Running Towards A Place

Playing With Fire

Eddie's POV

After I had a couple of beers down me, my nerves disappeared and I was back to feeling comfortable again. Being around new people always makes very self conscious especially if they're a bit older. Olly, Sarah and Ron were lovely though and so funny. As was to be expected really if they're friends with Ronnie and Brandon.
After Ronnie ensures that we were all full to the brim with excellent bbq food, we focused on our drinking and having a good time.
"In honor of our student here, I think we should play some drinking games" Olly did his best posh accent and nodded his slightly wobbly head in my direction.
"Ooh yeah we should" Sarah perked up, nodding enthusiastically.
"Yeah, what shall we play?" Ron agreed, he was seemingly the leader of the group for some reason.
"Ring Of fire?" Olly suggested, thinking hard.
"Nah too many rules" Ronnie shook his head and took a sip of his 5th beer.
"We have to play never have I ever..." Rob contributed.
"Well we do have a newbie so it'll be a good way to ease her in, sort of" Olly agreed, chuckling to himself.
"Right then, who's got a statement then, we'll go round in order. Brandon you can be the adjudicator and take sips of your coke " Ron blurted, initiating the game.
"I'll go, never have I ever been arrested..." Rob announced, making a point of watching me. I held my hands up in defense, knowing full well they were all using this as a tool to gauge me.
"Damn, only you Sarah" Ron laughed.
"Never have I ever gotten a speeding ticket" Sarah declared whilst taking a sip. I also reluctantly took a sip along with Olly.
"Eddie!" Ron and Brandon gasped before giggling at their own reaction. I simply shrugged and smiled, the alcohol taking away my inhibitions.
"Ooh Ooh I know" Ron sat forward on his chair, "never have I ever kissed a rockstar" he smirked, proud of himself. All eyes fell on me. I avoided all eyes, slowly brought the bottle of beer to my lips and sipped. The group erupted with laughter and heckling. I awkwardly glanced at Brandon who was sat to the side of me.
"Brandon?!" Sarah yelled, unsure of what to make of the news.
"Oh shit you two" Rob joined in, I slouched down in my chair watching as the drama unfolded. Ronnie doing the same.
"What's going on with you two, I knew something was going on between you" Olly declared, not knowing who to look at.
"We've only kissed, just hold your horses" Brandon took the situation into his own hands, "we're just seeing what happens" he explained, shrugging slightly. Luckily that cleared everything up and they turned to look at me. I nodded in agreement with Brandon.
"Awwww, I love it you two" Sarah cooed as the guys just nodded approvingly.
"Come here lovely" Sarah wandered over, albeit a little wobbly, towards me "give me a hug" she insisted, pulling me up into a warm hug, "he's a good egg you know but you're such a sweetie, if he does anything to hurt you let me know and I'll sort him out" she told me, loud enough for everyone else to hear too.
"Thanks Sarah" I laughed, not knowing whether I was embarrassed or just found it entirely hilarious.
"Now," she began as she stepped away from me, "you sit here next to your fancy man" she pulled me by my wrist to sit on the seat right next to Brandon. He was now hiding his face with his hand in shame.
"Sarah sit down, you're pissed, Eddie will sit where she wants to sit" Olly looked just as embarrassed as Brandon did.
"Well we all know where she'd like to sit" Sarah added cautiously. I nearly choked on my drink as did everyone else in the circle.
"Right then" Ronnie coughed, " vodka Roulette?" He swiftly moved the conversation on.

Hours later, the radio still played in the background and the gang of us were still up chatting and playing games. I felt a little sorry for Brandon as he was the only one not drinking. The rest of us were absolutely wankered.
"You ok?" Brandon asked softly, we were all sat on the floor around a big roaring fire on Ronnie's back porch. I nodded, now beginning to feel tired. Rob had already fallen asleep, Sarah and Olly were having a drunken chat about something or other and Ronnie, Brandon and I sat talking about art and photography. Then Ronnie got distracted by Olly asking for marshmallows.
"Yeah, I'm ok" I slurred gently in response to Brandon.
"Are you cold?" He queried, edging himself closer to me.
"No I'm ok" I insisted, smiling contently at him. "I'll take this though" for some reason I decided to take the cap from off his head and plonk it onto my own with a mischievous smile on my face. Brandon's face lit up. He shook his head in mock disbelief. His gorgeous brown eyes growing more and more tired. A gentle smile stretched across his lips, causing faint laughter lines to appear at his eyes. He sighed and laid back onto the cushions. I glanced over him, my eyes also growing tired as I took the sight of him in. He must be more tired than he was letting on. Almost absentmindedly, I followed suit and laid back beside him. The chatter of the others died down and it was peacefully quiet. All I could hear was the murmuring of the others and the calming crackle of the fire.
"I hope they didn't embarrass you earlier" I heard Brandon whisper. My head resting against his chest and his arm enveloping me into his side.
"Oh no, they were just having a laugh. They were testing me" I admitted, taking notice of his soft t shirt beneath my fingers.
"Testing you?" He questioned, his tone laced with concern.
"Yeah, they were obviously seeing what the deal was with me and if I can take a joke" I yawned , nestling myself into Brandon's side. I inhaled deeply and relaxed,  enjoying his musky and masculine scent. We paused for a moment, I thought he had fallen asleep as his breaths became deeper.
"I think you passed the test" was the last thing I heard Brandon say before I drifted off. Perfectly content, I slipped away.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
Brandon's POV

