Money Trees

15 ✮ stuck

Mai's lips stretched into lazy smile. Nothing felt better than waking up in her own apartment. Except perhaps waking up in her own apartment beside someone who was named after and also resembled a Greek god.

  Speaking of Apollo, Mai's new favourite pastime was staring at his tattoos while he slept. Sometimes he would wake up and find her watching him and give her one of his iconic grins.

She was on cloud nine.

  Mai loved that week between Christmas and New Year's. It was a strange period in which no one really knew what to do with themselves but it was divine. All responsibilities seemed to melt away as everyone waited until January first to become more responsible people. That meant that for one week every year, everyone purged out their vices. Gluttony and sloth ruled the world for a week. At least that was what it was like for Mai anyway.

She spent the period between December twenty-sixth and January first in an alternate universe with no worries or concerns. Apollo spent most nights with her. They settled into a daily pattern that revolved around each other. Mai had never been the codependent type but suddenly she found that she really didn't want to do anything that didn't involve him. She would wake up with him beside her, he would leave for a few hours for unexplained duties and then return in the evening, ready for the cycle again.

  In saying that, she could sense that the people around her was growing concerned. Oliver and Charlie, who loved Apollo, seemed confused by the relationship. They never said it out loud but Mai assumed it was because of how much time she spent with Apollo.

  She could sense that Ivy and Yasmin were growing annoyed. Logically, she knew she would also be angry if she flew all the way across the Pacific Ocean to support a friend only to find her enamoured with and glued to a stranger she knew less than two weeks. But they didn't feel the way she felt. They didn't know how infatuated she was with him. She knew she was being a bad friend. But she was addicted.

"Good morning," He murmured, opening one eye before closing it again.

Mai reached over and grabbed his camera from the bedside table, fiddling with the buttons until his face came into frame. His eyes shot open as the flash went off.

"What was that?"

"You looked perfect," She joked, copying the same reason he gave for every photo he took of her.

He took the camera off of her before quickly pulling her on top of him. His hands settled around her hip and his eyes settled on hers.

"That's my line."

She chuckled before leaning down to kiss him. "What is your plan for New Year's?"

  "I don't know but I hope it involves you."

  "It definitely involves me... and Oliver and Charlie and Yaz and Ivy and about eighty other people... on a yacht."

  "Oh?"

  "Nora Lawrence is hosting her annual NYE party on her boyfriend's yacht."

"And her boyfriend is....?"

"George Hallewell! Keep up!"

He rolled his eyes jokingly. "How am I supposer to remember all these names. Your society is just an intricate web of millionaires with fancy names."

"Okay, Apollo Alexander."

  His lips curled up in a reluctant smile. "Whatever. So, New Year's on a yacht then?"

  She nodded. "Yes please."

  He pulled her down to him and kissed her. "I'll be there."

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