“So why won’t you have sex with me?”
Alex choked on air, coughing so loud that the people living downstairs could hear it. He patted his chest, not sparing me a glance. “What?” he choked out.
I blinked at him with a blank face, the ‘Happy Birthday’ banner in my hand. “Why won’t you do it?” I repeated.
Alex scratched his arm and I saw this cheeks and ears slowly turning red. He fumbled with words as he spoke. “What are you talking about?”
I moved the balloon packet and sat down next to him on the bed. “It’s been months since we started dating. I know you didn’t wait for this much for all your ex-girlfriends. So why me?”
Alex couldn’t even look at me. He was twisting the balloon in his hand. “I didn’t have any ex-girlfriends.” He corrected.
I rolled my eyes. “Flings.” I improvised. “We sleep on the same bed, we kiss, we hug, we have even said the L-word, so why won’t you do it?”
Alex sighed, glancing at me and then instantly looking down. The redness on his cheeks still there. “Why-why are you so blunt?”
“It is a valid question.”
Alex scoffed. “Even then. Don’t be so-” he paused thinking of a word. “-vulgar.”
I gasped. “Since when is sex so vulgar to you?”
“Not sex.” He waved at him dismissively. “That topic.”
I raised an eyebrow. “The topic of sex?”
“Can you stopping say sex?”
“Can you do sex?”
Alex groaned, dropping his head into his palms.
I crossed my hands at his dramatic actions.
“Can’t you be shy like all girls?” he groaned.
“Shy?” I snorted. I took the end of my hair, putting them in between my teeth and blinking at him in innocence. I looked down, sneaking soft sweet glances through my eyelashes. “Like this?” I blinked fast, pressing a fake overly sweet smile. “Honey, dumpling, cookie pie, the star of my eye.”
Alex shuddered, leaning back. “Don’t do that ever again. Ever.” He shuddered even more. “Never thought that I would like a Rich boy more than honey.”
I dropped the shy act, glaring at him. “So? When are we doing it?”
Alex shook his head. “Seriously, what do I do with her?” He whispered to himself.
“I can give you a list.” I replied, sending a wink.
Alex leaned back, swallowing hard. He cleared his throat. “We will talk about this later.”
“Why!” I complained.
Alex clenched his jaw, standing up and walking towards the door.
Feeling a little angry, I grabbed the balloon packet and threw it at his broad back. He barely flinched. “Later Myra.”
I glowered at his retreating back. “Dammit. Is he seriously playing hard to get?” I muttered to myself. I scoffed at the thought. “One would think he is the girl in this relationship.”
I stared at the banner in my hand, biting my lower lip. “Well Alex Bianchi, for once I will be the guy and seduce you into bed.”
I got up, taking the banner to the living room. Zivah was setting up the table and Evan was sticking the balloons to the ceiling. Zivah had asked some of our friends to join us and Evan had got his roommate. It was Athena’s birthday tomorrow and although she kept ordering that she didn’t want any celebration or even cake cutting, we had told her to stick her stiff personality up her butt.
Since she barely had any friends, we had asked ours to join.
I passed the banner to Zivah. “Let’s stick this.”
Zivah grabbed one end of the banner, glancing at Alex who was sulking in a corner. “What happened to him? He was blushing red when he came in and then drank an entire bottle of water all the while fanning himself. Did you two do the nasty in there?”
I slapped her shoulder motioning her to not be so loud. “Shut up. And no we didn’t do the nasty.”
Zivah looked at me, head to toe. “Why not? Do it soon, you aren’t getting any younger.”
I scoffed. “Nor is he.”
Zivah stuck one end of the banner to the wall. “Yeah well, he has abs, you have a flab.”
I scoffed, glaring at her. “Wow, you are a good best friend.” I taunted.
Zivah just winked. “I am just warning. Do it before he no longer likes what he sees.”
I stuck the other end to the wall and grabbed the nearby scissors. I raised my arm motioning to hit her with it. “I’ll stab you, Ziv.”
Zivah chuckled, walking away without a look back.
I glared at her back. What is it with everyone not considering my words today?
“Is Lucas coming?” Evan asked.
I frowned at him. “Why would he?”
“Because I called him.”
I blinked, surprised at that. “What? Since when are you two so close?”
Evan shrugged. “The last time he met Athena wasn’t pleasant so I thought he could meet her now, as my girlfriend.”
I remembered the last time Lucas, my dear brother had met Athena. It was the same day I had found out that my brother was shagging my best friend. And they weren’t even in a relationship.
“Athena hasn’t said yes to you.” I mocked, grinning at him.
“Alex hasn’t had sex with you.” Evan mocked back.
I almost threw the scissors at him. “Who told you that?” I whisper-shouted.
