Stopping Time

Chapter nineteen

They were an hour into the game. Evan had a few more properties than Connor, one of them including Park Place.

    Connor was determined to get Boardwalk. His piece-the dog- was only six steps away.

    He had the dice in his hands and was furiously shaking them. He blew into his hands, a tradition that his family used to do. They liked to think that if you blew into your hands while shaking the dice, you would get lucky.

   And since Connor's lucky number was three, he blew into his hands three times. He dropped the dice and watched them spin on the board. A five. Connor got a five.

    "God damnit!" he yelled, angrily moving his piece. He placed a one hundred in the center due to landing on a tax space. He crossed his arms. "This game is rigged."

    Evan snorted. "How is it rigged?" he asked, reaching for the dice. "You can't even cheat at Monopoly."

"I bet Kleinman could find a way."

    "He probably could." Evan laughed as he dropped the dice. He got a twelve. He muttered the numbers as he counted and moved his piece. He landed on a Chance space. He picked up a card.

    "Advance to Boardwalk!" he cheered. He moved his piece around the board, passing go in the process.

    "Evan I swear to whatever god exists," Connor warned, "don't you dare buy that space."

    Evan cocked an eyebrow up and stared at Connor. "Hm, or what?" he asked, attempting to smirk. It came out as more of an awkward smile.

    "I'll. . . I'll uh. Shit, I got nothing." Connor shook his head. "But I won't be happy. When did you get so cocky?"

    Evan shrugged. "You've been rubbing off on me," he stated. "But since I'm such a good friend, I'll. . ." He stared directly at Connor. "Buy it."

    "You son of a-"

    "Hey hey!" Jared appeared right behind the couch. "Am I interrupting your date?"

    Evan blushed. "N-no," he said. "It's n-not a date."

    "If it was, do you really think we'd be playing Monopoly?" Connor asked. "This game destroys friendships and relationships."

    "Is that why you're playing it?" Jared sat next to Evan, who slapped Jared's shoulder. "Ok, that was uncalled for."

    "N-not do be rude, but why are you here?" Evan asked.

    "I figured you'd want your backpack back." Jared tossed the backpack into Evan's lap. "And I didn't want to keep it."

    "O-oh. Thanks."

    "So, if you don't mind me asking," Jared started. "What happened after you left me in the hallway?"

    "Oh um-"

    "We talked some things out," Connor interrupted.

    "What kind of things?"

    "Personal things." Connor scratched the back of his neck. "You don't need to know."

    "Alright, I get it." Jared put his hands out in front of him. "I won't pry."

    "That's a surprise," Connor mumbled.

    "What was that Murphy?" Jared glared at Connor. Connor just shrugged. "So, who's turn is it?"

    "M-mine," Evan said, searching through his money. He pulled out four hundred dollars and placed them in the bank. He grabbed the property, ignoring Connor's scowl.

Connor cupped the dice in his hands and only shook them once before dropping them on the board. He got doubles. He moved his piece four spaces and swiped up a Community Chest card. "Doctor's fee, pay $50," he read. He grumbled something and put the money in the middle.

"Come on, Connor," Evan said. "Don't be so grumpy, it's just a game."

"I take Monopoly very seriously," Connor replied, swiping he dice to roll again.

"I can tell." Evan gestured to the game pieces that were thrown around the room. When Connor landed on a tax property and then an owned property with a house, he decided to take the house and throw it in the next room. Evan ended up replacing the house instead of getting up and grabbing it.

    Connor dropped the dice and watched them as the spun around. Doubles again. He moved his piece six spaces, landing on Vermont Avenue, which he owned.

    Dice in hand, he repeated his breathing tradition. He mumbled to himself, silently hoping he didn't get doubles again.

    His breath hitched as the dice spun. He gritted his teeth as he saw the dice on doubles. "God damnit!" he yelled, putting his piece in the jail.

    Jared burst out laughing. He was leaning against Evan, face buried in his shoulder.

    "Shut the fuck up, Kleinman," Connor muttered. "It's not funny."

    Jared's laughing calmed down and he sat up, wiping a tear from his eye. "You're right," he said, his face and tone serious. His face broke out into a grin as he continued, "It's hilarious!"

    Evan looked between the two. "M-maybe we should take a break," he suggested.

    "Yeah sure." Connor shrugged.

    "I'd love to stay, but." Jared stood up, stretching. "I only told my mom I was dropping off your backpack and if I'm gone longer than needed, she'll call the cops and send a search party. See you later, love birds."

    And with that, Jared was gone.

    "So, what do you wanna do?" Connor asked, leaning back against the couch. "We could go to A La Mode, we could go to my house and place foosball. Although my family is probably home by now, so maybe not."

    "I kinda wanna go to the orchard," Evan said. "B-before it gets too cold."

    "Alright," Connor agreed. "We'll have to stop at my house first, my car is there."

    Connor stood up as Evan quickly ran to the kitchen. Confused, Connor followed. Evan was writing on a sheet of paper.

    "In case my mom gets home early and I'm not back," he said, pinning the paper to the fridge. "Lets go."