I don't even think my parents had noticed me leave, even though I had a very noisy bag with games and consoles with me.
The door opened almost immediately after I knocked. Ikki had a broad smile on his face.
"Come on in." He said as he stepped aside. I came in and put the bag down, tapping my sore shoulder a few times.
"You won't drink tonight, will you?"
"Socially. Not with the intention of getting drunk like last time." He said with a sheepish grin as he closed the door.
"Then it's alright." I picked the bag back up and put it down on the table. "What do you want to start with? I brought all sorts of genres, because I don't really know what you're into."
"Me neither. I'm not really much of a gamer." I looked at him in surprise.
"Then what do you normally do at sleepovers?"
"Watch tv, sit around, eat stuff." I nodded understandingly.
"I brought some movies as well." He laughed.
"Ever so prepared."
"Of course. It's my first sleepover in years, I figured I'd bring a little of everything." His eyes widened slightly.
"You've slept over at a guy's place before?"
"No- Well, last time with you, but I don't think that counts. Are the rules different when it's with a guy?" He burst out in laughter. I frowned, not knowing what I'd done wrong.
"Rules? You really think sleepovers have rules?" I nodded ignorantly.
"Well, not my sleepovers. Only having fun is allowed, no rules."
"Really? So, want to watch a movie?" I suggested, he smiled and nodded.
"Just as long as it's not some horror thing." I pouted.
"But those are the best!"
We ended up watching the Avengers first, then the Hobbit and Les Miserables afterwards, leaving me bawling over the countless deaths in the last one.
"Aw, come on, it's not like they're re-"
"Say 'real' and I will murder you very violently." I hissed.
"Okay, you're giving me no other choice." He put his arm around me and pulled me into a hug.
"What are you-"
"Look, they're all happily singing on the barricade in heaven." Another river of tears flowed down my cheeks.
"Oh, I meant, uh, want some crisps?" I nodded and watched as he let me go, petted my head and headed into the kitchen to get said snack.
"You're really passionate about this stuff, aren't you?"
"Yeah, it's not like I have a other stuff to do."
"You mean you don't do anything besides watch movies and play games?"
"Also tv shows." I added.
"But you were out with your friend the first time I met you." He came back and put the bowl of crisps in front of me.
"We came straight out of school and I said I'd treat her, it wasn't anything special."
"Well, I'm immensely grateful to her, otherwise I'd never have met you."
"That's slightly mean considering you turned her down." He recoiled slightly, then nodded.
"This will probably sound weird, but I'm sort of used to getting asked out and stuff like that."
"Really? I can't really see why."
"Oh, that's cruel." He laughed. "But," he paused, took a deep breath and continued, "there's a story I have to tell you."
"Sure. Go ahead." I said as I took the bowl into my lap.
"When I was a little boy, I once looked up at the moon and I saw a shooting star. Needless to say I made a wish. I wished for quite a silly thing… I wished that girls would like and fall for me. That wish came true and girls started acting differently towards me, they seemed infatuated from the first time they laid eyes on me. More and more girls started liking me and they even made that fan club. But… having so many girls fall for me at first glance kind of prohibited me from getting to know anyone well. I mean, they didn't know me, but they still wanted to go out with me. I thought that was fine at first, but then I realized that it wasn't supposed to go like that."
"That's why you said I interested you." I realized.
"Right, because it didn't work on you."
"I see. That's a tough predicament you're in."
"What? You're not even questioning it?" I shook my head.
"I was kind of baffled when Cass said she wanted to confess to you even though she'd just met you, because that was totally unlike her. You have an entire horde of girls following you around. Combine that with the fact that I believe in the existance magic, that's a pretty plausible story to me." He laughed.
"You're weird." He said.
"Coming from a real life women magnet, I won't take that very seriously."
"Point taken."
"Still, have you ever tried to do anything about it?"
"Like what? It's not like they can be reasoned with. The only thing I can do is wear sunglasses in public, but that doesn't always work either."
"You know what? I have an idea."
"What is it?"
"It's a secret. I'll send you a text when it's time."
"Who"S putting up a mysterious act now, huh?" I snickered.
"Well, who says your fans haven"T bugged your appartment yet?" He looked around, raised his shoulders and nodded.
"Understood."
"Well, it's about time we get on with the games."
After gaming for the biggest part of the night, I ended up falling asleep in the middle of one. Having my parents around the house again was tiring to say the least, as they had pretty much forgotten what a normal house life was like. When I woke I found myself on the bed with the covers up to my chin. I was the only one in it and I looked around for Ikki, this was his bed after all. I found him on the ground beside the bed, sleeping soundly. I peered over the edge at him and smiled to myself. He really was a nice guy, despite everything I had said about him before. There was honestly no denying it.
