I'll Meet You There

12

Midnight Hide and Seek

We were seated around the television and the boys were playing video games. To be honest, I wasn't paying much attention, as I really didn't care. Sam walked up to us with a camera and told us he wanted to play hide and seek. He said he was sure everyone knew how to play.

Colby and Brennen started humping the blankets, and I rolled my eyes at their behavior. Sam thought they were humping Circa, which was a rather disturbing comment. Elton laid on the beanbag and held Colby, and he started shaking. Sam said it wasn't that kind of video. And I'd never participate in a video like that. It's enough that I'm even participating in these videos.

Colby gave Sam a hard time about never living in a big house before, making me curious as to how big Sam's house was.

Sam told us he would turn off all the lights and that we'd each have a camera. The winner would be able to pick someone to go in the pool, and first found would have to go in the pool. We all mutually decided that Sam would go into the pool alongside the first found after Elton suggested it.

Brennen said we should raise the stakes and do stab hide and seek, which Sam said he'd do for 50,000 likes. Jokingly, of course.

We would have three minutes to hide. Elton locked the door when Sam went outside, then unlocked it.

Elton and Colby went outside. Brennen went into the kitchen. Aaron went to the bar. I'm not sure where Corey went. I immediately chose to go up to the roof, as that was the first area O thought of. The ladder was already under the roof, which was made things easy. I quietly opened the door and climbed in before closing it. Sam wouldn't think to look here until much later.

I heard Sam yell from the backyard, "Yes! First success!"

Colby's voice confirmed that he was the first one. I heard Sam cry a few moments later, "Aw, yeah!"

Good luck finding me, Sam.

Colby's POV:

Sam found me first, and I had no idea how. I had a really good spot. Elton was in Circa's spot. Sam found Brennen on top of the cabinets, and Elton helped him down.

Elton told Sam and Brennen that he'd already found Aaron, and had locked him in a cupboard. Poppy was nowhere to be found, and since she's small, she could be anywhere.

We talked about going to Buffalo Wild Wings, and while talking with Aaron, Elton made a joke about us being in Stranger Things.

Sam gave Aaron some props for the best hiding spot. I then said, "You realize we haven't found Poppy yet, right?"

"Where is she?"

Corey thought for a moment. "I think I heard someone go upstairs. Maybe it was a ghost, or her."

We ran upstairs and Sam began looking around. "Where would she be?"

I shrugged as Elton said, "I would think somewhere in Colby's room."

We went into my room and checked all around, but didn't see her. Sam frowned. "Where else would she be? Our bathroom smells, so she wouldn't be there. Any ideas?"

"Her room?"

We checked her room and looked around, but again, didn't see her.

"Would she be in anyone else's room?" Brennan asked.

"No, she wouldn't be."

"Corey, are you sure she went upstairs?"

He nodded. "Unless it was a ghost, I'm sure."

Sam turned to Elton. "Can you think of anywhere she'd be?"

Elton frowned. "Well, if she's not anywhere downstairs, and she's not in Colby's room, her room or your bathroom, I can think of one place."

Sam was silent before saying, "The roof?"

"Exactly."

He climbed up to the roof and we all followed. We looked around for her and still didn't see her.

Sam walked back around and looked inside the pipe. "Seriously? You've been here the whole time?"

She nodded and slid out with a frown. "Ugh, I'm all dirty."

"That was a really good spot, Poppy. You won."

Poppy shrugged. "I'm not surprised."

We walked out to the backyard and Sam and I pulled off our shirts and I sent a subtle wink Poppy's way. She rolled her eyes, but I swear I saw her cheeks flush.

I started teasing Corey's man bun, and Sam volunteered to get thrown in first. The motion light sensor went off, so I turned it on, and got tossed into the water and hit it hard. "Ow!"

We got out and Poppy handed me a towel while Sam did his outro.

We made our way to Buffalo Wild Wings and Sam said, "Next time, I'm going to check the roof."

Poppy nodded, raising a brow. "Okay. But I might not be hiding there next time."

"Who says there will be a next time?"

"I know there'll be."