Second Collaboration of @SgtEasy and @ChaoticFoxLocation: 1B - Daffodil Building, heading to the party*
Approximately Six Hours Before Present
Echo was now slightly trembling, still soaked with cold coffee which stained her clothes from head to toe.Of course she had to be wearing a white tanktop and lightly coloured sweater. She lead him up the stairs to the apartment and grabbed a set of keys from her bag, unlocking the door. Inside, the apartment would be spotless. The floors freshly vacuumed and counters spotless, all the dishes were done, all the chairs straightened as if they’d never moved. It was one of the perks of living with Echo, she was a bit OCD with the organisation of the apartment and it was cleaned at least once a week, regardless of what Tas said or did to prevent
Once inside, Echo let go of Je’s hand and turned to face him “
If you don’t mind, I’m gonna go have a quick shower….if you want you can play a few games on the computer in my room. Otherwise, make yourself at home and if Tas comes in, point her to me.” she turned to lead him into her bedroom, totally empty of anything other than a bare mattress on the floor, covered in a mix of random blankets and pillows. And of course the main attraction, her desk with a pimped out computer setup. With a quick press of the button, the machine was booted and logged on “
I’ll be back in fifteen.” she grabbed some clothes before making her way past him towards the bathroom.
Jejomar looked dumbfounded. He was here. In a girl’s bedroom. His mind was filled with so many thoughts, he couldn't make sense of any of it. He watched as Echo walked past him, leaving him alone in her room. “
What do I do now?” he muttered silently, staring at the nearby computer scene. It was an incredibly impressive set up, even he would be hard pressed to match it. But Jay wasn't really in the right state of mind to play video games or search the web. So he did the one thing Feliks would've done. Explore. He wandered in the halls, taking in the look and smell of the apartment. The tidy living room, clean kitchen, everything was neat and tidy. Nothing was left out of place, nothing was laying around useless on the floor.
Of course, Je-Je’s poor heart was still going a hundred miles a second and it looked like all the blood rushed to his face although not as much as before. As he explored room after room, he came across two doors. His curiosity piqued, he assumed that they were Natasha’s room and some sort of washing area. Not wanting to be rude, he passed Nat’s door and entered the latter room. Now if the poor man was just a little bit older, he would've had a heart attack and died on the spot. Hot steam blew into his face, the sound of water hitting tile and flesh filling his ears, syncing in well with his fast beating heart. The frosted glass left much to imagine but the sound of a quiet, angelic voice singing was enough to confirm it. The clothes hung onto the rack double confirmed it. He blinked once. Twice. Three times. Steam escaped his ears, face like a tomato, eyes widening like saucers. “
I’msosorry,Iwontdoitagainpleaseforgivemeimsosorry. Forgive me!” He said that all in two breaths before fainting, eyes rolling to the back of his head, everything fading to black.
Now if Je-Je would’ve had a heart attack, Echo’s reaction was anything but welcoming. She let out a slight yelp of surprise before she slipped and fell in the shower, dragging a towel down with her. Really not what she had pictured for today. After recovering from her fall, she quickly scurried to her room and pulled on a pair of pyjama bottoms and the first t-shirt within reach, before running back to Jay. After a few minutes of desperately trying to drag him, she had finally got him into an only partially awkward position on her mattress. She retreated back into the bathroom shortly after, a colorful slur of words being muttered as she inspected the not so small cut above her right eyebrow. a good ten minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom in her black backless top and green skirt combination, her eyes done up a little more fancy than usual with eyeliner. The cut was quite evident, but it wasn’t enough to discourage her from the party.
Present Time*
Jay straightened his
fedora, clearing his throat. When he awoke from his slumber, it was all a blur. All he could remember was that he said apology after apology to Echo and then leaving to get ready for the party. He didn't remember why he was saying sorry or why he fainted. He didn't really want to know either, it was probably for the best. As he walked up the stairs with careful steps, he listed all the things that he had ready. ‘
Gift for Nat? Check. St. Patrick's/Mardi Gras themed attire? Check. Readied mind, body and soul? Err, not really.’ He scoffed at himself as he stopped in front of Echo’s door.
