The Boys of Summer

11.

There was something ineffable in expressing how much it meant to me that Erik did all the dirty work. I might've looked like some inebriate who stumbled upon a stranger and suddenly passed out.

I wanted to say something to Erik, who suddenly killed all my chessboard pieces. Erik was a genuinely handsome and good man behind the intimidating looks. I know its been only like one and a half days since I met him but it seems as if all my doubts about him just disappeared.

Erik sat cross-legged across me giggling profusely like a little kid when he watched me frown in defeat. Raising his arms, he instilled a sign of victory.

"I won! There's actually a chance for me to beat the ever-confident Charles Xavier." He pointed at me mockingly. I snorted and rolled my eyes. "You disgust me Erik Lehnsherr, how will I ever dominate you now?"

"Well you wont stand a chance in the next incoming days. You'll have to submit to me by then!" He said with glee. Realising how dirty he said it, I smirked and he reddened. "Oh wait that sounded wrong." He muttered to himself.

"Why does everything sound dirty when you say them? Its like a curse." I said. He shrugged as he leered to the open balcony door. "I don't know, it may be because Im swoon worthy like what you would think."

I threw a pillow and groaned. "You're so full of yourself." I jokingly insulted. "I dont know how Raven would stand you with that."

Erik grinned and threw the pillow back at me. "Are trying to start a fight with me Charles Xavier? Sounds unfair for someone who was defeated in this round's chess."

Gripping the pillow, I shot him a fake glare. "I am because I wont accept defeat." I threw the pillow back at him with much more force. He pursed his lips into a measly scowl; letting his eye twitch too.

"Oh its on!" He took the pillow and started to hit me left and right. Being the quick one, I managed to retrieve the pillow from him in one swift pull and hit him back.

We only found ourselves pillow fighting for five straight minutes having us only trying to suffocate one another. I stumbled off the bed to only hit my bandaged wound against the nightstand. A surge of pain was inflicted so much that I gripped my arm and half curled on the floor.

To Erik's dismay, he got onto the floor too and threw the pillow away. He bent over and hovered over me with eyes wide in worry.
"Oh no Charles! Are you okay? Im so sorry I hit you."

I groaned and bit my lip. "Yeah sort of... ouch." I winced. Erik paused before putting his hands around my waist to help me up on the bed. Even though he was sort of pell-mell in helping me, I still did not mind the gesture.

Thats when I also didn't feel the cold metal ring in his finger. I saw that it was not on both of his hands. "Wheres your ring?" I asked trying to carry a conversation.

"Oh I had it cleaned." He explained. I probed the thought in my head if it were true but then the pain just distracted me further. "Ah shit I feel like gonna die." I laughed out in pain.

"Sorry, it was stupid of me to hit you that hard. Let me make it up to you by proclaiming you winner of the chess game." He smiled.

"No you dont need to step down for me. That was sweet of you though but I cant be selfish." I reasoned. "Dont worry, the pains gradually disappearing.

Erik pushed some strands of hair that fell again on my face, his fingers gently brushing over my forehead and temple. A solemn sigh of relief came out from his lips. "Good to know."

Both of us eyed each other without a word. In the orange sunlight, Erik seems more virile with his cheekbones and facial structure being more pronounced in the light. He had a glint in his eye as we both made eye contact again but this time, it fel more...intimate.

Mixed signals and feelings slurred around my head as I tried to decipher what was going on. Then Erik brought up a hand to caress my cheek; rubbing his finger against my skin. I felt a sense of warmth from his touch.

"Charles I-"

Then a knock on the door broke the moment apart. We both drew away from each other; faces red in embarassment.

"Uh yeah um come in!" I said to the visitor. The door opened and Jean's feathered hair popped in from the opening.

"Hey do tou guys have a moment. This is seroous." She said in a worrisome tone. I shook my head, gesturing her to come in.

She shut the door behind her and stood in front of us. "What's wrong?" Erik asked, eyes trained in the nervous looking girl.

She glanced around the roon before speaking. "I-I know who how you fainted and I know the reason why." She whispered.

"What, what do you mean?" Erik asked.

"I saw your sister, Raven, she coated the propellor blade with a chemical."