Celestial Worlds

Chapter Twenty-nine

We’re awoken by the sound of the gate banging.

    “What the actual hell?” Daniel whisper shouts, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palm. He sits up and the duvet falls from his body, revealing his strong lean abdomen. I turn red and pry my eyes away. I sit up too and that’s when I remember I don’t really have my top on. I lie back down so quickly, I hit my head on the headboard. I clutch the sheets tightly to my chest. Daniel stands up and peers through the window located across the room. I stand up too and follow him to the window. When he sees me, he says, “Whoa!” pulling me back from the window. “You don’t have a shirt on. Someone might see you like that.” He looks around and spots his shirt from last night on the floor. He picks it up and gestures me to raise my arms. I do, and he slips the t-shirt over my body, the hem going down past my hips. “There.”

    I run beside him in the window and I see Nick there. Banging on the front gate vigorously. “Nick,” I whisper.

    Daniel turns to me with a puzzled look. “You know Nick?” he asks.

    “Well, yeah,” I reply like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. He peers back down.

    “Nevermind, come on,” he says. He tugs on my hand and we stride downstairs and outside. And as expected, there he is, Nick.

    He lit up when he saw Daniel merged into view. “Hey man,” he greeted. He waved enthusiastically behind the front gate. I’m surprised I haven’t seen any dent from the obnoxious banging. His happiness in seeing Daniel has become surprise and confusion when he saw me. In other circumstances, this would be okay, but with Nick, he wouldn’t pass an opportunity to tease me. Right now, I’m currently in Daniel’s shirt, standing on his lawn, and it’s pretty evident that I slept in his house.

    “Victoria?” he asks. He tilts his head to the side and looks at me quizzically.

    Daniel makes his way behind me and wraps his arms around my waist from behind. “Looks like I haven’t properly introduced you to my girlfriend,” he says in a suggestive manner.

    Nick curls up his lip in mock disgust. “Okay,” he says, putting his hands up in front of him. “Congratulations and all, but you don’t need to role play what you did last night.” He laughs then smirks. Daniel opens his mouth to protest but Nick flicks his hand at him, dismissing him as if we did do something else last night. Which we didn’t.

    Daniel sighs heavily with a trace of annoyance. “Why’d you come here?” he rests his chin against my shoulder.

    Nick rubs his hands together. The way he does when he’s talking about a new movie or a new video game. “Well,” he exhales happily. “My birthday’s coming up and you sir, are invited.” He turns to me then, smiling. “And since you’re here, you are also invited.”

    “And when’s that?” Daniel asks, curiosity leaking out from his tone. Nick smiles wider.

    “Wednesday.”

    “But that’s the day after tomorrow,” Daniel counters. Even if I can’t see him, I can hear the curious frown in his tone.

    “It’s kind of a last minute thing. I asked mum and dad if I can use the hotel. It’s my birthday gift from them.”

    “Cool,” Daniel says. “What time?”

    Nick glances at his watch. “About 7 a.m., just after six. But make sure you’re ready at six thirty. I’ll pick you guys up with my van.”

    I feel Daniel’s chin turn and he faces me. I face him and our noses almost touch. “You going?” he asks quietly, as if Nick’s not here in front of his gate. “Because if you won’t go, I won’t either.”

    I can’t help but smile at that remark, and my eyes involuntarily flicker toward his lips. I quickly track them back up to his eyes. “Absolutely.”

    Daniel leans in for a quick kiss and then turns to Nick, who clearly didn’t enjoy the spectacle. “We’re in.”