We were all at Nate's house, just hanging the out. There were six of us. It was Summer vacation and we had nothing to do that day. We had the television on and no one was really paying attention to it. Some news report just broke about an escaped maniac on the loose. Nate was there, Nate's girlfriend, Rose, was there, Rachel was there, Travis was there, then there was Ricky and finally me.
The sky was very grey to begin with, and it had been annoyingly humid all morning, leading into the afternoon. Not long after that annoying buzz on the television scrolled past with the severe weather warning to our county and those surrounding it, the winds started to pick up and the afternoon sky darkened. Then the thunder began, slowly, with a low grumble.
We were having some long, pointless discussion about some teacher that may, or may not have been having an affair with a student (the general consensus was that he wasn't, and was terminated based on some vague encounter at a taco place). Ricky started the entire conversation, because he knew the girl in question, who insisted that nothing had happened. Rose was very quiet and didn't have much to add. She usually loved hearing the crazy gossip from our school, but today, it seemed as though she was just trying to block the entire conversation out.
She was curled up in an arm chair, book in hand, and sitting opposite from Nate(who I noticed was too attentive and giddy towards Rachel). In that moment I blanked out from the conversation that was being had, and a weird thought crept in: Nate loved Rose. But could he be swayed away from her so easily, by Rachel? And just as the thought crept into my head, I wicked it away. I was thinking too hard on it. Yes, Rose could be very touchy at times, especially with Nate. Nate is a little immature and maybe even a little gullible at times. And Rachel was a terrible flirt. And Rose has been very nagging towards Nate, while being very curt with Rachel lately. But we're all friends. Rachel likes Rose. And Nate loves Rose. All this talk of scandal just put my imagination into overdrive.
Just as my mind was being put to ease, a loud clash of thunder shocked us all and made everyone jump.
Travis and Nate both exclaimed obscenities at once. Rose made some quip about guys being the biggest bitches about thunder. We all had a bit of a laugh and my mind was put at ease. Another loud clash of thunder erupted, taking the power out with it. The only light in the house now was whatever bit of cloudy daylight was able to seep through the windows. That was when I suggested Hide-and-Seek.
"It would be fun." I said. "Remember when we played it as kids?"
"Yes! We never found Rose. She was like a master at hiding." Ricky said. "I swear you would stealthily move and change spots."
"Maybe you'll find me this time. It has been awhile. I might have outgrown some of the tighter corners and hideaways. We'll see." Rose said. "But I'm sure you'll find me."
"So who wants to be "
'It?'" Travis asked.
"No one." Nate said, to which Rachel began to laugh, as if it were really that funny.
"I'll be 'it.'" I volunteered.
"Sweet. That settles it." Ricky said, getting up.
"What am I counting to?"
"Depends. Is the entire house free range? Or is there a limit as to where we can hide?"
"Free range." I said. "It's way more fun. And it adds a bit of challenge."
"Except my parents' bedroom." Nate added. "My parents bedroom is off limits."
"Why?" Rose asked.
"I know how creative we get with this. I don't want my parents coming home to find they're room picked apart for some hiding spot. And you dont want to know them that well anyway."
