October 1989
I woke up with a jolt one night because of a sharp knock coming from my living room. I knitted my eyebrows together as my eyes got used to being open, and they stung. My eyelids drifted closed as Mr. Sandman tried to overpower me again until I heard another knock and realized I wasn't dreaming.
I yawned and I pulled my pink blanket from my bed and draped it over my shoulders. I was too tired to even think about who could be here at this hour. I slumped over to the front door and flicked the light on. I peeked through the peephole first before I opened it.
In an attempt for my eyes to not burn out of their sockets, I scrunched my face from the overhead light and blinked hard as I fully comprehended that Mickey was at my door. I had many questions, but I was far too tired to ask them coherently.
"Hey, I'm really sorry to drag you out of bed," Mickey said softly.
"No, no, it's—" I cleared my throat and leaned against the open door, "what's up?"
"Well, nothing really. I just, um, I keep hearing these weird noises in my apartment. I thought I might feel better if I slept here," Mickey said.
"You're hearing weird noises in your apartment. You got scared. So you come here," I reiterated to myself sleepily. I was trying to wake myself up more, but it was nearly impossible. I was afraid that I was going to pass out where I stood.
"Look, if it's a problem, I can—"
"No, no, ahem, it's not a problem. Come on in." I opened the door for her. She walked past me as I closed the door.
"Thanks. Again, I'm really sorry. I really didn't want to bother you."
"No, don't worry about it," I yawned, "let's go to my room."
I've stayed the night at her place a few times, and her at mine too. But that was when we were friends. Nothing was weird and we knew our place. Now that we are dating, I don't know what her limits are. Since the relationship is fairly new, I didn't want to push her and make her uncomfortable since we have never really talked about it.
"I'll just crash on the couch," she said.
"No." I felt groggy. "It's okay."
"I'll be fine."
"I don't want you to be out here alone."
"It'll take me a while to fall asleep anyway."
I looked at her blankly, a little annoyed that she would rather sleep on my lumpy couch than in my bed. She was stubborn, but that was one of the things I loved about her. We've had some deep talks about our own personal struggles and I know she has a fear of abandonment due to her family issues, and this may be a reaction to that.
I headed over to the drawers I had under my television and I pulled out extra pillows and a blanket for her. I still felt guilty about letting her sleep on the couch, but if it's what's comfortable for her than I will be supportive.
"Thanks," she said as she tossed the blanket and pillow on the couch.
I stood up straighter and brought my eyebrows together as I studied Mickey. This was out of character for her so I knew that something was wrong. I asked, "are you all right?"
"Yeah. I'll tell you about it in the morning, all right? Go back to sleep."
"Good night," I said sleepily and leaned in to give her a silent goodnight kiss, then she wished me a good night. My eyes were half closed as I got back in my room and I shut the door.
The light under my door turned off, and I readjusted the blanket on my shoulders. I stood still for a moment, trying to think straight. Was that the best way I could have handled that? Was I really going to be the kind of man who makes his girlfriend sleep on the couch? Absolutely not.
I tiptoed over to my door and swung it open gently. I saw Mickey's silhouette bolt upright in the dark and I yawned again. I said, "come lay with me. Get in here."
"Sorry, I'm fine," she said. Mickey is a very modest and independent person. Sometimes it takes some convincing to get her to do something, otherwise she won't do it because she thinks too much about other people and not enough about herself. This was one of those times.
I sighed at her stubbornness and realized that I was going to have to bring her in the hard way. I walked over to the couch before scooping her up in my arms and I tossed her over my shoulder like a bag of potatoes. She squealed and giggled, which made me feel warm inside. I love hearing her laugh.
I carried her all the way to my room, and my blanket started to slip off my shoulder. The end of the blanket got caught around my feet, and I felt my knees buckle as I began to fall. I lurched my arms forward to get her to land on the bed before my knees crunched on the unforgiving floor.
"Are you okay?" She asked with a quick laugh after bouncing on the bed.
I didn't let the pain keep me down. I scrambled up to my feet and I lifted my chin in the air while looking down at her with my eyes and said, "never better."
I straightened my knees to let them crack, then I walked to the side of my bed and pulled the sheets up before I got in. Mickey was already under the covers, and I looked down at her adoringly. I leaned down to kiss her goodnight once again. I said, "everything's all right, you're safe with me."
My eyelids were so heavy, but I managed to have my eyes half open, just to make sure that this wasn't a dream. I think I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow.
I woke up in the morning with a weird taste in my mouth, and dried drool on my cheek. I wiped it off and sat up before I realized that Mickey wasn't in bed anymore. I inhaled softly and I could still faintly smell her shampoo lingering on my pillows. I threw the covers off and began making my way around my room, grabbing a nearby blanket that was blue and put it around my shoulders like a cape.
