It's been a few days since Alex set foot in Lyoko, and Della Robbia had to admit that ever since then, only pleasant things had come his way.
Upon returning to campus, he was in much better physical and mental shape. Nothing hurt, he didn't turn out to be some kind of psychic weirdo, and much of his good mood was thanks to Alex, though that was the last thing he expected given the circumstances.
Upon entering his own room, he found not only Ulrich but also Yumi. It was the first time in a long while that he heard any kind words from Ishiyama. She mainly spoke about how worried she had been for him and apologized for getting caught by the specter (he didn't hold it against her). Furthermore, she knew about Meyer's involvement in mission and admitted gratitude to both of them (it was the moment when the blond had to pinch himself, thinking he was dreaming again). Both of them were still somewhat shaken by the specter attack; the boy's phone was smashed to bits, and Yumi found hers only after about two hours from tower deactivation. However, none of them suffered anything serious, and Stern only once brought up his morning incident in the room, not really delving into the topic.
That evening, he finally slept for a full twelve hours, dreaming of nonsensical but pleasant things that calmed his mind. It only got better when he repeated this feat for the next few days in a row, making him believe that his problems had resolved themselves.
Yet, all these things paled in comparison to the prize that fell into his hands; a role he intended to enjoy and for which he was ready to give heart and soul.
And the performance was set to begin on Monday.
If she ever complained about how annoying Odd-the-friend could be, it was only because she hadn't met Odd-the-boyfriend.
This guy couldn't keep his hands to himself, and the openness with which he did it sent shivers down her spine. Since agreeing to play along with this whole circus, he had been constantly harassing her throughout the past week. Everywhere, in front of everyone; just like now, early in the morning, in the corner of the cafeteria.
- Hey there. - the blond sat on the bench and quickly scooted closer, putting his arm around her.
She immediately stiffened, interrupting whatever she was doing at that moment. Apparently, the guy didn't understand the simple message of 'nothing has to change.' She knew it would be bad, but this bad?
- It's amazing how you can remember all my Mortal mains, my favorite coffee syrup configurations, even the names of my cats, but not how to keep your hands to yourself. - she said sarcastically, trying to get back to solving the problem, but she couldn't focus when his fingers moved across her neck, causing goosebumps.
- Because you choose only girls, the strangest flavors, and who names their cat JJ? - he scoffed. - Besides, relax a bit, Charlie is nearby. - he leaned slightly, barely a noticeable nod to the right to locate the brunette standing at the counter.
Meyer had the opportunity to talk to him the day after Xana's attack and present the made-up story of their budding relationship with Odd. She didn't explain much, just that they started kissing once in his room (she had never been in his room), and it somehow happened. He accepted the tale without batting an eye, probably only because concern for her obscured his common sense.
She had no other explanation for his response, which was something like 'I kind of expected that.'
She also had to admit that it was a challenge not only to deceive him but to deceive him well, pretending to be infatuated with her friend. She couldn't help but roll her eyes when he ostentatiously placed his hand on her back or shoulder (apparently, he remembered that the waist area was off-limits). Once he even kissed her on the cheek, and only her extraordinary willpower prevented her from hurling insults at him (at least publicly, she somehow forgot later).
She often took on the role of Charlie's girlfriend (or anyone, depending on the need) when someone particularly persistent didn't want to leave him alone, but with Odd, it was entirely different. His touch always sent shivers down her spine and warmth to her face, and she didn't like it. She got annoyed too quickly, all because she didn't know what was going on in that guy's head. On the one hand, she felt that the interest he showed in her was unhealthy, especially when he asked her silly questions or did something that threw her off balance, like now. On the other hand, he was the one who could calm her down, and she really, really enjoyed spending time with him, maybe even too much.
Della Robbia, on the other hand, was having a blast. He loved teasing her, seeing all those funny reactions from the girl, without really trying. For example, at this moment, when she tilted her head; from this perspective, he could see how red her ears were, the longer he stroked the skin at the line of her hair with his thumb.
