Room 323 [Thursday, Early Evening]

[comeoutwrong]

Relaxing as days without classes could be, they did have a tendency to give far too much time to think, and over-think about just about everything that had gone on in the last week or so. There was a good lot of stuff that fell into that frustratingly complex category, and Effy had spent her day avoiding that, by being out and about and doing things, cold as it was.

It was only on the way back she'd noticed the overabundance of candy canes, grabbed a couple from the cafeteria and was sucking on one as she pottered around her room and returned a couple of calls from Panda and Tony.

It kept her oral fixation satisfied and was probably better for her lungs. Win win.

[[Open door/post!]]

Comments

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"There are ways to do planned spontaneity and make it good," Alex replied, shrugging one shoulder. "I've done it to you before."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"And it was very good." That she would never deny. Memorable, too, considering she was pretty sure she knew the instance he was talking about.

She nudged him with her foot, a teasing sort of reprimand. "Making me look bad."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"See, if I can do it, anyone can," he said, reaching for her foot in reaction since she was nudging. That's what she got. "Might be making you look bad but I bet I don't make you feel bad, do I?"

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

There was a shake of her head indicated her response to that. No, nothing about any of that was bad.

"Thought you'd be claiming only you could do that because you were more awesome than the rest."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"I am more awesome than the rest," he said, letting her foot go but not without flicking her ankle, "and you just don't wanna do it. That's all right. Probably couldn't surprise me anyway."

[blah indeed! i know that feeling. night!]

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Did I say I didn't want to do it?" No, she just talked around it, and talked around it until it seemed that way.

Not unusual.

It was a compulsion, she'd claim. Plus? Fun.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"No, you're just being your usual vague self and avoiding doing it which means I made an assumption that I think might be right," he said, shrugging and making no apologies for his assumption. "You really can't surprise me with your spontaneity."

Or, well, she probably could if she hit on the right things but he didn't think she would so his confidence felt firm.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Never surprised you before?" she wondered. She thought she had, but maybe that was just her imagination.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Have you?" he asked, throwing that question back at her. He could pick out a few times he knew he'd surprised her. And now he wondered if she could do the same. "Thought you knew me well enough to recognize surprise by now."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"I thought I had," she answered. Sure there were moment in there. There had to be. "You sounded less than sure."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"I thought I was the one that did most of the surprising," he answered, shrugging. "But, you know, if you think so, sure, we can go with that."

There was honesty mixed in with some challenging stirred with some teasing there. She liked to wind him up, he liked the same.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"You would think that." And he might be right, she just wasn't about to tell him that. Alex was smug enough as it was.

Let him think she was all talk. She wasn't about to do anything right now, because she was stubborn and part of the surprise of these things was not knowing when. All about the impact with her.

"We'll see how right you are." All he was getting for now was a nonchalant shrug.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Haven't you learned I'm always right?" he asked, tilting his head and keeping his eyes on her, looking quite smug, yes. "I think that means you should play entertainer tonight."

With that, he scooted further up on her bed until he could lay against the pillows and relax a little more.

"Got some effort in you this evening?"

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy considered that a moment, as she watched him lounge back. "I'm sure I can come up with something."

"You look like you're about to give up and sleep."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Maybe." He wasn't that tired, no. "Sometimes, I do get bored enough to sleep, you know. And I tend to sleep pretty well in your bed. Must have some magical powers."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Mm, narcolepsy. Of all the powers to have." It was kind of a crappy one.

"Sure I could think of better."

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"And here I thought it'd give you some sense of weird satisfaction that I can sleep like that in your bed," Alex said, smirking and tucking an arm behind his head.

Well, it was giving her some more evidence that she wasn't on the same level as most everyone else. "I can fix that if you want. Leave here before I fall asleep."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"It's the falling asleep of boredom I resent," she corrected. "Not the rest."

No, she didn't want him to fix that particularly. Having him around like that was actually nice. Shh.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Have I ever fallen asleep out of boredom with you before?" he pointed out lazily. He was pretty sure the answer was no. "Usually we find ways to keep each other engaged. I'm just making it your thing tonight."

Because he was lazy and curious if she would.

"And if you see me falling asleep out of boredom," he continued, grinning, "you can come over and jump me."

Oh wait.

"Jump on me," he corrected. No, he'd meant to say it dirty the first time.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy smirked, and dragged a finger idly down his cheek. "Is that right?"

He was not a subtle guy. Not at all. Like she believed that hadn't been at least partly on purpose.

"... And no, I don't think you have." She hoped not. "I'd have to be pretty shit company." Might not be the best at small talk, but she could do interesting none the less.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"You're not," he assured her. He did come around a lot, didn't he? There were a myriad of reasons he did and none of them were because he was an insomniac in need of her to bore him to sleep.

"You're good company," he added, smiling up at her. "Kinda like being around you. That a bad thing?"

[Heehee! Just be glad I didn't quick reply for funsies!]

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Would be if I didn't like you." But she did, so....

Look at her, all normal in her view for once. Liking someone liking her. Maybe there was hope for her after all.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"So what, does that mean you like me?" he asked, softening his smile and impulsively reaching for one of her hands. "Seems to be what you're saying. Maybe you even like being around me too."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Maybe."

... Yes.

What she said out loud was more often than not a different thing than she implied in every other way. The way she didn't even consider not threading her fingers between his for example, and the rhythmic taps of her thumb against the side of his hand.

Effy was aware he wouldn't necessarily pick up on her code, and that was kind of the point. She did it none the less.

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," he repeated, tangling his fingers with hers easily and letting his eyes be drawn to those taps. No, he really didn't pick up everything about her code but he could draw a few conclusions.

She hadn't said 'no' after all. And she didn't pull away. And the touching was easy these days.

"Maybe I think the same way." He didn't want to say feel and freak either of them out even if that word worked better. "Maybe."