Thunder and Lightning || Dodie Clark

II. Getting to Know My Roommate

Two weeks passed since that horrible, yet life changing party. I was officially moved out of Lance's apartment with Connie, Dodie, and Thomas's help. My things had begun to move into my new flat, and life was officially better.

Right?

"Hey Murph." Thomas tossed me my new set of keys. Catching it was an accomplishment in itself. I was jumping with excitement, seriously jumping up and down as I tried to unlock the door. Dodie locked it specifically for the moment. We shouted and cheered once I unlocked it: I was officially moved it!

"I'm so happy for you!" Connie said and wrapped her arms around my neck in an awkward side hug.

"Thanks," I smiled and returned the awkward side hug. Thomas gave me a less awkward hug, but the boy was five inches taller.

I spent the afternoon unpacking, with the help of Connie and Thomas. Dodie was ordering food, then joined the little party. We only got about halfway done when we broke out the wine. I refused to get as drunk as I did two weeks ago. A gentle sprinkle began to formulate outside, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Drink in hand, we all sat in a circle like little kids at a slumber party.

"We should play Truth or Dare!" Connie suggested.

"What, are we children?" I took another sip from my cup.

"Yes."  Connie nodded.

"I don't see why not," Dodie shrugged. Eventually we all agreed. Even Evan and some other friends of Dodie came over and joined the game. They said they saw Connie's "mystery shampoo" dare on SnapChat and wanted to join the fun.

After I had already eaten some weird food (if you even wanted to call it that), called my ex friend and told them I was now a goat, and told the people within the group why I moved to London, it was my turn again.

"Murphy," Connie turned to me. Her words had begun to slur together and she was clearly leaning away from tipsy and more toward drunk. I had only had one glass and decided it was enough for me. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to play Seven Minutes in Heaven with whomever this bottle lands on!" Connie placed the wine bottle in the middle of the group. There was a series of "oohs."

"What are we, twelve?" I sighed, grabbed the bottle, and gave it a spin.

Maybe Drunk Murphy would love this game, but I was barely tipsy. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears and chills run down my back.

It passed Evan.

It passed Connie.

It passed Thomas.

It stopped, pointing to Dodie.

"You don't really have to do this," I whispered toward her. "It's not your dare."

"It's officially her dare now," Thomas laughed. We were ushered into Dodie's room and then into her closet.

"Time starts now!" Evan shouted on the other side.

"I'm sorry," I apologized in a low whisper.

"Don't be," Dodie leaned closer, her mouth gracing my ear, "think of it as getting to know your roommate."

Apparently Drunk Dodie was not only alluring, but very confident. Her arms found their way wrapped around my neck. Her lips, soft and small, found their place with mine. She tasted like peaches and wine. Her touch left fireworks against my skin. My hands, working on their own, wrapped around her waist to pull her closer. But we still weren't close enough.

Soon enough I had back up against the wall. Dodie's hands entangled in my hair. When her teeth ranked against my bottom lip, I couldn't let but let out a low moan into her mouth. Taking this advantage, she moved away from my mouth. Her gentle touch making it's way alongside my jaw.

Just when her hand tugged at the bottom of my shirt, the door swung open. We sprung apart like teenagers caught by their parents.

"Time's up!" Connie called. And just like nothing happened, they went back to their circle and continued to play. I shared a looked with Dodie who shrugged and joined the circle again. I sighed and took my place back and continued to play, but kept getting distracted. Dodie and I would make awkward eye contact and she would give me a small smile. It wasn't much of one, just a small turn of the corners of her lips.

Oh no. This is happening. She's my roommate, I can't... Right?

"Alright," Connie yawned. "I think I should head home or else I'm gonna end up passing out here. I already called a Uber anyways."

"Yeah, I should head back too. My plane will be arriving tomorrow afternoon and I want to cure the hangover before then." Thomas stood, wobbling slightly.

"I should probably sleep," I said and then a yawn soon followed. "I'm not built to stay up this late." We bid goodbye to Connie and Thomas and suddenly we were alone.

"I should probably get to bed."

"Yeah, I should probably take a shower." Awkwardly we stood there, neither of us moving.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I broke the building silence. Nervously, I wandered back to my new room. Butterflies gentle fluttered in my stomach and I did my best to ignore them. Soon enough I heard the shower start and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

The morning came with drizzles and the gentle rumble of thunder. Wearily I sat up, the pounding in my head matching the rhythm that thundered outside my window. I took a few ibuprofens with a glass of water. With the pounding in my head subsiding, I got ready for what the day would bring. Last nights events blurred as I tried to recall them in the shower.

One thing was sure. Things wouldn't exactly be the same.