Even grinned. “Your bedroom door wasn’t closed. I didn’t know you were so desperate.”
I ground my teeth in annoyance and a little embarrassment. “I’ll kill you.” I swore, running after him with the scissors in my hand.
Evan laughed, his legs faster than mine. “No you won’t. You’ll miss me.”
I picked up the nearby plastic bottle, throwing it at him. I smiled as it hid his head and he swore, stopping and rubbing where the bottle hid. “That’s cheating! You can’t throw.”
“Then don’t be a snitch.” I warned him.
“Hey, Evan.” Calvin shouted, his roommate. “Catch.” Calvin threw a small box at Evan and instinctively Evan caught it in both his hands.
Calvin started laughing as Evan’s hands got stuck to the box. Calvin had covered the entire box in glue and now it was stuck to Evan’s hands. Evan glared at Calvin as he tried to move his hands and get them unstuck. He was failing miserably.
I laughed, clapping my hands in glee. “Serves you right.”
“I shall take revenge.” Evan took an oath, storming off into the kitchen. “Hey Alex help me with this.”
“No.”
“You are not doing anything. Help me.” Evan hissed.
Alex crossed his legs, sitting lavishly. “I am busy.”
Evan clenched his teeth. “Doing what?”
“Watching you get pranked.” Alex ridiculed.
Evan moved his lips in anger but no words came out. He looked at Zivah. “Zivah darling.”
“Nope.”
Evan sighed. “Beatrice?”
She was looking at her phone, scrolling through Instagram. “Busy.”
“Lucy.”
“Can’t hear you.”
“Janet!”
“It’s Janice you little bitch.”
Evan cleared his throat. “Janice.”
“It’s Janet you gullible dog.”
I could literally see the waves of fury flowing through Evan. He nodded at each one of us. “Revenge I shall take revenge.” He swore.
Just then Seb entered. “She’s coming.”
I glanced at the clock it was still 11. 55. “Stall her for 5 minutes.” I hissed, arranging the candles.
Seb scowled. “How will I stall her?”
“I’ll stall.” Evan piped in, walking with his hands still glued to the box.
Seb raised his eyebrows at Evan’s hands. “Were you drunk dude?”
Evan glared at Seb. “It was Calvin’s prank.”
Seb looked at Calvin and winked. “Good one bro.”
“Help me get out of this.” Evan said to Seb.
Seb just grinned. “You wish.” He shut the door back, going away to stall Athena.
Evan turned to us. “I hate you all. All of you.”
“Shush.” I whispered to him, quickly lighting all the candles and turning off the light.
“Where are the party poppers?” Zivah asked.
“With Alex.” I answered. “Alex are you at the door?”
Through the dim light of the candles, I saw Alex lightly push Evan as he stood near the door. “Yes.”
Evan glared at him. “That was my job. Mine.”
Alex looked disinterested. “Do you want to do it?” he gave the bottle to Evan who couldn’t even move his hands.
“Revenge.” Evan repeated. “I will take my revenge on all of you.”
There was no time to reply as we heard Seb’s loud voice coming up the stairs. “And that is how my Aunt slipped down the banana peel.”
“For the last time Sebastian.” Athena replied to him. “I am not interested.”
“But it was a funny story right?”
“Do you see me laughing?”
We heard Seb sigh. “Open the door.”
“If the lights are off and the room is decorated and there are candles and balloons and cakes, I will kill all of you.”
With that, she opened the door.
“Happy Birthday!” we shouted as Alex opened the party popper.
There was utter silence and in the candle lights, we could barely see her expression.
“Athena?” I said, noticing she hadn’t moved from the door.
“I think she is crying.” Seb whispered to us from behind her.
“Whose idea was this?” Athena finally spoke. From her tone we couldn’t figure out if she was pleased or furious.
I cleared my throat. “Doesn’t matter. Blow out the candles.” I urged.
She stepped forward walking towards the candles set around the chocolate cake. She looked around the room and then stopped at the unfamiliar faces. “Who the hell are they?”
“Don’t you remember?” Zivah answered. “We had gone to the club with them.”
“Oh yeah.” She remembered the time I had forced her to join us at the club for a couple of drinks. “Janet is it?”
“Janice.” She corrected.
Athena nodded, leaning down and blowing the candles and cutting the cake as we all sang the Happy Birthday song. Zivah immediately turned on the lights.
It was all good until Evan’s singing from the background continued. “Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday to You. You live in a zoo. You look like a monkey. And you smell like one too.”
Athena stopped mid-way, turning to look at him. “What did you say?”
Evan froze, gulping. “You live in my heart.” He corrected. “You look like a star. And smell like a lily.”