Super Tom.
I heard something tinkering around in the kitchen, and the sound of silverware bouncing in the sink. She must be over there, I could smell something cooking but I wasn't sure what it was.
I glanced at my night stand and nearly forgot that I had an extra key of my apartment made for Mickey to keep. I felt like it was the right time to give it to her. I grabbed the key and hid it in the palm of my hand.
I walked out of my room, and could smell the delicious scent of waffles fill the air. I saw Mickey in the kitchen, slaving away. I smiled at her sleepily and said, "good morning."
"Morning, I made waffles," she said. She knows me so well. I love waffles. I could live a hundred lifetimes and still not deserve this girl. She is just too good to be true.
"I know." I sniffed the air for emphasis. "It smells good. And you were rummaging around the kitchen like a raccoon."
She laughed, "really?"
"Really." Her laugh was so contagious. If every word I said could make her laugh, I'd talk forever. Or if every song I sing to her could fill her heart with joy and love, I'd sing forever. I hope that she lets the love I have for her live in her heart and it can beat forever.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be loud. By the way, I can't find your spatula."
"It's lost?" I asked.
"That's what I said. I've been using a fork instead. Works just as well since they're in a waffle maker."
"I'll have to get a new one," I said. I walked up behind her and looked down at the waffles while bending down slightly to place my chin on her shoulder. I said to her, "you're so hot when your morning hair is a mess."
She said, "so is yours."
I asked, "how was your night?"
"It was fine," she shrugged.
"Wanna talk about it?" I rubbed her arm gently in an attempt to comfort her. I pressed my lips to the side of her neck and inhaled. I love her scent. It makes me weak.
"Yeah, I don't know... I just heard weird things in my apartment last night. I couldn't help but think that I wasn't alone."
I know she watched a scary movie last night. I'd bet my entire paycheck on it. I chuckled at her and said softly, "you know, that's what directors strive for when they make horror movies."
She looked away from me, and I saw a smile emerging on her lips. I let myself smile, because I knew that she knew that I knew. I wish I could be with her forever, but that wouldn't be enough time with her. I've fallen in love so many times, and it's always with her. I still can't get over how radiant she is, and she still mesmerizes me just like the first day we met.
I asked, "what movie did you watch?"
"Poltergeist," she disclosed.
"If you know that horror movies do that to you, why do you watch them?"
"I like the thrill of it. In the moment."
"But Mickey, it freaks you out."
"It's thrilling," she playfully snapped.
I laughed, "you're as nutty as a fruitcake."
"Eat your waffles," she smiled and gestured toward the plate of waffles.
I pointed out, "that was our first real sleepover."
At least the first one where we didn't pass out on the couch, or have to leave at an ungodly hour for work. We got to relax, sleep in, and get to spend some time together. I could get used to nights like that with her.
"I know," she said.
"We should do that more often," I suggested.
"I think we should too."
"I love you with your morning bedhead," I said to her with an emerging grin.
I wished I could have run my fingers through her beautiful hair but she did it for me. She pushed the strands away from her face and her hair fell over her shoulder. She let out a nervous little chuckle, and she looked over at me and my heart skipped a beat. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." I got behind her and I wrapped my arms around her. Together we rocked back and forth, and I held her in my arms.
Then she asked, "do you still think I'm pretty without makeup?"
"Of course," I said. She could wear a potato sack and she would still be breathtaking. "I think you are the most beautiful person."
"I think you are the most beautiful person," she said.
"No, you are." I closed my eyes with a smile, and I leaned over her shoulder and kissed her.
"You are." She kissed me.
"Are you ready to make some scrambled eggs?" I asked. I stepped to the side and I grabbed an egg from the carton and tossed it up in the air. When I caught it with my other hand, it smashed against my palm and the egg went everywhere.
Mickey's hands went up to her mouth and she started to laugh so hard that she almost snorted.
"It was an ovaries joke... but the egg broke in my hand," I tried to explain. I dropped the cracked shell to the ground and started to whip the egg off of my hand.
"Tom!" She laughed and tried to shield herself from the flinging egg whites and yolk.
"Just like how I'm trying to break your back," I added with a little smirk.
"Tom!"
"And I've been meaning to give you this..." I used my dry hand to put the key on the counter. "In case you ever feel the desire to make me breakfast again, or if you decide to scare the bejesus out of yourself again in the middle of the night. You are always welcome to come here."
"Oh my god, Tom." She picked up the key and inspected it. I couldn't stop smiling. She turned around and said," thank you!"
Before I knew it, she was giving me a hug. I realized that her love language is touch, so I try to give her as much physical affection as I can. When she touches me, I feel warm all over. In our embrace, I noticed the bowl of waffle batter she was still working on, but we already had so many waffles... we don't need more.
