A/N: So okay, this update is only just a year and half long overdue, but would it be completely insane of me to think that people might be reading this? I hope not… I dunno, I think my lack of updating these days for any of my stories are seriously deterring ppl from commenting – maybe because no one reads my stuff anymore. *sigh*
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy it… if there's anyone reading this of course.
Part 16: Just The Small Things…
25th of December, 2005 (Sunday) – Evanston, Illinois
Squinting into the darkness of the room, she tried to take in a supposed unfamiliar surrounding. To her side, a TV was on, and animated characters were moving around illuminating the otherwise pitch black room. She tried to turn her head, and this was the point where she realised that her head was cushioned a top something… soft, and squishy – nothing like a fluffy pillow. Lifting her head up just the slightest bit, she recognised that shirt… it was a certain blonde's shirt. Getting up just a little further, memories finally came rushing back to her, and now she remembered where she was – in her own living room. Looking up further, she noticed she wasn't the only one sprawled out on her own carpeted floor… Grace, Zoë, Jessie and Tad were lying with her, as the couch was being occupied by none other than her own brother, Kennedy.
It was rather funny how everyone was splayed out on the floor, either curled up or just plain spread open. Grace laid on her side, head elevated by Tad's abdomen, Tad himself laid with one arm folded behind his head, and the other on his chest. Zoë on the other hand must've been cold, as she was curled up into a tiny little ball within the spot between Grace and Tad. Her own brother was pretty much… strewn onto the couch, ligaments coming off at random angles. Then her eyes finally came to halt at the blonde's sleeping figure, right next to her. Her eyes slowly roamed the younger girl starting from where her head was a minute ago, and inching her way up to the girl's face… peaceful.
Who knew how long she has zoned out, but by the time she was snapped back into reality, Jessie had shifted in her sleep, and now turned away from Katie, lying on her side, arms folded in front of her to keep warm. Katie shook her head once more, and quickly scrambled upstairs to find some large blankets, to cover up her probably freezing friends.
Nearly tumbling her way down with a handful of sheets she had found around the house, she carefully made her way back to the living room as stealthily as possible. Knocking herself into corners here and there… guess the 'stealthy' thing didn't work out at all. Tossing the stash onto the floor, she grabbed a large one and tried to find a way to cover up the 'threesome'. 'Well, how am I gonna do this? Maybe I can just fling it onto them, and let them figure it out themselves…' Katie snickered despite herself.
No matter how hard she rattled her drowsy mind, she still couldn't find a way to not suffocate the hell out of Zoë – so as a last resort, she covered the sisters with one blanket, and Tad in a separate one. Tip toeing her way over to her brother, she tried her best to carry his heavy arms and legs and place them back on the couch… 'God damn Ken! Did you gain weight again?' she looked at her brother's defined and toned figure, 'Doubt it. God your arms are heavy…' Her attempts were futile. Sighing in defeat, she grabbed yet another large blanket and tried to cover up all his limbs.
Finally feeling satisfied of her handy work, she grabbed the last blanket, and realized how stupid she was to leave the smallest one for Jessie and herself to share – it was tiny - practically microscopic! Okay, just a little over exaggeration, but it was indeed… small. 'Stupid! Just stupid! Good work Katie, now what?' Berating herself internally.
'You can always share with her.' A part of her mind would tell her.
Then the other side contradicted, 'like how? I'd have to practically spoon her in order to get both of us to fit in this… thing!'
Back to the 'evil' side, 'Exactly! How bright of you… as they say, like minds think alike!'
Katie sighed, 'you damn idiot… I think that saying was slightly wrong, it's great minds think alike… But that's beside the point! We're of the same mind you freak!'
'Wow… genius. Did you just realize that? Or have you not noticed you're having a really big debate with your own pretty little head?'
