Gods & Monsters

That’s how I drift off to sleep this Sunday morning. Baptized and absolved of all my sins.

The next day, Abel’s gone before I’m up.

I can’t believe I slept on and off for about a day. No, actually I can’t believe I passed out just before we were going to have sex.

After that intense orgasm, I could barely keep my eyes open for Abel’s kisses. We both crashed and before I knew it, a grumbling stomach was waking me up. We had pizza. Again. Then he fed me Toblerones and I promised him that I’d stay awake. I was determined to lose my virginity — our virginities. Alas, I fell asleep on his chest. I remember his body shaking with chuckles and him pressing a kiss in my hair, before falling asleep wrapped around me.

On the pillow, I find a note from him. It makes me smile, reminding me of the little love notes he’d leave for me in my locker, until I read it.

Going with Ethan to his studio. Stay put. I’ll be back soon.

PS: You snore in your sleep, Pixie.

“I do not,” I tell the empty room, frowning. Jerk.

Oh well. I can’t be mad when I’m so excited for him. I know he’ll get the job. There isn’t any other option with how talented he is. Though I feel a little sad that when I’m finally awake he’s gone.

I stumble out of bed, my body sore and tight from all the sleeping. I do my business in the bathroom. My tummy grumbles telling me I need to eat something before I figure out my plan for today. I go into the kitchen and then jump out of my skin, shrieking. Someone’s already in there – a girl. She’s wearing a bathrobe, while eating a cookie and drinking beer.

For a fraction of a second, I think the worst. She’s a burglar who’s here to rob us, or rather Ethan, since this is his apartment. Damn it. Sky would be so great in a situation like this. I make fun of her slingshots but that girl has excellent aim. God, I miss her.

Focus!

I try to look intimidating but the girl simply smiles at me, taking a bite of her cookie and washing it down with her beer. “Hey. I’m Blu. I’m just waiting for Ethan. Are you new?”

She takes it in stride, my sudden appearance. I don’t know what to think. “Oh. Um, kinda.” She raises a curious, non-threatening eyebrow and for some reason, I’m compelled to explain, “I mean, to the city.”

“Really? You just moved?” At my nod, she looks me up and down and I feel self-conscious. “Wow. I love your hair. Is that the real color? All yellow?”

I flick fingers through the strands of my yellow hair, fidgeting. “Uh, yeah. Yes, it is.”

“No way. Gosh, blondes are so freaking popular. People love’em. Like, I can’t even tell you how much. So where’d he find you?”

“Where’d who find me?”

She smiles at me, all calm-like. “Ethan.”

Either this girl is super weird or I have no idea how people talk in the big city. “I’m here with Abel. Ethan’s friend. He’s letting us crash in his apartment until we find our own place. Um, I’m E… You can call me Pixie.”

“Cute name.” She grins. “Cookie?”

“Yeah.” I gratefully reach for her offering and wolf it down in exactly zero point five seconds.

“So you just moved here? With your boyfriend, you said?”

Putting something in my stomach is already starting to make me feel better. “He’s my fiancé and yes. Just.”

“Huh. I’m sorry. Ethan didn’t say anything.”

“Yeah, it was sort of sudden. We weren’t planning on moving.” Or eloping. When she looks curious again, I sort of change the subject. “In fact, they’re out together right now. They’ve gone to Ethan’s studio. Abel’s a photographer too, and Ethan said he could try to get him a job.”

Despite my wariness, I smile. I can’t stop smiling. I probably never will. Who can when they are in love with a guy like Abel? The mark on my neck throbs. I clench my thighs thinking about the intense way he ate me out. So intense that I passed out. Great move, that.

“No kidding. A photographer?”

Well, there goes my smile. I don’t like her expression, surprised and sort of condescending. Does she think Abel’s less in any way or something?

“Yes, he is,” I bristle. “In fact, he’s one of the best photographers I know.” Honestly, Abel’s the only photographer I know but I speak the truth. He is the best, or if he’s not, he will be.

After studying me for a beat, she holds her hands up in surrender. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sure Abel’s great. I just…” She searches for words and I narrow my eyes at her. “Got a little surprised when you said Ethan was gonna hook him up with a job. That’s all.”