Wanting and Having

Fourteen: Open Book

~ Yoongi PoV~

Aish... Looking up from between my knees made the world spin a bit - or was it the wine from dinner? I had been doubled over laughing so hard there were stars in my vision.

Watching Charlotte topple into Jungkook's lap sent the whole room over the edge. She had stood up from her perch on the arm of the seat, her legs a bridge over Kookie who had been sitting cross-legged in the oversized chair. In a victory dance turned slow-motion fall, she had celebrated convincing us to play drinking games with her. Her arms flailed wildly as she stood up, her feet getting stuck in place she crumpled into our maknae's lap.

Kookie's eyes grew wide with surprise as our hostess-for-the-evening fell into his arms. His reflexes had pulled her down rather than allowing her to topple face-first over the edge onto the floor she had been careening toward.

She had hidden her face in a brief moment of embarrassment. Quickly the two of them devolved together into uncontrollable laughter, a contagious laugh that caught us all up. Charlotte had untangled herself from the chair and Jungkook and rolled onto the floor in a fit of giggles. Soon she was face down on the carpet with Jimin and Hoseok rolling around laughing alongside her.

My heart could explode from how cute they all were, but I was too focused on trying not to pull a muscle in my face from the smile I had from joining the laughter. It was one of those stupid simple moments that swept us away.

It felt familiar and normal, regardless of the unusual addition of the woman in our ranks. Between fits of laughter she lifted her head from the floor, everyone in stitches at her spectacle. "Please, oh God... please... stop laughing... it hurts!" Charlotte was breathless, holding her sides with tears in her eyes as she pleaded with us to help stop the fit of giggles we were all trapped in.

"Nuna!? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" Jungkook and Jimin both edged closer with concern, the room sobered to listen to what was causing her pain.

Her shoulders were shaking in silent laughter still, and she struggled to breathe out between more giggles. "I'm... fine... sides... hurt... from... laughing... ouch..." To which we all lost it again, the attempt to suppress ourselves only making it funnier.

Eventually, Hobi managed to crawl to the kitchen and retrieve a glass of water for her and we all settled down a bit.

I cleared my throat to speak when her hand shot up toward me. "Don't! I can't start again! I'm not strong enough to survive if you say something sassy and get us going again. Have mercy! PLEASE!" She was pleading with amusement in her eyes and the tears of laughter that had been there now streaming down her face.

My face must have looked surprised and taken aback because she continued with, "I'm sure whatever you were going to say was comedy gold, help save me from myself here!" Her apologetic plea is what saved her.

I considered how cruel it would be to take another jab and send us all over again, but instead, I got up and grabbed the whiskey from the cabinet. I smirked, locking eyes with Charlotte feigning a threat. Instead, when I sat back down I said, "So, it's it Truth or Dare or Never Have I Ever? Usually, drinks flow faster with the latter." I was using my most level voice, trying not to commit manslaughter by any wayward quip.

Everyone finally calmed down enough to sit up around the table and filled their glasses for the game.

With Jimin's help, Charlotte had righted herself against the chair Kook-ah had pulled himself back into still. She spoke definitively. "I vote Never Have I Ever. It's a conversation starter since I'm at a disadvantage not knowing all of you... plus... you can all expose one another's secrets for my amusement." She had a devilish grin.