- I'll relax when you stop touching me.
- Why? I thought girls like that.
- Oh yes, every girl surely loves being harassed. - she scoffed, finally looking at him. The pink cheeks were clearly visible on her pale face as she held his same hand that had just embraced her.
- I meant showing affection. You know, now that we're together, we should show it to the whole world, right, kitty? - he smiled and wriggled his hand, intertwining his fingers with hers.
Oh, and those damn nicknames that made her cringe and that he absolutely wouldn't let her forget.
- Stop it, or I'll throw up. - she grimaced, pulling her hand out of his grip and drawing lines in her notebook. He looked at what she was doing and snorted, leaning back to his place.
- Why are you doing this now? We have biology only on Tuesday.
- If I do it now, I won't have to think about it later.
- I've heard that a hundred times. Because of these made-up duties, you don't want to go anywhere, like on Halloween, for example. - he raised an eyebrow when she pushed the notebook in his direction.
- Maybe instead of talking off-topic, you'll finish your part so I can get it off my mind? - she reminded, handing him a pen, to which he grunted deeply, dissatisfied. - Come on, you're good with plants.
- And you're equally good at improvising, so why do we have to do this at all?
- Odd...
- What's up? - fortunately, Charles finally approached their table, greeting Alex first and then him; the blond couldn't help but notice how reluctantly he shook his hand when he finally bothered to look at him. - Oh no, let me guess. - he sat at the table, pointing his finger at the notebook held by the boy. - Is it the worst subject in school?
- The worst? You're in advanced history.
- That's right, the most interesting thing I could take. We're currently covering ancient Greece; you'd like it.
- Probably. - she replied and reached for her backpack, moving away from the table. - I'm getting something to drink; do you want anything?
- Get me yerba. - the blond replied immediately. - And something to eat.
- No problem. - she smiled before shifting her questioning gaze to Charles, who just shook his head.
He watched as the girl walked away to the counter before turning back to Della Robbia. The boy's eyebrows lowered as he looked into his eyes, tilting his head towards him and putting on a serious expression.
- She didn't want a present from you either? - he muttered, and these were definitely not the words he expected to hear.
- Am I going to sound like an idiot if I ask for what occasion?
- On her eighteenth birthday. - he frowned before realizing the reason for his confusion - Oh. Oh, damn, sorry. I thought that's why you met on Friday.
- Are you telling me she had her birthday on Friday?
- Actually, on Monday. - he coughed and put his hand on his neck, suddenly embarrassed. - But we were in the city then, so I thought maybe she met you earlier.
So that's why she didn't go with him on Halloween.
- And she didn't tell me anything? - he furrowed his brow, and although he tried very hard to sound neutral, Moreau saw a hint of resentment in his eyes.
- Listen, don't take it personally. She usually doesn't celebrate birthdays. - he sighed deeply; the blond could see the genuine sense of guilt on his face. - I thought maybe something had changed. I'm sorry I messed up with this. I really thought that...
- No, it's okay. - he assured, glancing at the girl who was approaching them with two cups. - Actually, you gave me a great idea.
Della Robbia asked her to come to his room in the afternoon, apparently completely forgetting that she didn't know the way to his door. He had also stopped answering his phone, but luckily for her, there was someone in this world like Ulrich Stern.
Not only did he reveal their room number (which was about fifty digits different from what Odd had given her), but he also handed her the key, just in case the blond didn't open the door. Thanks to this, she saved herself several minutes of frustrating wandering through the corridor, and she was immensely grateful to him for that. The key turned out to be indeed necessary, but eventually, she entered the room, according to the agreed time, at four o'clock.
