Thelonious hadn't expected to find himself standing in front of a house party at ten-thirty on a Monday evening. What he had planned was for a quiet evening in bed with his girlfriend after a long day at work. Perhaps a movie and lazy sex in bed if she was feeling up for it.
Instead, he had received a text from Romeo telling him to get to the party.
Initially, he had declined the invitation as going to a college/uni party was not very high on his list of things to do. But once he had found out that Darcy was going, that notion had spun on its axis and here he was, stepping into the house where the music could be heard from the top of the street, his eyes already scouring the numerous dancing bodies for his vixen.
He was surprised the police hadn't turned up about the noise complaints that he was sure that he was sure the neighbours would be making.
Upon instinct, his eyes scanned the main living room for that fiery red head of his. He had expected her to be in the kitchen or playing beer pong because that was where all the booze was. Instead, he found her dancing in the middle of the room surrounded by her best friends.
Darcy Blake was a sight for sore eyes.
She didn't even notice him approach as she leaned forwards and spoke in hushed tones with Alice.
Delilah smirked when she noticed Thelonious approaching from behind. She raised a finger to her lips and grabbed Alice by the elbow, dragging her away. Darcy barely had time to react before a set of arms snaked around her from behind, wrapping around her middle and pulling her back against him. Instead, she placed her hands on his and gently rested her head against him.
She recognised his musky scent anywhere. Plus, Romeo had texted her a few seconds earlier that her man had arrived.
Turning around in his embrace, she looped her arms around his neck and they began swaying slightly, despite the fast beat of the song that was playing.
While everyone around them grinded against their dancing partners and were fast on their feet as the music pulsed through the house and most probably, halfway down the street also, Thelonious and Darcy slow danced; lost in their own world, separated from the rest of the world.
"Hi," she reached up on her tip toes and rubbed her nose against his. She was sure that she had just rubbed off some of the foundation there but in that moment, she couldn't bring herself to care.
"Hi." He pulled her closer to him. "I didn't expect to find myself here tonight," he gestured to the people around them.
She smiled softly. "Me neither. But Romeo has a way of getting what he wants."
"Speaking of Romeo, I have a bone to pick with him. He all but blackmailed me into coming here."
She giggled. "What did he say?"
"He said that if I didn't get here soon then he would stop holding back all his thirsty college buddies."
She threw her head back and laughed. "Don't worry. I don't think there's any thirsty college boys lurking around waiting for me."
"Don't be sure," his eyes scanned their surroundings. "You're too hard to resist." He mumbled against the top of her head; the words so quiet that she hadn't heard him over the volume of the music.
"So, you came to mark your territory instead of to see me?" She teased him.
"I wouldn't have come if I didn't want to see you." He pulled back, a small smile playing on his lips. With the dim lighting of the room and the neon colours that had encompassed the room from the light system, Thelonious Knight looked absolutely devilish. "But I didn't want any other guys to make moves on you." He admitted, pressing his lips against the side of her head.
Darcy hummed and leaned forward, resting her head against his chest. She loved it when he left the top two buttons undone. It left just enough room for her without raising any eyebrows from anyone else.
"What are your plans for the rest of the night?"
"Don't know," she shrugged. "I'm doing whatever you're doing."
"Want to get some food then?" He offered.
"I would love to." She pulled back. "Let me just find the girls and let them know I'm leaving."
"You want to ask if they want to join us? I have my car parked down the street."
"You don't mind?"
"The more the merrier."
"Okay, I'll meet you outside in five minutes." She leaned up and kissed him, her lips puckering slightly when he didn't pull away. "Five minutes," she promised him with another kiss before turning around to find her friends.
She had seen Delilah drag Alice into the kitchen earlier.
Pushing past all the drunks and party-goers, she found her friends raiding the fridge, clearly scavenging for food.
She leaned against the kitchen island and just watched them in amusement. "You want to head out and get some real food instead?"
Alice was the first to turn around. She looked absolutely miserable nibbling on a soft, un-toasted slice of bread. "Can we?" She all but pleaded before throwing the bread onto the counter and brushing the crumbs off her fingers.
Delilah closed the fridge and crossed her arms over her chest. "What we thinking?"
She shrugged. "Not sure, but Thelonious is waiting outside for us if you're interested."
"And we won't be intruding?"
"He offered."
Alice grabbed both girls and linked their arms. "Get you a man that feeds both you and your friends." She piped up, happy. However, the smile didn't last on her face because once they headed up the street to where Thelonious had said his car would be parked, they not only found him but a young male sporting familiar messy brown hair and a grin so wide you could count all his teeth if you wanted.
Alice clearly didn't.
"On second thought," she paused as they came to a stop in front of the car. "I don't think I'm all that hungry."
"Don't be silly," Thelonious brushed her comment to the side as he came to their side from the driver's side of the car. "I know this good Italian place that's open for another hour or so. My treat."
There wasn't much room to argue when Delilah thanked Thelonious before getting into the backseat as he held open the door for them. Alice visibly hesitated but rolled her eyes as Romeo swiftly followed, leaving him to sit in the middle between both girls. Once they were all seated, Thelonious closed the door and turned to his vixen.
"My lady," he smirked as he held open the passenger's side door for her."
She pecked him on the lips before getting in herself.
Romeo pretended to gag from the backseat at their public display as Thelonious jogged round the car and got into the driver's seat.
