FicWad

Love Hangover:

Simone's Notes:

An intimate relationship is a particularly close interpersonal relationship, and the term is sometimes used euphemistically for a sexual relationship. The characteristics of an intimate relationship include an enduring behavioral interdependence, repeated interactions, emotional attachment and need fulfillment. Intimate relationships include friendships, dating relationships, spiritual relationships, and marital relationships and there are individual differences in both the quality and quantity of these relationships. Several stages in intimate relationships have been identified: the beginning or development stages, relational maintenance and repair, relational stressors, and relational termination. Intimate relationships play a central role in the overall human experience. Humans have a universal need to belong and to love which is satisfied within an intimate relationship. Intimate relationships consist of the people that we are attracted to, whom we like and love, romantic and sexual relationships, and those whom we marry and provide and receive emotional and personal support from. Intimate relationships provide people with a social network of people that provide strong emotional attachments and fulfill our universal need of belonging and the need to be cared for. The systematic study of intimate relationships is a relatively new area of research within the field of social psychology that has emerged within the last few decades. Although the systematic study of intimate relationships is fairly recent, social thought and analysis of intimate relationships dates back to early Greek philosophers. Early scholarly studies were also interested in intimate relationships but were limited to dyads or small groups of people in the public and narrowly examined behaviors such as competing and cooperation, negotiation and bargaining, and compliance and resistance. Physical intimacy is characterized by romantic or passionate love and attachment, or sexual activity.

Two couples slowly descended down into a pool of intoxicating love. One pair willingly while the other was still a little a hesitant. The strawberry waves lapping at their heels and skin. Careful not to drink too much or you'll get too sick and drunk. Then, you will drown in the pool. But, that's not going to be a danger tonight.

Alex lied bed on his, lost in his thoughts. He tried to figure out this new, weird feeling of happiness that he had come into lately. The lamb understood where the source came from. His name was Toby Marx. Alex couldn't help but to smile every time he heard his name. That angel's face took over his brain. Toby...

That boy. They had only known each other for a couple of days, but they seemed almost close like brothers. Alex had gotten to know the basics about his new friend pretty quickly. Toby was sixteen just like he was and loved to play soccer. Quite a bright student, top of his class to boot. His laughter made Alex think of oranges in the summer time. Oh the heavens lit up like a Christmas every time the lamb heard that boy speak.

Alex lied there with bright cotton candy cheeks. He began to realize... no! He already knew what was taking place. He had developed another crush on a boy. Alex was already used to these types of things; he identified himself as bisexual when he was only eleven years old. His mother and Allen never questioned his sexuality because they loved him as he was and he was still their little boy. A healthy relationship with someone safe seemed ideal to the lamb.

But with a relationship goal came the challenges. First came the question of the sexuality of the receiving end of the crush. Ever since after that first day they met, Alex was worried about expressing his feelings to the other boy. /What if he's straight and I end up scaring him off?/, Alex asked himself every single day. How could he tackle the issue without coming off as rude? This question always rotated itself in the boy's mind. Then, there was the bigger problem that had haunted him since last year.

Ever since Rebecca's death, Alex had been too scared to fall in love again. He trembled and shut his eyes on the bed. /No!/, he violently screamed in his mind. I can't let Toby die like they killed Becky! I don't want to lose him too! Don't let them take my Toby! Please, I'm begging you! With all of this, Alex resolved to try and stay just friends with his crush. However, love has a funny way of taking control of everything.

Elsewhere, Steven and Yasmine sat on their bed in the high March afternoon. The excited lt. stole a glance over at his wife.

"Three more months!" he breathed.

"I know," she said. There was a slight pause. Yasmine glanced over at him.

"Want to feel it?"

"Can I?"

His wife gave him a little shrug. "Well, sure. It's your baby too."

Steven quickly nodded. "Sure! Of course." He slowly inched his hand forward. In a few seconds, he touched his wife's belly. A strange sense of nostalgia filled his chest.

"I felt it kick."

Yasmine gave him a puzzled look. "It?"

Steven shrugged at her. "Well, we don't exactly know what the gender is just yet." Another pause came. Yasmine looked over at him.

"Would you like to find out?"

His hand inched towards hers. "It's up to you. I'll support your decision."

Yasmine looked deep into his eyes. "That is so sweet of you."

"Well you are my wife after all."

"Awww! Come here." She gave him a little kiss on the lips. Steven happily kissed her back.

Today just looked like splashing around in the strawberry waters of love. That's okay too. Maybe later on, the four lovers can engage in some deep swimming in the glistening pink. After all, March is still young for all of the purer side of love in Ametris. But, let it be warned again now. Careful not to drink too much or you'll get too sick and drunk. Then, you will drown in the pool. That is not a healthy thing to behold.

Next Night

Next Time: Edward and Tina play a dangerous game with Susan's fate.