Mackenzie
"Since this shitty town has no Paintball arenas, I had to improvise." I told Thalia excitedly on Thursday evening.
At exactly 2pm, I showed up at the gym and, after some pleading and her going home to change, brought her to Paul's house. His grandpa wasn't around since he stayed over at his daughter's for a few days.They had a huge space near the forest and backyard where we'd set up our own Paintball arena.
Using old tires, barrels and pallet boards I got from a junkyard, we placed them as blockages. I bought kids size paintball guns for us to use, having invited Blue and Vivian over as well. The aim was to have fun and I hoped this did the trick.
The woman opened the passenger door of Paul's car and stared at the setup before her. I anxiously awaited her reaction, but Thalia only lowered her eyes as her face showed something between disbelief and sadness.
I didn't let it bother me, it was her day after all. "Come on. I kinda asked some friends to join us so it would be more fun. It's an uneven number so we'll make it work."
I grabbed her hand without much thought and walked us over to the other three. Paul and Vivian were bickering over who got to be on whose team while Blue appeared uninterested in what they argued about. I quickly made introductions between Thalia and the couple. Vivian invaded the birthday girl's personal space with a tight hug, one Thalia seemed too shocked to do anything about.
"You three against us two." I suggested while pointing at Thalia and I.
A gentle touch on my arm stole my attention and I was taken back by the shyness the brunette showed. "I don't know how to play so you might want to reconsider." She whispered.
I almost awed at the cute expression, but deemed it an awkward thing to do. "It's okay. We'll be fine, trust me."
After wearing our masks, we got into position. Blue, Vivian and Thalia were simply out for fun while Paul and I took it a little bit more far with the competition.
Thalia was right about her not knowing how to play. She mostly hid behind me while I eliminated Blue at first. He was trying to switch his hiding spot from a stack of old tires and I'd shot him while he ran.
I'd spotted the older woman crouching behind a pallet. "You sure you don't want to try?" I looked over my shoulder to the birthday girl. We were using two stacks of tires as shields.
"Uh uh." She vehemently shook her head.
"You said you wanted to play Paintball." I narrowed my eyes on her.
"Because I thought it was fun. This isn't fun, I feel like I'm being hunted. The fuck is Paul doing?" She gestured to my friend who was pretending to be a sniper from behind a barrel. I was his main target.
I sighed. "Come on, just aim. She isn't even moving. Here." I moved behind her to assist in aiming.
My body pressed against hers and my hands reached forward to help steady the paintball gun. For some reason she was shaking and I bit my lip to not laugh. With an easy shot, Vivian was out.
"Oh, that was easy." The brunette mumbled.
"Told ya."
Paul was more tricky, since the young man was sneaky and sly. Somehow while trying to crawl towards a line of three barrels, I was shot by the gloating man. Thalia had gotten there before I did, panic overtaking her features.
"You got this." I gave her a thumbs up, my other hand rubbing the slight sting on my stomach.
"No, I don't." She whined.
"Just point and shoot. Shoot him twice. No, three times." I whispered, salty that I got eliminated.
Paul snickered in victory as I walked to where the other two fallen ones stood, Blue's arms wrapped around his fiance from behind.
"Okay, wait!" I heard Thalia squeal and I turned to them.
Paul had his gun pointed to her as she cowered. "Sorry, but I have too."
"You really don't." She begged.
Paul grinned wickedly. "You made grandpa very mad when you didn't show up. It's payback."
"Fine, just hurry up." She was still partially hidden while he was put in the open, confident he would win.
I pouted, unhappy that she wouldn't win. But Thalia sneakily lifted her gun and aimed, shooting him three times in the leg.
"Yes!" I yelled, hands up in the air.
Later on, I was with Thalia packing up the guns and masks. She was messing around with her own paintball gun, smiling subtly at her victory. The sight warmed me, seeing the proud look she had.
"Had fun?" I asked.
She shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips. "I sure did like shooting Paul."
I chuckled. "It was fun watching him scream." I put the bag in Paul's backseat and turned to her. "Ready for seconds?"
She did that thing she does with her lips, heading shaking. "Definitely not."
"We got food!" Paul yelled from the house.
I called back with a positive response and eyed Thalia. "Food?" It was easy to tell she was still hesitant, having been begged to be here and I'd take her back if that was what she wanted.
But she shrugged and kept messing with the gun in her hands. "Sure. Can I keep this one?" She waved the paintball gun.
"You can." I gave a nod and a smile.
We all sat around a small fire Blue lit since the sun was setting, logs acting as put seats. Each having a plate in hand, light, happy conversation was made. My eyes kept drifting to the quiet woman beside me who had her chin propped up by her palm, knee holding her elbow.
Thalia wasn't adding to the conversation, but seemed rather lost in thought. I poked her arm, watching as her eyes floated over to me. I smiled, she rolled her eyes. I poked her arm again, she scowled.
"Stop that." She hissed.
