and we hated

Fact no. 24: Laser tag birthdays are the best

APRIL

"I hope the rules are clear", I tell them. All my friends are standing in a circle, waiting to go in the arena. For today is my birthday. And I was able to choose what we should do: Laser tag/capture-the-flag.

I know. Brilliant.

Everybody is already dressed in black, waiting to be split into teams. There are two captains: me and Kai. The goal is to capture the flag of the other team. In a laser tag arena. I found it on the internet a few days ago and just had to choose it as my birthday venue. Since it will be epic.

Everybody nods and I have to smile.

"Then, let the games begin."

Kai and I are up next, ready to choose our teams. Well, he lets me choose my team first since I am the birthday girl. He doesn't know what a mistake he made. For I put a lot of thought into my team.

"Are you sure?", I ask him again. He only nods and starts the birthday-girl talk again.

"Alright", I let out and am ready to call out the names. "So I want Nini, Soph, Caden, Alec, Noah and Darrel."

Nini and Soph already cheer and come have me in a group hug. I am also glowing with happiness.

Just think about my team. First of all, you have Darrel. A private bodyguard who happens to be a trained asset. Then, you have Alec freaking Dunn. Most dangerous guy at our university, probably most dangerous in the whole world, who has been rumored to have killed someone. Twice. Then you have Noah, who made a great team with me at the paintball game we played this Summer. Nini and Caden seem all innocent, but they both love mischief and make a great team. And Soph...Soph acts like she is all pinky perfect princess, but the girl can be very dangerous if she wants. And I know for a fact that she's been doing private lessons with Alec lately, in which he teaches her self-defense. And shooting. So, in conclusion, I just got myself the perfect laser tag team.

Each team now goes to their flag and is allowed to come up with a strategy.

"So, someone should stay here and guard the flag", I begin. Darrel is the first one to answer.

"I'll do it."

"It's not a one-man job", Noah replies. Darrel glares at him.

"Mister Coin, I can assure you no one will come close to that flag." And the way Darrel said it, made Noah believe him and shut up.

"But someone will need to guard Her Royal Highness", Darrel adds. 

I am so close to telling him this is a game and nothing will happen, but Alec already says: "I'll protect her."

Soph is close to sighing but also smirks as the two guys share a look and the both of them nod. Darrel and Alec haven't started out good, but they meanwhile get along with each other. They're not friends, but they get along.

"So, Darrel will stay here and go all ninja style on anyone who comes near the flag and we go take the other flag, right?", Nini asks, more to sum everything up.

We all nod.

"Great. Sounds like a plan", Nini adds.

We all do a handshake together and wait for the whistle. As soon as it tones, Noah, Nini, Caden, Alec, Soph and I make ourselves on the move.

We're halfway there as we spot Leo, and Caden immediately takes out his weapon and starts shooting at him. Leo starts losing points but doesn't notice. Caden just continues, looking as interested as he is in my law books. None. And I know it for a fact since he once came to visit and I was studying, he threw a glance over the books, then turned bored around.