Because She's Different

Chapter Twenty-Two; Holiday ✓

Ria's POV

"Are you going to travel somewhere with your families?" I ask the boys.

"I'll just hope my father would decide to drop the beer and celebrate with me and my grandparents," Julian shrugs.

"I'll be with my aunt and uncle," Brian answers in a bored tone.

I look over at Cole and gave him a smile. "Why don't you celebrate with us?" I ask.

"I don't know. I usually just sleep," he thinks it over.

"Please? The guys can come over for a nerf war after dinner, if you boys don't mind," I grin childishly.

Cole gives in and the guys agree with the nerf war after dinner and would be coming over. It would be bad of me to let Cole celebrate alone.

-•-*-•-

"Did you invite your friends for dinner?" My mom perks up.

"Just one, the guys are coming a little after dinner," I smile.

"Who? Is it a boy?" My dad asks almost instantly.

"Yeah, it's the son of uncle Dan," Randy answers for me.

"Oh. I heard that Dan isn't really paying attention to Fae anymore. She'd call me at night to cry onto me. Did you know that they have a daughter?" Mom asks.

"Yeah, he mentioned about a little sister," I nod. We paused when the doorbell rang and I walked over to look. I opened the door and invited Cole in. My dad shook his hand and mom told him to sit.

The table was more quiet than I had expected. Since Cole seemed to be well-known, my parents didn't interrogate him. What did happen was a lot of bragging from my dad. My brother have this egotistical part of them that they need to supplement because if they didn't the feel like they have no purpose in life. I thought we could get through dinner in one peace when my dad finally pulled the question.

"So, do you plan to court my daughter?"

The question made Cole choke on mid-chew and my mom playfully punched my dad. "N-No sir. It's not that I don't find her fascinating, but I haven't thought about it," he answered but part of me felt like he was hesitating.

"Mom, I think Randy's finally falling in love," I change the subject.

"Finally! Don't be like your father, indecisive as hell," my mom laughed. "Who's the lucky girl?" She adds.

My brother glares at me but sighs. "Tessa Wynne. I didn't really think you'd figure out," he looks back at me and I just shrug.

"It was in your eyes. Your eyes itself said "I'm falling for her" when you looked at her."

"Wow, I didn't even realize it myself," Cole admits.

My mom continued to gush as my dad gave him tips. I tuned them out as I turned my head to Cole.

"Thank you. This is the first Christmas that I actually celebrated after years," he smiles.

"No need to thank me, I would've dragged you here anyways," I grin sheepishly

-•-*-•-

I shriek as I hid behind the couch, using it as a shield and felt the bumps of the bullets behind me. My parents had left half an hour ago for a class reunion, leaving me with the boys. The bullets stopped and there was an eerie silence. I peeked on the side of the couch and saw no one, so I crouched out of my position to hide somewhere else.

As soon as I was out of hiding, I was a deer caught in the headlights. My back was turned and I didn't realize their aim at me until they repeatedly shot my butt. I let out a yelp as I ran away, scurrying to safety.

I rubbed my butt as it went numb from all the bullet hits it took. I got ready for my revenge because nobody wins a nerf war except me. I peeked out again and see the guys shooting each other. The one I had perfect view of was Randy. I aim a little above his crotch because the bullet shoots below that. I pulled the trigger and crouched down, holding in my laughter as my brother fell down, clutching his- you know and groaning in pain.

I prowled around for my next target, which happened to be Brian. I aimed in the same place and hit bull-eye! He had the same reaction only this time he cussed a damn lot.

I searched for Julian, leaving Cole for last because he actually knows how to use a gun and my plan against him could backfire. I pulled the trigger on Julian, making him yelp then get really dramatic over it. REALLY DRAMATIC. He started saying "Tell my wife, I love her," then continued to hiss in pain.

When I found Cole, he was silently laughing beside he stairs. I decided to make it fancy for Cole. I shot him on the head and it instantly got his attention, my heart thumped really loud and I instantly got nervous when he walked closer. I was supposed to give him mercy and not shoot him like the others but my fear got the best of me and I pulled the trigger, hitting him where it hurts the most.

-•-*-•-
After sorting the boys out a bit and helped them on the couch- ending the nerf war- we watched tv instead. I couldn't help it, I laughed at it. I was evil and I like it. The guys shot me a look, but it only made me laugh harder.

"That really hurts!" They all said at the same time.

"Let that be a warning to never gang up on me and to prove to you that I can take care of myself, if I have a little upper hand," I smirk.

"And that upper hand just so happens to be?" Brian questions me.

"A gun," I smirked again.

"Don't question it. She was always the better shooter than me, she's best with a sniper if she's in our team," my brother admitted.

"How did you know how to use a gun?" Cole was suddenly curious.

"My dad knows a lot of things and using a gun just so happens to be one of them. I found his pellet gun when I was a kid and my dad took it away before I could do damage," I laugh.

"And dad privately gave us lessons," Randy continues. "Then he each gave me and Ria a gun for self-defense, but we have the permission of the government. We have a certificate and it cost a lot."

"I'm not really surprised about Randy having to own a gun, but Ria?" Julian looks at me in disbelief.

"In this century, I don't think pepper spray can protect me anymore," I shake my head while giggling.

"Does that mean that she knows guns well?" Brian asks Randy.

"I don't know. I don't stalk her."

"I know a few," I admitted. I managed to ramble about models and prices of pellet guns and self-defense pistols. I finished and Cole smirks.

"A few, huh?" He teased.

"I geeked out," I admitted, grinning sheepishly.

"It's alright. Talk dirty to me," he winks and we all just laugh.

I don't know why I'm okay with talking all about guns like it's asking about the weather but that's what I get for having unique friends that hang out with my cocky brother.