I've never been the type of person to get up before seven in the morning.

But when I have a reason, I get up without a problem. And right now? I prepared to mix a smoothie while Acker lies just a few meters away, sound asleep.

I will enjoy this so much.

I turned the blender on medium speed and looked at the couch with a satisfied expression.

Acker jumped up in a sitting position as if he had been stung by a wasp in his ass and began to look around in confusion. "What the hell?" He stopped looking at me.

"Fucking hell." He rolled his eyes and lay back down with a heavy exhale.

I held back my laughter as I poured my smoothie into a glass and headed to my room.

"You just started a war." I heard Acker whisper as I walked past him.

I bit my lip at his words so I wouldn't burst out laughing and shut myself in the room.

Maybe it won't be the worst thing to have him here. At least I have a punching bag to take out all my anger on.

*****

"Acker!" I was banging on the bathroom door for the tenth time. "You've been there for half an hour."

Maybe it wasn't the best idea to provoke him. If it'll be like this every day, we'll kill each other. And especially when Theo is not here.

He decided that he would cook dinner today, so he went to the store and left us alone.

I was incredibly stupid when I told him I had the day off. I shouldn't have done that.

It would have been fine if it was just me and Theo having dinner, but he invited Acker too, who happily accepted.

"I swear if you don't open this door..." I didn't have time to finish. I heard the doorbell and went to the front door with a heavy exhale.

I opened them and felt a pleasant sensation near my heart as my eyes fell on Julie. "I did something." She looked at me desperately. "But I brought coffee." She raised a coffee cup.

"That won't be necessary. She already had a smoothie, didn't you, Mimi." I heard Acker behind me.

When the hell did he get out of the shower?

"But I'll happily take it." I heard footsteps and felt his body next to me as he reached for the cup.

But what I didn't expect was that I felt his naked skin, still slightly wet.

Julie's eyes almost fell out, and when I looked at Acker, I knew why.

The idiot is only wearing a towel. A towel that looks like it's going to fall off at any moment.

I wish I could stop looking at his tattoos, but I can't. It's really precise work. Ray, my tattoo artist, would be fuming if he knew I even thought such a thing.

"Thanks babe." He winked at Julie as he picked up the coffee and sipped from it. "So what did you do?"

"Nothing that concerns you." I grabbed Julie's hand and pulled her towards my room.

"I'll be here if you change your mind!" He yelled as I slammed the door behind us.

"I'll kill him and you'll be my alibi." I pointed my finger at Julie, who still looked slightly out of sorts. "Julie!" I snapped my fingers in front of her face. "Stop imagining him naked!"

"What? No. I wasn't do that." She blinked quickly.

"You're a terrible liar."

"Does he go around half-naked all day?" It was visible how her cheeks got red. She is absolutely adorable.

"Let him try walking completely naked and I'll cut his friend off with a pair of scissors. Now on to another topic," because if we talk about half-naked Acker any longer, I'll start to get ideas, "what happened?"

"I did something bad." She closed her eyes guiltily. "Like really, really bad." She took a few steps back and sat on my bed.

"If it has anything to do with the police, you were with me at the time and we watched a movie marathon. If it's anything else and someone hurt you, give me five minutes and I'll be ready to bury anyone." I said seriously.

I'm serious. I would do anything for Julie.

"No, nothing like that." She lowered her head and looked at her hands. "It doesn't concern me." She said more quietly.

"Julie, whatever it is, it's going to be okay." I got closer to her and sat next to her. "But you have to tell me what it's about."

Her foot started to shake a little and she started to play with her fingers. Her eyes were closed tightly as started talking. "I told Paul you were going on a date with him." She blurted out really quick.

Remember how I said I would do anything for Julie? This is the one thing that is a big NO for me. I mean like a HUGE NO.

"You did what!" I jumped to my feet.

"I'm sorry."

"What were you thinking? You know I'm not dating, and especially not with Paul." I looked at her in disbelief.

I've been on a few dates, but those were just with...Nevermind, it doesn't matter.

I'm twenty-one years old, I have time to find someone that I want to spend the rest of my life with. That is, if it ever happens. I wouldn't mind being alone. I would have a large selection of options even in my old age.

"Maya please you have to go." She stood up and grabbed my hands. "When you left yesterday, Paul came and asked if you're going to Ronnie's party on Friday to celebrate her birthday."

"And how did you two get me a date from that?"

"He said he would bring Alex if I could convince you to go. Maya please." She squeezed my hands.

Of course it's something that includes Alex. He is the first guy that Julie was interested in and apparently still is.

Nothing has ever happened between them, but when he's in the room, Julie only has eyes for him. It's pretty annoying if you ask me. Stealing my girl like that. Not nice of him either.

"But Paul of all people?" I looked at her with a disgusted expression.

Paul is not a bad looking guy, but he is unbearable. Not five minutes go by without him saying something about women, which makes everyone grab their heads.

He is of the opinion that women are only good for one thing, and that's how he treats everyone.

"I'm really sorry, Maya. He was persistent."

I pulled away from her and took a few steps back. I started walking around the room with my head in my hands. "Paul." I looked up at Julie, who looked terribly guilty. "Why him." I tilted my head back and a moan came out of my mouth. "Anyone else. It could be anyone else."