Athena rolled her eyes, continuing to cut the cake. I leaned forward, taking a small piece and offering it to her. “Happy Birthday bitch.” I wished.
Athena ate the cake, giving a small smile. “Thanks, bitch and if you think I’ll be feeding you all cake, you are wrong. Eat it yourself.”
That was expected. Just the fact Athena hadn’t killed us for throwing this lame party was a grateful thing.
“Feed me.” Evan said, coming ahead.
Athena blinked at the box in his hands. “Keep that box down and eat it yourself. You monkey in a zoo.”
“I can’t keep it.” Evan complained. “My hands are stuck. Help me get it off.”
Athena chuckled. “Not at all.” She walked away to the kitchen to wash her hands.
Evan glared at her. “She’s lucky it’s her birthday.” He mumbled.
Zivah cut the cake pieces and instantly everyone crowded, taking a piece for themselves.
“Hey!” Evan complained. “This is so unfair.”
I smirked, licking my lips as I ate the delicious chocolate caramel cake. “This is so delicious.”
Zivah nodded, taking another piece. “So yummy.”
Seb also joined in. “I think this is the best cake I have ever eaten.”
“You know it is so chocolaty,” Alex smirked at Evan.
Calvin inched his hand with the cake piece towards Evan. Evan smiled and opened his mouth. Calvin grinned and ate the cake himself. “Aww did you want it?”
“I will throw lizards at you.” Evan swore at Calvin, fuming and storming away to the kitchen again.
We all laughed at his expense. “Save him a piece.” I told them, putting one at the side.
“Do we need to? I am hungry.” Zivah whined.
“He bought this cake.” I reminded her.
“Eh.” Zivah rolled her eyes, grabbing a piece of Pizza and beer can. “Hey Birthday Girl!” she shouted. “Let’s get drunk.”
Athena entered the room looking at the crowd with a bored expression. “Can’t I leave yet?”
“It’s your birthday party.”
She sighed, taking a seat on the floor, next to me. “Fine just one drink.”
After more than 5 drinks we realized that Evan was a dancing drunk who was dancing with Calvin to Pitch Perfect Acapella songs and signing completely off-tune and different lyrics.
Zivah was a philosophical drunk and kept talking about the importance of having no regrets and loving yourself.
Seb hadn’t had much to drink and was pretending to listen to Zivah as she ranted about logical stuff. He looked at me with a tired face. “Does she not sleep?”
I laughed shaking my head. “Not yet. There’s much more she will talk about. She still hasn’t reached the story about her favorite Anime and the importance of watching it.”
Seb groaned, sighing and leaning his head back on the wall.
I was, fortunately, a happy drunk and didn’t usually cause a scene when drunk and mostly remembered everything that had happened.
Alex on the other hand was a sloppy drunk. For the past 15 minutes, he had been trying to walk the seven steps to the table and hadn’t succeeded at all. I laughed hysterically as he stumbled, again, as he walked towards me. His eyes were on the floor as he blinked taking baby steps, falling on the ground, and then starting all over again.
“Just run!” I shouted to him, waving my hand in the air.
Athena was a funny drunk, she was currently mumbling. “Oops. Didn’t see you there.” She then blinked. “Huh? Move. I said move!” she pushed. “Move you stupid woman. I need to go.” She pushed again. “Are you dumb? Are you deaf? Go away.”
She was talking to herself, standing in front of the mirror.
I snickered looking at her. The others had long gone and just the 7 of us were left.
“Why won’t you move!” Athena screamed again.
I laughed loudly suddenly stopping and then starting to laugh again.
Athena blinked at me pointing at her reflection. “Can you tell her to leave?”
I giggled taking short breaths. I shook my head. “Nope.” Then my voice lowered as if I had a secret to share. “That is you.” I whispered in a low voice.
Athena stared at the reflection. “Me?” she pointed to herself.
I quietly nodded.
She touched the mirror. “Wow, I look so good.”
I didn’t reply, I looked at Alex who was still trying to walk. Groaning I got up and walked towards him. I grabbed his arm.
“Hey, I can walk myself.” He fell down.
I rolled my eyes, pulling him up. “I can see that.”
I pulled him inside my bedroom.
“Ya do the nasty!” Zivah shouted from the living room while Evan ‘Woo-Hoo’-ed.
I shut the door behind me, blocking their catcalls and claps.
Alex stumbled and fell on the bed, face first.
I tapped his shoulder, controlling my laughter. “Hey.”
Alex looked at me.
I smiled. “Let’s do it.”
He blinked, frowning. “Do what?”
I pointed at the distance between us. “Sex.”
His eyes widened. “Now?” he squeaked out.
“Yes. Now.”
And then I started removing my clothes.
~~~