Daniel's memory, January 1996

"Shut up bitchie, you suck at playing" I said to Chris while I threw the cards onto the floor. Ben leaned back and forth, laughing.

"Excuse me, banana head. As if you were the ultimate card champion" Chris replied, blushing a bit. He smiled shyly and collected the cards spreaded on the floor.

"Well, girlies, I'm gonna chuck a sickie on this. I'm tired as fuck, mates" Ben said, rubbing both eyes.

"Yeah, cause playing cards all day is such a hard work for you, Gillies" I said to him, pouting my mouth and then laughing. Chris chuckled

"Stop it, Blondie. You forgot about the four hour rehearsal we had this afternoon? Take your pills, Johnsie" Ben answered to me, smiling brightly.

"Asshole" I laughed and the three of us lift our asses and stretched.

"So...you girls have the couch, I will take the sleeping bag. Sorry for you, mates" Ben tighten his pillow and looked at us. Chris looked at me and blushed, his cheeks were rosy. He scratched the back of his head.

"That's ok mate. It's not the first time we shared a bed. Well, couch in this case" I replied. Chris's blushing was so cute it made me smile.

I took off my pants and left my The Offspring t-shirt on. I saw Chris looking at my Beavis and Butthead boxers. His expression was weird, and he licked his lips and looked away while he lay down on Benny's couch. I followed him and lay back next to him, face up.

The TV was on, showing some MTV alternative music special. Although I could hear the faint music in the background, I could also hear Chris's heartbeat next to me. I sensed he was kinda nervous, probably sweating a bit and surely fully awake.

I didn't last long, my body was comfortably full with sugar and cheap pizza, and I felt strangely relaxed. I slowly fell asleep with a little smile, listening to Chris's heart.

The room was so silent and heavy I could almost taste the air. I suddenly woke up feeling my arm twisted under my own weight. My forehead was pearly sweaty, and I could sense my arm wasn't the only crushed part of my body. As I slowly moved to find a comfortable position on the couch, I spotted Chris's arm curled around my waist, his chest was softly pressed against my back.

I stood quietly for a couple of seconds before letting out a silent laugh. Chris was hugging me as if I was his girlfriend. I didn't feel uncomfortably with it, since he was asleep and probably confused my body with a pillow or something, but then I thought of the odds. I am a breathing and warm human body, he couldn't possibly mistake my body for a pillow.

What if he actually wanted to hug me that way? I looked at the ceiling thinking about that and slowly falling asleep when I heard Chris's smooth voice whispering close to my ear: Daniel.

His voice was nothing more than a warm and gentle whisper, preceded by a slight moan. I opened my eyes again, listening carefully for some other word coming out of his mouth, but nothing else was heard. His breathing was deep, it was clear he was sleeping. My body started to sweat again as I sensed Chris tighten his arm around me, getting closer. What the fuck was happening?

I couldn't move. I was too concentrated hearing and feeling Chris just when Ben "Chainsaw" Gillies let out a loud and raspy snore that made me jolt.

After a couple of minutes I felt relaxed again, listening to Ben snoring and Chris smoothly breathing on my neck. The smell of chocolate candy and something kinda floral I always smelled on Chris worked its magic, wrapping me again in a warm and sweet sleep.