Mackenzie

After we finish breakfast, I feel a lot better. Kate texts me that she's leaving for Lea's and Hannah informs me that she and Noah are spending the day on campus, so Dane and I decide to do homework at my house.

We spread out across the dining room table, and I finally feel normal for the first time in a week and a half. Dane seems content to work in silence, and I don't try to change that. It's peaceful in a way, as sunlight comes in through the window and the sound of typing fills the air, and I actually get things done without having to worry about Dane or my roommates.

I make us sandwiches for lunch and then pasta for dinner, and before I know it, it's evening. Dane asks to stay over, and of course I let him, because who am I to say no to an injured man? Not like I'd say no if he wasn't injured either. We curl up in bed together with a movie, and I'm asleep before the first scene is over.

When I wake up in the morning, Dane is still asleep next to me. He looks remarkably peaceful when he sleeps. His dark hair falls over his eyes, and his face looks a lot less intense. I study the lines of his face for a minute, his strong jaw, and proud nose, and dark eyebrows. Resisting the urge to touch him, I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling, letting my mind wander.

"'Kenzie." His first word is barely understandable. Dane threads his fingers through mine. "Whatcha thinking about?" His voice is sleepy.

"Newspaper layouts." I laugh.

"You're weird." He says happily, rolling towards me so that he can kiss my shoulder. Apparently waking up quite quickly, he gets on his knees so that he's straddling me, puts his hand from his good arm next to my head, and leans down so that he can kiss me. It sends fire racing through me, and it's a real struggle to not moan.

I'm not trying to have sex with Dane the day after we decided that we should date, but boy does my body want to. I place a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat under my fingers, as I kiss him back. Slow and steady. He nibbles my lower lip, and I do my damned best to not arch my body up into him.

As quickly as it started, he pulls away. "I've gotta go." He tells me. "We're doing a group study session for a biology test."

"Alright." I say reluctantly.

"But I'll be here tonight, for movie night. Noah and I will bring some snacks. Or drinks."

"I love snacks and drinks."

"Rightfully so." He winks. "Otherwise I'd think there's something wrong with you." He kisses me once more and then hops off the bed, apparently feeling quite spry. I watch his well-shaped ass as he pulls his pants on.

"Do you want me to drive you home? It's kind of cold."

"Nah. I just told one of my bio classmates to pick me up here this morning." I smile at how naturally he says this, like it's obvious that this is where he'd be picked up. His phone buzzes and he glances down at it. "That's him."

A kiss later, and he's out of my room, and I'm struck at how empty it suddenly seems as the front door shuts behind him. I move to one of the front windows so I can watch as he hops in the car and gets driven away.

I gather my homework and set up at the kitchen table, working alone for most of the day. Kate comes in and out once, promising to send me Lea's number so that I can start a group chat for movie night. I miss Dane's presence, but feel like I needed the break to catch my bearings again. The last two days have felt like they stretched forever.

Once I get Lea's number, I start a group chat so that we can figure out time, food, and movie. Thus begins a hot debate about what food everyone is getting. We finally settle it after an hour of texting back and forth. I can't help thinking it would have been faster if I'd just assigned out roles.

Hannah picks up pizza. Dane and Noah dibs getting the drinks. Kate and Lea promise to make desserts, specifying that it is desserts, plural. I decide to be the healthy roommate and get a veggie tray on top of my other assignment of crunchy, salty snacks.

I leave for the grocery store thirty minutes before our agreed upon time of 6PM, and am still the first one home. I deposit my goods onto the kitchen table. Kate and Lea arrive next. Kate walks in balancing a tray of brownies in one hand and an actual cake in the other. Lea bounces in behind her holding bags filled with three different types of cookies that I can see.

"We made dessert!" Lea announces to me.

"I see that."

"Lea really loves baking." Kate offers helpfully.

The door slams open as Hannah staggers in holding six pizzas. "Sure you got enough?" I ask.

"The boys promised they'd each eat at least a pizza." Hannah says. "And I figure it can be communal leftovers."