Birds were tweeting a sweet melody. There was a pain in my neck and a cold breeze against my bare arms. Huh? My eyes flicked open immediately. I was laid flat out on Ronnie's patio, Eddie tucked into my side, fast asleep.
Then it all came back to me. We definitely fell asleep out here. I brought my wrist up slowly, not wanting to wake Eddie. 3:30am. Blearily, I rubbed my eyes. It was cold. That was when I noticed Eddie was shivering in her sleep. I figured the alcohol was making her numb to the environment still.
"Eddie" I whispered, carefully moving myself from her clasp. She didn't budge. "Eddie, lets go inside" I tried again. This time I looked around. Olly and Sarah were also still cuddled up by the dying fire. Ron and Rob must've used their sense and gone inside. After a few gentle rocks, Eddie came too slightly. "Let's go inside, it's cold" I told her, taking her hand in mine. I ignored the pain in my neck and led us inside into Ron's lounge.
"My head is absolutely killing me" Eddie sighed, sitting down on the sofa, her face was pale and she looked exhausted.
"Hold on, I'll get some water and some painkillers" I informed her before starting into the kitchen. Hastily, I fixed us some water and some painkillers for her then returned to find her holding her head. "Here" I quietly sat myself beside her and held out the water and pills. Timidly, she took the offering before tucking her feet up under her on the sofa.
"Thank you" She faintly smiled, her voice low and almost inaudible.
"Sleep now" I told her just as she gave in and laid down beside me, her head against my shoulder. I fondly smiled at the sweet sight. I decided that before she got too comfy, I should also get myself in a comfortable position, not wanting a pain in the back to match the niggling pain in my neck. I scoot along the sofa so that I was laid along the length of it, my head supported by a couple of cushions. Then Eddie was laid half to my side, half on my chest. Wafts of pineapple and peach caught my attention as I began to relax into the position. Must be her shampoo, I thought to myself. Then, without even realising I was asleep too.

After what felt like 5 minutes, I woke up abruptly.
"ah my head" Eddie groaned, placing a hand over her forehead and scrunching her eyes closed.
"hey" I tried to soothe her blatant distress. She pushed herself up from me and I followed suit, only my comforting arm stayed looped over her shoulders.
"I've got a migraine" she blurted, sounding teary.
"ok, just take it easy, do you usually get them?" I asked, rubbing circles into her back.
"sometimes' she gulped, " but this hurts so bad" she rocked back and forth slightly. "I'm sorry" she blurted this time with tears escaping.
"no no, shhh" I reassured her, dismissing her apology.
"I need to be sick" she declared, trying to stand herself up. Do I go with her? I didn't want to leave her but perhaps she needed some privacy. Fuck. I helped her up and pointed her in the direction of the bathroom. I decided id give her some space and instead returned to investigate the others. They had now also come inside but were asleep in the dining hall for some reason. I shook my head, laughing at them before heading back to the kitchen.

"any better?' I questioned as a clearly distressed Eddie ventured out of the bathroom. She looked pale and drained. This wasn't a hangover, she hadn't drank a lot.
"a little" drained of energy she replied, stepping closer to me. I wanted to help but there was absolutely nothing I could do. Or was there.
"will you be able to eat?" I questioned, an idea popping up in my mind.
"maybe a little" she smiled softly, steadying herself on the counter next to me.
"fancy going for some breakfast?" I gauged her reaction. Without a word she nodded with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. "here, wear these" I noticed Ronnie's shades on the side "they'll help" I smiled, handing them to her. I knew Ronnie wouldn't miss them, he had about 5 pairs at least. Eddie smiled sweetly again and accepted the shades, proceeding to put them on her face.
"Do I look cool?" she joked, smiling weakly.
"you always look cool" I smirked, draping an arm over her shoulder to lead her out to the cars. "I'll drive us round the corner to my place then I'll drive us for breakfast" I explained, having totally forgotten about Eddie's car. An hour later, Eddie and I sat beside each other in a little breakfast joint not far from the city. We both opted for some pancakes, mine with berries but Eddie went for banana. Eddie was drained, it was like someone had taken her batteries out and left her on 10% charge or something. However, her face lit up when the plates of warm pancakes arrived. The food seemingly gave her some energy back but she was still significantly drained. Slowly but surely, she managed to polish off her portion, albeit half an hour after me.