She looked around, seeing two worlds colliding; on the left side, there was a bed with black-and-white bedding, and above it, a shelf with a truly impressive collection of manga and comics. Higher up were several trophies and medals for some unspecified sports achievements. The central point of the room was the desk, which separated the more "calm" part of the room from the other, which was a true explosion of colors. The bedspread was dotted with colorful dots, additionally adorned with a pile of plush toys. On the walls hung numerous posters and drawings covering every available centimeter of the surface. Actually, posters and mess were something that connected both the left and right sides, but the one she was looking at broke all records, and it was easy to guess who it belonged to.
She turned around when she heard the sound of opening doors.
- I got the key... - she stopped mid-sentence, raising her eyebrows and opening her mouth.
The guy, on the other hand, stood frozen in the middle of the room, looking as shocked as she was.
- Um... - he ran his hand through his neck, but that was the only move he made. - I'm not sure if I should be embarrassed? - he muttered, scanning something behind her with his eyes. He smiled, apparently finding what he was looking for. A shiver ran through her when his wet arm brushed against hers as he passed, and the citrus scent made her dizzy.
- First of all, you should be damn covered.
- You entered my room. I lived under the impression that I was alone. - he retorted, grabbing a towel and starting to dry himself in the middle of the room, just behind her. Soon after, he also started drying his hair, and when she glanced over her shoulder, it turned out he was still doing it naked.
He stood with his back to her, and she didn't know whether to be happy or disappointed about it.
- Are all the drawings here yours? - she asked after he finally turned off the hairdryer, and her gaze immediately jumped to the wall.
- Yes. They're old as fuck, but I still like them.
- You could get along with Charlie; he's also into graffiti.
- To be honest, I stopped drawing.
Indecisive about what to do with herself, she sat on Ulrich's bed, staring at the floor, at least until Odd finally put something on. Only then did she relax, and to such an extent that her gaze started following the silhouette of the guy, who seemed completely unconcerned. She watched as the muscles of his back and shoulders danced in unison as he reached for the top shelf of the wardrobe.
At least now she was sure that what she saw in Lyoko was very accurate to how it looked in reality.
- You work out? - she had to ask; otherwise, it would haunt her for the next few nights.
- A bit. - he shrugged, busy tying the drawstring of his joggers.
- Anything specific?
- Mainly acrobatics and stuff, you know. I skate a bit, sometimes play with Ulrich. I used to dance too! - he said, meanwhile browsing through a stack of T-shirts he took from the wardrobe. - Now mainly what I need for Lyoko. Although, compared to what I used to do, I'm really slacking off. Luckily... - he winked at her. - I have great genes.
- I can see that. Actually, I think I'm a bit jealous. Especially considering how much you eat.
He laughed.
- You have nothing to be jealous of. - he assured, and she didn't ask what exactly he meant by that. After a while, he pulled a black T-shirt over his head and looked at her, casting a critical glance at her sweater. - You'll be cold. I'll lend you a jacket. - he announced, and before she could say anything, he handed her a dark fabric.
He reached for something for himself, then put on a backpack and nodded, signaling that she should follow him.
- Where are we going?
- Surprise. - he said with a mysterious tone, smiling broadly, which only intrigued her even more.
Indeed, she didn't expect that he would take her to an unspecified place near the park, right by the old red bridge. Apart from it, there was practically nothing around except trees and bushes, no point of reference. They walked for about fifteen minutes, and during the entire way, he didn't mention why they were heading here.
- Hurry, sunshine. - he said when she stopped for a moment to glance at the shallow river just a few meters below them.
- But you said we're here. - she remarked and understood what he meant when he turned from the asphalt road onto the grass. He looked around for a less steep part of the slope and began to descend first, making sure the dark-haired girl was right behind him. - Nice spot. - she said when she finally stood on a level surface, and her voice echoed off the bridge's foundations.
She had to admit the guy was right; although the sun was still in the sky, she could already feel the chill penetrating through the layers of her clothes.
- We used to come here with the others.
- Don't you go anymore?
- No. - he raised the corner of his mouth, although this smile didn't reach his eyes, which took on a honey hue in the sunlight. - Even without Xana, it's hard to find time for it.
