Dusty Shelves

Parties and Reputations

I woke to the loud banging on the door. I opened my eyes and was blinded by the sunlight that was streaming through the window. I looked down and saw that Alice was still sleeping. She was snuggled right up to me.

"Alice?" I asked quietly, wondering how the pounding on the door hadn't woke her up. I kissed her forehead and caressed her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at me. Her facial expression suddenly changed when she realised it was me waking her up and another banging on the door appeared.

"Crap!" she said and sat up. "Crap!" she repeated.

"Alice? Oliver? It's Lucy. It's 7:30! Open up!" Lucy called as she banged on the door. I had no idea how she got up. She must have called some random neighbour and got them to let her in. She came across as a rather persuasive person.

"Coming!" Alice called as she threw the sheet back. She gasped as she realised she was naked and pulled the sheet back over her body.

"Alice, you are so shy. Don't worry. You get changed in here and I'll let her in" I said and kissed her forehead.

"Ok" she said and I slipped out from under the sheets. I grabbed my boxers and slipped them on. I peeked as I heard Alice slip out of the sheets and grinned at her. She blushed and went in search of the duffle bag. I opened the door and was greeted by Lucy who was looking rather impatient and annoyed.

"Take your time! Where's Ali?" she asked as she walked past me. She sat on the kitchen bench as I pulled the cereal out from the pantry and placed it next to her. As I was walking to the fridge I heard Alice call out.

"Oli?"

"Yeah?"
"Duffle bag. In lounge room" she said and I realised she was probably standing naked in the room. I walked over to where she had dumped the duffle bag and walked into the room. She was wearing my t-shirt and I smiled.

"Here you are"

She grabbed the bag off me. Obviously feeling less self conscious, she slipped the t-shirt over her head and threw it at me. She pulled her clothes out to get changed. She noticed I was staring and stoped what she was doing.

"Out you go!" she said and shooed me out. I put my hands up in surrender and walked back out to the kitchen. Lucy was standing with her eyebrows raised. I blushed slightly and went back to the fridge.

"You okay? You seem to be blushing quite furiously there" she said and eyed me suspiciously.

"I'm fine" I said and avoided looking at her knowing she would realise the moment she saw me.

"So why won't you look at me? You're hiding something" she said and hopped down from the bench.

"I am not!"

"So then look at me!" she said and stood next to me. I lifted my gaze slightly so I was looking at her. She was pretty short and it didn't take much to make eye contact.

"There" I said and tried to hide my blush. I was usually good at hiding things but the thought of Alice had a certain effect on me.

"There is no point in hiding it. I'll just get it out of Alice later. She's much easier than you, might I add" she said and looked at me expecting me to tell her. I kept my mouth shut and looked at her. I couldn't help it and let out a sheepish grin.

"I knew it! She's here one night and you-"

"Shush!" I cut her off and clamped my hand over her mouth. "Are you going to keep quiet?" she nodded and let out a muffled yes. I took my hand off her mouth and she smiled at me knowingly.

"Done! Let's go!" Alice said out of nowhere jumping out of the room while she tried to put her shoe on. She stumbled and I reached out and caught her around the waist.