Italian Flag

It’s 2:00 am and I can’t sleep! I tossed in my bed for the hundredth time trying to get comfortable. You would think that after 10 years of having my period I would find a good position to sleep in.

BING!

The elevator announced the arrival of new people. I heard muffled arguments between guys. The voices got louder.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhh. L-Lily is sleeping.” I heard Nate as he tried to find his key.

“Let me do it.” Samuel whisper yelled.

“I think I need to piss,” Mike shouted over Samuel.

“Shhhh. Lily.” Nate yelled back.

The door opened and I watched all three men walk in on unsteady feet.

“Hey.” I welcomed them with a quiet voice.

“Lily!” Nate yelled. “Look.”

Nate was holding up a large neon sign the size of his torso. It was a frog sitting on a lily pad.

“It’s a sign.” He blurted out.

“Yes, it is.” I started to chuckle. This was a new side of Nate I’ve never seen before.

“It’s a... sign.” He repeated using a different tone of voice.

“Yes. It’s a nice sign.” I told him.

Nate frowned and walk toward his room while muttering something under his breath.

Mike began to eye me up and down. I felt naked even though I was covered with my leggings and a long tank top. Last time I talked to him he had wanted nudes.

Samuel went towards Nate’s room to check up on him.

It was just Mike and me now. He walked toward me, opening his arms. He gave me a tight bear hug. I tried to push him away but I couldn’t escape the circle of his arms. His mouth got close to my ear, while he dropped his hands toward my waist. I didn’t want to be in this situation. I wanted to yell for help, but I couldn’t. His hug got tighter.

“I’m sorry.” He slurred into my ear.

What?

My body felt less threatened.

“I’m sorry I asked for nude-boobs. Sorry.”

He sounded so sincere.

“So-sorry.” He mumbled again.

I started to let out a little chuckle.

“It’s okay. I forgive you.” I patted his back. I was never the type of person that held a grudge.

“Thanks-” He stopped mid-sentence and looked at me. He moved his hands to my cheeks and exaggeratedly puckered his lips while he closed his eyes.

“No!” I yelled out, but he was still coming in for the kiss.

I turned my head to avoid my lips being anywhere near him. Mike leaned in started to French kiss my cheek and his thumb. I started to let out a disgusted laugh.

Ewww.

“Nate!” I finally yelled out while laughing at the situation.

Mike let out a few light moaning sounds. I saw Nate and Samuel’s head pop out of the bathroom.  

Nate’s eyes widen. “HEY!” He roared as he stormed my way.

Nate took a hold of Mike’s sweat-shirt and yanked him to the ground. Mike’s body slammed the hardwood floor shaking the whole apartment. Nate embraced me in a secure hug. There was a moment of silence followed by Mike’s laughter.

“We were just having some fun.” Mike tried to get up. “You owe me. You took the blonde away from me.”

Nate looked over his shoulder giving Mike a death stare. I could feel his pulse racing and his body temperature increasing. Nate was furious.

“Let’s just cool down. It’s just the alcohol talking and taking control of you guys.” Samuel stepped in.

Samuel helped Mike stand up. “You can sleep with the frog today.”

“Fine.” Mike rumbled toward Nate’s room with the help of Samuel.

Mike’s heavy body dropped on the bed next to the neon sign. Samuel started to take off his shoes and sweater, making him more comfortable.

“Sorry,” Nate mumbled.

He gave me a tight squeeze.

I started to laugh. “It’s fine. Really. He was drunk and didn’t know what he was doing. I mean he was trying to make out my cheek and his thumb.” I giggled.

His hug got tighter and he kissed the top of my head.

“It’s okay, Nate.” I gave him a squeeze, reassuring him that it really was okay.

“You’re mine-” He talked into my hair.

“Take the couch, Nate,” Samuel ordered.

Nate listened to him like a child listening to his father. Nate took off his jeans revealing his red boxers in front of Samuel and me. I looked away as my cheeks burned up. I’m still trying to play off the stepsister and brother act.

