Culling

Part II • Chapter III

It was way too early in our relationship... bond... thing with Sang to be making sex jokes!

"You can't say things like that!" I chastised Silas. I needed to get some semblance of control back to the table, and to stop this conversation from happening entirely.

Besides, there was another question plaguing my mind all morning that remained unanswered from our earlier meeting, and now was as good a time as any to discuss it.

While Sang had slept earlier that morning, we were able to discuss the new development regarding her abilities to the rest of the group. It would be an understatement to say that this brought up more questions than we had answers.

It was also frustrating because we wouldn't be able to answer any of those questions until after the games. We lacked the resources as tributes to do research outside of what the Capital provided to us, which, currently, was nothing.

I hated information blackouts.

At least we had been able to pool together our limited knowledge regarding astral travel, and the potential dangers. Using that information, I had put together a sleeping schedule, since, obviously, Sang would be sleeping with one of us every night.

Now we only had to tell her, but I was sure she wouldn't mind.

Our meeting ran late this morning. Before ending, Mr Blackbourne had said that we had something else to go over regarding X later today. I, for one, wanted to know what that was all about, even though apparently nobody else was interested.

I had hoped that we could get that out of the way now, but people were being difficult. No one would focus now, especially since Mr Blackbourne seemed to be encouraging this behavior.

Gabriel threw a sugar cube at me, which hit me in the center of the forehead and bounced back to the table. I glared at him. Really?

He smirked in response. "Chillax. Besides, what are you complaining about? You already made your move. Remember? You, who told Sang that you wanted to be on top. Tell me, I need to know, was the position that you are referencing found in one of the human anatomy books that you borrowed from Doc?"

I wanted to hide my face against the table. Of course he had to bring that up. This time Victor and North joined in the others' laughter, and Mr Blackbourne even cracked a small grin.

They were all traitors.

I felt myself blush and I was now slightly horrified at the route this conversation had taken. I had completely forgotten that Gabriel had been there to witness my slip of tongue that night.

I needed to explain. "I didn't mean... You are lucky I was able to play it cool so she didn't run away screaming! You need to stop your insinuations. She's so innocent. Besides, I didn't even say I wanted to be on top. I had said that I liked the top!"

They laughed even harder at me.

Gabriel actually fell off the chair, as he laughed so hard that he couldn't catch his breath. "Guys, I just fucking can't right now. He's making this too easy."

I couldn't see him anymore, but I heard him.

So very funny.

Why were they turning everything I said into a sexual innuendo?! What had I done to deserve this?

I glanced at Mr Blackbourne for help, but he still was pretending not to notice. Apparently this was his way of accepting the status quo. In fact, I had a feeling that he enjoyed this mortifying conversation.

This sucks. For years we had wished he would loosen up a little, but apparently when he did so it would be at my expense. Poor me.

Since I was on my own, I began counting in my head. I needed something to focus my energy on so I wouldn't flee the room in embarrassment. Maybe I needed to make this clearer. "I was talking about liking the top bunk!" I told them. "You know that! I did not want to have to make her climb over me! I was being a gentleman."