For a brief moment, he looked at her with something like gratitude; she knew that look, but unlike previous times, he didn't avert his gaze when their eyes met. It was one of those rare moments when he allowed her to see a calmer and, unfortunately, much sadder version of Odd Della Robbia.
Sometimes, he had that expression on his face when he thought no one was looking; that dull look when everything in the world seemed to weigh him down. And sometimes, she wanted to ask; find out how much truth there was in what he showed every day and how much in the guy he was when they were alone.
But she never had the courage.
- Anyway, I brought something perfect for this occasion. - he said in a much happier tone, pulling a pack of Camels from his pocket and raising it up.
- Wow. - she muttered with zero enthusiasm in her voice. - You know, I can buy those too. - the blond rolled his eyes in response, then opened the box to show her a decidedly more exciting content. - Okay, I can't get those.
- Exactly, kitten. - he replied and headed towards the rocks, sitting on one of them. Meyer quickly followed suit. - Wanna smoke in student style?
- Damn, cheesy one.
- It was worth a shot. - he declared before glancing at the backpack lying right next to the girl. - Grab some beer if you can. - he muttered indistinctly, with a smirk on his lips.
- Alcohol, weed, smokes. - she listed, reaching for the bag. - I'm impressed that you went to so much trouble instead of just going to a party. - she fumbled for what he asked for, her fingers finding something soft. Surprised, she blinked before pulling the object into the daylight. - Are you carrying plush toys? - she asked cautiously, looking at him with a twinkle in her eye.
He couldn't... It wasn't what she thought, right?
- You know, sometimes you're really stupid. - he chuckled, shaking his head. - You can put it in that void you call a room.
- Is it for me? Really? - she exclaimed, and the sincerity in her voice and expression amused him even more, making him almost choke on the smoke. - But why?
When he finally calmed down, he casually looked at her face before saying;
- Just because. I saw it in the store, and I had to get it.
She didn't question it.
- You didn't have to... - she weakly protested, with a silly smile forming on her lips. After a while, she started giggling, unable to stop when she realized who this teddy bear really reminded her of. - Did you really get a plushie that looks like JJ?
- Yes! I thought you wouldn't notice. I even stuck an eye on it from another one to make it resemble that walking horror.
- If my cat is disgusting, your dog is even more so. - she retorted, to which he raised the corner of his mouth, taking a final drag before reaching out towards her. She couldn't help but notice how warm his skin was when he brushed her hand.
Whenever she smoked marijuana, she felt like the smoke passed through her throat, lingering there long after it left her body. Not a very pleasant feeling, she had to admit, but she could endure this minor side effect for much better results.
- You know, my offer is still valid. - he murmured, handing her what was left of the joint after a while.
- Which one? - she scoffed, barely able to grasp it with her fingertips. - There were many.
- Actually, every one I made to you, but this time it's about smoking.
She shrugged.
- Well, why not?
She took a slow, deep drag before giving him a sign to lean towards her. She cupped his chin with her thumb and forefinger, ignoring the surprise that painted his face. She let the smoke out of her mouth, watching as his chest rose when he inhaled and wondering if her pupils were as dilated as his.
He chuckled, a mix of bewilderment and excitement, as he finally pulled away.
- Wow. Okay. I didn't expect that. - he admitted before running his hand over his face, in the spot where she touched him a moment ago. - That was fun.
She could swear he glanced at her lips.
- You don't need much, huh, Della Robbia? - she teased, but he dismissed her with a quiet laugh before grabbing another joint, lifting it up.
- One more?
She didn't know how much time had passed. An hour, two? Maybe more.
At some point, the sun disappeared below the horizon, giving way to the crescent moon. Fortunately, there were plenty of street lamps around, providing them with relative amounts of light.
In a magical way, the hand that not long ago held the stub was now in his hand. She herself rested her head on the blond's shoulder, watching some movie he played on his phone. At this moment, touching him didn't bother her the way it had for the past few days when he did it on purpose. In her soul, she even found it quite pleasant, and the warmth emanating from the guy was enough to make her stop shivering from the cold.