"Awake already?" I was snapped out of my thoughts and found him staring back up at me.
"Ah, yeah, aren't you really cold down there?" He stretched his arms, I could hear them creaking.
"Only a little. Why? Are you inviting me in?" I blushed and looked away.
"Well, it's your bed, I mean… y'know." I scooted and he quickly got under the covers.
"Thanks." He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. "And good morning." This is what I'd always dreamed of when I was a little girl, waking up beside a nice guy who then kissed me good morning and smiled at me. This was exactly that and for a moment I felt so terribly lost that I contemplated jumping out of the bed and running out the front door. I didn't, of course, because it was still really early and the bed was nice and warm, but still.
"Good morning yourself."
"Slept okay?"
"A lot better than last time." I grinned.
"Yeah, that's probably not surprising."
"Sorry for making you put me here." I apologized.
"You didn't make me, it was my own decision."
"Still, you know what I mean."
"I do and it's no problem. Wouldn't want you catching a cold again, would we?" My phone, which had magically transported to the nightstand, rang its oh so familiar ringtone.
"Crap, that's my parents." I said as I sat up and quickly answered it.
"Hey."
"Alice, where are you?" It was my mom.
"I went to the shop."
"Oh okay, when will you be back?"
"Uh, soon, I've almost finished."
"Okay, we've found the next destination, so we want you to see us off."
"Got it, I'll be there soon."
"See you in a bit, sweetie."
"The shop?" Ikki asked, his judging eyes on me.
"I can hardly say I'm in bed with a guy, can I?"
"Well, it is the truth." He grinned mischievously.
"They've found their next destination, so they'll be leaving again in a bit. They wanted me to see them off."
"Can I come?"
"Sure, I'll just have to go by the shop quickly to buy something."
"I'll take you there. We'll be there in no time at all."
"You have a driver"S license?"
"I have a cycling license." He said proudly as he gestured at the old, beaten up bicycle.
"You don't really need a license for that, but regardless of that, it's still transport and it sure beats walking. Thanks." He got on and smiled.
"Hop on, milady."
"You're not even at work now." I pouted.
"Seeing you so flustered just makes me really happy." I rolled my eyes, got on and held onto him as he took off.
I don't even think my parents had noticed me leave, even though I had a very noisy bag with games and consoles with me.
The door opened almost immediately after I knocked. Ikki had a broad smile on his face.
"Come on in." He said as he stepped aside. I came in and put the bag down, tapping my sore shoulder a few times.
"You won't drink tonight, will you?"
"Socially. Not with the intention of getting drunk like last time." He said with a sheepish grin as he closed the door.
"Then it's alright." I picked the bag back up and put it down on the table. "What do you want to start with? I brought all sorts of genres, because I don't really know what you're into."
"Me neither. I'm not really much of a gamer." I looked at him in surprise.
"Then what do you normally do at sleepovers?"
"Watch tv, sit around, eat stuff." I nodded understandingly.
"I brought some movies as well." He laughed.
"Ever so prepared."
"Of course. It's my first sleepover in years, I figured I'd bring a little of everything." His eyes widened slightly.
"You've slept over at a guy's place before?"
"No- Well, last time with you, but I don't think that counts. Are the rules different when it's with a guy?" He burst out in laughter. I frowned, not knowing what I'd done wrong.
"Rules? You really think sleepovers have rules?" I nodded ignorantly.
"Well, not my sleepovers. Only having fun is allowed, no rules."
"Really? So, want to watch a movie?" I suggested, he smiled and nodded.
"Just as long as it's not some horror thing." I pouted.
"But those are the best!"
We ended up watching the Avengers first, then the Hobbit and Les Miserables afterwards, leaving me bawling over the countless deaths in the last one.
"Aw, come on, it's not like they're re-"
"Say 'real' and I will murder you very violently." I hissed.
"Okay, you're giving me no other choice." He put his arm around me and pulled me into a hug.
"What are you-"
"Look, they're all happily singing on the barricade in heaven." Another river of tears flowed down my cheeks.
"Oh, I meant, uh, want some crisps?" I nodded and watched as he let me go, petted my head and headed into the kitchen to get said snack.
"You're really passionate about this stuff, aren't you?"
"Yeah, it's not like I have a other stuff to do."
"You mean you don't do anything besides watch movies and play games?"
"Also tv shows." I added.
"But you were out with your friend the first time I met you." He came back and put the bowl of crisps in front of me.
"We came straight out of school and I said I'd treat her, it wasn't anything special."
