You, Me and Us. Page 5

  You were wearing a large smile and a deep purple dressing gown. For the second time that evening I was frozen to the spot.

  “Hi, come in then.” You took a step backwards against the door and kept it ajar.

  I stood still and looked you up and down.

  “Come on it’s cold out here.” You motioned inside again.

  I shook my head side-to-side forcing the purple fog that had descended around me to clear. I shoved one foot in front of the other and took my first steps into your flat. I leant in and gave you a hug as I got inside.

  “Hi.” I whispered.

  “Hi.” You came back with. “How was work?”

  “Usual.” I sighed. “Shouted at, spat at, drink thrown at me.”

  “And that was just your boss, right?” you laughed. I smirked back. “Come on, I’ll give you the tour.”

  You broke our hug and grabbed me by the hand leading me deeper inside.

  “If you shift your gaze to the right you will see the bathroom, the green towel is for guests and the shower is either scalding hot or freezing cold.” You said as we made our way in. I peeked into the spectacularly clean bathroom and shuddered thinking about how you’d respond when you eventually saw my bathroom. You pulled my arm to keep me from stopping at there. Next to the bathroom was a closed door. “That is Jasmine’s room, my roommate. She’s back at her Mum’s at the minute though.” We carried on further into the main living area and kitchen. The living room was to my left and the kitchen on my right. You stopped here for a second and let go of my hand, you took a few steps in to the front room and raised your hands. “And this is the living room-cum-kitchen-cum-Netflix zone.”

  “Can you stop saying cum please?”

  “Cum.”

  There was a two-seater brown leather couch and a three-seater also. They were positioned in a ‘L’ shape on the left-hand side of the room, and large TV made up the majority of the space on the right. The kitchen was made up of a large chrome fridge freezer and a sink that was sunk amongst the dark wooden table-top. A few stools were potted around the kitchen and living room too.

  “It’s lovely, I can’t wait until you see my flat.” I said raising my eyebrows. “That’ll be a surprise.”

  “That’s presumptive of you.”

  “More optimistic.” I half-winked. Or I at least tried. It probably looked like I’d got something stuck in my eye.

  I averted my eyes from you and looked around the room again, this time though I spotted another door behind the TV. I pointed at it.

  “My room.” You responded.

  “Some tour guide you are, you haven’t even done it all yet.” I made a few steps towards you and the room. You laughed and turned around taking me inside.

  You clearly pulled the larger of the two straws in the room split. Your room was massive, your double bed barely covered a third of the room. The bed was dead centre in the room and on each side of it was a large wardrobe covered by a throw rug. The throw thing seemed to be a theme as there was also one covering each of your lamps positioned around the room, each one was a different colour giving the room a strange rainbow-like glow. It was also boiling; the heating was on full blast.

  I turned around and saw a wide set of off-grey curtains hanging from the ceiling to the floor at the back of the room; I walked over to them and took a quick glance in between.

  “Holy shit you have a balcony?” I span around aghast. You laughed at my shocked tone.

  “Yeah, you don’t get the best of it at this time, when the sun comes up it’s amazing.” You said.

  It was only after you said this I realised you were sat on the bed, you’d even moved over slightly to leave room for me next to you. You patted the space softly. I took a deep breath in and tried to push Joe’s words out of my brain once more.

  I dropped my bag at the base of your bed and kicked my shoes off. I then hesitated for a moment before sitting and then lying down next to you. You then shuffled down so you were also lying flat. Once we were both horizontal I smiled at you and whispered again;

  “Hi.”

  That smile spread across your face. Fuck it, I thought and went straight in for a kiss. You kissed me back slowly. We’d got the kissing passion out of us in Ronnie’s a couple of days ago, so now we could take our time and build a bit more to the mouth open/ tongue bashing stage. I let your bottom lip fall into my mouth and bit it, you gasped in response but also smiled. You wrapped your hand around the back of my head and pulled me a bit closer to you, I didn’t fight that and next thing I knew I was on top you, your legs wrapped around my waist. Our tongues were fully engaged now, like two giraffes trying to head-butt each other.

  I let the kiss come to a natural conclusion and pulled my head back. I took a moment to look at you from that position. I only waited a moment before I dove towards you and bit you softly on the curve of your shoulder and neck. I felt your body shudder and you dug your nails into my back. With my left hand I held your neck in place and with my right I pulled your dressing gown over your shoulder. As I pulled the purple material down my suspicions were confirmed, you were naked.

  I rolled to the right back into the open space I had vacated moments earlier. I pulled you on top of me keeping you in the classic guard position; I could almost hear Joe Rogan commentating on my perfect form. I shoved both hands into your hair and let them meet at the back of your head as I pulled you into another kiss.

  “God I’m turned on.” You growled at me as our lips took a brief interlude. You sat up on me, giving me a full view of you from below.

