It's A JOLLY Vacation

CHAPTER 3 - Jolly

CHAPTER 3

/OLYY/

"NOOOO! What?" Joe said, putting down the remote and grasping the sides of his face in agony.

"Yess! I can't believe I won that!" I said, whooping in victory. I smiled big at him as he shook his head, pouting slightly.

"I can't believe I lost to a beginner." He looked over at Caspar on the other lounge. "A beginner!"

"Beginners luck." I admitted, shrugging. I punched his arm gently and he looked at me. I got scared and then Joe suddenly lurched forward and grabbed me, wrapping his arms around my small frame. I squirmed and screamed in his grasp.

"I don't even know you that well and you beat me at FIFA! You know this means war..." he continued, pinning my arms above my head on the couch. I held my breath.

"Are you ticklish?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows. I gulped.

"No...?" I said, my voice cracking.

"I'll take that as a yes." With that his hands found my stomach and he started furiously tickling me. I tried not to kick him as I laughed and squealed, water filling my eyes.

"Joe! Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Finally he stopped, leant back and looked at me closely, a smile never leaving his face.

I sat up, brushed myself off and didn't make eye contact. "Next time I'll let you win." I bit my lip.

Joe gasped and leant forward to tickle me again.

"No! Joe, please. Alright, alright – I'm sorry." I said, pushing him off me with my small hands on his chest. "Just stop tickling me." I breathed a sigh of relief.

He laughed before watching me. We looked at each other again for a second before I cleared my own throat this time.

"Are you hungry?" Joe asked, getting up from the lounge.

"Yea I am..." I looked up, trying to find a clock on the wall. When I found it, my eyes widened. "Wow it's almost 6 o'clock." I said, rubbing my eyes and lying down on the couch.

"What time is it usually in Australia?" Joe asked from the kitchen, getting something out of the freezer.

"Like... 5 o'clock in the morning. It feels like I've done an all nighter." I said, yawning. I put my arms over my stomach and rested my head on the armrest.

"Do you normally go to bed early?" Joe asked.

"Uhm... latest like 10 o'clock. I usually sit up on my phone but fall asleep." I said, closing my eyes. "I really should be going, Joe." I said, not moving from the lounge.

"Stay for dinner?" Joe said. When I opened my eyes lazily he was pouting and I couldn't help but smile. "Sure... I can stay for dinner." I said, my eyes drifting shut again. "I'll probably fall asleep walking home." I chuckled to myself.

I heard Joe chuckle and then it went silent, the sound of Joe mucking around in the kitchen being the only thing I could hear.

That's when I got time to actually process what had happened today. I had made two friends and it had felt like I had known them for years. It was kind of like when you make a friend in kindergarten and your best friends instantly. Joe and Caspar were seriously great to talk to and I hoped I would know them a long time.

As these thoughts raced my mind, I found myself drifting off to sleep.

\JOE/

"PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA!" Caspar called as he ran up the stairs.