Chapter Twenty-Five: Drunken Respect

Turns our Clarke's speciality drink was just some orange juice with a lot of vodka...like a lot of vodka. After the whole Isaac incident, and with the combination of vodka it was safe to say I got drunk very quickly. It ended up feeling like the right move as everyone ended up on the drunk side as well. Kieran at first was hanging around with me, and talking to Clarke a lot. It was clear he wanted to get to know Clarke, and asked him a lot of question. Eventually though Kieran ended back up with that guy, and eventually making out with him on the couch.

Ava got herself drunk very quickly too, most due to Clarke eventually making her the same drinks. Ava couldn't handle her alcohol as well as I could. Parker called it when Ava almost fell asleep standing up, so he took her to bed. That was when the party started to wind down and everyone left. I was a little worried about my college friends would think of me after this though. I decided to clean up a bit because even in my drunk state I hated leaving the apartment in a mess.

"Okay, careful there, Rory," Clarke said running over and grabbing a glass I almost broke. "You have good intentions but no hand-eye coordination right now."

"I'm fine," I insisted, using the bench to stand up straight "It's better than doing this in a morning."

"Rory, your sentences are starting to make no sense, and I've got to go home," Clarke told me calmly. "So let's get you to bed..."

He grabbed my arm to spin me around which was pretty easy considering how drink I was. I looked up at him and realised he wanted to make sure I was okay before he left. That's not what I wanted though.

"Stay," I slurred. "I want you to stay here."

"You want me to stay here?" Clarke asked, surprised raising his eyebrows.

"AHH yes," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck to put my body up on his. I wondered if he remembered I could get rather horny when I was drunk.

Clarke started to chuckle at me. "I'll stay if you really want me to. We're not having sex though."

"And why not? It is my birthday, isn't it? Shouldn't I get a present?" I teased him slightly.

He laughed at me again, and then grabbing my hands to bring them back from his neck. I was starting to realise Clarke wasn't nearly as drunk as me.

"You are far too drunk," he told me, looking me in the eyes. "It would be taking an advantage of you....and yes even if you ask, okay?"

I pouted my lip a little as he stopped me from protesting. Truly, him being so nice just turned me on more.

"Fine," I breathed out. "Can I...just have a kiss at least?"

I saw Clarke think it over, deciding if it was taking advantage of me or not I suppose. Eventually though he smiled at me and then slowly moved to me to press our lips together. I was probably too eager and wanted to go for it but knew Clarke would probably stop it. So I let his slow and calm approach happen. I'll admit that I really liked it though, how gentle his lips were. How it made my own lips tingle and my stomach flutter. His tongue would touch mine very slightly and it honestly felt so good.

Clarke was the one that stopped us kissing, realising that even though I was trying, I couldn't hold back. He pulled me back to look at me and then just smiled at me.

"So, bed, sleep, now, yeah?" Clarke suggested. "You can finish cleaning up in the morning."

"Oh, you're helping," I informed him.

He merely laughed as a response.

Once in my room I could tell Clarke wasn't impressed by how small it was. He didn't say anything but I could tell it bothered him slightly, especially my small double bed, I didn't have a king size like his unfortunately, he'd have to just deal with that. I never liked to sleep in my clothes and just because I was drunk that wasn't going to change it. So with a bit of difficultly I got changed, with a tiny bit of help from Clarke and even cleaned the make-up off my face.

"You need to get in the bed first," I told him, giving him a slight nudge. He really did need to go first though as my bed was pressed up against one wall.

"How do you sleep in a tiny bed?" Clarke asked, as he slid into the bed, making sure to leave room for me.

"I don't know, it's never bothered me I guess," I admitted, flopping down in the space Clarke had left.

I realised now in the bed whilst we both fit there wasn't a whole lot of room and we were going to have to sleep close together. It shouldn't be a problem, but Clarke and I didn't always cuddle. I mean, sometimes after sex I would lie with him, but otherwise we just slept on either side of the bed. I guess it felt intimate to sleep in each other's arms, but it seemed we had no choice. It was something Clarke noticed too. He cautious moved his arm to lie it above my head and turned himself on his side, our bodies pressing together no matter where we moved.

"Are you glad you came tonight?" I asked Clarke to distract from the awkward situation.

"Yes, actually," he smiled at me. "I had a great time...expect maybe for your ex."

I groaned immediately. "Sorry about that. I can't believe he was stupid enough to show up. I almost forgot what an absolutely jerk he was...even if that apology felt real."

I saw Clarke raise an eye brow. "The apology helped a little, didn't it? It's okay to admit it you know. I saw how you...struggled about it when you talked about him. I get you want to be angry because he was so awful, but is accepting his apology so bad? Doesn't it just mean, that you can finally move on?"

