Be Strong and Courageous

Chapter 1

A/N
Dedicated to Martino of the Martins, whom I just met, because he stood up for my Best friend.

FOUR YEARS LATER

"Daniel Joel Goodyear I'm gonna kill you!" I scream behind a glare on my face.

"No you are not MarLie Grey Summers! I won that match fair and square!" He answered while I dodged the table, a few feet behind him.

"As if!"

"Yeah, I did, actually, read the screen!"

"You can't win with a melee when we agreed at the beginning to a snipe only battle!" I retaliate, out of breath from chasing him around the house. "And we both know I would've won, had you not cheated!" I huffed, slowing to a walk before turning around the corner into the kitchen. I looked around, seeing nothing and hearing only silence. A minute had gone by. Where had he gone? I decided to devise a plan.

"Now where did Danni go? Hmm, I wonder... Too bad! Guess I'll just have to eat these Oreos all by myself!" I quickly grabbed the empty package of Oreos and put them on the table, arranging them in such a way so that they appeared full and unopened before rushing off to hide in the pantry, with the door slightly ajar.

3,

2,

1.

Just like clockwork.

The slight creak in the floor was a tell that said he had taken the bait. I slipped out of the pantry without a sound, avoiding all the noisy spots on the floor. I watched him slowly tip-toe up to the table, utterly oblivious of my plan.

As he slowly lifted the plastic wrapper on the pack, I got into place.

"BOO!" I yelled, simultaneously slapping him on the head. I stepped back and watched him jump ten feet and squeal like a little girl.

"Ha! Got you," I smiled triumphantly. Dan turned on his heel and crossed his arms looking down at me. When did he get so tall?

"Mars," he said, irritation dripping from his voice. "Where are the Oreos?" I crossed my arms and smirked, "Not telling."

"Mars!" He whined.

"Not until you admit that I had that game in the bag, that you cheated, and you forfeit your fake victory."

"Fine MarLie, I, " he whispered, bending down to my eye level, "will never do that."

And with that, he bolted.

And I followed.

Dan ran into the living room and armed himself with a pillow in each hand. I glanced over at the tv screen, at the results of our 007 game, fueling my anger. I grabbed a pillow, and hurled it at him, only for him to deflect it with his own, sending it into another room.

"Calm down Mars, don't be so feisty," he said condescendingly.

"I am calm!" I fumed, a little louder than I intended.

"The steam spouting from your ears would like to object." He approached slowly, knowing I was unarmed. I started running around the couches, looking for more pillows, fear was creeping in. I had no defence. So help me Aunt Linda why do we not have more pillows for times of need, such as this?! He was following me and we circled the living room running laps. You'd think we were training for a marathon, if you didn't know us.

"Uh oh, who's in trouble now?" His sing-songy voice taunted.

"You are, as soon as I get my hands on some pillows," I murmured. Seeing as there was no way out of this cycle without change, and the fact that I was getting tired, I decided it was time to take a new course of action. I grabbed the sofa cushion, which might I add, was not an easy feat, and whipped around to get a good swing at him.