Now if you had a dollar every time Jejomar’s heart had sped up today, you would've been a millionaire. The man, clutching the
twin Mardi Gras masks he had bought for them behind his back,turned into a nervous wreck. Would she like them? Would it seem too clingy? Did he look good enough? He faltered. You must understand, he had never done this before. Never before had he knocked on a girl’s door before, let alone a girl who he
loved. He wondered if saying “I love you” was too much, he wondered if she even loved him back. When he brought his hand up to knock on the door, he stopped.
‘
You love her, you idiot! Go ahead and knock, don't back out on her now!’ Jay flinched inwardly as a blush soon spread on his cheeks. ‘
What if she doesn't love me back?’ His hand came down to his side, eyes staring at the wooden door labelled “1B”. He was damn nervous and nerves did things to you. He gently pressed his forehead on the door, watery eyes letting a single teardrop fly. A million and one thoughts flew in his head, questions multiplying like rabbits. Maybe he should wait another year? He felt his heart clench at that thought, destroying it after a brief moment. Why was he hesitating now? Was he that pathetic?
The slew of hate, anger and disappointed thoughts directed at
him by
himself almost made him leave.
Almost. Even as he felt the whole world come down on him, as his mind called him “unworthy” and “too pathetic” for Echo, he stayed. As he felt himself get weighed down, feeling his mind waver, he held his ground. She broke
down in front of him, letting him comfort her! How could he doubt for even one second that she didn't love him? He vanquished all thoughts and all questions. He held their masks in one hand as his hand made a move to knock on the door.
Knock knock. The door opened, the man taking a deep breath as he took the sight of Echo in all her glory. He stepped forward, pausing for a moment before embracing her. He stopped his head down to her’s, savouring the smell of her brown locks, the warmth of being close to her, the tingling sensation he had whenever she was near. He closed his eyes and let his emotions go, soothing himself in her arms. There was no doubt in that moment and no doubt ever since.
Echo was just putting the bottles of chocolate liquor in a bag when Jay knocked on the door. She gently placed the bag down by her boots and opened the door to let Jay in, hugging him when he was clear of the door. Her hair was done up in its normal fashion, straightened and parted over to one side. Looking down, she wore a black, long sleeved backless top and a green skirt extending down to her knees to compliment it, not the usual t-shirt and jeans that she was usually seen in. Below, she wore black stockings that contoured her slightly toned legs and contrasted the clover green of the skirt.
After a short embrace, she turned and walked over into her room for a moment, unintentionally revealing the tattoo that spread across her shoulder blades to Jay. She returned a few moments later and looked him in the eyes, the cut staring Jay in the face. Her voice went suddenly stern, her welcoming eyes slightly more intimidating now “
Not a word about this…” before she went to put her boots on. She then looked up as if nothing had happened, a warm smile on her face “
Ready?”
Jejomar sweat dropped at the girl’s sudden change in mood. ‘
How a girl like her can turn into that in a matter of moments, I will never know.’ Shaking himself of such thoughts, he gave her his own warm smile and nodded, fingering the Mardi Gras mask he was supposed to give her behind his back. He stepped out of the door and led her into the hallway, Echo closed and locked the door in a swift motion. Before she could step away however, he placed a hand on her shoulder and made her turn. He held the twin Mardi Gras masks in his right hand, twirling them in the air. “
I uh, bought these f-for us. H-Hope ya don't mind.” He rubbed the back of his head, a light blush on his cheeks.
Echo gave him a gentle smile and took one of the masks “
It’s beautiful…” she said, taking his hand after placing it in the bag. “
I'll put it on when we get there, which reminds me, your car or mine?” They exited the apartment and walked down the sidewalk, Echo was still humming the same song she'd been singing in the shower before hand, spinning her keyring on her right hand, the Mustang logo clearly visible on the car key.
“
Let’s use my car, I left Nat’s gift inside the car and it’s just in front of the Mighty Bean. Sorry about that.” Jejomar smiled apologetically, fishing out the car keys from his pocket and opened the Nissan’s doors. He opened the door for Echo, letting her clamber inside. When he was sure that she was inside, he went around the front of the car and entered into the driver’s seat. Turning the car on made it emit a low growl before he revved the engines. Switching the lights on, he turned towards
his girlfriend with a small smile before driving out to the road, destination set.