They talked about everything and nothing; actually, if she had to quote even one sentence, she wouldn't be able to say a word. However, she didn't mind, as long as they enjoyed their time together. At some point, it even became too enjoyable, and she quickly remembered the main reason why she didn't smoke.
- Twenty questions? - he spoke up, and if not for the sudden movement when he put away his phone, in the next few minutes, she probably would have fallen asleep.
- Which version?
- The one where you answer every stupid question of mine.
- Okay, start.
- Who is Randy?
As if by a magical wand, any fatigue and drowsiness left her body. In shock, she looked at the blond, who, as if nothing had happened, finished the last sip of alcohol.
- Where do you know that name from?
- Aaa. - he twirled his finger, grinning foolishly. - Now it's my turn to ask questions.
- That... Let's say it was like... a friend with benefits? - she mumbled, and he widened his eyes as if he couldn't believe it. - What?
- I can't believe it! You? In an open relationship? I would never have guessed!
- And what's wrong with that? - she scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
- You just don't seem like someone who likes to play in that way. - he explained, and his features brightened with a amused smile before he turned away and reached for another bottle. - Well, well, who would have thought?"
- Actually, it wasn't exactly like that. - she grumbled, grimacing at the sight of the vodka he pulled out. - He was a friend of mine and Charlie's. We started spending more time together, and I really liked him, but... well, it didn't work out.
- Why? - he asked, he had to ask. He gave her a fleeting look before grabbing two plastic cups from somewhere. - I mean, you don't have to say if you don't want to, but I would be really disappointed because I'm so damn curious. - he said, pouring alcohol into the containers with one hand and adding cola with the other. - Was he getting jealous?
- He was actually the one who needed more thrills.
- So were you jealous? - he asked, though with doubt.
Even stoned, he couldn't imagine it; on the other hand, he would never have thought she was in an open relationship.
- That was the problem. - she groaned in frustration. - I couldn't care less about who he was dating, besides, he didn't do it often. I thought everything was okay, but apparently not because he wasn't getting as much attention from me as he wanted. So he decided to break the only rules we had all at once; not to date the same person and damn it, not to hit on my friends."
- Ouch.
She snorted, taking the cup from him.
- And we were doing pretty badly anyway, so it didn't hurt very much. Only that Charlie argued with him a lot. - she said, and only a second later realized how damn strong that drink was when the liquid started burning her throat. - And you? Did you have a girlfriend? I mean, a longer-term one?
- I did. - he reached for his own drink, and to her amazement, he downed it almost immediately. He didn't even grimace, unlike her. - We broke up some time ago.
- Do you ever think about her?
- I try to erase her from my memory. - he replied before raising a vigilant gaze at her. - And you?
- He lost more than I did. - she joked, taking another sip that immediately contorted her features. - Jesus, how on earth do you drink this like water?
- Practice?
- I'm convinced that at this frequency of going out, you'll die before thirty.
- I don't drink that much. Actually, at most parties, I'm quite sober, and I mainly go to meet people. - he argued, although her expression indicated that she didn't believe him at all. - If I really want to get wasted, I go with Ulrich.
The second cup was a real test for her stomach, which seemed to completely not tolerate the proportions in which Odd indulged. So she poured out half when he wasn't looking, instead filling the container with cola.
- Can I learn your philosophy when it comes to relationships? - she murmured, returning his attention to herself when he looked away from the phone.
- Why does it interest you?
- I don't know. - she shrugged. - You've already learned mine.
- I think it's quite similar to yours, except I prefer to skip the romantic part. Screw all those relationships and barriers. Only expectations grow through them, and I'm not the right person to meet them. - he said, trying to keep a playful tone, to give his bitter remark a lighter tone; with poor results.
