How I feel when I'm around you (System Of A Down)(EN)

A nice game

[Author's note: here I am! This time the author's note is before the chapter because, uhm, I just want to say that something will happen here, things are getting on a certain way from now on... *evil giggle* hope you like this chapter, as usual feel free to comment and tell me what do you think and what did you like the most, I love reading your comments and seeing your reactions! :D P.S.: please wish me good luck and pray for me 'cause I have an exam in a few hours and I'm dying of anxiety lol]

-Nikki-

«Okay, I gotta stop, I'm about to explode» Shavo slurs, falling on the couch near John.

«Ahahah, you suck» Daron replies while taking the last mouthful of food.

«And I, instead of eating a shitload of stuff, eat light» Serj says peacefully.

«Well, you're a vegetarian so barely half of Christmas typical food is suitable for you...»

«The girl isn't kidding, though» Daron then adds, turning to face me.

«I'm tiny but this doesn't affect the fact that I eat a lot» I shoot back, grimacing. «That's called fast metabolism.»

«Ahah, I know.»

«Well, what about doing something while waiting for midnight?» the singer suggests, standing up.

«Something like hanging around in the house and kissing each other under the mistletoe, since there's almost a field of it everywhere?» John says, laughing.

«How witty, Dolmayan» the other returns.

«Is a classic "truth or dare" mixed with "spin the bottle" too mainstream for you?» the guitarist proposes.

«Oh, okay, let's do it» Shavo nods and slides down from the couch to sit on the floor. «It's better if we sit on the floor» he adds, as if he's justifying what he did.

After finding an empty plastic bottle, we sit down on the carpet.

«Who starts?» I ask, curious.

«As gentlemen, we let the ladies start» Serj giggles.

«Oh, that's okay!» I stretch myself a bit, then I look at each one of them with a fake evil gaze while the bottle spins and stops towards the bassist. «Truth or dare?»

«Truth» he says, spinning the bottle again that suddenly stops pointing to the drummer.

«Well well, let's start with little John» Shavo chuckles. «Is it true that you read porn magazines?»

John blushes. «Uhm... yes, it is.»

«You've been honest and we appreciate it» the other smiles and pats his friend on the back. «C'mon, spin the bottle.»

The "clock hand" of destiny chooses Serj, who decides to pick up a dare, then after some seconds it chooses Daron.

«Uhm, what dare? Let's see... okay, you'll play "five minutes in heaven" and now we'll choose the other person.»

«I'm up for it» the guitarist replies, being smug, waiting for the "verdict" to be said... the bottle halts and its neck points toward the victim as resolute as a death sentence.

It's pointing toward me.

Shit.

«Ohohoooh!» the drummer whistles.

Daron's eyes widen and he hesitates for a few moments, then he stands up, while trying to keep up a stolid attitude.

«That's a dare, I know that if I refuse it you'll choose some other thing to do and I also know you guys can be dangerous, so I won't back down» he says, then approaches and lends his hand to me to help me and I hold it firmly; it seems like my legs are suddenly weak but I won't make them know it. Serj comes with us, holding a timer.

«Behave well, guys» he giggles evilly, pushing us into the guitarist's room and closing the door; we hear the bip of the timer and his footsteps.

The room is dark and only a bit of light coming from outside makes it less gloomy: I fumble and find the bed and sit down, while Daron moves near here.

«Are you okay, lil thing?» I can sense some uneasiness in his voice.

«Yep, thanks» I answer with a neutral voice, while twisting my hands together on my lap.

A few moments of silence, then he speaks again.

«Have you ever done games like these?»

«Yup, when I was younger» I say, then I become quiet again, but the absence of dialogue gives me more anxiety than the actual situation, so I choose to make him a question that I've had in my head since when he saved me.

«Are you single?»

«Yes, I am, since some months. It didn't end very well, but whatever.» A terse answer, given with a flat tone of voice, that makes me feel a mix of sensations; a little and unnamed hope rises.

I suddenly hear a rustle and then I sense the mattress moving, so I understand that he's sitting besides me now, then I feel a soft and warm hands of his on my arm.

«You're nervous, I can feel it» he chuckles.

«You seem to be too» I whisper back, taking back a bit of the usual irony I use to talk with him; I feel he's near and my heartbeat quickens.

«That's sly of you, lil thing, trying to change the topic» he comments.

«I would say the same about you.»

He laughs again, a laugh deeper than his usual one and unusual for his timbre of voice, then he moves and gets nearer; I can sense one of his arm being put behind me, my five senses are more acute in the darkness.

«You can be really irritating, but all this situation intrigues me a lot» he talks again, then he stops and in a few seconds I feel his warm breath too near. «May I?» he asks, with the most innocent tone of voice.

My heart skips a beat and my breath becomes ragged, my throat is tied in a knot and I can't speak...

Oh my God, no, Nikki, what are you doing, what is this, why, why do you react to him in this way?!

I nod, I know it's a stupid thing and maybe he won't understand, but it's what I'm still able to do now.

Daron takes a few deep and shaky breaths and then places his lips on mine with a caress-like softness. I wince at the contact and kiss back with the same grace.

After realizing it, Daron's kiss becomes quite harder and I falter because of all the things I'm feeling; he takes me by the chin with two fingers and then puts an arm on my back and pushes me against him and I feel like I'm drowning; in that right moment someone knocks at the door.

«Time out!»

«On the way!» Daron answers, after breaking the contact; he breathes deeply for a few moments, then he stands up and offers me his hand in order to do the same thing.

«Are you okay?»

«Yup.» I'm lying, I know, but I have to.

«Well. I should say this kind of games leaves you messed up...»

«I'm afraid it is so...»

«And I should say this one has been a nice game.»

I don't speak anymore while returning to the living room, still shaken by what happened, but I recollect myself soon and hide every trace of what I experienced, and when it's midnight and the exchange of "Merry Christmas"s and kisses starts, I appear as the usual Nikki; but when it's time to go to bed and I find myself alone in the bed in which I've slept the first time I went there, I feel kind of cold inside.

...a nice game. I'm afraid it's really been a frolic for him... and I'm afraid it hasn't been the same for me.

I've had a very few serious relationships in my life, I have kissed several people even for games like this, but what Daron's kiss made me feel it's stronger and vivid than ever. What about him? What did he feel? He seemed so nervous before kissing me, I doubt that it left him indifferent, but it doesn't seem to matter because it's been only a simple dare in a "truth or dare" game.

Nikki, silly Nikki, you're feeling something for Daron, do something before it's too late...

Suddenly tiredness takes over and I fall asleep peacefully without acknowledging it.