Be My Mascot

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Bailey's POV

"You're going down," I remind him with a giggle.

Danny scoffs at my threat. He twists the paddle around in his hand. I walk over to the ping-pong table, taking my stance on one side. Danny does the same.

"First to eleven wins," he informs me for the third time.

"I know, Danny."

I pick up my paddle and hit the small white ball over the little net. Danny swings it back over to me. It bumps the table before flying past me.

"Ha! My point," he cheers with a grin.

I keep quiet and continue the game. This time, I know where he will try to hit the ball again. I block the quick shot and it zooms past Danny.

"My point," I smirk, using his own words.

He rolls his eyes while serving the ball.

The competition in the Thomas household has always been fierce. As children, Danny and I always put everything into a game. First to eat their dinner wins, first to run around the block wins, first to finish their chores wins. It goes on and on. Being the older sibling, Danny usually won.

Ten minutes later, the score is nine-ten. Danny is winning. He whacks the paddle as hard as he can, slashing the white ball across the blue table. It hits the other side before falling to the ground. Danny rises his hands in the air, dramatically dropping the red paddle.

"Woooo!!! I won!"

I huff in reply to his victorious shout. My brother does a little dance. The door to the game room abruptly opens and Niall walks in.

"Danny is a cheater," I complain to him once he sees us.

Niall laughs, "How so?"

"He knows I can't react to a fastball quick enough."

"Maybe you're just bad at playing ping-pong," Danny shoots back with a playful smile.

"I'm good at playing ping-pong," I defend myself.

I love my brother, but he gets under my skin a lot. I did get nine points on him. I turn to Niall, hoping that he will back me up. When he stays silent, I raise my eyebrows at him.

Wow.. I'm acting like a five year old right now.

"I've never seen you play!" Niall raises his hands up in surrender.

I stride over to Danny and take his paddle. It is thrown over to Niall and he catches the paddle in his arms.

"Let's go then, Horan."

He chuckles at me, "Alright then."

Danny goes to leave the room, blowing a sarcastic kiss to me. I shake my head at him.

******

"I went easy on you!" Niall declares once the game is over.

He lost, and I won.

"Ohh, sure. Keep thinking that, Horan."

He pouts at my comment, letting go of the paddle. I beat Niall eleven-seven in our game. He kept on saying that I have been practicing longer than him but I know he's just trying to act tougher.

Today is Christmas Eve and Mum and I always bake throughout the entire day. Speaking of that..

"I better help my mum in the kitchen. We always bake cookies and cakes on Christmas Eve," I excuse myself.