No Love Allowed

Seventeen

The event for the Fourth of July involved games. Couple games. Set against the pretty backdrop of Seoul's Tower, with its man-made lake and luxury homes surrounding. The day couldn't been more toward romance if it were Valentine's Day and not the middle of the year. Standing side by side with Sehun, Suzy looked up at the perfect concentration on his face - brows furrowed.

"You sure about this?" she asked with equal seriousness.

He nodded once, then hooked his arm around her waist to hold her hip. The strength of his hold gave her the confidence she needed to grab the back of his shirt. Someone yelled "Go!" In one movement, Sehun lifted her against his side and they took off at a gallop int he three-legged race he had convince her to join.

Squealing in excitement, she let him do most of work, happy to hang on for dear life. The audience cheered, including Baekhyun, who was jumping in place. He cheered for Chanyeol and Kai, their only real competition - according to Sehun. The excitement in the air made him to kick faster with the leg currently tied against hers.

Laughter boomed out of her when they reach the finish line at the same time as the twins. They all tripped over one another, but before she could fall, Sehun wrapped her in his arms and twisted so she landed on top of him. Curses and giggles filled between them.

She pushed up against his chest, her eyes immediately locking with his. Like standing under the eye of a storm, a pause between them zone out the excitement and congratulatory shouts. Under her hand she could feel the rapid beats of his heart. He took in a deep breath, and in a quick move pulled them both to their feet and began untying their legs.

"Do you think we won?" she asked.

"Yes, we did," he said.

"I object!" the siblings said together, already untied.

She still got a kick out of seeing the female version of Chanyeol. The female Oh argued with Sehun for the win vigorously, a gleam in her eyes, hands in the air.

"We clearly won by a toe!" Kai pointed out.

"I have longer legs than you," Sehun countered back. "So if anyone's winning by a toe, it would be me."

"Yeah, you." Chanyeol poked his shoulder. "Don't think I didn't see you doing all the work, pulling Suzy like a sack of potatoes."

"Hey!" she joined in, unable to help herself. Everyone was having so much fun.

Chanyeol smiled at her. "A pretty sack of potatoes."

She executed an exaggerated a cursty. "Why, thank you, kind sir."

"That's still cheating," Kai challenged, loud enough for everyone to hear.

According to the mix of conversations, the crowd was clearly divided. The energy in the atmosphere sent tingles of excitement over Suzy's skin. She had never enjoed herself this much. Maybe she had been wrong about this Seoul elites.

"Baekhyun!" Chanyeol called. "You be the tiebreaker here."

"Boo!" Sehun yelled through cupped hands. "You know Baekhyun is biased."

"Let's call it even," Kai suggested, having been reduced to giggles.

"Never!" both Sehun and Chanyeol shouted at the same time.

Baekhyun suggested a pie-eating contest. This went over well with the crowd. In under a minute, Sehun and Chanyeol sat beside each other on a picnic bench with a pie tin on the table in front of them. Kai walked among the crowd that wanted to watch, taking bets, of all things. Suzy put herself down for a ten on Sehun.