Happier A Christmas Love Story

Chapter 6 (Jake)

I hold her hair back as she wretches over the sink, I figured this would happen hence why I paced myself whereas I knew that this was what she needed. After she wipes her mouth I get her upstairs to the bathroom to brush her teeth after she is all cleaned up she continues drinking. 

"I take it this won't be the only time I am holding your hair back tonight?" I ask and laugh, she smiles and shakes her head. We head back down into the kitchen and she turns on her phone, "My little sister was cheated on, and this song kinda helped her do you mind if I throw it on for you?" I ask. Her head pops out from behind the freezer. 

"Sure"

I go to the Youtube app and throw on the song 'Fuck U Betta' by Neon Hitch. As the lyrics come on I see a certain confidence come to Erica's face. She starts to dance along with the song and eventually starts to laugh. I watch as she grabs some frozen Chinese food and Pizza Bites. Odd combination but I know better than to question it. The song 'Little Lion Man' by Mumford and Sons comes on and due to the upbeat country-folk feel we start dancing and singing around the kitchen after she puts the food in the oven. 

As the song comes to an end I look at her, " So now that we have made it past the angry I want to break something phase and are currently in the dancing around the kitchen phase what are we gonna do?" She gives me a big smile and says well more like slurs "Weee are gonna watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas and eat Chinese food" 

I laugh "Ok and why are we doing that?"

"Because that is what I would have ended up doing if I was back at my apartment alone, But since I am not alone I am roping you into it with me" She smiles and then turns to go towards the living room I stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on the timer. When it goes off I take all the food out and but half of everything on to plates, I grab the soy sauce and the plates and head into the living room. Erica is putting her hair in a messy bun as I walk in and hand her, her plate, I notice she has a chunk in the back she missed.

"Do you have a bobby pin?" I ask, she gives me a questioning look as she hands me one. I then twirl the small chunk around my finger and pin it to the back of her head. After I sat down and started to eat she played the movie.

She looks over at me with curious eyes "Why so quiet?" I look at her as an unexpected tear slips out of my eye. 

"This was My Mom and I's favourite movie, we watched it together every Christmas while my brother went to parties and my dad worked," I say sadly. She pulls me into a hug and suggests that we change the movie and I just shake my head "This is the movie you want to watch plus it'll be nice to look back on the movie with good memories." She nods and we both focus back on the movie laughing at Jim Carrey.  

I must have dozed off because when I open my eyes I see the movie is long over and Erica is curled into my side. Our empty food plates sit on the table, I look at Erica and see no point in moving. So I slowly start to fall back asleep but before I can drift off I feel her shaking and suddenly my side becomes wet, I gently say her name in an attempt to wake her. After about 5 minutes of saying her name and slightly shaking her, she opens her eyes. As they open they are wet from what I can only assume are tears. "Whats wrong?" I question. 

"I was having a nightmare, or more like a flashback. Of them in bed together" She says with her voice barely above a whisper. 

I just give her a hug. "How about we go upstairs and actually go to our own beds, This couch is not exactly the best thing to sleep on. She nods and moves to get up but loses her balance and falls right back down into my chest, our faces are no more than 2 inches apart. Without realizing it we both start to lean in and just as our noses brush it's like she wakes up from a trance and blushes. 

"I um, I'm gonna go to bed." She said awkwardly. 

Say something!! My brain shouted. ANYTHING!

I couldn't form any words, so I just watched her scurry away up the stairs. 

I smacked my forehead, and I couldn't help but think to myself.

What. The. Fuck. Was. That.