"I hope everyone's hungry."
Delilah groaned from the back seat. "My stomach's been rumbling for half an hour. There was barely any food in that fridge."
Laughter chimed through the vehicle at her comment.
It felt nice to be able to mix her two worlds together. Her old friends and her new friends. She was so glad that they got along together. Or in Alice and Romeo's case, they got along very well.
Darcy briefly watched them through her side mirror. Judging by the way they had their heads bowed towards each other, they got along very well. Perhaps Alice was opening up to the idea.
Once Thelonious had parked in the near empty parking space just behind the quant little Italian restaurant, they all filed out.
Seeing as it was late and nearly time to close up the place, the staff were pretty quick with their food. It did help that other than a couple enjoying the last few bites of their dessert, they were the only ones there.
Alice and Darcy both opted for a burger, Thelonious a stake, Delilah a salad and Romeo, the biggest, meatiest pizza on the menu he could possibly find. The waiter had paused at that, seemingly holding back his tongue. But when Romeo handed him back the menu with an expectant grin, his cheeks reddened. It was clear that he held himself back from saying no.
Darcy had giggled at that. He was sure that the waiter would be getting a telling off for allowing Romeo to order a huge pizza this close to the designated closing time.
Darcy was sat to the left of Thelonious. He had Alice sitting across from him and Delilah next to her and in front of Darcy. Romeo had pulled up a chair to join their table, sitting at the end of the table with Alice and Thelonious on either side of him.
While he was thrilled, Alice was not.
Their meals arrived surprisingly quick, and they finished it all off even quicker than that. Romeo was still snacking on the last of his pizza as he left the restaurant. Having folded it in half, he just pushed into his mouth; inhaling it.
Music played in the car and before they knew it, Thelonious was pulling up to the car park of Alice's university dorms.
"Good night, ladies!" Thelonious peeked through his window, waving back when the girls waved at him. "This was fun!"
The brunette smiled back. "We should do this again sometime."
Darcy was sure to glance at Thelonious before answering. 'I'll be sure to set something up."
Romeo nodded, making sure he made direct eye contact with Alice, having stepped out of the car to let the ladies out. Sure, he could have just remained in the middle and allowed them to head out each door, but he didn't want to miss the opportunity of spending a little extra time with the blonde bombshell whom had been dominating his thoughts all evening. "I can't wait." He grinned before getting in the car. When he noticed her still looking at him through the window, he winked.
The two friends watched as Thelonious and the others pulled out of the car park and headed down the road. It was a fun night and they both had enjoyed themselves immensely. But it was a Monday and they did each have classes the next morning.
They linked the arms and headed upstairs. Between both of them, they were barely tipsy anymore now that they had gotten plenty of water and solid food in them.
"Darcy looks really happy with Thelonious."
Delilah hummed as they walked up the stairs to Alice's dorm room. It was late and they both had the same class in the morning so they had discussed earlier that she would be spending then night. The dorm was only on the first floor so they didn't bother taking the lift. "Much happier than when she was with Jake."
Alice snorted in response. "That's a definite."
"He seems like a good guy."
"He's definitely a good guy."
"You know who else is a good guy?"
Alice paused at that. She knew exactly what was coming but she feigned innocence anyway. They had reached her door now so she fiddled through her bag looking for her keys, pretending she hadn't heard her friend.
"Romeo's also a pretty good guy."
The keys fell to the floor with a thud at that.
She dropped down to pick them up before raising them to the key hole. Inserting the correct key, she twisted and turned before the door opened. "He's alright, I guess. A little douche-y."
"I didn't get that vibe."
"I did."
"He was just trying to get your attention."
"It's late." She yawned and stretched her arms over her head. "I'm going to head to bed after I wash my face. Are you going to shower now or in the morning?" She asked, dropping her bag and jacket on the sofa before heading to the bathroom. She had already kicked off her heels as soon as she had stepped into the dorm.
"In the morning." Delilah answered quickly, following behind her. "Why are you trying to change the conversation?"
"I'm not."
"So, you're telling me you didn't notice the way he wouldn't stop looking at you."
"I did notice it." She replied quietly. She hated to admit it, but it would insinuate that she was blind if she had even suggested how hard Romeo had worked to get her attention all evening. "But that doesn't mean anything."
"I think it means he likes you."
"So?"
"What do you mean so?" Delilah mumbled the words with a mouthful of toothpaste. Spitting it out and rinsing her mouth, she smiled at her friend through the mirror. "Do you like him back?"
Alice scoffed. "Of course not."
"Why not?" She angled her head to the side slightly as she studied her friend.
"For one, he's way too young for me."
"He's legal though." Delilah suggested.
Alice laughed and threw a pillow at her friend. "I'm not going to be a cradle robber."
"Is his age the only thing stopping you from going for him?"
"No," she lied. "Like I said, he was pretty douche-y." She lied again before slipping under the covers, leaving enough room for Delilah to sleep besides her. "Now if you're done talking about Romeo Bourne, I'd like to actually try and get some sleep tonight."
Delilah didn't comment further, but she grinned at her friend nonetheless.
It wouldn't be the last time they would be hearing about Romeo Bourne, that was for sure.
-
NOTE - not edited
The next chapter should be uploaded on 11/05/2020
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Layla Knight
07.11.19