I naturally did it a third time. "Smile." A fourth time. "You know you want to. I can see it." I sang out with a fifth poke.
"One more time and you get punched." She threatened. I believed her, so I stopped but kept staring. "What?"
I pointed to my own mouth, lips curving upwards. "See?"
That restrained smile broke free and she even rewarded me with a quiet chuckle. "You're very annoying."
"Thanks, I love compliments." I put my plate down and laid my elbows on my knees, palms to my cheeks. "Tell me more."
The woman literally shoved my face away. "Shut up."
"I don't think I will."
She scoffed and looked away, but the smile remained for a few more seconds.
I stood messing around with a soccer ball while Paul brought out a guitar. I could hear the soft singing from the engaged couple, their voices carrying with the wind. I liked their dynamic, Blue, soft spoken and Vivian loud.
"You play?" Thalia stood in front of me with her hands in her back pockets.
I stopped juggling the ball and kicked it to her, watching as she stopped it. "Kinda. My brother used to. Wanna play?"
"No, I can't." She refused.
"Come on, we'll just kick it back and forth." I urged softly.
The birthday girl groaned. "You're very pushy."
"Sorry." I apologized, but didn't really mean it. She knew it too, by the smile on my face.
I looked on as Thalia took a step back and with all her strength, sent the ball flying towards me. A pained scream left me, hands holding my crotch as I bent my upper body.
Thalia gasped. "Fuck, sorry. Are you okay?"
"Uh huh." I held myself while slowly getting on my knees.
The woman was trying not to laugh. "You sure?"
I nodded, but said in a whimpering tone. "No, fuck. Why does it hurt so much?"
I felt a touch on my back as I knelt on the ground. "I didn't mean to. Can you get up?"
"Gimme a minute." I let my body fall flat on the dirty ground, not caring about it then. My hands still cupped myself, eyes remained closed. "I need more than a minute."
"Jace, you okay?" Paul called out.
"No, junior's down. And out." I called back, not sure if he heard me.
Seconds later he was hovering over me. "Did you kick her in the dick?" He directed at Thalia.
Thalia couldn't keep the laughter in and it bubbled out of her. Soft, soothing but loud laughter. "No, the ball did." She said between giggles.
Still in pain, I turned my head to her. Both of them were kneeling beside me. "Really? This is how I get you to laugh like that? Get hurt? That's brutal, woman. Really brutal."
She tried to compose herself but failed at that small task. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. Not that I did it on purpose." Another abrupt laugh. "Sorry, I'm done." She pressed her lips together.
"Brutal." I whispered, eyes closing.
~●~
"Where are you taking me now?" Thalia asked as I led us to the bakery near the park.
"Just come on."
"Kidnapper."
"You're willingly following me." I pointed out.
"Only because I'm curious." She replied with an attitude.
Paul had just dropped us off and I just wanted to do one more thing before walking her home. She was grumbling something to herself while we walked and it was just another thing I liked about her.
I rushed to the bakery door and held it open, smug smile on. "Just allow me this tonight. It's your birthday after all."
With a roll of her eyes, Thalia walked past me, not without bumping my shoulder with hers.
"I do like 'em feisty." I softly sang in her ear from behind.
I'd ordered a small cake prior so I only had to tell the lady. Thalia wearily eyed while I paid and walked back to her.
"What's in the box?" She asked.
"Something. Just a little longer." I sent her a smile to calm her down, having an inkling she was up to her social limit. "You'll go home soon. Promise."
"Fine."
She allowed me to lead us up the small hill I've been spending a lot of my time on. We sat down, and while it wasn't high enough to have the best view, we got a pretty decent one of the park.
I opened the box and placed the candle on. "Every birthday girl deserves a cake, but something told me you wouldn't have wanted to do this with the other." I took out the lighter in my pocket.
Thalia said nothing, only stared at the cake between us. I didn't think much of it and moved to light the candle.
"No." She said hastily. "Don't."
I flickered my eyes to the cake then back at her. "Why not?"
"Just don't." She sighed. "Look, Kenzie, I appreciate all of this, everything you did today. It was great, truly. Thank you. But no more."
"No more?" I questioned. "It's just a cake."
"It's not just a fucking cake." She snapped.
I frowned and put the lighter down. I nodded, as if understanding but I didn't. Maybe I pushed too much. I definitely pushed too much.
"I'm sorry." I meant it this time.
Thalia said nothing and I decided to keep my mouth shut for once.
I walked her home in silence, the box in my hands. When we reached her building, I held the box out to her. The woman stared at it as if it was something foreign, but eventually, tentatively, she took it.
"Happy birthday, Thalia. I hope those dreams become a reality someday." I said softly with my usual smile then went on my way.
I looked over my shoulder just before turning the corner, wanting to ensure she got in safely. She hadn't moved, just stood there staring down at the box. I watched her wipe under her eyes, unable to see why, and headed inside.
-E