The Morning After

The following morning is just too peaceful, I almost don't want to wake the angels that are sleeping on me. I have been informed that I'm the designated pillow, as I'm the comfiest. I'm not sure I agree, but I also don't have the will to argue. Eventually, however, the girls wake up and... Look, you know what we're about. Morning sex is great. And hunger-inducing.

We agree that breakfast with Max would be... less than comfortable, so we agree to go next door to my house for sustenance. Sneaking in is easier than expected, I guess everyone's wiped from yesterday. In fact, we don't hear a thing until we get to the kitchen and see Rosie in her PJs eating cereal out of the box, who squeaks in surprise. "Don't worry, we've all done it." Andi reassures her, sitting down. "You nursing a hangover?" She asks as Echo and I set about putting toast in and brewing tea. Wouldn't be right to get Andi to help with her leg, would it?

Rosie grunts in response before elaborating. "I didn't mean to drink so much, I just... Got carried away." She says, leaning her head on her hand, looking like she might just fall back to sleep... But revealing something.

"Erm... Bestie? Your neck." Andi warns her too late, as we all notice the unmistakable hickey on the side of her neck... Looks like we weren't the only ones enjoying last night. Echo and I look at each other, silently deciding who gets the first joke.

Rosie grabs her neck, her eyes wide as if she's just remembered the mark is there. "We didn't have sex." She barks defensively, apropos of nothing. "I'm not a slut or something." She follows up, apparently forgetting that having sex on the first meeting was how she and Ms Heart hooked up.

"Shame, it'd be more interesting." Echo smirks, "So how did you get that definitely not slutty love bite?" She asks as the kettle reaches boiling and she begins pouring water for each of us.

Rosie's blush is just expected at this point. "Well... When I was out with Marie and Sienna, they took off and left me alone... With Sora." She explains, causing Andi's hands to fly to her mouth in excitement. "We just talked, and then I was waiting for my taxi, and we passed the time with... Some making out. But that's it! Nothing more!"

"Wow, must be serious." I ponder. "You're so insistent that you didn't have sex, makes me think you don't want to do it too quickly... Almost like you really like this one. Isn't that cute?" I mock her good-naturedly. As if on cue, both my girlfriends follow up with a chorus of 'D'awwwww'.

We would continue until we hear a door open from upstairs and two different sets of footsteps proceed down the stairs. Shit, did we wake up my parents? I thought we'd been quieter than that. We each look to the others, staying silent, until we hear the door open and quiet but unmistakable voices.

"Call me after your shift?" Poppy's voice reverberates from down the hallway.

"I'll call you on my break, don't wanna keep you waiting." Ty's voice answers. Ty's? Ty came down from upstairs? In the morning? From Poppy's room?

"That's why I love you." Her voice responds before a mysterious kiss-length silence, and then a simple "Bye." The door closing snaps us back into the room, but not into our senses. Those only return when Poppy wanders into the kitchen in a robe, apparently not expecting company. Her look of abject horror contrasts with our reaction, which is to burst out laughing in unison, with Andi even throwing in a 'woop'.

Poppy's face goes as red as Rosie's, who gestures for her sister to sit next to her. Despite her embarrassment, Poppy does as requested, and Rosie puts an arm around her reassuringly. "So..." Echo begins, unable to shake her Cheshire grin. "How was your evening?" She asks Poppy, who hides in Rosie's shoulder to cover her burning cheeks.

"Leave her alone." Andi smiles sympathetically, reaching out and holding Poppy's hand, acting as much of a big sister as Rosie. "Don't listen to them, Pops, they're so immature they couldn't handle breakfast with my dad." She adds, shooting us a 'don't throw stones in glass houses' kind of look.

This seems to bring Poppy back out of her shell, who looks to Echo with a slight smile. "It was... Wow." She says simply. "Like something out of a fairy tale." She sighs contentedly. I'm glad to hear that. I hear big brothers are supposed to defend the honour of their sisters if a guy mistreats them and... Well, I don't like my chances against Ty.

Andi seems to melt at Poppy's recollection, and I feel a little jealous. "I seem to recall our first time being pretty damn magical!" I remind my girlfriend. "There was even a sexy witch there." I add, winking to Echo as she walks past to place mugs of tea on the table. She seems to enjoy this comparison and waggles her eyebrows at me. Andi rolls her eyes but can't stifle a smile, at which point she appears to get a call and leaves the room as quickly as her crutches will carry her. Rosie notices this too and follows after. Maybe it's to do with their team retreat?

I sit down with Echo and Poppy, the former of whom is still asking joking questions of the latter. "Be honest, were you disappointed? Was he a two-pump chump? I suppose, with how small it is, you wouldn't even have noticed when it went in." She continues, with Poppy laughing too hard to ever get a chance to respond.

"You're making a lot of jokes for someone who literally almost died from simultaneous orgasms last night." I remind Echo, giving her a nudge, allowing Poppy to recover a bit.

Echo sighs wistfully. "Yeah, for the record, that's definitely how I want to go." She adds, leaning into me.

"Me too." Poppy adds, before slapping her hand to her mouth. This time, even I can't resist laughing. After yesterday, it felt like we'd never get to laugh like this again.

It's at this moment we hear the door open and shut. I scrunch my face in confusion, we're not expecting any more, are we? Maybe Sienna? But only Rosie returns from the other room, looking shellshocked. The laughter dies, as we turn our attention to the dark cloud that entered the room.

"That was Andi's doctor." She explains. "The injury... It was worse than we'd hoped... Much worse." She continues. My blood runs cold as I realise where this is going. I knew she was putting on a brave face, but I had no idea it was this bad. Echo's white skin turns so pale it seems almost translucent. Even Poppy seems to get the implication, her hand raising to her mouth to hide her horror.

"She won't be able to play again."