wander

38|family games

"So if you're really not scared of water I dare you to jump in the water... right now!" I tease.
"Chiara..." He hesitates.
"I don't see you in the water." I tease even further.
"Oh my god, okay!" He pulls his shirt over his head and runs into the water looking like an idiot.

After the water reaches his upper torso he raises and eyebrow to me as if to say that he'll take on any challenge I give. He runs his fingers through his hair to push it from his eyes. He walks out from the water and jogs toward me.

"See not scared, like I said I just prefer to watch." He winks. I shake my head in disbelief that he did it, but I do know there's something about the water he isn't fond of. I throw him another towel that wasn't covered in sand to wipe his body down from the ocean water. He catches it before it hits his body and he shakes his hair.

I pull the white dress over my head again and quickly brush my hair. I place everything back into the small bag I brought with me and let out a sigh. I turn to Romeo who's raking his fingers through his long curls. I let out a little giggle as he struggles to get past a little knot. I reach into my bag and pass him a comb. He looks at me as if I'm ridiculous. 

I grab his shoulder and pull him toward me a little. I carefully comb through the knot and he winces as I tug on his head a little. I hold his shoulder with one hand to stabilise him and comb with the other. After the knot was gone I tuck the comb into the bag and grip it in my left hand. With the other hand I hold Romeo's in mine.

As we walk further from the beach and closer to the house, we make casual conversation. I remember that I have dinner with my Dad tomorrow night. 
"Do you know what time I'm going for dinner with my Dad?" I question.
"Why? You wanna leave me so bad?" He teases.
"Of course not. I only ask so I can see how I have with you tomorrow." My face breaks out to a smile.
"We can ask when we get home." He smiles back to me.

As we reach my house, Romeo opens the door and runs up the stairs to put the towels and belongings away I assume. Rose comes to greet me by the front door whilst I flick my sandals off.
"Hey Chi, how was the beach?" She pulls me in for a hug.
"Amazing! We should go some time?" I respond.
"Yeah of course!" I pull away from her hug. 

Romeo comes down from the stairs and lets out a toothy grin towards me. 
"I need to shower... again. My hair smells like salt." I whine. As I turn to walk up the stairs Romeo grabs my arm and turns me to him. My face is mere inches away from his and his breathing hovers over my ear. I try to pull away but his grip is too tight. I leans into me and kisses me. It was sweet but not passionate.
"See you in a bit babe." He chuckles at the use of babe.
"See ya Romeo." I tease, not using the new nickname on purpose.

I shower as fast as I can and change into anything comfortable. I tie my hair back into a quick bun and take the stairs down to the hallway. I turn into the lounge and everyone is sat around a game of scrabble. I laugh at how Romeo and Rose were arguing who I was going to sit with. I clear my throat and everyone looks up to me. My Dad smiles as the siblings blush in embarrassment. I sit in between the both of the and Romeo lets his hand fall on top of mine. 

I end up winning scrabble and everyone tells me that they went easy because they were 'intense players'. I shake my head in laughter and pull myself up to sit on the sofa. I bring my knees to my chest and let out a big yawn. I look over to the clock and it's half 10, I hadn't ate since about 1pm. I got up and took some salted chips from the cupboard. Memories of me walking past shops and snacking on the chips flooded my mind. I giggled because I had no idea where these chips were going to take me.

"What are you laughing at?" Romeo asks as he pulls me into him.
"Nothing important just these chips."
"...you're laughing at food?" He chuckles at my weird statement.
"I guess I am." 

I go back to the lounge with Romeo following behind me. He sits down first and I lean into him. His hands hold my waist and my hands glove his. My father turns on the TV and flicks through the channels. 
"I have no idea what you like to watch Chiara." He chuckles as he passes the remote over.
"Friends." Rose and Romeo say in unison.
"Hey! I do watch other shows too." I defend myself.
"Like what?" Rose raises her arched eyebrow.
"Um... I like oh whats it called? That one that... okay maybe I really don't" The room is filled with laughter as I pout playfully.

I yawn once again but try to hide it as everyone else seems quite awake.
"You're tired. I can see you hiding it." Romeo whispers to my ear so only I can hear.
"Shh I don't want to leave this is fun, hanging together."
"Apparently not fun enough if you're yawning." He scolds back.
"Okay okay I'm going to bed... only if you come with me." I add the second part after a second of silence.
"Oh anytime to be with you."

I stand up and wipe my eyes.
"I'm going to bed, I'm so tired." I state, trying my hardest not to yawn.
"We... we are going to bed." Romeo corrects me.
"Okay goodnight lovebirds." Rose laughs.
"Night kids." My dad says pretty calmly, if this was me and I said I was going to bed with a guy she would flip.
"Night Dad, night Rose." I say in a low voice.

I close my bedroom door and Romeo is pulling his shirt over his head. I turn back around so he can have some privacy. His voice makes me turn around again.
"I usually sleep naked but shorts will suffice." He says. I pick up the T-shirt he threw to the floor and fold it neatly and place it on my dresser.
"Wear it." He demands yet in a sweet voice.
"Huh?"
"The T-shirt. Wear it. Only if you want to, of course."
"Okay, close your eyes."
"Do I have to?" He whines, I know he's only playing because he has never made me feel uncomfortable.

I don't bother to check if his eyes are closed or not. I pull off the shirt I'm wearing now and pull his over my head. I don't care if his eyes were open and watching me because he would have only seen my back since I had my front facing away from him. I turned back around and of course he had't closed his eyes but I really wasn't bothered.

Romeo had already claimed his side of the bed and I got in my usual side of the bed. I turn my face towards his and scan his features. He looks happy and that makes me happy. I lean over to kiss him and I whisper a "good night" and close my eyes so I fall into a sweet darkness of which Romeo fills my thoughts.