How I feel when I'm around you - Ch.13

-Nikki-
«Good morning!» I greet the guys, joining them in the kitchen.
«Good morning to you!» Shavo and the others answer.
«Are you guys okay? Did you have some issues because of too much food?»
«I think John farted all night long» Serj says «I heard some strange noises.»
John turns and glares at him. «That's not true!»
«Who knows...»
«Good morning world!»
The shouted salute of the guitarist makes us jump scared; Shavo glares at Daron, who ignores him and approaches happily.
«Next time you try to wake us up so early on Christmas day I'll beat the shit out of you, got it gnome?» the singer says, with a death stare.
«C'mon, old man!» he answers nonchalantly, trying to pat him on the back, but he dodges and tries to pinch him.
«Hey!!! How do you dare?!»
«I dare, what's the problem?» Serj catches Daron and rubs energically a fist on his head, earning some more complaints from him.
«Okay, time out!» he reels, trying to break free from his hold. «Are we going to open the presents now?»
«Yep, evil gnome.»
We shift from the kitchen to the living room; Shavo does a quick "raid" under the tree and comes back with his load, discharging everything on the sofa and on the little table.
«Well, I've been a good boy this year!» Serj says, waving his packages in the air.
«Pfff, believe it» Daron returns, grimacing.
«I see there's something for our tour tech!» John adds, picking up from the table two presents, one is a quite big package and the other is a little paper bag, and lends them to me; I take and put them in my lap and stare at them in astonishment.
«You made me presents?» I look at each one of them with wide and wet eyes.
«Sure! Why we shouldn't?» says Shavo.
«But... being with you was already a big present for me, I didn't deserve more gifts!»
«Sssh, too late, now open them» Serj hushes me with a gesture that means "c'mon, chill out". «Just one thing, the bigger present is from us, I don't know who made you the other present, so be careful, it could be dangerous!»
«How funny!» Daron comments, rolling his eyes.
«C'mon, Nikki, start!» John encourages me smiling.
«Oookay, I'll start» I accept with a smile, then I open the first gift and after tearing apart the paper I don't stop to look at what is on the box and I open it quickly: big headphones come in my hands and, after observing them carefully, I widen my eyes in surprise... these headphones are the same ones Daron bought some time ago, only the details are different.
These black headphones with golden details are charming, and these others with the silver details would look very good on you. Daron told me these words when I was helping him choosing his new headset... I'm sure he has something to do with this. Anyway I'm very very happy 'cause my actual earphones are of low quality and are falling apart because I use them very often, so it's very useful to have new earphones of high quality.
«But... they're wonderful! Oh my God, how will I ever pay my debt?!» I look at them, happy, my eyes are wet again. «Thank you very much!» after putting them down I get to hug and kiss on the cheek each one of the guys; I feel so awkward when it comes to the guitarist, I hope he doesn't notice.
«Now there's the alleged letter bomb!» John says, pretending to be suspicious.
«Oh, c'mon, how exaggerated» I laugh. The little paper bag is grey and very smooth and there's my name written on it with a quite strange handwriting; I open it, turning it downward, and two CDs slide from it in my hand... the albums that Serj and company produced until now, even the newest one that came out some months ago.
«Oh!» I say, observing them. «Wow, finally I have the chance to listen to what you have created in these years!» I smile and in the meanwhile my mind is at work. Who made me this gift?
«Gimme, I'll make you listen right now» the bassist comes in front of me; he asks me to give him the one with the darker cover and once he's got it he puts it in the stereo and adjusts the volume.
A real ear bombing comes from the speakers: sung and screamed parts, continuous stop'n'go, a tribal feeling and Eastern vibes in some modulations of voices and music. It's their first album, they were probably novices, but it's really good.
Shavo stands by the stereo and sometimes changes the song, making me listen to the ones he says are the most important, then he gives back the CD.
«Wow!» I say, suddenly noticing that I've held my breath and then exhaling sharply.
«You're saying so only because we're your friends» Daron mutters with a little pout.
«Absolutely no! I'm not a pimp» I answer, crossing my arms and pretending to be upset, then I laugh. «Seriously, it's amazing! I'll listen to the second album as soon as is possible and I'll do it on my own and afterwards I'll tell you my impressions, but I'm sure it's amazing too.»
The four guys look at me and manage to put out their biggest smiles and I burst out laughing especially because of Daron's smile that is a bit uneven and is even more funny.
«I adore you, for real.»

«Is there any visit planned for today or for the next days?» I ask, busy washing some stuff while the others are cooking.
«Oh yes, my parents are probably coming in the next days» Serj answers, busy as well and quite floury «and this afternoon the evil gnome's parents are coming over.»
«What the fuuuck?!»
The high scream of the guitarist reaches my ears and I become half deaf for a moment.
«Did you forget about it?»
«I guess so...»
«C'mon...» I pat Daron on a shoulder, trying to play down. «Are your parents so terrible?»
«Oh no, really no, it's just that I wanted to know it earlier so I could prepare myself...»
«Don't listen to him, Nikki, he's joking, his parents are very nice people and for them it won't be a problem to meet and know you after raising a little beast like him» Shavo sets in nonchalantly. I see a dish cloth flying towards the bassist and falling on the furniture behind him since he's dodged it.
«Malakian, what a crappy aim you've got...»
«Fuck you Odadjian!»
Everything is as usual, the guys have just started again to argue like kids but it's funny to watch them, they kinda look as real brothers.

As the last evening, once everything is ready we go back in our rooms to get changed.
While browsing through the things in my bag, sitting on the bed, I decide to "recycle" the skirt I used yesterday wearing it with a burgundy jumper, quite thin tights and black creepers; after dressing up I look in the mirror I smooth my hair with a hand before brushing it and weave it in a braid, then I apply a bit of make-up. I'm ready for this second day of holiday and also for meeting Daron's parent this afternoon.
What "scares" me a bit is not the possibility that they might think I'm their son's new girlfriend, is the possibility that they might talk about exes or wedding projects... but I don't know them yet, maybe they won't act like this, what is sure is that I'm overthinking as usual and it's better if I go, the guys are surely waiting for me.
Once I'm downstairs I see Serj, John and Shavo in front of me, dressed in the same style of yesterday; they gently compliment me as they already did before and I blush lightly. I catch a glimpse of the guitarist who's busy doing something and I observe him and his outfit; instead of wearing a jumper today he's got a shirt with a starry colourful pattern on black background and he's probably wearing a plain black t-shirt under it, his hair is quite rebel and I think it looks good on him... I shake my head and go toward the kitchen, searching for something to do as a distraction from a certain kind of thoughts.