𝓿𝓲. platonic pillow talk -

written – 12.10.23  |  re-written - 9.6.24

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11TH

"YOUR BED IS SO COMFORTABLE." RONI exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm as she sank into the plush mattress. Her eyes widened with delight as she ran her hand over the soft, luxurious bedding. "I wish my bed was like this. Seriously, it's like sleeping on a cloud compared to mine. My bed at home just feels like a cement block with a thin layer of padding on top."

"So that's why you're always cracking your neck and back!" Embry observed, a look of understanding crossing his face. Roni nodded her head vigorously in agreement before reaching out to adjust the pillows, fluffing them up to her liking.

"Just a fair warning," Roni said, her tone becoming slightly sheepish, "I tend to twitch quite a bit in my sleep. So if you accidentally get kicked or hit at two a.m., don't be too surprised. I've been known to startle my siblings awake more than once." Embry nodded his head with a small, amused chuckle before pulling the blanket up to cover his body. He watched intently as Roni settled down, laying on her back and tugging the blanket up over herself, getting comfortable. After a moment of silence, she turned her head towards him and asked, "So, tell me something about yourself. I'm curious to know more."

"What?" Embry let out a breathy laugh, caught off guard by the sudden request. He turned his head to look at the girl, his eyebrows raised in mild surprise.

"Well, I want to get to know you better," Roni explained, her voice soft but earnest. "I mean, you're going to be taking me on dates, right? It only makes sense that I should know some stuff about you before we venture out together." She shifted her position, turning to lay on her side and face Embry fully. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, "So, let's start with something simple. What's your favorite color?"

Embry chuckled, finding her enthusiasm endearing. He mirrored her actions, laying on his side to face her as well. "Pink," he admitted with a hint of shyness. "But not just any pink. I'm talking about a deep, rich pink. The kind that's bold and eye-catching. What about you? What color captures your heart?"

"Easy," Roni replied without hesitation, a smile playing on her lips. "Blue. But like a dark blue, you know? The kind that reminds you of the ocean at twilight or a clear night sky." She paused, realizing she had unconsciously mimicked Embry's way of describing his favorite color. They shared a laugh at the coincidence, the sound of their mirth filling the room with warmth. As their laughter subsided, Roni's eyes lit up with another question. "Okay, how about this: What's your favorite movie?"

"Fight Club," Embry answered promptly, a hint of pride in his voice.

Roni's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? I never would have pegged you as a Fight Club kind of guy," she remarked, her tone a mixture of curiosity and amusement. As she spoke, she absent-mindedly pulled the comforter further up her body, snuggling deeper into its warmth.

Embry rolled his eyes good-naturedly at her reaction. "What about you?" he countered, genuinely interested. "What movie tops your list of favorites?"

"It's a tough choice," Roni admitted, her brow furrowing slightly in thought. "But I'd have to say it's a tie between Jaws and My Bloody Valentine." She noticed Embry's surprised expression and shrugged defensively. "What? I have a thing for older movies. They have a certain charm that modern films often lack. Is that so strange?"

"No, not at all," Embry quickly assured her, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. "It's just... unexpected. In a good way, though. It's actually pretty cool that you appreciate classics like that." He paused, thinking of another question to ask. "Alright, here's another one for you: What's your favorite book?"

Roni's expression turned slightly sheepish. "To be honest, I'm not much of a reader," she confessed. "I mean, I enjoy a good story, but I find myself more drawn to creating rather than consuming when it comes to the written word. I'm more of a writer, actually."

Embry's interest was immediately piqued. "Oh, really? What kind of things do you write?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"Mostly poetry," Roni replied, a hint of shyness creeping into her voice. "It's my primary outlet. But I also dabble in short stories from time to time. It depends on my mood and inspiration, really."

Embry's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's amazing! You should let me read some of your poetry sometime. I'd love to see what kind of thoughts and emotions you put down on paper."

Roni's reaction was immediate and emphatic. "Absolutely not," she said, shaking her head vigorously. Her voice softened as she explained, "My poetry... it's like a window into my soul. It holds all my deepest, darkest secrets. Things I'm not ready to share with anyone just yet."

A mischievous grin spread across Embry's face. "Challenge accepted," he teased. "I'm going to read them one day. Just you wait and see." Roni scoffed at his playful threat and reached out to smack his arm lightly. Embry chuckled, then decided to change the subject. "Okay, moving on to something less controversial. What's your favorite place in the world?"