  “That makes two of us.” I said softly. I tried to pull you back on to me but you stopped. “What’s up?”

  “It’s just going a bit quick.”

  “If speed concerns you I should really warn you about what normally happens next.”

  You laughed and leant back, as you did your pelvis pressed up against my penis.

  “Oh, I’ve woken someone up.” You said with a giggle and a glance down. “Look I like you, I don’t care I’m saying it, but if this is just going to be it I’d rather you tell me now.”

  I swallowed for a moment. This was my chance to as Joe said, talk you into bed. Use the old spiel. Let the silver tongue loose. I needed to be charming, and paint you a word picture of why I’m definitely the answer to all of your questions.

  “I like you too.” Came my Wilde-like riposte. It seemed to work though as you smiled. The smile spurred me on. “And I promise you this isn’t just about sex. I don’t want this to be it. This can’t be the only time we do this… but, I will fuck you like it’s the only time we’re going to do this.”

  It was a good line. So good in fact that you pulled the dressing gown off and released the hounds. I was staring back at them for maybe a second too long as you seemed to get a tad uncomfortable. I looked back up to your face, which for some reason had a quizzical look.

  “Erm, why am I naked?” you started. “But you’re not.” You finished whilst looking down at me.

  Ah this was going to be an issue. I didn’t really do the naked thing. I was severely embarrassed about my body, and despite all the jokes I was happy to make about myself, taking my t-shirt off was a big no-no. You could see I was worried.

  “Come on, if you’ve got it, flaunt it.” You whispered.

  “That’s the problem, I haven’t got it.” I whispered back. You hesitated a moment before leaning in and kissing me. I felt your breasts press up against me.

  “I think you do.” You stopped the kiss for a moment.

  You then reached down and pulled at the sides of my t-shirt, I gulped and helped you pull it. I kept my eyes on you and you alone. Without putting up much of a fight my t-shirt was off and discarded to the wooden floor. I pushed you back to the left again and climbed on top once more.

  I pulled back to get a full look at you from this angle, and ensured I memorised it for a later date.

  Then I kept my promise to you, and fucked you like it was the only time I eve
r would.

  Chapter Four- The Idea

  I’ve always loved your balcony. And standing out on it the morning after our first night together, I really did appreciate how amazing the view is. I’d woken up before you, and for quite a while I lay and watched you sleep. I couldn’t draw my eyes away from you, your warm naked body was pressed against me in the best possible way. I was lying there thinking how I could happily freeze in this moment forever, but the urge to pee came on.

  After I relieved myself in your ridiculously clean bathroom I made my way out onto the balcony to smoke and have a coffee. It really was a glorious morning. The sun was bright and warm as soon as it peaked over the block of buildings to the left of the skyline. As the sun crept above the Hilton hotel I was covered in glorious golden warmth. I leant over the edge of the balcony and looked out onto the greatest city in the world. As amazing as all of this was, I knew that really, I was still on an endorphin rush from last night. Of course, I’d had sex before you came along, quite a bit as well. I’m talking dozens of times. But genuinely, I’d never ever had sex like that before. It’s very hard to explain without sounding like a teenage girl or a pervert but I’ll see what I can do. Physically, you didn’t bring anything new to the table. I knew all the moves. But I’d never before had such a raw need to tear into someone with unbridled passion even after I’d ‘completed’. I always thought I had a fairly high sex drive before I met you, but with you it was like I’d been driving at seventy miles-per-hour steadily on the outside line then you filled me with rocket fuel and I was turned upwards to the moon. Up, up, up I was flying with no end in sight.

  I was lost in thoughts of interstellar intercourse when the sliding door behind me cracked open. I turned my head around and saw you pull your dressing gown tighter around your body and flash me the smile that would launch a thousand ships.

  “Morning.” I breathed softly.

  “Hi.” You trotted to my side and kissed me softly. “You should’ve woke me up.”

  “I thought you might need some rest.” I raised my eyes slightly.

  You smiled and shoved me.

  “Funny.”

  You reached into your pocked and withdrew your own cigarette and lit it from the end of mine.

  “What’re you doing today?” You questioned as you looked out onto the great view.

  “I have rehearsal with the guys, we’ve entered a contest for unsigned bands so we need to get prepared.”

  “Oh that’s exciting, when’s that?”

  “Not until October.” I said, you looked surprised. “We’ve got a few warm up gigs over summer to try and get prepped though.”

  “Cool.” You paused for a moment to inhale. “Shame really, I was thinking we could have a naked day.”

  “A naked day sounds like a dream. Ryan would kill me if I didn’t rehearse though, why don’t you come with me?” I asked.

  You looked slightly taken aback.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Sure, I’m sure.”

  Saturday afternoons in Ronnie’s meant re-stocking and three idiots trying to practice TV themes on the dance floor. However, this Saturday was different, as three had become four. Tom was plugging his keys in and Ryan was mid-tune on his guitar when you went outside for a smoke. The moment the fire door shut, Ryan’s head snapped my way.