I cunningly said, "or if you ever need a shower..."
"I have my own place to do that," she snickered.
I made sure I was quiet, but I snuck my hand into the glob of yellow waffle batter before I smacked it on her head as lovingly as I could. Her mouth dropped and she pulled away from me. She used her fingers to wipe the batter away from her eyes, and she glared at me. Not in an angry way, but in a I'm-going-to-get-you-back sort of way. That's another thing I love about her, is that she's fun. None of my previous partners would ever have been okay with that stunt.
There was a spark in her eyes, blazing through to me in exhilaration. The batter dripped down her face and her oversized pajama shirt, and she began laughing. "You're dead, Hanson!"
She tried to grab at me, but I was quick to grab the bowl of waffle mix and I shoved my hand into it and began running into the living room, dodging her. I felt my blanket slip off my shoulders. I was trying not to slip on the hardwood with my white Nike socks as I tossed a glob over my shoulder. I jumped over the couch as she looked down at her shirt and scraped the splattered batter off with her hand and threw it my way like it was a baseball. I twisted my torso so she barely missed me.
She came at me again, so I turned around to run away. My foot caught a glob that fell on the floor behind me and I slipped. I yelped as I flung the bowl in the air and I landed smack on my back. The bowl landed beside me, but not without splattering the rest of the batter over me and the floor. Mickey was running after me and I didn't have enough time to get out of her way. She tripped over me and she rolled onto the floor beside me.
We were both breathing heavily, laying on our backs and looking up at the ceiling. I looked over at her and saw that she was caked in the batter. I wasn't nearly as messy as she was.
We both started laughing with each other at the situation. I love that I can be myself and have fun with her. I asked, "are you okay?"
"Yeah. Now I really need a shower."
I got up to my feet and wiped my sticky hands off on my pajama pants and I offered to help her stand up. Once we were both on our feet, we inspected the mess and figured that we should clean up.
Mickey started walking to the bathroom to clean herself up, and I'd be a bad boyfriend if I let her do that by herself. I followed her but Mickey stopped me when she got to the door. She turned around and asked, "where do you think you are going?"
"Shower?" I asked innocently, but my grin told another story. It wouldn't be our first time.
Behind her back, I heard the doorknob turn and she took a step back into the dark bathroom. I could feel my heart beating faster for her. I was aroused just by her presence. She chuckled and said, "one step at a time, Hanson."
All my facial muscles dropped as she swung the door closed in my face. I stayed there frozen for a moment until I heard the muffled sound of the shower water turning on. She was being serious? Damn.
I turned around and figured that I should probably clean up the mess we made while she was taking a shower. I fetched my cleaning supplies and I got down to my knees with a roll of paper towels by my side as I cleaned up the waffle batter from the floor.
Suddenly, the sound of the water became more clear and I heard Mickey's voice ring out, "To-om!"
I turned around and saw her gleaming face poking out of the door. I caught a glance of her bare neck and collar bones so I knew that she took off her clothes. My eyebrows instantly raised, further grabbing my attention. Then, her hand came out from behind the door and she started throwing her clothes at me. One at a time.
They were covered in the waffle batter, but I caught every piece at my chest. I looked back at her with a devilish grin and I scrambled up to my feet. My hunger for her was too intense to keep it inside. I started running full force to the door, but Mickey closed the door right when I got there and I ran into the door. I put my hand in the doorknob, but I heard the lock click.
I laughed defeatedly and leaned my back up against the door. It's not very nice to tease. I rested my head on the door and let my head roll to the side. I said breathlessly, "you're going to be the death of me, Michelle Gregg."
The second I heard that door unlock, I stood up straight so I wouldn't fall through the doorframe. I turned around as Mickey opened the bathroom door again, and I smiled at her with high hopes.
"Do you want to shower with me really quick?" She asked with pleading eyes.
I immediately took my clothes off before even stepping into the bathroom. Say no more, I thought. I gently held her and pulled her in for a kiss.
I'm drawn to her balance, proportion, and grace. She's beautiful, she's sensual. I love seeing her naked. Not in a creepy way, but she is such a private person it just shows how much she trusts and loves me, and that she is comfortable with me.
My hand brushed down her side and I held her waist. I smiled against her soft lips and I asked, "does it have to be quick?"
Mickey giggled. "No."
I felt Mickey turn her head but it didn't stop me from kissing her, even if it's just her cheek. I stepped a little closer to her, enclosing the space we had between us. I wrapped my arm around her as I leaned over to turn the heat down in the shower. Mickey hugged my arm to her, and I kissed the back of her head.
I touched the water and as soon as it had cooled down enough to not give us blisters from the heat, we jumped into the shower and we enjoyed a wholesome little shower together.
Thanks for reading!
Next chapter is based off the episode Old Haunts in the New Age!