win him back. Adrenaline was being pumped through my vains and I figured I should just tell him my situation with Daniel now. "He doesn't like me though."
This caused Ralph to stop in his tracks. "Why? You're pretty nice and easy to get along with." Only with you Ralph.
"Let's just say we weren't close in high school and I was kinda a dick to him. He never really got over it." I said putting my hands in my pockets.
"Oh." He said keeping his gaze ahead of him. "Did you ever try apologizing to him?" Ralph suggested. I did not have the heart to tell him that we just tried to stay away from one another. "Daniel sounds like he's a pretty understanding guy and who knows, you two could become good friends." 'No way in Hell.' I thought clearing my throat. "Maybe." Was all I said as we reached the deli. We were greeted to the twin sons of the deli owner. "Hey Samn'eric." I said combining the names.
They did not look amused and instead decided to deal with Ralph. "Welcome." Sam said, or was it Eric? I did not feel like reading their name tags.
"How can we help you?" The other boy said, smiling at Ralph.
"Hi..." Ralph looked down at his shirt. "Sam." So that ones Sam. "Ummm I'll just take a fruit salad and a bottle of water." He said giving Sam a smile.
"Coming right up." He said bouncing over to the fridge.
His brother, Eric, looked at me. "What do you want?" He asked with a hand on one of his hips. This will reflect on his tip.
"I'll just take a chicken and bacon club." I said looking right in Eric's eyes to show him he did not scare me.
"Coming right up." He said almost in a challenging way.
Ralph swatted my arm with the back of his hand. "Be nice." He whispered through gritted teeth. "They're the ones handling your food." Ralph warned glaring at me.
"Are these separate or together?" Sam asked over the counter.
"I am." Ralph and I said at the same time and we both looked at each other.
"I thought we were the only ones who could to that." Eric said as he made my sandwich.
I rolled my eyes. "I offered and I'll pay." I said pulling on my wallet chain to pull it out. Ralph reached out and snatched it from me, pulling my pants a bit.
"I said I've got it." Ralph said throwing down a card for Sam. The twins both had the same amused look on their faces as we fought over who would pay. We ended up splitting it and eating it there. To sum it up, Ralph had made two new friends that day.
A/N: Thank you to seerstella, JumpersAndKittens, and katherine-E-kora for reviewing the last chapter. :)
Seerstella: I worked on the spacing between paragrahs like you suggested. Hope it's easier to read. :)
JumpersAndKittens: Hope this chapter was worth the wait.
katherine-E-kora: I don't think it's as good as you say it is. *Rubs back of neck* But thanks for that review. :D *Does superhero pose.*