“Don’t act like you haven’t seen him in his boxers.” Samuel scolded me.

My eyes widened. “What?” I asked shyly.

“God, you are a horrible liar.” He scoffed.

Samuel walked over to the kitchen and grabbed two glasses from the top cabinet. He went into another cabinet and grabbed a chocolate mix. I didn’t know we had cocoa. He pulled out the milk from the fridge and then a small pan from another cabinet to warm up the milk.

“I’m not lying-” I finally said.

“Warm or hot.” He poured the milk into the pan.

“Warm. But I’m not lying.”

He nodded as he put the milk on the stove.

“You know I used to live here.” He ignored my statement.

I shook my head.

“We were roommates in college. Then we moved off campus my senior year when he got his job. After I graduated, he bought this apartment to be closer to the company.” He looked around the apartment. “Then asked me to move in with him. Rent. Free.”

“Sounds familiar.” I chuckled. It was the first time I saw Samuel smile. Not a fake smile.

“He’s a good guy. He never really cared about money or things, unlike most people.” He looked over at the pan and then poured the milk over the cocoa and stirred both glasses.

“After I moved in here he surprised me with a job at the company.” He sipped his chocolate milk.

“I knew you guys worked together, but I didn’t know he got you a job.”

“Yep. I basically owe him my career.” He chuckled.

We moved over to the couch. I sat down next to Nate, I was only a few inches away from him. Nate shifted and got closer to me and wrapped his arm around my legs and moaned.

“So, did you decorate the place?” I asked Samuel trying to distract him.

He swallowed his drink, “Yep. He gave me the money and I made this place look like a magazine.”

I started to laugh.

“What?” He asked.

“I just thought this place was way too fashionable for Nate to design. There was a moment where I thought Nate was gay.”

“Hey,” Nate mumbled.

I didn’t know he was still awake. Samuel and I both chuckled.

“I guess I made it too gay for a straight boy.”

I looked over at Samuel.

“I’m gay.” He stated, giving me a smile.

“Oh. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to insult you- I didn’t know.”

He started to laugh. “There was no way for you to know.”

“I just would have never guessed.”

“You’re fine. I mean, I still get girls hitting on me all the time.” He pushed his glasses up.

Nate started to reposition himself. He moved up and placed his head on my lap using my thighs as a pillow. With his free hand, he wrapped it around me.

Nate coughed.

“I’ll get him a blanket.” Samuel moved off the couch.

He disappeared into Nate’s side of the apartment.

I looked over at Nate. His ass covered with his red boxers. I started to giggle. He looked like an Italian flag with his white socks, red boxers, and green shirt.

Samuel came back with a thin blanket and covered Nate with it.

“Thanks, Dad,” Nate mumbled.

“Go to sleep already.” Samuel lightly slapped his head.

Nate let out another moan and hugged me tighter.

“So.” Samuel cleared his throat. “How long has it been going on?”

I looked down at my chocolate milk. I didn’t know if I should still play dumb or just tell him the truth. Nate faintly whispered something.

“What?” Samuel asked.

He picked up two fingers.

“Two? Two what?” Samuel grunted.

“Weeks.” I finished the sentence. “The day you called Nate and I picked up the phone...”

Samuel let out one single laugh.

Nate puffed out one laugh, “You did it.”

I chuckled. “He’s right. If you never called I would have-” I stopped talking.

I would have never found the images of my ass if Samuel never called. Samuel didn’t seem curious about how it happened.

He started to chuckle, “Well, shit.” He finished his drink. “That’s what I get for trying to butt in.” He sighed. “Oh, well. It’s between you guys now.”

I finished my drink. “You’re- You’re not going to tell anyone. Right?”

Samuel and Nate answered the question, “No.”

Samuel smiled and looked down at Nate. “I don’t agree with your decision, but it doesn’t matter. It’s not my business.”

“Thanks.” I started to play with Nate’s dark hair.

“I should have known something would happen. He never thought of you as his sister.”

