Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 78 - Never Have I Ever

I whipped out my camera and took photo after photo as Doherty and Greene released Christian, and he stepped back, looking at Lissa incredulously.

"That's NOT FUCKING FUNNY!" he roared, looking at our amused faces. "I thought I was going to die! Dimitri would happily kill anyone looking at Rose naked!"

"Damn right," Dimitri agreed with a grin.

"Sparky I'd happily kill anyone looking at me naked without my permission. Although I can understand the appeal!" I clarified flicking my hair back and giving him a man-eater smile. I was starting to giggle, but it seemed to enrage him further.

"You were in on it? ALL of you?" he said, still disbelieving looking at us all.

"Yep! Well, all except Eddie" I laughed.

"Dude I thought you were dead," Eddie said with a grin. "I seriously thought you were going to die tonight!"

"And you pranked me?" Christian said, looking at Lissa with an inscrutable expression.

I could see Lissa was worried by his reaction. She nodded solemnly.

"And I suppose this was Rose's idea?"

Again she nodded.

"And she convinced all of you to participate?" he asked, looking at the assembled company who were all grinning or starting to laugh.

"Yeah – it was all Rose" Adrian confirmed, starting to chuckle. "She got you good!"

"And you were in on it?" Christian said, turning back to Lissa.

"Yes," she said sheepishly. "But I agreed before I knew the full plan."

"Oh it's ON Princess!" he said, a smile finally making its way to his face. "Once you start pranking you're committed – just ask Rosie," he said shooting me a dangerous look. Lissa looked very much like she'd never agreed to this whole thing. "Just you wait," he said, with a grin. Sitting down on the gym mats and pulling Lissa to him he kissed her soundly. "I really thought I was going to die" he laughed a little nervously. "I never want to be on the wrong side of you guys" he admitted, eyeing Abe and Pavel nervously and looking over to where Dimitri and I were standing together looking amused.

"It was funny as hell!" Adrian declared laughing hard.

In fact, we were all starting to chuckle when Alberta rushed in followed by half a dozen academy Guardians. Dimitri and I moved subtly apart - thankfully everyone's eyes were focussed on Christian and Lissa sitting on the gym mat.

"What's going on here? We had about ten reports from students and Guardians about Mr. Ozera being dragged across campus by a couple of Guardians and followed by you lot" she said looking suspiciously at Christian and Lissa sitting on the gym mat embracing, and then taking in Abe, Pavel, Kirk, Adrian, Eddie, Dimitri and myself. And that was all it took. We all started laughing hysterically – even Christian.

"Nothing Alberta" I promised. "Nothing's going on – I just wanted to show Lissa and Christian the gym. After all, I've spent so much time here, and they've never seen it" I said, lifting the camera and taking a few photos of her uncertain expression. I continued taking photos of everyone present – even Christian who was cuddling Lissa but looked up to give me an admiring salute for the prank I'd pulled. It really had been the best one yet!

Heading back to the unit, Lissa and Christian were particularly smoochy. I was walking between Dimitri and Kirk, keeping my hands to myself until we got back to the privacy of the unit. Alberta was wandering with Abe and Pavel back towards the guest quarters, intending to visit Mom. Alberta knew something had gone down, but since we were all laughing and relaxed she couldn't put her finger on it, and as far as I could tell she'd given up trying.