- You talk as if every girl would want the impossible from you. - she retorted disdainfully, furrowing her brows. - Sure, you're right that expectations grow over time, but I'm sure there are a few girls in the world who won't have outrageous demands.
- So far, I haven't met anyone like that.
- Excuse me?! - she gasped with feigned indignation, placing her hand on her chest. - And me?
- Is that an offer, sweetheart? - he tilted his head, a lazy smile playing on his face. - I thought I wasn't your type at all.
She blinked, realizing what she just said and what he said.
- I meant that I am proof that such people exist. - she corrected herself.
He laughed.
- You know what? Your ex is an idiot. Pretty girl with a sense of humor, zero jealousy, and practically undemanding? Do you even exist?
She rolled her eyes, amused.
- Although you could spare wasting good alcohol. - he raised the corner of his mouth, glancing towards her paper cup.
- It's not my fault that you pour it like you want to poison me, not get me drunk. - she protested, and his pearly laughter echoed in her ears. - Okay, Romeo, maybe let's get back to the questions, huh? Are you playing anything?
- Mainly the guitar. You play too, right? - he tapped his chin with his finger. - If I remember correctly, I saw you once in music class on the drums.
- A bit, but I prefer the guitar too. Can you sing?
- Whether I can is a subjective question. I like it, though. Why? - he deliberately lowered his tone. - Do you like my voice?
- Yes. - this time, she wasn't being ironic. - Want to sing something for me?
He laughed and shook his head.
- No chance.
- Why not?!
- I'm embarrassed. - he declared, and that was probably the stupidest thing she had ever heard in her life.
- Damn it, I literally saw you naked today! How could singing top that?
- That was a completely different situation. - he rolled his eyes.
- Come on! We were at karaoke once, remember?
- I only remember that I had a good time. - he admitted, and his gaze softened as he scanned her face in silence. - Maybe someday, anyway, now it's my turn. What is your biggest secret?
- The biggest, biggest? - he nodded, and she didn't hesitate for a moment to confess; - I hate my sister.
- That's no secret. Every sister is unbearable.
- No, I really hate her. At some point, I wished that something would happen to me or her, so I would never have to see her again.
- Anything specific, or is she just the embodiment of the devil?
- Both. When I was twelve, I went on vacation with my dad to my uncle's in Switzerland. I mean, until he left me alone, after two days. - she lifted the corners of her mouth. - Anyway, when I came back home, I started acting strangely. I had to hit my head or something; problems with memory, mixing up words, little things. It lasted for a few weeks, and my parents probably would never have cared if it hadn't been for Vanessa. She started convincing them that I must have taken something, like a few people from my class, about whom rumors circulated. Mom started freaking out, and the rest of my vacation was pure, fucking hell. Sometimes she still throws it in my face, and I feel like fucking strangling her.
- And let me guess, you didn't take anything?
- Of course not! At that time, I couldn't even name any drug. Literally until the age of sixteen, I held my breath every time I passed someone who smoked regular cigarettes, and she knew damn well about it. - she gritted her teeth. - Anyway, after that stunt, we started arguing every day, and we only stopped when she moved out. Now she's okay, but... - she allowed the words to hang unspoken in the air before adding, in a slightly lighter tone; - And you? Do you have any secrets that no one knows about?
The blond stayed silent for a moment, stubbornly staring at the grass next to his hand. He was so quiet that if she hadn't looked in his direction, she might have been fooled into thinking he disappeared and left her.
- I'm afraid of water. - he finally said, reluctantly. - Once XANA created my clone and trapped me in some hole. I didn't have my phone with me, and no one knew where I was. I tried to climb, but I couldn't catch anything; it was also damn slippery. I was drowning, for a moment... - he clenched his lips, breaking some reed in his fingers into a dozen uneven pieces. - Until Yumi saved me. Since then, I have had to lie to my parents every time there's a lake, pool, or anything else involved. I can't look at any of them. - he gritted his teeth, then looked at her and smiled mockingly. - A bit ironic that I'm telling you this in such a place.
