I had spent the last two nights in the glass room with Eric. Something about the place had just calmed me or maybe it was how it had felt as if something has shifted between me and Eric over the last couple of days. There's been a lot of cuddling (who would've thought he was a big cuddler) and also a lot of making out. It was as if we were living in our own little bubble when we were up there.
None of my roommates seems to have noticed the lack of my presence or the way I slip in just before Tobias arrives to wake us up since I'm not especially close to any one of them. If they'd noticed, they never asked or mentioned anything to anyone. Still, I had to return to the dorms for a shower and a change of clothes before and after practices since Eric's clothes- no matter however comfortable they are for sleeping in- are far too big.
The room was mostly empty since everyone had headed straight from the dining hall for dinner. I'm entirely fond of sharing a shower with a bunch of naked strangers and so I jumped at the opportunity to take a long, hot, shower as supposed to my usual quick ones.
I stripped off my clothes stepped under the spray of water and took my time lathering on soap as I hummed out a tune.
"Fuck," My eyes immediately snapped open at the pained-sounding groan just in time to see Eric averting his eyes.
"Eric!" I yelled quickly covering my important bits with my hands before I found a towel to cover myself up with. "What are you doing here?" I asked.
Taking a sudden avid interest in a table lamp, Eric holds up a small glass bottle. "Brought you some more of that ointment like I promised."
I smile at his thoughtfulness. Stepping out of the shower, I raise on my toes to give him a kiss on the cheek when I near him and he groans again.
"New rule; no kissing when you're practically naked."
I chuckle, "It's only on the cheek."
"It's still a kiss," He argues, "None of that unless you're willing to find out what other kinds of things I could be doing to you while you're naked."
My cheeks start to heat and I gulp. "Fine," I relent, "Now, turn around."
He raises a brow, instinctively turning to look at me before realising his mistake and looking away again as he clears his throat. "Why?"
"I need to get dressed," I point out and he turns.
"Is it bad that I can't stop picturing you naked?" I could hear the teasing smile in his voice as he speaks and hauled my used towel at his back.
His low chuckle fills the room as I quickly threw some clothes on.
"All done," I announce once I'm dressed.
His eyes darken as they take me in from head to toe, making me feel as though I haven't put on my clothes at all and I fight the urge to look down to check.
"I'll leave this over here," He says, walking over to the cabinet by my bed and placing the jar on it, pausing when his eyes snag on something.
"It's your birthday?"
I frown, ready to deny it but quickly realise what today's date was. "I knew I was forgetting something," I laugh when Eric shoots me a look that doesn't even hide the fact that he's judging the crap out of me for forgetting my own birthday. "How did you know that?"
He jerks his head towards the cabinet where a slice of chocolate cake and a little card with the words 'Happy Birthday' written on it in bold letters.
Eric pauses for a minute before he says, "Come to the glass room after this, I'll have something planned for you."
"I can't, I already promised to meet Uriah and the others on the roof."
He leans forward, pressing a kiss to my temple. "After, then. How does ten sound?"
I perk up, "Sounds perfect."
"For now," Eric pulls me against me by the waist and kisses me deeply, "I need to take a cold shower."
A surprised laugh bubbles out of me at what he just said and he kisses a trail up my neck, "You think this is funny, huh?"
"Just a little," I smile and he returns one that's just as bright.
"I'll see you later," He pecks me on the lips, "Happy Birthday."
I watch as he leaves before picking up the card that was left on my cabinet. I didn't need to flip it open to know who it was from. I'd recognise that handwriting anywhere. Still, I do and quickly scanned through the short message written on it.
Happy Birthday, you idiot.
Love, T.
✧
"Cake!" Uriah exclaims when he sees me munching on the cake Tobias had left for me, opening his mouth for me to feed him a bite.
"No way!" I decided I wasn't in the mood for sharing, "This one's mine, get your own."
"Damn, Nessie." Uriah pouts, "When'd you become so selfish?"
Taking another forkful of cake, I pop it into my mouth with a smile. "Since, it's my birthday."
"It's your birthday?!" Uriah exclaims jumping to his feet, "Why the hell didn't you say anything?" He says before dashing off and yelling down the stairwell, "Guys! Get the beer, it's Nessie's birthday!"
After a couple of minutes, the rest of them- Zeke included- emerges from the stairwell.
Zeke leads the group with a six-pack in hand and a shotgun slung over his shoulder with Marlene trailing behind him with her arms full of muffins and Lynn brings up the rear with two more shotguns in her hand.
I frown at the scene before me, "What are the guns for?"
"We're celebrating, aren't we?" Zeke drops the beer beside me and offers me a theatrical bow, "Since your brother can't be here, I will be celebrating with you in his place. Which is lucky for you because we both know I'm the fun one."
I snort as I watch as Marlene balances a muffin on her head instead of eating them and positions herself in front of a target of the shooting range not too far from our spot and Zeke starts to aim for it.
"Woah! Are you guys insane!" I yell, jumping to my feet. "Put the damn gun down, Zeke!"
The guys just burst out laughing, "Relax, Nessie. They're filled with rubber bullets. What's the worst that could happen?"
I throw my hands up in exasperation, "I could think of a few things. Like- oh, I don't know- shooting out someone's eye, maybe?" I retort sarcastically.
"Aw, come on," Uriah slings an arm over my shoulder, "You need to live a little, Nessie! It's your birthday!" He grins widely before turning to Marlene, "Ready?"
Marlene nods and Zeke aims then pulls the trigger.
A red bullet that looks like it could be made out of silicone flies through the air and knocks the muffin off Marlene's head, sending perfectly edible crumbs across the gravel and I frown again.
"You're wasting good muffins."
"Don't worry, Ness. We'll save some for you to eat," Marlene chirps, switching places with Zeke.
"Hold up, let me shoot!" Uriah snatches the shotgun before Marlene could get a hold of it and she rolls her eyes but doesn't complain.
Like Marlene, Zeke places a muffin on his head and stands in front of the target with his hand shielding his crotch, belting out the song 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' at the top of his lungs.
As they always say; be careful what you wish for. Rather than shooting the muffin off of Zeke's head like he should, Uriah switches course at the last second, shifting his aim from the muffin to Zeke's stomach before firing.
The muffin topples off of Zeke's head as he doubled over in pain, clutching at his stomach.
"Bitch!" He curses viciously at his little brother, "I've helped practically raise you and this is how you repay me, you ungrateful little shit!"
I can't help but burst out laughing at the scene, "Are you okay, Zeke?" I ask between laughter.
"Yeah, yeah." Zeke waves me off as he straightens out, still holding on to his stomach like how a pregnant lady would. His eyes land on Uriah, who is practically sprawled out on the ground laughing his ass off and he scowls, "You're going to pay for this." He doesn't give any other warning before taking off toward Uriah.
Uriah seems to have already seen this coming and takes off running with Zeke right on his tail as he screams at the top of his lungs.
By the time the clock strikes ten, I'm wiping tears from my eyes, before thanking them for all the fun and making up some excuse to leave. The last thing I wanted to do was spoil the night for Zeke by telling him I was off to meet with Eric.