I knew he was right. It wouldn't be so bad to just accept it, because I finally could move on, forget about how awful he was, I could maybe even stop being afraid.

"Okay yes, maybe I can. I don't have to forgive him directly though," I stated. "Just forgive the situation and move on."

"I supposed it's a start," Clarke nodded as I groaned a little. "Okay, you need to sleep."

"No...it's fine," I insisted, rubbing my eyes. Honestly I was enjoying talking to him, even if I was just a little too drunk to really grasp the conversation.

"We can talk in the morning, especially since I'll be here now," Clarke promised. "Okay?"

I wanted to argue, but the moment I tried I felt the alcohol hit me, make my head spin. So I nodded and as I did I made my head snuggle into his chest. I wasn't sure Clarke would like it, but I felt his hand touch my head, stroke it kind of comfortably.

I must've fallen asleep not long after that moment because I couldn't remember anything else. I did remember that I felt comfortable and calm, that was until I jolted myself awake about five hours later. It was still dark when I opened my eyes so I knew I hadn't been asleep long but I also knew it was long enough that I didn't feel drunk. I was lucky in the way that I could sober up rather quickly. A couple of hours of sleep was enough for my head to stop spinning and for my stomach to stop turning.

I looked down next to me and realised Clarke was still fast asleep within inches of me. His breath was slow and deep and it was extremely peaceful watching him sleep. Now, a little more sober I realised how great Clarke had been to me tonight. He stood up for me when it came Isaac and then took care of drunk me, even turning me down when I came onto him. It was not the Clarke Watson I'm sure he used to be. I'm sure a year ago if drunk me had tried to come onto him, he would've loved it.

I sighed slightly realising I should just try get back to sleep and went to move myself to put my head on the pillow and somehow get comfortable again, although it seemed rather impossible in this small bed.

"Oh, no, don't wake up, I'm sorry," I said quickly.

Clarke had groaned the moment I moved and stirred his head, slowly opening his eyes to look at me. He groaned again, blinking a few times before he spoke.

"Too late," Clarke breathed out. "It's okay...are you okay? Why are you awake?"

"I just woke up, I'm fine," I promised him, "and pretty much sober too."

"That's good," Clarke muttered, shifting his body to try and straighten up. "Wow, there really isn't much room on this bed."

I laughed a little and moved myself again so he could lie straight and it meant I was on my side, and I had to put my hand on his chest. "You know the small bed is not usually a problem with other people."

Clarke glanced at me. "Really? You still want to..."

I shrugged slightly. Even though I wasn't drunk anymore I still felt the same way. "It's still my birthday after all...well close enough."

Clarke smiled at me but also groaned a bit as I moved my hips. "I can't say I wasn't tempted by you earlier."

"Oh I know," I nodded. "And now...?"

"Now...it's time for your birthday present."

Clarke lifted his head up and propped himself up closer to me to allow his lips to gently touch mine. Like before our lips met with a passion. It made me realise, I must've really got to him earlier. I liked the idea of that. That somehow he must've always found me sexy, even when I was a drunken mess.

For a minute I thought my tiny bed would affect us really getting into this, but it didn't seem to faze Clarke. He was able to intertwine and wrap our bodies together so were both comfortable. It mostly involved me wrapping my legs around his body and my arms around his neck. He had managed to wrap his arms around my whole body and hold me close to him as we continued to widely kiss. I felt... secure and safe...and cared about.

There was something different about how we were in these early hours of the morning. Maybe it was the alcohol still coursing through both of us, or maybe it was because we weren't at Clarke's place this time and in my bed...or maybe it had to do with that fact that all night we had just been friend Clarke and Rory.

As both started to take our clothes off, helping each other and doing it ourselves I realised there wasn't that sexy and intense feeling I always felt...it was actually just fun. We were laughing like teenagers as we struggled not to elbow each other in the face as we took our clothes off. He would nibble at my neck and my ear and it would make me laugh...but also moan at the same time.

Things happened rather quickly...well in terms of us. We got right into things and neither of us were quiet about it or shy about it...which is when I realised something.

"Oh, god, Clarke...we have to be quiet," I moaned as he I felt him go deeper inside me. "This apartment is cheap...and shit...and not sound proof."

"Shit, Rory, you woke me up for this," Clarke smiled slightly. "If they hear us, bad luck because I'm already going."

I laughed with him, but it was soon replaced by a groan as I felt my whole body tingle from him, forcing me to move my arm and grip to the head board behind me.

I didn't doubt that it was very possible Ava had heard us, especially when things got more intense and we started rocking the whole bed, so the headboard was now hitting the wall at a constant pace. The thought of it made me laugh, it all felt so good, fun and good that is. There was something different about it though, more than that. I'm pretty sure it was the where. I mean, being at Clarke's place it still felt like I was fucking a rich guy. Here, it didn't feel that way and maybe that was what different. Either way, what I did know is, that I really liked it.

