The Galaxy Meetings

six

"This is so cute, Blake." I called out to him from the living room. He was currently serving the dinner. I insisted that he'd surprise me because it actually wasn't mac n' cheese.

"Thanks," he choruses back. "I kind of just bought everything from IKEA, because, you know – I work in a milkshake shop..."

I chuckle. "Well, I think it's what a modern fan girl would call so-o-o-o- Tumblr."

"You're very accepting of everyone, Leila." He noted with a chuckle.

I just laugh to that as I wander around his living room, admiring the little succulents and family photos and personal little nick-knacks that were scattered around the terracotta coloured room. "Hey, do you want to eat in the living room or the kitchen?" Blake asks, almost sounding nervous. I ponder for a few moments, deciding. "The living room is fine." I reply with a small grin.

"Oh, phew." Blake mumbles quietly to himself. I smile. He probably had dirty dishes on the counter tops or boxer shorts flung over the chair. Typical boy. And trust me when I say I know what a typical boy is; I live with eight of them.

***

"Dinner is served!"

I look at the piping hot plates. Chicken curry and rice, with mint and what seems to be lemon juice on the rice.

"This looks so nice!" I chirp, picking up a fork. "I thought you said you couldn't cook that well."

"The main reason like every relationship falls is because of lies and dishonesty so I'm going to tell you – there's an Indian restaurant down the road. But, that is my mint plant!"

I laugh. "A-star for effort, Blake." All that was buzzing through my mind was the word 'relationship'.

"My mint leaves just make the meal." He sarcastically jokes, placing a hand on his chest. I laugh. Blake is such a sweetheart.

***

"How was your date?" Chase asks.

"It was so amazing," I blurt out. "We had curry, and then we had Sainsbury's finest chocolate pudding. It was so much fun."

"Did he make you feel all cliché and ticklish inside?" Chase jokes, nudging my side as we laid side by side on the hill, like normal.

"... Yes." I reply, laughing. "Like this."

I reach out and tickle Chase's stomach but he doesn't even move an inch. "Come on. You're not ticklish?"

Chase shrugs. "No."

"but, but..." I speechless splutter. "Everyone's ticklish!" "So, you're ticklish?" Chase asks, rolling over so he was facing me. "Yes, duh - even I'm tick- oh crap."

Next thing I know, we were having a tickle war, and I discovered Chase's neck was ticklish. I knew everybody is ticklish. Told you so, Chase.

"Ahh!" I scream. I was suddenly rapidly rolling down the hill. Chase followed suit, and landed on top of me. I laughed with him as we just lay there, Chase lying on top of me. To be honest, in such the frail body I had, I didn't know I had it in me to hold a teenage boy's weight on me.

We look into each-other's eyes, suddenly not laughing anymore. Laying still, we just freeze completely as we stare.

"I-I should go." I awkwardly whisper. Chase instantly agrees and rolls of me, dusting himself down when he gets up and speed-walks to the fence in the same manner as me.

Did I just have a 'moment' with Chase?