Birthday Beginnings

A look of sheer panic fell across her sleepy countenance. ‘Someone’s in my home!’ she thought frantically. ‘God, why me?!? I’m too hung-over for this shit!’

Heedless of the painful thrumming in her legs and head, she ran across the room, and knelt to reach under the bed to grab her Louisville slugger. Weapon firmly in hand, she crept into the hallway and tiptoed to the bathroom door.

‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’ she thought. ‘Someone broke into my apartment while I was sleeping and they’re . . . they’re . . . uh, showering? What moron breaks into someone’s apartment to take a shower? What the hell’s going on here?’

She shut her eyes tightly and pressed her temple with her free hand, trying to make sense of her situation. ‘What happened last night?’ She struggled to remember, but without success. Suddenly, the bathroom door began to open. All her senses immediately went into high alert. She slung the bat over her shoulder and took a steadying breath, ready to confront her ‘visitor’.

A tall man of a lean, muscular build stepped out of the bathroom. He was only wearing a towel and using a second towel to dry his hair, so she was unable to see his face. Completely oblivious to her, he turned his back and wa tow towards her living room and kitchenette area.

“Hold it right there! I’ve got a weapon and I’m not afraid to use it! Now turn around!”

She startled the intruder at first, but he took her completely by surprise by chuckling at her threat. He let the towel fall from his hands, revealing a head of damp, golden hair. He raised his hands above his head in mock defeat, before turning around slowly to face her. When she beheld his playfully smiling visage, her body went numb, and the bat fell uselessly to the floor.

“JAKE!!! What the hell are you doing in my apartment?!?”