Something in the Way You Move [O'J]

Visiting the Family (Again)

Jessie's POV

It's odd. Ever since Callie's woken up, the atmosphere has completely changed. It's gotten happier, lighter, whatever you call it. Everyone's mood seemed to improve, everyone's making jokes like there's no tomorrow. It's brilliant, really.

The six of us have decided on takeaway for dinner, and we decide on Thai. Rina, Callie and I sit on the couch watching the boys---not men---have a manly-toughness contest. And by that, I mean they try to throw the other two down to the ground without getting dragged down. It's ridiculous and hysterical all at the same time. And why are they doing that? Because they're bored, that's why. Not like they couldn't have played a game of cards, or anything. While the three of them are wrestling for control on the ground, the door bell rings. I get up, take Danny's wallet and answer the door. Rina and Callie take the food while I pay the guy. He leaves and Danny asks, "Hey, where did I put my wallet?"

"Oh, do you mean this wallet?" I ask, showing him.

"Yeah, I do! Give it back!"

"You'll have to catch me first!" I run away from him, laughing. He immediately starts chasing me, and soon enough he catches me in his bedroom. I clutch the wallet tightly to me as he pins me down on the bed. "Caught ya!" he says, grinning. "Now give me my wallet!"

"Never!" I yell, daring him to try to take it from me.

He frowns and gives me puppy dog eyes. "Please...?" I shake my head and he grins evilly. "You asked for it, then!" He tickles me---he knows I hate being tickled! I start laughing and squirming immediately, trying to escape him. I quickly realize escape is impossible and scream, "Callie! Help!"

She comes bounding in, giving me a questioning look. She takes in the situation and flings herself onto Danny's back, dragging him off-balance. They topple to the floor and Mark comes in next as Callie and Danny struggle for dominance. He grins at me and I toss the wallet to him. "Keep away from Danny!" he yells, racing from the room. I grab Danny's shoulders and drag him back from the brawl. Callie squirms away from him and we bolt from the room. Mark tosses Callie the wallet as she zooms into her room.

Danny stumbles out of his room and looks around wildly, trying to determine who has the wallet. Callie pops out of her room and he demands, "Callie! Where's my wallet?"

"I don't know. Mark had it last," she tells him.

"No, Glen had it last!" Mark yells.

"No, Jessie had it last!" Glen cries.

"No, Rina had it last!" I exclaim.

"It's true, I did," she states simply.

"So where is it, then?" Danny asks.

"I said I had it last, not that I have it now. I don't know where it is, Dan." During the exchange, Callie had slipped the wallet into Glen's hand, unnoticed by Danny. Unfortunately for Glen, Danny notices soon after, and he has to throw it. Rina catches it and quickly throws it on. Danny manages to intercept it, but Callie snatches it right from Danny's hand and whips it to Mark, who throws it to me. After ten minutes or so, Danny finally catches it and doesn't let go. Everyone's breathing a bit heavily, having been running around and running from Danny.

"Bunch of children, the lot of ya!" Danny grumbles, pocketing his wallet with a scowl.

"Oh, lighten up, Danny, you would've been playing keep-away if it were anyone else and loving every second," I tell him. "Now how about a smile instead of a scowl?" He shrugs, still scowling. I walk over to him, wrap an arm around his waist and gently tickle his side. A reluctant grin forces the corners of his mouth up as he tries not to laugh. "Much better!"