Mute Songbird (boyxboy) -Complete-

The Tickle Monster

I rushed down to the living room as soon as I had changed, then built myself a pillow and blanket fort in the corner of the couch. Dan laughed when he saw it before taking up the remaining two-thirds of the couch and balancing a bowl of popcorn on his stomach. My parents said 'good night' not much later, and about halfway through the movie I finally relaxed.

Dan's commentary throughout the movie cracked me up. I would usually nod even though he wasn't really paying attention but when he finally blurted out something completely off the wall, I hit him with one of my pillows. I shouldn't have, I know that now, but I did it.

He grabbed it out of my hands and turned towards me, his eyes gleaming the most wicked look I'd ever seen directed at me. "Oh THAT's how it is? Hmm? You're in for it, Greyson!"

I grabbed the large one I'd been using as a wall and tried to turn it into a shield which actually worked fairly well to lessen the barrage. He gave up after four or five hits and I thought he had retreated.

"Time to storm the castle!"

He was like a side-seeking missile and his long arms meant I had no chance of hiding. He tickled me mercilessly while I tried to be polite, then I gave up and got my legs involved. I really didn't care at that point if I gave him a black eye or he fell off the couch; I just wanted it to stop. He pinned one of my legs down and still had one hand to go at me. I was gasping for air and hating him with every fiber of my being when my brain decided to fire and try to stay 'stop'. I sounded mostly like a seal as I barked out 'Aah -- Op -- Sop!' but he did.

"You talked" he said breathlessly, sitting back up.

I tried to hide behind a pillow but he yanked it away from me.

I shook my head no because I hadn't. That doesn't count. Anything the mother of a toddler wouldn't understand doesn't count. It wasn't good enough.

"Please say it again?"

I pointed at the TV, silently begging him to drop the subject and watch the rest of the movie. He was just staring at me though, I could see him out of the corner of my eye.

"Well I hope you will again, if you ever want. I don't see why you're embarrassed about it. I'm not a doctor, Asher, but how are you going to get better if you don't try?"

Don't TRY? Who the fuck did he think he was? I glared at him with the heat of a thousand suns and slowly raised my middle finger.

"Sorry, you're right. That was way out of line. I'll keep my mouth shut. Forgive me?"

At least he had the decency to look sorry and apologize. I signed 'fine' and he smiled, then turned back towards the screen.

"But I'm just saying that if you ever do need someone to practice with or want to say something to help me understand or whatever, well, don't feel embarrassed if it's not perfect, okay? I'm dropping it now."

Thank God.

"Because anyone who is brave enough to kiss me wouldn't be scared of something like that? Right?"

How in any sense of the word is this 'dropping it'? I smacked him with a pillow and pointed at the screen.

"I AM watching the movie. But fine, fine."

That time, he did finally let it die. We watched the rest of the movie in relative peace although I was probably still raising the temperature of the entire town with my blush and embarrassment. Oh well, it was over and at least it was fairly dark so he couldn't see me.

As soon as the credits started rolling, I realized that I had a MUCH bigger problem than making a fool of myself by talking. I had invited him to spend the night before anything had happened. As just friends. Everything had changed today though; now the thought of being alone with him in my room was scary as hell. I mean I didn't expect him to expect anything, but sleeping arrangements? Um, I hadn't really thought about it before, honestly.

We ended up in my room just staring at each other. I reached for my handy notepad. Where do you want to sleep?

"Wherever."

Well where do you normally sleep with guys you've kissed?

"The ones who run away or the ones I get all hot and heavy with?"

I raised one finger.

"Nowhere. I've never kissed a boy and I haven't had a sleepover in years, except at my Uncle Jimmy's when our power went out two years ago and it was like 110 degrees."

I had a really hard time believing him and the look on my face must have matched my emotions because he did the whole 'cross my heart' thing. I had no idea what to do but I just got into bed and scooted way over against the wall. The rest was up to him. Today had felt a week long. School felt like days ago and so much had happened tonight that I really had no idea how to process it. I faked sleep for a long time, long after he had crawled into bed with me and his breathing had slowed.