My Life Is Worse Than Yours...

Chapter Nine

The large living room bustled with people as Harry stepped over outstretched legs and made his way towards the large sheets of paper Marienette had propped up against her easel in the corner of the room. He turned to look out across the room, his eyes scanning the faces he saw. Lily and Marienette were stretched out on the smaller sofa, their legs interlocked as they watched Harry eagerly, Niall and his date Imogen were propped up on the floor, their backs leant against Lily's sofa. Harry's own date James was perched on the arm of the sofa, one of his feet on the coffee table in front of him to stop himself from falling over. That was Harry's team tonight, the other team was composed of Liam and his fiancé Maya who were taking up half of the other sofa, while Louis sat on the arm closest to the easel, his fingers interlocked with a girl, Emily, sat on the sofa next to Maya. Pictionary was a go-to game for all of them, but there was always an advantage for whoever was on Lily's team as she drew for a living; he had that advantage today. He picked up a small purple card and began his drawing as Liam flipped over the plastic minute timer. 

"Um, okay. Circle."

"Sun."

"Flower."

"A knife? Dagger? Oh, it's a tree." 

"Water, waves..."

"The moon!"

"Niall, how is that the moon? It's a beach." 

"Stop wasting time! Guess."

"Two birds..."

"Guys, the theme is PLACES. Nothing you have said so far is a place..."

"Hey, I said it could be the moon."

"Niall, it's not the moon."

"It might be!"

"IT'S NOT THE MOON." 

"In what world does the moon have palm trees?"

"Eggs!"

"Niall! Come on! A place!"

"Okay, so palm trees with coconuts." 

"Beach, sun, sea." 

"Harry, this could be anywhere! Make it more specific"

"What is that a house? On the beach... Um.." 

"Spain, Portugal, Italy, France."

"Stop naming random places, Niall."

"It's a strategy!" 

"Umbrella, deck chairs."

"Caribbean?" 

Harry waved his arms frantically towards the voice that had called the last suggestion. They were so close. 

"Cuba?" 

"Haiti?" 

"The Bahamas!" 

"Time's up!" Liam yelled from the sofa. Harry dropped to his knees to echoes of "Nooo!" from his teammates around the room, followed by roars of laughter from Liam's team. Harry looked up, tears in his eyes from laughing so hard and glanced around the room. Imogen had he head buried in Niall's arm, trying not to burst out laughing; Lily and Marienette were making no such restraints as the reached forwards and slapped Niall on the shoulders, laughing loudly into his ears. Maya wiped tears from her eyes and handed a second tissue to Emily. Louis had let go of her hand and was holding his sides in laughter and dropped to the floor. Harry stood up and scowled sarcastically at Niall before smiling widely as Louis stood to take the pen from him. 

"Jamaica, right?" Louis whispered as Harry passed him. Harry nodded and Louis winked as they swapped places. 

Lily stood up from the sofa, collected the empty pitcher from the coffee table and made her way into the kitchen. Louis placed the pen down on the easel and followed her out, which gave everyone a little bit of time to calm down from the hysterics of that last round as James excused himself and made his way to the bathroom.