- It would never have crossed my mind.
- That I'm afraid of something so stupid?
- No, I... I wouldn't have thought that something like this would make me admire you more. - she confessed, looking at him in such a strangely soft way that, even if he wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to speak. - I know everyone is afraid of something, but hearing this, especially after seeing you in action, is quite... motivating.
He felt his face start to burn when he realized what she had just said to him. She admired him.
She shouldn't have said that.
- You know, I envy you; Halloween is my favorite holiday. You probably get the best presents.
- Oh, yes, I love Halloween too. - she replied, taken aback by his sudden change of topic. - But I don't like getting presents.
- As far as I'm concerned, you seemed pretty happy with the one I gave you. - he grumbled, and then she understood where this sudden harshness in his voice came from.
- So, did you actually come for my birthday? - she sighed, glancing at the plushie smiling at her from its place next to the bag. - Did Charlie tell you?
- Why didn't you tell me?
- I didn't want to bother you. After all, it was Halloween, and you said you wanted to go somewhere.
- If you had told me, I would have come. You didn't give me a choice. - he said, and that was the first time he seemed to be really angry. Offended.
- It wasn't a big deal...
- Not at all. It was your birthday, and I go out into town all the time. If I had known, I would have surely found a way to-
- But we're celebrating it now, right?
- Right. - he sighed, irritated. - But if Charlie hadn't spilled the beans, you probably wouldn't have told me, huh? - he snorted when she hesitated and shook her head. - Exactly. And I'd like to spend occasions like birthdays together, especially considering the circumstances.
Circumstances? What...
Oh.
- I didn't think of it that way. - she admitted, her face burning with shame (or maybe it was the alcohol again, she wasn't sure). - But... well, I... And when is your birthday? Maybe...
- August. - he cut in, instantly making her feel a thousand times worse against her better judgment. - Parents always insist on celebrating together, and my sisters always have to pull something off. - he looked at her, at her clenched lips and lowered gaze. He licked his lips, and his voice was much gentler as he continued. - I'm trying to say that I understand. I, too, would prefer not to celebrate my birthday in certain circumstances, but I didn't think you'd choose me as the option to ditch.
- If I knew it would be such an emotional rollercoaster, I wouldn't have hesitated. - she tried to joke, but even in her own ears, her voice sounded weak.
- So, let me ask again because I'm still not sure. Are we friends or not?
- Of course, we are. - she replied quickly, confidently. - I just... well, I didn't feel like going anywhere, and I didn't want you to be bored with me on Halloween.
- I figured, even though it's fucking stupid.
- So why are you yelling at me?
- Because I wanted to make things clear. I like spending time with you, and if you start questioning it again in that pretty head of yours, just remember tonight, okay? - he snapped, but this time there was audible amusement in his voice, which turned into genuine laughter when she pushed him in the arm.
- You just gave me such a hard time that I think I've sobered up. - she confessed, reaching for the vodka and regretfully discovering that the bottle was already empty.
He just shrugged, busying himself tapping something on his phone screen that she couldn't see from this perspective.
- How about some music, huh? - he smiled, sitting so that he faced her. He put the device back into his pocket, and after a moment, they could hear the song he chose.
- I'm sorry.
- You don't have to be.
He leaned back more comfortably and let his eyelids fall, tapping his fingers in time with the music. The dark-haired girl followed suit, closing her eyes. She listened to the familiar sounds, truly relaxing for the first time in a while. Her thoughts weren't focused on assignments, quizzes, annoying people, or the awareness that there was an artificial intelligence that wanted to kill her; only on the pleasant hum in her head and deep breaths. Hers and the guy's next to her.
Somewhere in the middle of the song, he turned his head towards her, as quietly as he could. She never painted her lips, but they were what caught his gaze; and he couldn't help but wonder if her lipbalm tasted as good as he imagined. He didn't know how he found the strength to tear his eyes away from her face.