After, we both lied awkwardly on top of each other as it was hard to lie apart on my small bed. I glanced at him and then we both started laughing. We had never sex like that before, so normally.

"That was different," Clarke smiled.

"It was. Who knew normal sex could be so good?" I joked.

He rolled his eyes slightly and smiled before rolling over to pull me in his arms and grab me and kiss my forehead. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you," I smiled back at him.

We both fell asleep after in each other's arms this time because it was a little less awkward now. The next time we would wake up would be the late morning, well nearly the afternoon. It took a moment to bring my head around but when I did, I groaned.

"There's going to be so much cleaning," I complained.

"I could call someone," Clarke suggested, still with his eyes shut and his head on my shoulder. He was not keen on getting up yet.

"Oh come on, you know how I feel about stuff like that," I complained immediately, though there was a part of me that would love to hire a cleaner.

"Fine," Clarke groaned. "At least let me order the best, greasy breakfast ever and have it delivered?"

"That, I can deal with," I said. I was hanging for food. "You do that, I'll shower...and then clean."

I needed a shower first. I probably still had alcohol on me, and definitely at least the smell of sex. I had never woken up a guy in the middle of the night and just had sex... it was kind of nice and a good end to my birthday. Maybe Clarke coming here was actually great.

I emerged from the shower once dressed to see Clarke, Ava and Parker all in the same room leaning on the bench.

"Food will be here any minute," Clarke told me as I walked in to stand beside him. "Thank God, I really need it."

"Me too," Ava groaned into her hands. "I am so tired."

"I slept quite well actually," Parker boasted.

"Well, speak for yourself," Ava nudged him lightly. "How did you not wake up to the sound of these two fucking?"

"They fucked last night?" Parker asked surprised.

I turned to Clarke who was just smiling at me. I laughed a little, I couldn't help it.

"It's not funny. All I could hear was that bed hitting the wall, over and over again," Ava said louder. "You're lucky you're paying for my breakfast, Watson."

Once the food arrived we all sat in silence and ate. We didn't talk not because we didn't want to but because we were all enjoying the food so much after a long night of drinking. I sat near Clarke and we were acting all flirty and had some serious banter today. Clarke was trying to steal my food once he had finished his and I had to keep hitting him away. I could feel Ava's eyes on us as Clarke literally grabbed me to prevent me from stopping him. After last night, something was different and I wasn't sure what.

We spent hours cleaning after that. Like it literally took us hours to pick up every plastic cup, and mop the floor and wipe every bench before the apartment started to look presentable again and felt liveable again. I told Clarke to leave once it got to the afternoon otherwise he'd never get home and Ava would find something else for him to clean. I now stood at the front door as Clarke stood just outside after I slowly got him out of the door.

"I don't mind helping, honestly," Clarke shrugged.

"Hey, its fine, we're pretty much done," I told him, gesturing to the almost clean living room. "Seriously we have work tomorrow so get home before you've spent your whole weekend here."

"Work, ew," Clarke smiled as he joked but then straightened out. "Do you think it'll be different?"

"What do you mean?" I frowned.

"Well, I just mean...I don't know about you but I feel like your friend," Clarke admitted.

"I...me too," I agreed, straightening up awkwardly. "Maybe work will be friendlier, like everyone Is there but you. Maybe you'll open your blinds up for once."

Clarke laughed at me. "Okay, fair point. I don't just need to be friendlier just to you, but everyone else."

"Especially Karen," I said quickly. "She is just as important as me."

"Maybe not as much," Clarke winked at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Go home. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow then."

"See ya."

When I turned around once I had shut the door, Ava was standing in the room with her arms crossed over her chest. I could hear noise in the kitchen which lead me to believe that's where Parker was.

"Don't," I sighed, looking at Ava.

"Don't what?" she frowned.

"You know what," I said walking back into the lounge room. "Whatever you're going to say about Clarke and I."

"I wasn't...," Ava started to say and then sighed. "Fine, I was just going to say something. You can't tell me it's just...sex anymore."

I shrugged slightly as she gave me look. "Well it's not exactly. We're actually friends now...somehow."

"I just-," Ava started to say.

Before she could finish though Parker entered the room and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. At first I wasn't sure if he'd heard us, but then he made it clear he did.

"I know you love, love, Ava," Parker told her, "but I'm not sure that's what's happening. What I do know is Clarke is happier than I've seen him since...well Henry passed away. All I want for Clarke after what he's been through is happiness, and he seems to have it, and if you're happy too, I don't see an issue."

He looked at me a lot when he spoke, but when he finished he looked at Ava to indicate it was more of her. It all made me smile though, and I saw Ava purse her lips and she knew then she couldn't say anything else, so I had the last word this time.