Cherry Bomb (A Michael Fassbender Fanfic)

12: Ticklish Lips

Trudging up the pathway to my apartment building, I consider crashing right then and there on the steps. I can barely lift my arm to unlock my door. I'm exhausted and that's an understatement. My mental and psychical well-being are seriously at risk.

It's only three in the afternoon but screw it. Nothing is getting unpacked tonight. I step into my apartment and greet my now dead plant. Shit. Whatever. Bed. I let my coat fall, kick out of my boots and strip all the way to my bedroom until I reach my dresser. Blindly, I grab a t-shirt, stuff my head into it and snake my arms through. I make sure my alarm is set for the next morning. Going back to work after this crazy holiday season is going to suck so bad. But I'll be going back with a smile.

Because I have a boyfriend.

*****

This entire week has been excruciatingly painful. Waking up any earlier than 6 am each day should be considered illegal. Being forced to drink shitty office coffee because you wait until the last minute to get ready and then no longer have time to stop at the coffee shop for legit coffee, *deep breath*, should be illegal.

It's sad that I've fallen back into my daily routine so easily. I hate it. The money I make at my job isn't too shabby. It's nothing to brag about, but I make enough to get by and then some. Every day after work, I visit the 24 hour gym near my apartment. Or, I used to. This past week, I've totally slacked. I've just been way too tired after work. If I nearly fall asleep at the wheel, I head home to sleep instead of working out at the gym. I'd rather be alive than super fit.

Because of the time differences, I haven't been able to Skype with Michael for very long. We text throughout the day, but there's nothing compared to actually seeing the other's face. Monday evening we made it for twenty minutes before I began to nod off. On Tuesday, he was the one nodding off. By Wednesday, we both decided maybe we should wait to Skype again on the weekend. We've made a Skype date for Saturday morning and I've already planned out the sexy pajama set I will be wearing.

It's finally Friday after every single day feeling like a Monday. A Friday has never felt as good as this one does today. I promised myself I would definitely go to the gym today and work out for an extra hour and spend the rest of the weekend resting and being lazy. There's an hour left until it's time to clock out and I'm becoming anxious. I keep checking my phone but Michael has been rather quiet today. I hope he doesn't forget about our date tomorrow.

I punch in number after number into my Excel workbook slowly since my boss has sent me an email asking me to slow it down a little bit. Well excuse ME, sir. Maybe next time don't hire someone with a typing speed of 100 wpm if you can't handle it.

Finally, it's time to clock out.

I rush home first to change out of my work clothes since I forgot to pack my gym bag. I stuff my puppies into my sports bra and slip on some dark gray yoga pants. After I pull on a red tank top, I step into my boots before I snatch up my coat to head out.

"Oof!" I collide with a wall of muscle the second I step out of my apartment.

Michael catches me, dropping his luggage to the ground, and holds me tight, laughing. My jaw drops and like the baby that I am, my eyes begin to tear up.

"What... Michael?!" I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him hard. He staggers back from my force and I fall with him to the ground, the freshly fallen Chicago snow fluffing around us.

"I was not prepared for that," Michael chuckles as I continue to kiss his beautiful face.

I still can't believe my eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I have to be in LA by Monday and this past week without you was torture, Bean. If you'll have me, I figured I'd come and spend the weekend with you?"