Ineffable ? Joost Klein ?

'School was hard. My brother and sister did their best with me but they were in their 20s by then. The sibling aspect went out the window and I could never work out if I should be calling them my brother and sister or not. They did so much more that I'll never be able to pay them back for.'

'I'm sure growing up and being who you are now is enough of a reward?'

'I haven't spoken to them in years, El.'

Elke's soft 'oh' made Joost stifle a humourless laugh. Sat with his back against the armrest, Joost's hands sat on Elke's extended legs. She was in a similiar position with her ankles crossed and her calves in Joost's lap. They faced each other while the TV played boring daytime shows on the lowest volume.

'I had this super long hair from Year 6 to Year 9. It was like a helmet and it didn't help that I'm as blonde as they come. I got fed up with the teasing and cut it all off when I turned fifteen,' Joost decided to change the subject. 'I'm thinking of changing it again. It's hard to tame this.'

To prove his point, Joost pulled at the platinum strands that hung over his forehead. His eyes drew to the long pieces and Elke retracted her legs from his lap. Joost watched in curiosity as Elke got on her knees and leaned over his lower half

The one hand that kept herself over the top of Joost made the cushion dip under him. Elke's other hand went to his hair, her fingers running through the long pieces usually flattened with a hat or left in a mess on his head.

Joost didn't know how to react, her stomach and chest lining up with his. Her back arched and her right knee leant in-between his legs to keep her upright. In just her baggy t-shirt and pajama pants, Joost was speechless at the sight of Elke over the top of him.

He stared up at her as she pushed the blonde back with a light smile on her face. She eyed each fair strand as they slinked through her fingers. They felt just as soft as they looked and Elke hummed to herself.

'I like it. You have so much hair. I think you should grow it out more,' she pondered aloud and finally let her eyes tear away to meet Joost's. Her hand paused in his hair when she saw he was already peering up at her. Through his lashes of the same colour, Joost's dilated pupils and unwavering gaze made Elke realise how close they were.

She didn't dare move. With her knee still in between his thighs, Elke was near straddling Joost's leg. Her breathing ceased when she felt his hand lift to her hip before sliding up to where her t-shirt had hitched up. The bare skin of her side was met with tattooed fingers, the '1' and '9' digits disappearing under her shirt.

Elke felt Joost's hand firmly pull at her side and she found herself lowering onto his leg. The ache in her stabilising arm faded but the roar in her stomach started. While sharing her weight between Joost's leg and her knees, Elke could look at nothing but the blue eyes that were rising to hers.

Joost sat up from the armrest and teamed his other hand with Elke's bare side. With his fingers underneath her shirt, feeling her soft, spotless skin, Joost couldn't resist. Elke was so pretty on top of him, her eyes still puffy from all her crying, her lips soft and smiling down at him.

She had no idea who he was or what he was like. Elke was oblivious and happily so, it made Joost want to be the same. Her hands came to rest on his shoulders and before he knew it, Elke's lips were on his.

They took turns leading the kiss. Joost liked when Elke interrupted his rhythm with her tongue. She slipped it through his lips, making him squeeze her sides. Elke's hands slid over his shoulders and hooked around the back of his neck.

It took everything in Joost to not sigh blissfully into the kiss. It was comforting and Elke felt perfect in his hands and almost entirely on his lap. Her lips brushed in-between his, taking small breaths to give her nostrils a break. When Elke waited too long, Joost sealed them in another kiss with eyes fluttering open to see her face.