'That's enough… will you just shut up! You can just be courteous and give Jessie the blanket, you can survive the cold…'
Finally making up her mind, Katie took her final suggestion and gave Jessie the blanket. 'God I must be high or something, I'm talking to myself for crying out loud!' Alas, being able to lay back down next to Jessie, this time facing the blonde's back, she slowly fell back asleep… on her pillow, which she had brought down. 'Hah! At least I've got a pillow…'
'Yeah… not gonna keep you warm is it? Anyways, you should really…'
'AHHHH! Shut up!'
'Turn off the TV!'
'Oh.'
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Feeling rather warm all of a sudden, her mind triggered her to wake. Blinking a few times, her eyes adjusted to the dark. She felt something behind her back, but couldn't determine what in her haze. Manoeuvring herself, she turned 180 and now laid on her right hand side... She came face to face with the top of somebody's head – but then that wouldn't be face to face would it?
Taking a good long look, she came to the realization of where the source of her heat came from… she was covered in a blanket. 'Strange, I don't remember it being there when I fell asleep… Where's Katie? Oh wait… this must be her?' Jessie blushed, 'how silly…'
Looking around the circumference of the room, everyone else was covered up and sleeping soundly. The blonde smiled at the slightly quivering sleeping form, 'she must've gone and covered everyone else, and forgot all about herself.' Naturally, Jessie pulled the blanket and shifted closer to the dirty blonde, ready to cover the older girl. But then she noticed that it didn't quite cover the both of them very well… So, she turned the blanket width wise, leaving both of their legs revealed, but at least now, their upper body were covered. 'Hey, she's got a pillow! Hope she doesn't mind…'
The blonde laid her head onto a corner of the large oversized pillow, one arm tucked under, the other lay limply in front of her. 'Night Katie…'
Orange County, California
"Summer…" a raspy hoarse voice whispered, and the said brunette blindly waved her arm narrowly missing the other girl's head. "Summer wake up, I can't get the blanket," she persisted, trying to shake the girl awake.
"Five more minutes…" she grumbled, her brows naturally creasing into a frown.
"C'mon, it's freezing," Jodie rubbed at the goosebumps on her arm. Sighing, and rolling her eyes, 'knew I should've stopped her from drinking that much…' An idea came to mind instantaneously, and an evil grin adorned her features; taking advantage of the moment, she leaned in closely to the sleeping girls face, allowing her plenty of time to move away. "If you don't wake up, I'm gonna kiss you…" she warned.
"Mmmmm…"
"One… two… three…" Without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed the other girl full on the lips, meshing her soft lips against the currently unmoving one.
Subconsciously in her sleep, Summer's lips began to respond on its own accord. Jodie eagerly continued in her ministrations, one arm sliding behind the younger girl's head, holding it steady as she slowly and gently deepened the kiss against those soft supple lips. They continued on in the same manner until she felt the still sleeping girl's tongue against her lips, something in her triggered and she abruptly jerked back, shock horror written over her face. 'Impossible… I couldn't have…' Out of her sheer puzzlement she bolted out of the room and out the front door before anyone else in the apartment noticed her disappearance.
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Hearing the front door to her apartment slamming shut Alex's eyes instantly ripped open. The blonde attempted at blinking the sleep out of her eyes, and her awareness began to seep back into her system, she felt a form of… 'dead weight' on her left shoulder. With the rays of the early morning sun sneaking through from behind the curtains, she made out the ex-birthday girl's curled form, snuggled cosily against her obviously trying to pry some warmth from her. With her free arm and as little motion, Alex furtively reached for the duvet, tangled between their bodies, up.
Making sure the younger girl was satisfactorily covered, Alex continued to covertly slip out from underneath the girl – hoping and praying against all odds that Marissa would remain asleep. Confirming that her efforts had paid off, and that the other girl was still sound asleep, she crept out of the room and into the hallway.
