On Santa's lap - S01 E06

3 months ago

On Santa's lap - S01 E06

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 6

I was half dazed when I walked out and faltered when I saw a figure standing in the spot that was becoming some type of meeting spot, I raised an eyebrow as I walked over, coat draped over my arms.

"I didn't actually think you were serious," I said as I saw Nik kick off the wall he was leaning against and unfolded his arms.

"I didn't actually think you were going to make me wait for forty-five minutes," he said as we walked towards the escalators. I shrugged as I got on, looking over my shoulder seeing the familiar stupid hat before I turned back around.

"Well, you should have left, we had a bucks night so had to clean up and wait till they left," and also drink all the shots they bought Ashlee and myself. Well there was nothing better than drunk men doting on you, and trying to get you to kiss the groom to be.

Yeah, not going to happen.

"I also don't think there is going to be much open again," I said, I reached up to rub my temples, feeling a head ache already forming, the downside of working afternoon to early morning shifts. Your sleep schedule can go fuck itself, quite literally.

"Aha, that's where you are wrong," he said walking past me, who the hell willingly walks down the rest of the escalator, okay if you want to do it, do it, not grab the person with you and force them to walk down in heels as well.

I pulled my hand back subtly wiping it, "I did my research, urban spoon says thirteen close within walking range restaurants were open twenty-four seven,"

No way? Really? Man why didn't I know this before?

"Really? Name one," I said as I tried keeping up with his long legs. I would have kept up if it wasn't for these stupid heels, yes, blame the heels eve.

"I'll name three," he said as he looked over his shoulder, a stupid look plastered on his face, "And you can pick,"

I should memories these for times when I get hungry after work and then I don't have to go home and cook. I wonder if they did take-away.

"Maccas, Hungry Jacks, KFC," I faltered, he wasn't serious was he? But then again it was nearly four in the morning, what could there possibly be? The wise option would be to sit somewhere till the breakfast cafes start opening up in two hours.

But I don't like Maccas, HJ or KFC, why wasn't Subway open, but then the phrase beggars can't be choosers popped into my mind.

"I'm joking," he said as he took a sharp left making me nearly lose my footing, "What?"

"I'm taking you to Hairy Canary," Okay well that didn't sound too appetizing either, but it was better than those three fast food joints, "It's open till three, but my mate works there, we can get take away, I already ordered if that's okay, they were closing up,"

"That's cool," I replied, there really wasn't much to do at three or four or whatever the damn time is.

"It's just down Collins," he said as he took another turn, sure enough there was a small lighted glass in the fairly dark street as we headed down it. There weren't many people out, apart from a few drunken teenagers floating around, reminded me of that age when we used to bar hop, till all the clubs refused entry and we packed into a cab to head to someone's house to sleepover at.

There was no way I would go home drunk like that, my mother would have thrown a fit. But looking back, they made amazing memories, when you were a teen, you needed to act like a teen.

The air was still warm as we headed to the joint, through the glass windows you could see they already started cleaning up, the chairs were on the table as someone vacuumed the floor.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Nik knocked on the glass, the man behind the counter looking up, then picking up thick electric blue glasses and popping them on before recognizing him and waving back. He walked over to the door, a plastic bag in one hand and the keys in the other as he opened up.

I stepped back letting them do their greetings, man hugs, a "hey man wassup," and whatever before his eyes looked up from behind the blue spectacles, "Um, who's your lady friend,"

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes, I mean he could have just asked me, nothing worse than being referred to in third person while you were there, "His lady friend is Eve" I said before Nik could introduce me, I watched the man do beetroot red as I held a hand out, what didn't people shake them anymore?

"Eh-I-hello?" he said shaking my hand for the briefest second before letting go, shoving a bag at Nik and saying a very hurried goodbye.

"Sorry, Panda isn't the best as social situations with people he doesn't know," Nik said as he turned around, "Let's go back to city square?"

I shrugged, not that there were many other places to sit, "Panda?" I asked as I fell into step with him, the only sound was us speaking, and the rustling of the paper bag.

