Gemma
is a rich, naïve, innocent woman. She meets Kendrick by chance, and
he asks her out. Mostly, he wants to paint her portrait, but she
isn't sure she wants to. She finally agrees and goes to his studio,
where she meets Vik, his roommate. There is an instant connection,
but they don't want to upset Kendrick, so they keep it under wraps. This scene takes place after
Ken and Vik get some really good news and party a little too hardy.
Persistent
knocking woke Vik the next morning. Ken wasn't on the floor across
from him, but he couldn't have been the one knocking. He had keys and
he was too careful to lock himself out. Vik staggered to the door and
tried to look out the peephole. It seemed to beyond his skill set at
that point, so he opened the door.
Gemma
stood at the door, slightly flushed and in a state of disarray. She
pushed past him, striding into the room. Vik leaned against the door,
which swung shut, nearly trapping his fingers. He pulled them out
just in time and tried to focus on Gemma.
“Hey,”
he said, gulping. “Sorry. We....” He gestured to the apartment.
It took him a moment to realize that the mess was gone and he
wondered, in passing, when that happened. “Celebrating,” he
mumbled. “Hi.”
“Where's
Kendrick?”
“No
clue. Just woke up. I'll look. Gimme sec.” He stumbled to the
stairs.
“Are
you drunk?” she sounded rather disgusted.
“Lil
bit.” He held his fingers an inch or so apart. He tried to put his
foot on the step, but it retreated from him, sliding toward the
floor. He missed, tried again and got it that time. “Lil bit,” he
muttered and slowly climbed the stairs.
Ken
wasn't in his bed. It was neatly made. His towel was dry, meaning he
hadn't showered that morning. His toothbrush had been used. It was
slightly damp when Vik touched it. He took a few minutes to empty his
bladder, splash cold water on his face and brush his teeth. He ran
his damp hands through his unruly brown hair and tried to pull
himself together.
“Coffee.
I need coffee.”
The
stairs didn't present quite as big a problem going down, though he
still had to be careful where he placed his feet.
“Are
you okay? Is Ken here?”
“No.
And no.” Vik wandered to the kitchen, heading toward the coffee
pot. It was already set up. “He left coffee, though. Want some?”
“Where
did he go?”
“No
idea. He didn't leave a note. Might have an appointment. Might have
gone to work. Dunno.” He hit the button on the coffee pot on the
third try. Pulling out a stool at the bar in the kitchen, he sat
heavily, unable to move another step. Head perched unsteadily on his
hands, he groaned.
Gemma
walked over, checking his forehead. “Are you sick?”
“Nope.”
He burped. Even he could smell the saki fumes.
Gemma
waved the air between them.
“Sorry.
Saki. I really shouldn't drink it. It has a kick.”
“What
were you celebrating?”
“Big
things. Epic. I honestly can't remember at the moment. Let me get my
coffee infusion.” The pot finished as he spoke. “Oh, come here
you wicked, dark eyed minx!”
Gemma
took a step back from him, but he turned toward the coffee pot and
she giggled. “You're a mess.”
“Yes.”
“Let
me get that. You'll have it all over the floor.” She took his mug
from him and poured him a cup. “How do you take it?”
“Light
and sweet...like you.” He touched her cheek and burped again.
“Sorry. Shouldn't have said that. Sorry.” He took the mug from
her, gulping the scalding brew. “Ouch! Yep, that's gonna do the
trick. He made it twice as strong.”
Gemma
giggled, taking a smaller mug for herself. She put in her cream and
sugar before joining him at the bar. “So, you were celebrating,
overdid it, can't remember what you're happy about and lost your
roommate? That's it?”
“Yep.”
“Busy
day.”
“Yep.”
“You
can't say anything else yet, huh?”
“Nope.
I don't do this often,” he babbled. “This isn't how I
usually—comport myself.” Vik burped again. “Sorry.” He stood
unsteadily and took a couple Tums from the cupboard over the sink.
“You're
using words over one syllable. That's an improvement.”
©
2015 Dellani Oakes
No comments:
Post a Comment