Raspberry Kisses

Chapter 1

THANKS TO FRANCES UP THERE FOR MAKING US AN AMAZING NEW COVER!

Phil

As I sat on the couch playing Portal 2, I heard Dan open the door, finally exiting the bathroom. His hair was still messed from the towel he used to dry it after his shower. He was buttoning up his dress shirt as he walked into the living room and I could see the top of his chest. Suddenly I got light headed, feeling a bit ill.

“Phil, how do I look?” he asked cheekily, taking a spin.

“What? Oh. Yeah. You look...great,” I choked out. Why did I feel so horrid? It was just Dan. I saw him in only his boxers on a daily basis. No, of course that wasn't why I felt ill. Then I caught a whiff of something... A scent I had grown to love. A scent that made me feel stupid but that made me so happy. The scent of raspberry kiss body wash. “ Dan? Are you...is that...Did you shower with my body wash?”

“Oh. Uhhh... Mine was empty,” he rushed.

His answer puzzled me. He had gone to the shop just last week. Yet he smelled of raspberry kiss, and I loved it. “Have fun with Carrie,” I said, realizing he was waiting for me to answer.

Dan finished buttoning his shirt and slipped on his jacket. “I'm sure I will. Carrie is fantastic...” he trailed off. That was a bit odd. Usually Dan can't stop talking about how excited he is for a date. “Anyway, I'll see you later.”

“Uh huh. Call if you won't be home until tomorrow,” I added, wiggling my eyebrows.

“I don't think that's gonna happen, man. No parties without me, 'kay?” he threw at me as he left. I just nodded and slipped on my headset. Parties. Yeah right.

Two hours later it was 9:30 and I was starving. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a few pancakes that Dan and I had made last week using the recipe of the one and only Delia Smith. We made them for “Shrove Tuesday,” which everyone in Britain knows as Pancake Day. While I thought about it I got that weird lightheaded feeling. I must be coming down with something. I ate my pancakes before shutting off the Xbox.

I decided to take a shower before I went to bed. I know, no normal 23 year old goes to bed before 11:00, but I felt so off. I quickly showered, inhaling the lush scent of raspberries. I dried off before slipping into one of my lion shirts and a pair of checked flannel pants. I wiggled under the sheets and fell into a restless sleep.

I woke up on the balcony. The door was open and the drapes were flipping about in the wind. I was holding a spatula like I was about to stab it into my stomach.

“HOLY CRAP!!!” I yelled. I was still drowsy, but if you were tipping over the edge of a balcony while stabbing yourself with a spatula, you would be startled. Suddenly I heard heavy foot steps and felt strong hands around my waist, pulling me back just as I started to fall over the edge. My skin tingled when I felt him let go.

“PHIL! What the hell?! What were you doing? Killing yourself in your sleep with a spatula?!” Dan yelled, ripping the spatula from my still posed hands. I blinked.

“I...I...I...” I quickly ran to the bathroom before throwing up. I heard Dan come in after me, and I felt his hand rubbing circles on my back. “I don't feel well...” I was lightheaded again and a bit shaky.

“You were just hanging nearly upside down from the balcony! Of course you feel sick! I'm sorry I yelled...You made me nervous.” He laughed weakly.

“Guess we'll have to start locking that door, too, huh?” I asked, drinking a glass of water Dan had brought me. “Thanks, Dan, but I think I'm fine now.”