'His names Peter, we just all call him panda,"

"That is...strange," I said as we neared the city square, looked stunning, and the same as last time. The stupid candy canes were still there.

Damn it, I couldn't wait for Christmas to be over.

"I hope you like Chicken,I thought that was the safest thing to answer, not many people dislike chicken right?"

"Well I can think of a few," I joked as I did my routine, well, what was becoming a routine, slipping of my shoes before sitting down.

"Apart from Vegetarians and Vegans," Nik said throwing the bag down as he shrugged off his coat as well.

"Chickens fine," I replied, safe actually, I wasn't much of a carnivore to be honest.

"Shit," he swore half way as he reached into the bag, "I forgot water,"

I shook my head leaning over grabbing my massive bag and pulling it towards me and opening it, sure enough there was three-quarters of a water bottle sitting inside.

"Ah," he said as I threw it at him, "You're one of those people," he said shaking his head.

"What people?" I asked as he handed me over a wrapped parcel, what looked like a burger.He stretched out his legs making himself more comfortable.

"Those who buy packaged water and ruin the earth," he said and I let out a chuckle as I unwrapped my burger, it was still surprisingly warm.

"So you're one of those environmental freaks?" i asked, not that there was anything wrong with them, I get it, have to save the environment, I totally agreed, but sometimes I was just lazy and did no part in that what so ever. I guess I should put in more of an effort, but sometimes plastics bags were just easier to dispose off.

Besides that was a reason I would never succeed dating one, wait, this wasn't a date.

"Nah," he shrugged, "I'm only kidding,"

How does one eat a burger without making a mess and looking the opposite of elegant, whatever the word for that was?

Well you don't, so I was pretty sure I look somewhat of a pig eating, but too bad. Get used to it.

"Well I don't like tap water," I said, feeling the urge to justify myself, "I know it's weird, paranoia I guess, but bottle water makes me feel safe, so I drink it, at home my water must always be chilled so I can't taste it, ice or else I won't touch it,"

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

And why did I feel the need to justify myself?

Nik raised an amused eyebrow but didn't say anything as silence took over between us, the nice type. Just watching the only tree in the vicinity move in the wind, the soft rustling of the foil and the seagulls squawking at us for food.

"Don't,"

"Huh?" I asked looking up as Nik rolled his foil wrapped up, what, how was he already done?

"I know what you are thinking, do not feed the damn seagull,"

I frowned, "But it looks hungry,"

"Feed one and they'll all come,"

He had a point, but it was so hard when the creature was just sitting near my shoes looking so sad. But in the end my brain one, there was nothing worse than ten seagulls just squawking at you. I could do with the peace there was right now.

He grabbed my water bottle opening the cap as he leaned back on his elbows as he drank from it, his Adams apple dipping, what was so attractive about them? Was it because they made a voice deeper. I subconsciously touched my neck, did I have one?

Wait. what if he saw, look away Eve look away.

Just eat your damn burger, stupid hormones. They'll find the stupid seagull attractive soon.

Well,it was sort of cute

There it is, I have lost my sanity.

"I should head back," I said, my stupid vague response but it was nearly morning, wait well, more morning than it was now. Not to mention I was in need of a good hot shower.

"I'll walk you,"

I raised an eyebrow as I slipped my shoes back on, "I have legs, I can walk myself,"

"In the city alone at night? I was raised better than that, I was also raised to offer my jacket but seeing as I am sweating under a thin shirt I highly doubt you want a jacket,"

"I have my own jacket, it's Melbourne, isn't always carry a jacket a silent rule?" I asked picking up the rest of my stuff.

"Well damn Melbourne for killing my chivalry," he joked as he chucked away the rubbish into the bin, "Watch out for the glass," he said his hand reaching out to steer me away from it then pulling back on the last second like he thought better.

Wise man.

"I don't think it was Melbourne that killed your chivalry," I said as we headed down the streets.