"Well, I'm immensely grateful to her, otherwise I'd never have met you."
"That's slightly mean considering you turned her down." He recoiled slightly, then nodded.
"This will probably sound weird, but I'm sort of used to getting asked out and stuff like that."
"Really? I can't really see why."
"Oh, that's cruel." He laughed. "But," he paused, took a deep breath and continued, "there's a story I have to tell you."
"Sure. Go ahead." I said as I took the bowl into my lap.
"When I was a little boy, I once looked up at the moon and I saw a shooting star. Needless to say I made a wish. I wished for quite a silly thing… I wished that girls would like and fall for me. That wish came true and girls started acting differently towards me, they seemed infatuated from the first time they laid eyes on me. More and more girls started liking me and they even made that fan club. But… having so many girls fall for me at first glance kind of prohibited me from getting to know anyone well. I mean, they didn't know me, but they still wanted to go out with me. I thought that was fine at first, but then I realized that it wasn't supposed to go like that."
"That's why you said I interested you." I realized.
"Right, because it didn't work on you."
"I see. That's a tough predicament you're in."
"What? You're not even questioning it?" I shook my head.
"I was kind of baffled when Cass said she wanted to confess to you even though she'd just met you, because that was totally unlike her. You have an entire horde of girls following you around. Combine that with the fact that I believe in the existance magic, that's a pretty plausible story to me." He laughed.
"You're weird." He said.
"Coming from a real life women magnet, I won't take that very seriously."
"Point taken."
"Still, have you ever tried to do anything about it?"
"Like what? It's not like they can be reasoned with. The only thing I can do is wear sunglasses in public, but that doesn't always work either."
"You know what? I have an idea."
"What is it?"
"It's a secret. I'll send you a text when it's time."
"Who"S putting up a mysterious act now, huh?" I snickered.
"Well, who says your fans haven"T bugged your appartment yet?" He looked around, raised his shoulders and nodded.
"Understood."
"Well, it's about time we get on with the games."
After gaming for the biggest part of the night, I ended up falling asleep in the middle of one. Having my parents around the house again was tiring to say the least, as they had pretty much forgotten what a normal house life was like. When I woke I found myself on the bed with the covers up to my chin. I was the only one in it and I looked around for Ikki, this was his bed after all. I found him on the ground beside the bed, sleeping soundly. I peered over the edge at him and smiled to myself. He really was a nice guy, despite everything I had said about him before. There was honestly no denying it.
"Awake already?" I was snapped out of my thoughts and found him staring back up at me.
"Ah, yeah, aren't you really cold down there?" He stretched his arms, I could hear them creaking.
"Only a little. Why? Are you inviting me in?" I blushed and looked away.
"Well, it's your bed, I mean… y'know." I scooted and he quickly got under the covers.
"Thanks." He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. "And good morning." This is what I'd always dreamed of when I was a little girl, waking up beside a nice guy who then kissed me good morning and smiled at me. This was exactly that and for a moment I felt so terribly lost that I contemplated jumping out of the bed and running out the front door. I didn't, of course, because it was still really early and the bed was nice and warm, but still.
"Good morning yourself."
"Slept okay?"
"A lot better than last time." I grinned.
"Yeah, that's probably not surprising."
"Sorry for making you put me here." I apologized.
"You didn't make me, it was my own decision."
"Still, you know what I mean."
"I do and it's no problem. Wouldn't want you catching a cold again, would we?" My phone, which had magically transported to the nightstand, rang its oh so familiar ringtone.
"Crap, that's my parents." I said as I sat up and quickly answered it.
"Hey."
"Alice, where are you?" It was my mom.
"I went to the shop."
"Oh okay, when will you be back?"
"Uh, soon, I've almost finished."
"Okay, we've found the next destination, so we want you to see us off."
"Got it, I'll be there soon."
"See you in a bit, sweetie."
"The shop?" Ikki asked, his judging eyes on me.
"I can hardly say I'm in bed with a guy, can I?"
"Well, it is the truth." He grinned mischievously.
"They've found their next destination, so they'll be leaving again in a bit. They wanted me to see them off."
"Can I come?"
"Sure, I'll just have to go by the shop quickly to buy something."
"I'll take you there. We'll be there in no time at all."
"You have a driver's license?"
"I have a cycling license." He said proudly as he gestured at the old, beaten up bicycle.
"You don't really need a license for that, but regardless of that, it's still transport and it sure beats walking. Thanks." He got on and smiled.
"Hop on, milady."
"You're not even at work now." I pouted.
"Seeing you so flustered just makes me really happy." I rolled my eyes, got on and held onto him as he took off.