She walked towards the front door to check for clues of the reasons for the slamming of the door. Nothing, but the fact that the door remained unlocked – quickly padding towards the door, she turned the lock, and padded over to the 'spare room' where Jodie and Summer should be residing. Peeping in through the half ajar door, she spotted one girl seemingly dead to the world, 'doesn't look like Jodie…' Instinctively, the blonde checked the bathroom for the second occupant of the room, but it was empty. 'Wonder where Jodie went…'
Shrugging, Alex silently sneaked back into the room, wondering whether or not she should jump back into bed with Marissa. 'It's not even seven…' Feeling a yawn come to her, she thought lying down for a little longer probably couldn't hurt. Taking her spot again, she slowly felt her eye-lids become heavy, and began to drift off to sleep. But just before she slipped out of consciousness, she felt that same 'dead weight' on her shoulder, and something soft wrap across her abdomen. A smile involuntarily graced her lips before she drifted fully into her dream.
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"Jodie?" Summer mumbled.
Hearing no response, Summer reached out only to come in contact with an empty space. She patted around, her eyes still closed and came to the conclusion she was alone on the bed. Rolling flat onto her back, she peeked her eyes open trying to find a clock, noting there wasn't any, she reached out for her phone on the bedside table; flipping it open, her slightly fuzzy vision read '6:49'.
"Way too early for anything…" she grumbled, floating back off to sleep with her phone lying open on her stomach.
Minutes later, Jodie finally made her way back into the silent apartment, and back into the room, having finally calmed herself down. She looked around the room, and noticed the still sleeping figure has moved, and the once tangled blanket lay strewn next to the sleeping girl. Sighing, Jodie took off her shoes and jacket sneaked back on the bed as lightly as possible, pulling up the blanket to cover them both.
Just as she closed her eyes, the petite girl beside her turned and wrapped her arms over her. Mumbling something incoherent and readjusting herself lightly, Summer opted to lean her head on Jodie's shoulder. Throughout the whole shifting process, Jodie laid stiff still, breathing as little as humanly possible, unsure of whether or not Summer was really awake or was just moving for the sake of moving.
"Where were you?" a silent, barely audible whisper came from the apparently sleeping girl, if they weren't so close together, Jodie was sure she wouldn't have heard it.
Just as quietly she mumbled, "out…" and no more was said, as Summer's breathing went back to its deep and even rhythm. Jodie finally breathed out, and relaxed as much as she could.
Evanston, Illinois
Perhaps it was all the excitement from the previous day, or it's just the discomfort from sleeping on the floor, but Katie was the first to wake again. As she eased her eyes open, and her senses becoming alert, the first thing she noticed was an unexpected amount of warmth. After the warmth, she felt a light weight on her side, just where her shirt has risen up. Finally opening her eyes, she caught an eyeful of blondness in front of her – the top of Jessie's head. Straining her head, she saw the arm which logically would've belonged to the younger girl's.
Jessie laid asleep, head ducked down a little, feeding off the warmth emanating between the two bodies, one arm swung limply on the older girl's side, the other closely attached to her own chest. Katie remained there, unmoving, just observing the other girl peacefully asleep, and this inexplicable warmth filled her.
Who knew how long she stayed like that, all she knew was that Jessie awoke and looked up at her with her clear blue eyes.
"Merry Christmas…" the blonde whispered with a small smile, moving her head back and further away from Katie after noting how close they were; her face unconsciously turning a light shade of pink.
"Getting a little festive aren't we?" Katie chuckled, "Happy birthday yesterday, Merry Christmas today…"
"Guess I'll just have to get used to that," Jessie chuckled.
Orange County, California
Turning more fully, she snuggled up closer to the soft and comfortable object… something that wasn't her pillows or cushions. Praying that she wasn't cuddling against what… or whom she was thinking of, Summer opened her eyes and it was only clear her wishes were not granted. She had an arm slung protectively over the Latina's abdomen, her left leg tangled in the other girls, her head pillowed atop the other girl's chest.