"Oh yeah, what killed it then?"

I shrugged digging my hands into my pockets only to realise I had none, great, now what do I do with them? Just hold onto my bag in a death grip, "I think it just died,"

"Not completely, there are still people out there who use it,"

I scoffed, "Yeah, when they want to get laid,"

Nik gave me a incredulous look, "Cut us a break, that's harsh, we aren't all like that,"

"Are you telling me you've never been polite to a drunk woman at the bar, only to get laid?"

He winced, thought so, "Okay sometimes but other times men are very decent human beings, sort of, we try alright,"

I smiled shaking my head in the wind, "You cannot fool me,"

"Oh yeah, why's that," he said suddenly coming to a stop at the end of the road, I realised the "walking man" was red, but there were no cars, not traffic, we could still walk, but nevertheless I leaned forward jabbing the button.

"Because I grew up with teenage boys, I know everything that is on your mind,"

"Everything,"

Well no, "Yep," I nodded, popping the 'p'. He placed his hands in his pocket,. his jacket draped over one arm as he rocked back on his feet, "Interesting, I highly doubt teenage boys can be compared to fully grown men,"

"Yeah but how fully grown are they at twenty-three?"

"Whosaid I was twenty-three?"

Oh crap, I just gave him my age, nicely down Eve. So I said the next best thing, "It's green,"

He stared a moment longer before turning around and crossing the road, the man now flashing red.

"You don't have to walk up the stairs," I said as we reached closer towards my apartment, I was surprised he even knew the way.

"I highly doubt I could be attacked on my own stairs,"

"But I was rais-,"

"Raised to be chivalrous, we get it," I rolled my eyes as I swung my shoulder over my shoulder, my hand digging into the front pocket to pull out my keys, "but we all know men only offer to walk woman up the stairs to look at her arse,"

"Okay I get that you think men just want to get laid, which is true for like ninety percent of cases, assume this is the other ten percent, so for this instance, I shall walk up first," he replied over dramatically as he took the stairs two at a time, "Don't look at my arse,"

"I wouldn't dare," I replied.

He has a nice arse.

"Are you sure?"

"Yep, not a glance at your wrinkly arse," but you're lying eve, we all know you're looking at his arse. No focus on the carpet. And thankfully the numerous number of floors were done in seconds, it could have been because I was looking at his arse and time flew, it could be because I wasn't, you say potato I say potato, does it really matter?

"I can walk myself down this corridor," I replied as I walked past him, now do I ploy him to Rachel's or just open mine. Oh god sake he has to be harmless, just go to your damn apartment.

I pushed the key into my door as he leaned on the wall beside as I unlocked my room, "Till next time then,"

"Who says there will be a next time?" I question as I kicked it open, I reached inside flicking the light on.

"Well you finish late, I finish late, company is always better when eating a late night, or early morning, dinner breakfast, isn't it? Besides the burger wasn't that bad was it? A bit too salty but edible,"

It was fine, but like I would admit that, he turned to lean more on his shoulder now facing me, "Fine on one condition,"

"What, I give you my jacket," I scoffed, "Yeah right, no, I buy,"

"What, no, I was raised as-,"

"We get it Santa," I said realising he was still wearing his stupid hat, man he must be one proud Santa, "But I don't like free-loading,"

"This isn't free-loading, this is simply one person buying the other person dinner, breakfast, whatever,"

"Exactly, and if you really want company I choose the place and pay next time,"

He pursed his lips narrowing his eyes at me, but I matched it, I hated it when other people paid for me, I hated it, despised it, okay point made. But it made me feel cheap, and whilst I did like to be cheap, not like this.

"Fine," he said nodding as I opened my door more fully walking in, "Till next time,"

"Bye," I nodded shutting the door before he could see more of my apartment, but I was smart you see, and a bit too curious. I switched the light off, tiptoeing to see through the peep hole to see him stand in the corridor for a few more seconds, before he muttered something to himself and walked down.

I hope there wasn't a next time.