"It's not like there won't be other people there. It's possible he'll get lost somewhere and you won't see him."

"Why Paul?" I walked on, ignoring Julie. "He's slimy, lewd, his IQ is as sharp as a bowling ball."

"He's not that terrible." She said quietly.

"I'd rather go out with Acker." I surprised myself. "Wait, no. Forget that last sentence." What was I thinking?

"Maya please. I promise it won't be so bad. And if you go, I'll give you anything you want. I'll learn how to mix drinks and stand in for you whenever you want. I'll clean you an apartment for two months. I'll..."

"Stop." I stopped her with a sigh. "I'll do it."

"Oh my god, thank you!" She squealed and jumped up to hug me. "I love you." She squeezed me hard.

"Yeah, yeah." I rolled my eyes but hugged her back. "You will owe me. Big time."

"Anything, anytime." She pulled away with a smile. "I'll write what, when and how on Friday later."

"I hate you." I exhaled heavily.

"No, you love me." She smiled. "It's getting late, I have to go to Eddie's. I'll see you later." She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and left the room with me at her heels.

She slammed the front door behind her and I turned to the empty apartment. Where did Acker go? Please don't let him be in the bathroom again, because I'm probably going to kill him.

I went to the bathroom and carefully opened the door. Phew. He is not here.

"Are you looking for someone?" I jumped when I heard a voice behind me.

"For Christ's sake!" I clutched my chest. "What's wrong with you? Did you fall on your head when you were little or something?" I punched him in his firm chest.

"What did doll need?"

"Doll?" I raised an eyebrow in disgust. "Really?" Maybe Paul isn't so bad after all.

"She looks like one. It's not my fault." Truth, but still ew.

"Why are you still in a towel? Don't you have anything to wear?" I looked down at the towel and slowly ran my eyes over his tattooed chest. Why on earth is it so big? He goes to gym a little more and he'll have bigger tits than me. Not fair if you ask me.

"Why? Is it distracting you?" He smiled and leaned against the door frame.

"Oh yes. I'm melting at the sight of your naked body." I said sarcastically.

"I sense a little truth in that sarcasm there. You don't have to be ashamed of it, Mimi. You're not the only one who likes my body."

"Ha! You're so funny it's unbelievable. But I have a question. Do you spend an hour or two looking in the mirror every morning? Oh wait, let me guess. Three." I smiled. "Predictable."

"You're adorable when you're irritated."

"Screw you, Acker." I said tiredly, rolling my eyes and grabbing the door, which I slammed right in his face. If he hadn't jumped away in time, it would have hit him in his face

Too bad he jumped away.

*****

"But we had to go back after that. We were all really sorry and..." Theo talked and talked.

I don't think he realizes that he's been talking forever and no one has really listened to him. Acker laughs a few times and goes back to the pasta on his plate.

And I? I would rather crawl into bed and sleep or be anywhere else than here. Theo talks about his adventures in Europe, but I don't really care.

I've been fiddling with the last of the pasta on my plate for five minutes now and no one has pointed me out yet, so I'm sure they haven't noticed yet. I will die of boredom here.

When my cell phone rang three times in a row, the room was suddenly silent. They both looked up at me. What is their problem?

I took my phone out of my pocket and a new message from Julia flashed on the screen.

Julie: I'll pick you up at seven on Friday and we'll go together

Julie: I'll need your advice on what to wear later

Julie: And it's quite possible that I'll borrow something from you

She couldn't write that in one message, could she?

Julie: I'm sorry, I know you don't like it when I write you many messages one after another. Please don't cancel Friday just for this.

I smiled at the last message and texted her that we'll talk later because I'm still having dinner.

Julie: Sure, we'll call later. xx

I put the mobile screen on the table and noticed that both of them were still looking at me.

"What?" I frowned. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Yes, a smile." Acker laughed.

"Something you don't see on women in your company, huh? That's okay, it'll definitely get better. Maybe when you grow up." I poked him.

"Funny." He laughed. "So who texted you?" He asked as if I should give him an answer.

"Don't you think that's my business?"

"I was just trying to keep the conversation going. It's not like I really care." He snorted and finished the last bite.

"Sure." I rolled my eyes. "And you?" I looked over at Theo.

"If you don't want to say, it's none of our business."

"Well thank you." I said before I found out his sentence was not finished.

"But I'd be lying if I said I'm not interested."

"I'm going on a date, happy?" I got up from the table. "Not that it's your business." I picked up my plate and cutlery and put the dishes in the sink.

"I thought you weren't the type. Looks like I was wrong." Acker appeared next to me and put his plate in the sink.

"Looks like you haven't read me as well as you thought, Acker." I slipped past him and headed to my room. It's too late to have another conversation with even one of them.

But he was right. I'm not that type. But I won't tell him that I'm forced. Why should I? I owe him nothing and he has nothing to do with it.

However, I'd rather avoid tomorrow. I really don't want to go there. Although I had planned to go to Ronnie's. But now I have to go there because of Julie and Paul.

Oh god Paul. Tomorrow night will be a horror.



Maya is a good friend.