Roni's expression softened, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Sam and Emily's house," she answered without hesitation. "There's just something about it that feels like home, you know? What about you? Where's your happy place?"

Embry's lips quirked into a grin. "Well, my bed is definitely high on the list," he admitted with a chuckle. "But other than that, I'd have to say the beach. There's something magical about the sound of the waves and the feel of sand between your toes."

Roni nodded in agreement, but then let out a small yawn. "As much as I'm enjoying this conversation, and believe me, I really am," she said, her voice tinged with regret, "I should probably try to get some sleep. I have work tomorrow morning, and I don't want to be a zombie on my shift."

Embry nodded understandingly, watching as Roni turned around so her back was facing him. "Goodnight, Em," she murmured softly. Embry couldn't help but smile at the nickname. He wasn't sure if she had meant to use it or if it had just slipped out naturally, but either way, he found himself quite fond of it.

Just as he was about to close his eyes, Roni's voice piped up again, this time with a hint of her usual sass. "Say goodnight, dickhead." And there it was, Embry thought, amused by her ability to switch from sweet to snarky in the blink of an eye.

"Goodnight, Roni," Embry replied, his voice warm with affection despite her playful insult. He smiled to himself as he got comfortable, looking forward to whatever the next day might bring.

. ・ 。 . ・ ゜ ✭ ・ . ・ ✫ ・ ゜ ・ 。 .

The next morning, Embry was slowly drawn from his slumber by an unfamiliar sensation. As he tried to sit up, he realized something was holding him down. Groggily, he peeled his eyes open, blinking away the blur of sleep. It took a moment for his vision to focus, but when it did, he was met with a surprising sight. An arm was wrapped snugly around his waist, and a leg was tangled between his own.

A soft smile spread across the teen boy's face as he took in the situation. Carefully, so as not to disturb Roni, he turned slightly to wrap an arm around her waist as well. The position was a bit awkward and slightly uncomfortable, but Embry couldn't bring himself to care. If this was the only chance he'd get to be in this situation with Roni, he was more than willing to endure a little discomfort.

"Good morning, Em," Roni's sleepy voice broke the silence. Her eyes fluttered open, a slight smile playing on her lips as she began to wake up. However, as consciousness fully returned and she realized the position they were in, her eyes widened in surprise. In a flurry of movement, she quickly pulled her limbs back to herself. "Sorry!" Roni exclaimed, her voice a mix of embarrassment and concern.

Unfortunately, in her haste to disentangle herself, Roni's knee made accidental contact with a rather sensitive area of Embry's anatomy. A sharp "Ow!" escaped his lips as he instinctively cupped his injured manhood, his face contorting in pain.

Embry groaned loudly as he turned to lay face down on the bed, burying his face in his pillow. His voice came out muffled but clearly pained as he lamented, "Yep, I'm definitely not having kids. Fuck..." The agony in his tone was palpable, making Roni cover her mouth in a mixture of shock and amusement, trying desperately to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape.

"I'm so, so sorry, Embry!" Roni exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine remorse. Then, unable to help herself, she added with a hint of humor, "Sincerely!" The reference wasn't lost on Embry, even in his current state of discomfort.

Embry lifted his head from the pillow, fixing Roni with a disbelieving glare. "Are you seriously going to quote Stand By Me while I'm in pain?" he asked, his voice a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"I said I'm sorry!" Roni argued, her tone defensive but tinged with humor. Then, attempting to lighten the mood further, she added, "You think that was bad? Ask Paul about how many times I've kicked his third leg! I swear, that boy has developed a sixth sense for dodging my sleep-induced flailing."

Despite the lingering discomfort, Embry couldn't help but laugh at Roni's attempt at humor. As the pain began to fade, he found himself more amused than annoyed by the situation.

"His third leg? What are you, sixty?" Embry teased, his laughter growing stronger. "I haven't heard anyone use that term since my grandpa's last family reunion!"

Roni, feigning offense at his mockery, reached for a pillow and playfully smacked Embry with it. "Stop making fun of me!" she exclaimed, though her giggles betrayed her amusement.

"Stop hurting me!" Embry retorted dramatically, though his wide grin showed he was far from upset. As their laughter filled the room, both realized that despite the rocky start, this morning was shaping up to be the beginning of a pretty great day.