“What do you mean?” I looked up at Samuel.

“Nothing. Not my place.”

I looked down at Nate again, his dark hair in my hand.

He never thought of me as his sister?

Samuel turned on the TV. “You can go to sleep if you want. I’ll look over Nate and Mike.”

I shook my head, “I’m not sleepy. I’ll just stay up.”

“Suit yourself.” Samuel started to slope down on the couch, getting comfortable.

I didn’t want to move Nate so I sat still.

“Hey.” I looked over at Samuel. “Can I ask you something about Mike?”

Nate held me a little tighter when I brought up Mike.

“Why are we friends with Mike?” Samuel said while he turned his body toward me.

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“I ask myself that question every week.” He rolled his eyes, letting out a long sigh. “Connections. His dad is one of the vice presidents of the company so it’s nice to know someone up above.”

I nodded. I felt kind of bad for Mike.

“So... you guys are using him?”

“I am. Yes. I don’t see eye to eye with Mike on MANY things. He reminds me too much of my older brother. As for Nate. No. I don’t think he’s using him.”

Samuel picked up the glasses and took them to the sink. He came back and sat on the couch. Letting out a long sigh.

“Mike and Nate used to hang out a lot. Going to bars, picking up girls and whatnot. I think Nate feels like he owes Mike for helping him get out of his comfort zone.”

I pursed my lips.

“Sorry,” Samuel said looking at my facial expression. “I can tell you’re uncomfortable with this conversation. But you have nothing to worry about.”

“No. No. You’re fine.” I lied. “What can you tell me about college Nate?’

“He was fat.”

Nate growled.

“Stop eavesdropping.” Samuel tapped Nate’s head again. “Go to fucking sleep already.”

Samuel laughed. I twisted a lock of Nate’s hair between my fingers.

“Like I was saying before I was interrupted. Nate was fat. And shy.” He paused. “He was always in his room doing homework and trying to get ahead in his classes. He was basically your stereotypical nerd.”

I looked down at Nate. I didn’t know that. Especially looking at him now with his hot body.

“It wasn’t until we moved here where I finally started to get Nate into better shape. He’s a hot guy, but his lack of fashion and self-care was not doing him any justice. A year later, Mike came into the picture.” He took a deep inhale. “As much as I don’t like Mike, he did help Nate get out of his comfort zone. It’s probably the only good thing Mike has ever done.”

I felt Nate nod his head, agreeing with Samuel. Samuel started to check out my body.

“Have you thought about working out?”

My jaw dropped. “Wh-”

“No!” Nate interrupted me. “She’s perfect!”

Nate gripped me a little tighter and kissed my thigh.

I couldn’t help but blush. I’ve never heard anyone say that to me, not even my mom.

“Okay, Romeo. Calm down.” He messed up Nate’s hair. “I meant no offense. But if you ever want to work out just give me a call.” He gave me an innocent smile.

I didn’t say anything.

“A healthy body means a healthy mind.”

“Shutup,” Nate growled.

I giggled. I have a feeling this wasn’t the first time Samuel had used that cheesy quote.

We started to drift into our sleep until Mike started to grunt from Nate’s room.

“Shit,” Samuel said.

“Ima gonna hurl!!!” Mike yelled.

“Shit. Shit. SHIT!” Samuel jumped off the couch and sprinted to the room. “NOT ON THE BEDDING. NOT ON THE HORNCROW!!!”

A few seconds later, I heard Mike throw up in the toilet.

“Ewwww.”

Samuel comforted Mike while also yelling at him for drinking too much.

Nate turned over and opened his sleepy eyes. “I win.” He gave me a sexy smirk.

“Go to sleep.”

“Goodnight kiss?”

I hesitated, worried that Samuel would come out of the bathroom any second.

“Give the frog a kiss.” He mumbled.

I couldn’t say no to him. I gave him a small peck on the lips. Nate let out a little moan and turned over on his side again.

“Thank you, Princess.”