'Shit. Shit. Shit,' was all that ran through her head right now. She wanted to roll out of the embrace, but Jodie had a hand conveniently placed around her back. With all the movements going on, Jodie awoke to their close proximity.
"Hey," the Latina mumbled with her eyes still shut, not fully ready to wake yet.
Summer looked like a deer caught in the headlights as her head snapped to look at the girl beside her. She then decided that it to roll out of their slight embrace as it was either now or never.
"Sleep well?" Jodie whispered out, sounding like she was about to drift back into a deep slumber.
"Yeah. It's not too bad." Summer mumbled nervously.
The other girl nodded silently, but before long she stopped all movement, and all you could see was the steady rise and fall of her chest… she was asleep again. The petite girl just rolled her eyes, thinking that the other girl probably wouldn't even remember what happened when she woke up anyways.
She heard some clanging coming from outside the room, leaving Jodie as she was, Summer headed out to see where the noise was coming from. "Morning," she said aloud to announce her arrival.
Marissa and Alex both turned their heads around from the kitchen to see the newly awoken Summer walk out.
"Morning," the blonde replied with a smile before returning her attention back at the pan in her hand. "Merry Christmas."
"Oh yea, Merry Christmas you guys!" Summer exclaimed, completely forgetting about the occasion, despite having done this routinely the past few years with Marissa; celebrate her birthday and then celebrate Christmas.
"Hey," Marissa smiled, leaving Alex temporarily in the kitchen to give her best friend a hug, "good sleep?"
"Ummm… Not too bad. Although it would have been better if I had a blanket throughout most the night, but I'm pretty sure Jodie was sleeping on it." Summer replied with a shrug.
The taller girl just chuckled before heading back over to assist the blonde with breakfast. Alex called out, "Why don't you take a seat somewhere, breakfast is almost ready."
Summer nodded and grabbed a seat at the dining table located adjacent the kitchen. "I thought you just moved in?" the brunette questioned aloud as she scanned the apartment.
"Well, I sort of did, finished a few days ago."
Marissa shot her eyes at the side of the blonde's head, wondering, 'why hadn't she called to tell me she was in town? Was she ever going to let me know if Jodie hadn't?'
Being friends with Marissa for a while now, Summer could tell she looked hurt and she knew exactly what the other girl was thinking. "Why didn't you call us up, we could've helped."
"Um, I just didn't want to burden you guys with my problems, so I told Jodie not to tell you guys… not until I've fully settled in anyways." The blonde replied placing the scrambled eggs onto a plate with a slice of toast on top.
Summer nodded, her eyes on her best friend, she saw that the other girl was still looking a little hurt. But the blonde didn't seem to notice at all – either that or she was hiding it very well.
Jodie came out of the bedroom at last, her hair looking slightly dishevelled her t-shirt riding up slightly on her toned torso. "Breakfast?"
"Always right on time Jodie," Alex laughed, taking two plates over to the dining table, Marissa with the other two.
"My favourite as well," the Latina smiled big, taking a seat next to Summer.
"I'm pretty sure you say that about everything I cook."
"Only 'cause you cook excellent," Jodie stated just as she dug into the eggs on toast.
Summer took a delicate bite and nodded in agreement, "this is yummy! What's in it?"
"Oh. Thanks. Nothing much, just some sliced mushrooms, mashed tomatoes, sliced ham, cheese, mayonnaise, pepper, and milk with the eggs."
Testing the dish as well, Marissa smiled and cut another piece and placed it in her mouth again. She couldn't help but agree, the food was really decent. She looked over at the blonde sitting beside her, slowly eating her breakfast, 'and she manages to surprise me yet again.'
A/N: On a side note, I've got a blog http://ff-bbvc blogspot com (all the spaces should be replaced by a '.') for those who are interested in following what I've been up to in terms of fic writing of course. I may occasionally post teasers for stories up. Or you can just go to my fanfiction page and click homepage.
Also, please remember to vote for the stories you want to read on my fanfiction page.