Problem

[Ezra Cooper]

Ezra couldn't help the look of glee when Alex pulled back her feet. Even as she pouted, Ezra knew he should be resisting it. He had to remind himself she just got over her ex. And she was tired. Which reminded him of how she had been on stage.

What had happened?

Shaking his head briefly, he waggled his eyebrows at Alex and jumped on to the bed and started tickling her everywhere. "Say uncle!"

[Alexandra Lawson]

Alex, as always, registered the danger a fraction of a second too late to properly react. She caught the look on Ezra's face just in time fer her own eyes to go wide and for a panicked "NO!" to be blurted out before she was overwhelmed by the well practiced motions of Ezra's fingers. That was the biggest problem about being as close to someone as she was with Ezra. He knew every ticklish spot and how to best exploit them.

Alex exploded in laughter and began flailing her arms and legs in a desperate attempt to fend off her much larger attacker. It was all in vain, though as what little strength her body had was drained by the sharp, sting on her sides. "Ezra! Stop!" She gasped between the bursts of laughter as she tried to squirm away.

[Ezra Cooper]

As Alex squirmed underneath him, Ezra couldn't help realising that this girl was now single. The girl he had been pining for for close to four years was available for him to confess whatever feelings he had for her.

But then the logical part of him, the one he had accidentally developed when he started his EMS training, kicked in and rammed it into his head over and over again that she just...just broke up with her first boyfriend here. At least he thought Art was her first boyfriend here.

It didn't matter either way. Ezra shouldn't be thinking about that right then.

"I didn't hear uncle. Say it, say it!" Ezra sang the last part, elongating his syllables as he laughed. Maybe looking was good enough. Yeah. Just looking.

[Alexandra Lawson]

Alex didn't get it. Why did so many people get so much amusement out of tickling her? If she hadn't been locked in the throes of the maddening, uncontrollable laughter she probably would have taken a moment to quietly contemplate the reasons why. Instead, she simply twisted and turned her body, trying in vain to escape Ezra's strong grip,issuing raspy giggles the entire time.

"Uncle! Brother! Nephew! Fourth cousin twice removed by marriage!" She shouted out whatever relations that popped into her mind. Anything in a desperate plea to get the mad tickling to stop.

[Ezra Cooper]

When she finally relented, Ezra stopped and laughed, dropping on to the bed on his back, sliding an arm under his neck. "Al, you're too ticklish. It's too easy to attack you!" Ezra pointed out before pulling her close to him.

"I won't torture you any more. You need your sleep. I'll probably make us something heavy for the morning tomorrow. How's that sound?"

[Alexandra Lawson]

Finally free of the horrible, ticklish touch, Alex gasped for air. She kept her arms wrapped tightly around her sides until the last remnants of the tingling left her body. She gasped out a few assertions of how bad Ezra sucked right then between heavy breaths and lingering chuckles.

When she felt the tug, Alex unfurled herself and turned onto her side. She didn't resist one bit, letting herself be pulled into him, one arm dropping across his stomach as she buried her face into his side. Immediately the tension of the day as well as the rush from the sudden bout of tickling melted away as it always did when she was so close to Ezra. Her eyes closed as she breathed in the familiar scent of his skin before issuing a soft, contented sigh. "You don't have to." She murmured softly. "You've done enough already." Alex pulled her head away just enough so she could yawn before nuzzling back into him. "Let me make breakfast tomorrow." She insisted. Her intent was strong in spite of the weakness of her voice. "At least let me do that for you."

[Ezra Cooper]

He buried his face in Alex's hair, breathing her in and immediately feeling calm. "Didn't you just sweat it out on stage? How do you still smell nice? Girls always smell nice. It's unfair." He teased.

When she refused to let him make breakfast, Ezra didn't fight it. He smiled and nodded, her words effecting him a little bit. He imagined that she was saying it to him in more than a friendly way. Sounded good.

"Okay. I do like how you fry bacon." He mumbled. He had gotten a little tired and sleepy really quickly. Ezra was glad and a little lucky that they were in the same dorm room because at least he didn't have to travel so far away just to get to his room. Should he want to.

Alex's room was pretty much his and vice versa.

"'Chu thinkin' bout cookin'?" He asked, his eyes already closed.

[Alexandra Lawson]

"Lots' of perfume." Alex murmured, a smile touching her lips. She pulled away again, this time so she could remove the bright pink scrunchie that had kept her long red hair in a loose tail. She didn't bother to find a home for the band, rather she simply tossed it somewhere into her room before she brought her legs up, curling into a ball against Ezra, one arm returning to wrap protectively around him.

He was like a big, warm teddy bear. Comforting and soft. There was little Alex wouldn't do for Ezra, much as he'd already shown a willingness to do for her. "Whatever you want, babe." She said with a soft giggle. It wasn't like Alex was picky when it came to food anyway. Especially breakfast food. "After tonight you deserve it."

[Ezra Cooper]

He chuckled at her response to his rhetorical question. "Yeah. I definitely smell product." Ezra made a big show of sniffing all over her face. He adjusted himself so he could accommodate Alex pulling her legs up but he didn't go too far.

"Mmm, bacon." He said, subtly referencing one of his favourite TV sitcoms. "Waffles. Do we have a waffle maker? I want waffles. Do we have blueberry? Blueberry waffles. Mmm." He was slowly drifting off to sleep.

[Alexandra Lawson]

The tiny ball Alex pulled herself into fit against Ezra's body perfectly. She felt the warmth of her friend and let it sooth her aching muscles and tense mind. She always gleaned so much comfort from his presence, it was a wonder Ezra was ever able to go anywhere without Alex following along like a lost kitten. She gave a yawn and snuggled into Ezra more, the arm that was draped around him tightened briefly in a short hug before going slack.

"I'll make you waffles." She assured him with a murmur as she nuzzled her face into his side. "And whatever else you want." Slowly she felt the gentle hold of sleep creeping up on her. Within moments, spurred on by Ezra's closeness and the fatigue of the day, Alex drifted off with a thin smile touching her lips.