CHAPTER 15: The thing about a kiss

I haven't seen Allen in a couple of days. We talked on the phone and texted each other a lot. But it's kinda lonely without him. Thank God Chuck's back this morning. He went straight to my room from the airport and dumped his massive luggage in my living room. He took out the foods his mother and Marsha's mother packed and put them in my fridge before crawling into bed and snuggled up to me for another few hours of sleep. It's still very early actually. It's still dark outside.

"I'm sleepy." He mumbles as he turns me into his personal body-pillow and buries his face in my neck. It's really ticklish, but he sounds really tired, so I just adjust a little so his hair doesn't tickle me all that bad. "Wake me up before you go?" he asks, yawning. I nod and stroke his hair, telling him to sleep.

I, too, must have dozed off for some time because when I open my eyes, I'm blinded by the sunlight brightening my room. I look down to see Chuck's still sleeping in my arms with hands around me and his face buried on my chest. I smile and pat his head gently, turning slightly so I can cuddle him. He's really cute when he's sleeping. Not loud, mischievous, obnoxious or annoying. I turn to my other side when I hear a sound from the kitchen.

"Hey," I call out softly to Allen who's standing busy in the kitchen. He turns and his lips curl into a smile.

"Sorry. Did I wake you?" he whispers. I get up slowly as to not wake Chuck.

"No. I'm already awake," I tell him and join him in the kitchen. "Sorry about the mess," I smile apologetically at him, realizing Chuck's stuff is all around the living room.

"When did he arrive?" he asks, pouring glass of water and hand it to me,

"Early this morning," I answered him, taking the glass gratefully.

"He went straight here?" Allen asks again.

"Uh huh. He always comes to me first whenever he gets back from his hometown. He brought lots of food. From his mother and Marsha's." I tell Allen. He nods, opening the fridge. "Get me some, will you? I'm gonna wash up," I ask him and walk to the bathroom after he nods.

Something's wrong with Allen. Again. His smile was a bit forced earlier, wasn't it? Or am I overthinking it?

I scratch my head and start to wash my face and brush my teeth.

Maybe just my imagination.

I decided to tell myself that before coming out to join Allen for breakfast.

"Feed me," I demand as I sit inches away from him, resting my body on him.

"What are you, five?" he chuckles.

"Yes. And I'm also sleepy," I grin at him. "I'm five and sleepy. Now feed me," He snorts and chuckles, trying not to be so loud.

"What time did you get back last night?" he asks after the chuckles subside and starts feeding me some steamed fish.

"Two," I tell him before taking a bite.

"That late?" Allen frowns.

"Yeah. We needed more cherry blossom petals for the tree decorations so we stayed to cut more trees and make more petals," I tell him about the decoration that will be put up all over the pathway for the festivals. We're still short but we'll be fine I guess." I shrug.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could've helped," He says and I shrug again.

"Didn't want to interrupt you, I guess. You were with Joy, right? Doing lovey-dovey things? Heh heh heh," I tease him and he pokes my forehead lightly but doesn't deny it.

"What are you up to today?" he asks again.

"Hmmm... costume fitting with the drama club. Clothes fitting with Quin. Probably lunch. Then I'm coming to your practice to take some shots for the booklet," I tell him and he nods, gesturing towards Chuck.

"What about him?" he asks.

"No idea, actually," I say. Speaking of which... "I should probably wake him up," I tell Allen after glancing at the clock. It's already nine. I walk to the bed and sit on it, gently patting Chuck's shoulder to wake him up. "Chuck, wake up."

"Hmmm...." Is the answer I get. He buries his face in the cover and reaches out to pull me down and headlock me.

"Ass!" I protest and struggle. "Get up jerk! It's nine!" I smack his head and hands but he still isn't letting go and rather, he pulls me closer to him, making me lie straight on my side and starts to cuddle me, holding me from behind. Allen is staring at us and I'm starting to feel really awkward. I smile apologetically at him before talking to this asshole. "Do you want to stay in? I have to go, so does Allen," I tell him and Chuck shoots his head up from my back and looks at Allen who then smiles at Chuck.

"Yo," Allen greets him.

"Yo," Chuck grins at him (still not letting go of me).

"C'mon Chuck. I have to get ready. I haven't even finished my breakfast yet!" I scold him.

"Aww... But I've missed you..." he whines. I roll my eyes.

"I miss you too," I smack his head. "But seriously, get your big ugly ass up so we can all go out together!" I tell him and escape from his holds. He groans.

"What? No kiss for me?" he asks and I smack him harder this time.

"We're not five!" I groan at him.

"You still kiss Marsha!" he retorts.

"She's a girl! She's soft!" I argue. And he bites my arm. He fucking bites my arm! "What the fuck man! Cut it out!" I smack his head as hard as I can until he lets go and I quickly give him a peck. "Now go wash up you stupid cannibalistic pervert!" I hiss at him and he just laughs, clearly satisfied. That bastard!

I sigh exasperatedly after Chuck walks to the bathroom after brushing my head gently. I get up and sit back down beside Allen to finish my breakfast. I get a little surprised when Allen suddenly holds my chin with his fingers and brings it so I'm facing him. Allen then runs his thumb on my lips. I lick my lips after he pulls his hands away.