He tried to focus back on the melody, but quickly found that it had lost its charm. He shuddered when he felt a cold touch as she took his hand. He struggled to maintain a calm demeanor, although everything in him screamed in panic.
Did she notice? No, it couldn't be. She didn't see, right?
- Nice ring. - she said, looking up at him; he was extremely lucky it was already dark, and she couldn't see his reddened ears.
At least, he hoped so.
- Thanks. - he croaked, unintentionally leaning towards her. He couldn't help it; she attracted him like a magnet, and he was too drunk to resist. - By the way, happy birthday.
He was so close that she barely needed to move to kiss him. Neither of them said a word, both staring at each other, as if nothing else in the world existed. She saw him take a deep, steady breath, and his eyes roamed her entire face, though he tried not to do it too openly.
- Do you think there's a way I could apologize to you? - she half-joked, lifting her chin and provocatively looking into his eyes. For a split second, he seemed surprised by her audacity before his gaze darkened when he finally focused on her lips.
- One way to find out.
Her breath quickened when he took her chin with his fingers, gently pulling her towards him before cupping her face with his hands. She could smell his cologne, weed, and a faint hint of alcohol as he finally kissed her. She allowed herself to close her eyes, feeling the blond completely dissolve in the kiss as she placed her hands on his neck. In a matter of seconds, a light brushing turned into a slow sucking of her lower lip, and then he slid his tongue over it, slipping into her mouth. It was nice. It was hot.
He behaved completely differently than she expected; his movements were decisive but not impetuous. He didn't rush with her, and it made her heart beat three times stronger than if he had her undressed at that moment. And damn, she was stupid, thinking she had any control over the situation.
Her own body ceased to cooperate with her; she could only weakly return the kisses, and her hands clenched on his shirt as he caressed the hair at the nape of her neck. The hand sliding down her back set her nerves on fire when he positioned her around the waist at the moment he trailed his lips to her neck.
If she were able to gather her thoughts, she might feel embarrassed about the sounds she made when he found an exceptionally delicate spot three centimeters below her ear. She felt his smile on her skin as he bit into the hollow of her neck, then slid his tongue along her throat, back up to the jawline. Simultaneously, his hands dipped beneath the layer of her sweater, leisurely gliding over her exposed waist before resting on her hips. Shortly after, he pulled her closer, encouraging her to take a seat on his lap.
At some point, maybe doubts appeared in her foggy mind, but then the blond did something clever with his tongue, and she quickly forgot about them.
- You don't have tickles anymore, do you? - he teased, caressing the skin on both sides at the level of her navel with his thumbs.
- Yeah, sure, whatever. - she babbled, amusing him, before pulling him towards her again, kissing him. She put her hand in his hair, pulling the short blond strands, eliciting a quiet moan from his lips; a real moan that sent shivers down her spine, and warmth settled in her guts permanently.
Then, an alarm sounded in his ears, involuntarily causing him to pull away from her. It took him a few seconds to realize that the sound wasn't coming from his imagination but from his own pocket.
- I... - she hesitated. - I think you should answer that.
He knew it, he knew it perfectly well, but damn, that was absolutely the last thing he wanted right now. He felt almost a physical pain when she moved away.
- Hello. - he growled.
His breath was heavy, and a million intrusive thoughts raced through his head, each one concerning the girl sitting next to him. He even caught himself unable to tear his gaze away from her fluttering eyelids.
- Hi Odd, I've got news for you! - Jeremy announced, and maybe he realized that something was wrong because he added, - Um, I'm not disturbing, am I?
His brow twitched, and his fingers tightened on the device, almost crushing it.
- And can what you have to tell me wait until tomorrow?
- Yeah, I think... - he didn't bother listening to the rest, quickly disconnecting and this time hiding the phone deep in the abyss of his backpack. He took a deep breath before slowly, painfully releasing the air from his lungs, turning towards the dark-haired girl.
Sometimes he really, really hated his life.