  “Oi.” He hissed. I turned to look at him. “What’re you doing bringing her here?”

  “Well she had nothing to do, and I thought why not?”

  “I’ll tell you why not, it’s our rehearsal time that’s why not.”

  “Come on, she’ll only be sat having a drink.”

  “But no one else should be here!” Ryan argued. “Not during our rehearsal time.”

  “Come on what harm does it do? Joe’s here.” I pointed to Joe who was currently ensuring all the bottles in the fridge were facing forwards.

  “Joe keeps himself to himself though, plus he gives us this place for free we can hardly kick him out, can we?”

  Tom suddenly slammed his hands down onto the right-hand side of his keyboard causing a loud thud to echo through the bar. Unfortunately, at that moment Joe was adding some bottles to the dive bar and the noise made him drop three bottles of Stella. Smash, smash, smash!

  “Fucks sake!” he shouted and looked towards us.

  “Sorry Joe.” Said Tom. “I slipped.”

  Joe shook his head and mumbled something as he walked around the bar to grab a brush and a mop. Tom looked back towards Ryan and I.

  “Stop arguing you two.” He said. “Let’s just get on with it.”

  As much as Tom and Ryan argued day and night, it was very unlike me to get involved. I think that is what caused Tom to suddenly be peacekeeper.

  “Fine.” Said Ryan, toys still firmly out the pram. “But she better just have a drink in the corner.”

  “Yes Sir.” I said.

  “And no getting distracted by her, just shut up and sing.”

  “How can I shut up and sing?”

  “Oh fuck you that’s-“

  Ryan slammed his lips together because you had just pulled the fire door open and flooded the room with sunlight.

  “Everything okay?” you said.

  “Peachy.” I said with a smile.

  You returned the smile and went back to your seat at the bar and your lemonade. I turned back to my frustrating guitarist and idiot keyboard player.

  “So obviously October is a long way off, but I think we need to start thinking about our set list. Tom any ideas?” I asked.

  “I think go big on cheese and funny tunes. It’s our bread and butter, isn’t it? It’s what we’re all about.” He said. “Ryan?”

  “I’m not sure, we don’t want to seem one-dimensional, do we?”

  “Good shout.” I said with a nod. “We have half an hour stage time, so what about two themes, two cheesey ones and two absolute bangers.”

  “Bangers?” came your voice from the bar. I turned around to face you for a second. You saw the look of confusion on my face and repeated: “Bangers? What do you mean?”

  “Oh sorry, like good upbeat songs to get the crowd singing along. Oasis, Roses, Beatles you know. Bangers.”

  “Once we’re done with Mancunian slang 101.” Ryan butted in. “Shall we rehearse some tunes?”

  I went to have a snap back at him but before my mouth could open, Tom jumped in:

  “Yeah let’s do Arthur. Great theme and we’ve not done it for a while. Plus, I’ve downloaded some new steel drum sounds.” He said with a smile and a nod to the hard drive attached to his keyboard.

  “Cool, let’s do it.” I gave up on my chance to have a pop at Ryan. “Everyone ready? I’ll count us in. 1… 2… 3….”

  Tom started us off with some good drum sounds, and Ryan followed a second later with soft strings to back him up. I let the beat roll for a second before kicking off with the opening lyrics. I took a big gulp in and started to sing. However, I’d barely made it past the opening lyrics when Ryan’s voice boomed into his mic, cutting me off.

  “Wait, wait, wait.” Said Ryan. He stopped playing.

  “What?” I snapped, I don’t like being interrupted when I’m singing.

  “Aren’t you doing the accent?” he asked.

  “No, I’m not.” I said simply.

  “Why? Come on its Arthur!” he implored.

  “I can’t just copy the singer, if I was doing a Marley song you wouldn’t want me to copy his voice, would you?”

  “You can’t do Marley’s voice, plus it’s bloody Arthur that’s how everyone recognizes it, the voice!”

  “Oh yeah, not the lyrics or the tune or anything?” I said.

  “Tom, what do you think?” Ryan asked.

  “Oh, I’m not arsed can we just practice please without going for each other’s throats every two minutes?” he said, trying his best to calm the situation.

  Ryan looked at me for a moment. I stared back at him; it appeared we were at an impasse. He was lookin
g me dead in the eyes, almost daring me. Fuck it, I thought, I’m doing it.

  “Erin, what do you think?” I asked as I turned away from Ryan and Tom.

  You looked up at the mention of your name.

  “Erm, I don’t know.” You said quietly. I was just about to give in and try it with the accent just to show Ryan how stupid it would be when you carried on speaking. “I mean it’s a stupid song so does it really matter?”

  “Stupid song?” Ryan said, with just a hint of disbelief.