"What? Something on it?" I ask.

"Hmmm? Yeah," He says absentmindedly and then smiles at me. "Finish your breakfast," He says, getting up. "I'm going back to my room to wash up. See you at the court later," He says and I nod dumbfounded.

What's wrong with him now? I scratch my head when he closes the door behind him.

Chuck is following me to the costume fitting with the drama club and clothes fitting with Quin. He won't leave me alone. He keeps clinging onto me and it's starting to piss me off (It's summer! It's stuffy!). Even on the basketball court (I asked them to play on the outdoor court so I can take more pictures). Well, he's not bugging me when I'm actually taking pictures, but whenever I sit down on the bench, he'll put his hand around me and nuzzles (It's hot!). But after a while, I get too tired struggling so I just let him do what he wants. He hasn't been this clingy and needy for a long time I kinda wonder what happened, but I guess he just matured a bit and held back. Until now, at least.

I sigh and continue to watch the basketball team practicing, looking for chances to get good shots. Our basketball team is actually very good. It's one of the best clubs in this university, and they have proven it by collecting dozens of trophies in the last ten years. Even I can tell that they are indeed very good. Everyone, especially Allen (he's the captain, so, duh) really knows what they are doing.

And Allen... he's just... amazing. I can't help but feel mesmerized by him. He's talented, kind, handsome... I can see that he truly loves basketball. Even with serious expressions, he seems relaxed, content and I can tell that he really enjoys playing basketball. Other times that I saw that blissful expression, was when we were in Kintara. He was playing on the beach with those kids. His hair shines as brightly as that time under the scorching sun. His skin is glowing. It's really beautiful to watch. He's really beautiful to watch. Unconsciously, I smile as I take one last shot of him.

"Hi." Erica, the manager, approaches us as the team takes a break. "Got any good shots?" she asks.

"Plenty," I tell her. "Your boys are amazing," I tell her and she smiles proudly.

"You're also very talented," She tells me.

"Of course he is," Chucks says sheepishly.

"Yo," Carter, one of the basketball team members, and also our former gang members, approaches us and fist-bumps us. "You must be happy huh, Lee? Now that your husband's back. You can now dump this useless jerk here," He teases, pointing at Allen, who also joins us, jokingly.

"Ain't gonna do that," I shake my head, pretending to be serious. "He's more royal than Chuck," I stick my tongue out at Chuck who smacks my head.

"Cheap asshole," He snorts.

"Where's the wife?" Carter asks, laughing with Chuck.

"London. With her boyfriend," I tell him.

"That must have been nice," Erica says in jealousy. "To have both a husband, and a wife," She starts teasing us too. I shake my head.

"Twice the nagging, preaching and scolding," I tell her. "Wanna take my place?" I grin at her, she shakes her head.

"Nah..." she says thoughtfully. "I'd rather take their place... But then, they'll kill me... so, I think I'll stay here," She grins at me.

"Well, you're right. Lee's mine," Chuck says, patting my head, "And Marsha's," he adds.

I smack his head, "Who says so?!"

"Me. Just now," Smartass. I smack him again.

"I'm gonna go back to practice," Allen says before giving me a weird look (that feels kinda cold and somehow... scary?) and leaves.

I have this sudden urge to run, grab his hand and say something. I don't know why though, and I don't know what I'm going to say even if I did go after him and grab his hand. So I just sit here, scratching my head, for once, not understanding even myself.

By the time the basketball team finishes practice, it's already dark. Chuck has gone to his own practice a while ago and I am waiting for Allen so we can head back home together. I approach him when he walks out of the locker room after a shower.

"Hey," I greet him. "You were really awesome out there today," I tell him.

"Thanks," He gives me a small smile. Looks kinda weird though, his smile.

"Wanna get dinner?" I ask.

"You don't have any more work to do?" he asks as we head out of the building. The wind is quite chilly tonight. I wonder if it's going to rain.

"Nope," I answer him, looking up at the sky to look for any signs of the long awaited rain.

"What about Chuck?" he asks again.

Hmmm? Why does he say Chuck's name in that way?

"He has a late practice. But he'll come by later to get his things," I tell him and he stops. "Tell you what. Why don't we all stay in, order some food and watch the new DVD I just got?" I ask, holding his hand and pulling on it, making him face me.

He is, now. Staring at me, actually. I feel a little awkward as he pulls the hand I am holding, bringing it up to brush my bangs from my face (it's getting slightly longer, I may need a haircut), touching my cheek gently, he runs his thumb over my lips. I shudder, not knowing why.

"I'm actually a little tired," He says slowly, palm still on my left cheek, which, by the way, feels like it's starting to burn. What the hell? "You go eat with Chuck. I'll see you tomorrow," He says and he slowly leans in and plants a kiss on my other cheek ever so softly. His lips lingers for a good God knows how long (I didn't actually count, duh) before he pulls back, giving me a small smile and walking away, leaving the dumbfounded me there, feeling my face as if it's on fire.