"We're gonna be fat." Kate observes.

"You're the one who brough five different desserts." I tell her.

"That's on Lea." Kate deflects, glancing over at Lea, who looks immensely proud of herself. She's rummaging around in the kitchen for plates as Hannah stacks the pizza into three piles, cheese, pepperoni, and Hawaiian.

"Knock, knock." Noah's voice echoes through the house as he pokes his head through the door.

"Get your ass in here." Hannah orders. I hear Dane chuckle behind Noah as they come inside. Apparently, Dane and Noah also got the 'let's go all out' memo, because they're carrying two types of beer, juice, sparkling water, and soda.

"Are we apocalypse prepping?" I ask the room in general. I get a chorus of yeses. I stack two slices of pizza and some veggies on my plate, and finish off with a healthy helping of ranch. I snag one of the seltzer waters, and curl up in the corner of the couch. Lea and Kate sit down on the floor in front of me, leaving the couch for Dane, Noah, and Hannah.

Dane comes to sit next to me. He kisses me on the cheek. "Did you get a lot done today?" He asks quietly.

"Yeah." I give him a small smile.

"I missed you." He whispers. I start to reply but am immediately cut off.

"You guys are gross." Hannah says loudly as she sits down on the couch.

"Thank you. We've been practicing." I tell her.

"Leave them alone." Kate pokes Hannah in the leg. "I literally just watched you grab Noah's dick."

"Wow. Is there no privacy anymore?" Noah asks as he sits down nearly on top of Dane. Dane grumbles a couple of cuss words as he presses into me. I revel in the warmth it causes. I lean my head against his shoulder for a moment. A part of me wishes this moment could go on forever.

"Let's start this fucking movie. Am I right?" Hannah ends the moment almost immediately.

Kate grabs the remote and starts the movie. Somehow we convinced the guys to watch She's the Man. I instantly lose my focus on the movie as Dane sandwiches a slice of Hawaiian and a slice of pepperoni together and takes a massive bite. I realize that Hannah is also watching him. She gives me a grin and shakes her head.

In front of us, Kate and Lea are holding hands while eating pizza using their free hands. It's remarkably cute and also kind of makes me want to throw up a little bit. I realize this is the first time that all three of us are dating people at the same time.

"Soccer is such a weird sport." Noah comments.

"You would say that." Hannah tells him.

"He's right." Dane agrees. "Weirdest fucking sport."

"You hit balls with a stick." Kate tells them without turning around.

"That is America's pastime that you're talking about." Noah defends. I know that Kate is rolling her eyes even though she doesn't turn around to argue.

"Equally weird sports." Dane whispers in my ear. I can't help my small giggle.

"I heard that. You fucking traitor." Noah says, slapping Dane on the leg.

Dane smiles but falls silent. After we finish eating and I try all five desserts, I lean into Dane and try my damnedest not to fall asleep. I've seen this movie at least five times so I fail miserably and end up sleeping through a good portion of the middle of the movie.

When I start awake again, Kate and Lea are asleep on the floor. Noah and Hannah have disappeared, but Dane is still awake watching the movie. "Birds and bees." Dane tells me softly, when I look over to where Hannah and Noah had been. I smirk. "I think I'm the only one engaged in the movie."

"Looks like it." I agree. "It's almost done." Dane squeezes my knee and smiles before leaning forward slightly and watching the movie with an intentness that I find weirdly endearing.

I glance over at the table. It looks like Hannah had put the extra food away before she decided to go have raunchy times with Noah.

When the movie finishes, I turn off the TV and Dane and I step over Kate and Lea, who have somehow managed to remain asleep.

"You want to stay tonight?" I ask him.

"I was hoping you'd ask." He kisses me. I try not to let my knees buckle at the feeling. "Yes, I would."

After getting ready for bed, I snuggle against Dane in my bed. He makes a content noise, and kisses me on the top of the head. I fall asleep feeling the most relaxed I have in months.