Feels Like the First Time

Chapter Twenty-Four - Tantrum

I turned to face the ceiling for the millionth time that night. Instinctively, my arms raised to slap down on the bed but the sharp pain in my injured wrist reminded me why that was a stupid idea. My eyes narrowed at the cast that was already starting to itch, but that was easy to ignore when the pain of my injury made itself known. After a few moments, my eyes wandered back to the ceiling even though I couldn't distinguish any features in the darkness of the room. A soft knock on the door stirred me from the trance I had fallen into just staring off into space.

"Come in," I mumbled, my throat a little dry. The door opened, allowing a soft light to spill into the room, blocked only by the tall silhouette of Takashi. The dark shadow moved towards me as I shifted to a sitting position in the bed, untangling myself from the sheets. The bed dipped under Takashi's weight when he sat next to me and offered me the glass of water he carried. I smiled at him softly before taking the pills I'd left on the bedside table with a sip of water.

"Thank you," I whispered trying to fix my hair a little.

"Can you not sleep?" Takashi asked, his deep voice soft. I shook my head, the curls I'd just tucked behind me ear slipping over my face making me blow them away in annoyance. There was a deep chuckle next to me as a warm hand brushed the ringlets away to stop their tickling torture.

"Are you in pain?" He asked, continuing to brush is fingers through my hair, amazing me at his ability to not get his fingers stuck in the knots that were ever-present.

"No," I responded softly. "I just struggle to sleep sometimes."  He hummed in response, his hands adding a slight pressure to my scalp, too little for a massage but enough that the slight tension that always seemed to be there sighed in relief. My body instinctively leaned into him as his warm touch caressed my neck and shoulders; his hands flowed over me as if guided by a visceral knowledge of my innermost secrets.

He knows, how does he just know? I asked myself, marvelling at the pure bliss I only remembered from childhood nights and soft, motherly whispers of fingers. A tear slipped down my cheek in the dark as a smile teased my lips and my breathing became heavy until all that was left was the deep knowledge of his touch.

*  *  *

Okay, Hannah, go wash your eye, that's gross I ordered myself as I realised that my left eye was covered in gunk from sleeping with it wet. I didn't even bother looking in the mirror as I soaked my eye with warm water, successfully clearing it. Returning back to the bed I smiled at the sight of Takashi awkwardly curled around the spot where I had just been.  I picked up the hairband that was mysteriously on the nightstand, assuming that Takashi had undone the pointless plait that my hair had been in when I went to bed, and awkwardly tied my hair out of the way. I left the room with a glare at my aching arm. The house was beautifully silent and cool as I made my way to the kitchen with the intention of making Takashi some breakfast in bed.

After 30 minutes and 2 dozen imaginative curses at my broken hand, I made my way back upstairs with a tray, conveniently balanced on my good hand. With a glare and silent expletive, I used my hip to nudge the door open to the bedroom, with a grimace and another curse as the doorknob bit into my side. The tray was placed on a dresser before I carefully woke Takashi with a few whispered kisses to the side of his face and neck.

A soft smile curled his lips as he blinked several times. I grinned back at him before retrieving the tray and placing it on the side of the bed that was empty. In silence, we shared the pile of bacon sandwiches I'd made and eagerly sipped the cups of tea. With a gentle peck on my forehead, Takashi collected the tray to take back downstairs. I followed behind him, pulling open the dishwasher to put away the plate and cups.

"I think I left my phone down here last night." I mumbled as I began searching in the living room. Takashi hummed, dangling my phone in front of my face with a smirk. Before I could ask, he gestured to the coffee table in front of the sofa we were sat on last night. The bag I had brought with me yesterday sat opened on the coffee table with my clothes neatly folded inside. Haruhi had brought me the bag before she left yesterday and informed me that she had put my clothes back in.

"Why did Honey start looking through my bag?" I asked Takashi as I tucked my legs under me to sit on the sofa. Takashi shrugged in response but the way his eyes flitted away from mine, I knew his implied ignorance was not true. The doorbell rang just as I opened my mouth to question him and he eagerly moved to answer it. Saved by the bell, I thought with a grunt. I opened my phone to find 7 missed calls and a plethora of notifications from my many messaging apps, all from Mei. I groaned and begrudgingly began to read through them when I heard shouting from the direction of the front door. 

As I stood to investigate, Mei stormed round the corner with her hazel eyes dangerously narrowed on my broken wrist. My feet shuffled backward as I considered my exit strategies but Mei grabbed onto my arm, fortunately gripping the bicep.

"What is that?!" Mei shrieked pointing at my cast with her free hand.

"I broke my wrist." I mumbled dumbly. She gave me a withering look before turning to glare at Takashi.

"What did you do to her?" Fists shaking, Mei stomped toward Takashi whose face remained completely blank.

"He didn't do anything, Mei. I tripped when I was running." I defended, instinctively moving around the sofa to put a barrier between myself and Mei's fiery temper.

"Why would you do that?" She sputtered, her nails digging into the sofa that separated us. I gave her a withering look in response to her ridiculous question.

"What about the wedding?" Mei whimpered after a moment. I moved toward her, kneeling on the sofa to put my good hand onto one of hers.

"What about the wedding?" I asked with a gentle pat to her hand. Her temper seemed to have burnt out and I could see tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. Mei mumbled a response but it was covered by her free hand rubbing her face vigorously. I leant forward more to make sure I heard anything else.

"You should tell her, Mei." Ritsu's voice grumbled from the hallway. I looked up, slightly surprised at his presence as I had been far too focussed on Mei's tantrum, which was threatening to return if the now pouting woman was anything to go by. With a huge sigh, Mei pulled her hand from under mine to stomp to Ritsu. He grunted and flinched as her head dropped to his chest heavily, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a delicate kiss on the top of her head. I couldn't help the soft smile that tweaked my lips at the actions of my two friends.

"I was going to ask you to be a bridesmaid." May sighed, her face tilted slightly away from Ritsu so his chest wouldn't muffle her words. As soon as she was finished speaking, she turned her head back to nuzzle into his chest.

"Really?" I gasped. My brain froze as a wave of emotions overcame me. Mei nodded and a small squeak passed the rapidly forming lump in my throat. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Takashi's head snap towards me, but I was barely paying attention.

"Of course I will," The excitement bubbled up in me. "I mean, if you still want me to be?"

Mei grumbled into Ritsu's chest for a moment before stomping back to the sofa. She launched her arms around my neck, wrapping my head against her shoulder. I chuckled into her neck and placed my good arm around her waist with a light pat.

"Of course I do, you idiot!"