Rumours

"Thirty-one" I said gritting my teeth, my arms aching.

"Thirty-two" I muttered, biting back a groan.

"Thirty-three" Almost there!

"Thirty-fou-"

"Whats up?" Interrupted a deep voice causing me to jump out of my skin and take damage.

I collapsed against my chair with exhaustion, barely able to call out AFK over the mic.

"Damn you, asshat! I almost bet my high score!" I flung the closest object to me that wasn't attached to the desk at the intruder, which happened to be a disposable cup from Maccas.

Adrian just blocked the blow, smirking.

"Who let you in my room?!" I demanded, boys weren't allowed in my room according to Dad.

"Your mother, who you happened to have inherited your lovely personality from." He said sarcastically. Sitting himself down on my unmade bed, looking around my messy room. Making me glance around too, making sure I hadn't left incriminating dirty laundry around.

"Ha-ha" I said, turning back to my screen to tell my online friends that I'd be back later.

Shutting down my computer I asked "Why do we have to go out to hang out? Why can't we just Skype and game like we always do?"

"Because mum threatened to send me to my grandparents for the holidays if I didn't get out of my room. They have no internet, I can't stay there."

"That's why you read." I said smugly. Grabbing my worn out runners and hoody before leading him out.

"Not this again!" Adrian groaned at the ceiling. "Can't you let it go? I. Don't. Read. How hard is that to understand?!"

"I need someone to talk about spoilers to! In case you're wondering, Mockingjay the movie isn't coming out till next year and I. Need. To. Talk. About. It." I said frustrated. Adrian was a complete geek, until it came to books then he was just like everybody else. I stamped on my runners and shoved my battered phone in my back pocket.

"Ok we're leaving now!" I called out to anyone who cared. Mum came jogging from the direction of the lounge with her Ipad in hand.

"Ok honey, have fun" She said eyeing the distance between me and Adrian, probably trying to psychically tell if Adrian was my boyfriend. A couple months ago mum humiliatingly asked if he was my boyfriend, because apparently we hung out more than I did with Mandy. My sister who happened to also be in the room at the time laughed and took my side in saying 'NO WAY' was Adrian my boyfriend, which I was grateful for, right until she said it was because I was a lesbian.

It took a long and humiliating night until my parents would believe me, even now they still had doubts about my sexuality, but at least now they kept it to themselves. Well, slightly. Mum now let Adrian into my room with the door closed, which since we were the age of eleven she never allowed.

I couldn't blame them for doubting my preference, since I mostly wore baggy shirts with fandom and gaming references (that also happened to be mostly mens T-Shirts, because girls don't game apparently), I couldn't care about the state of my hair, nails and the like, unlike my sister. I did not enjoy reality matchmaking shows and chickflics. And up until recently I do not have a girl bestfriend.

Mandy and I had been inseparable since kinder garden, until we attended high school. Things gradually began to change, she began to notice guys and slowly drifted from tomboy, to girly-girl. We were holding out fine despite our differences, for a while, until she told me she had a crush on my guy best friend: Adrian. I was shocked mostly when she told me because I never saw Adrian as a romantic partner, he was always the one I called to climb trees, or shoot zombies with. I supported her though and tried to see if Adrian returned her feelings but to no avail.

Eventually, Mandy grew impatient with me AND Adrian because he and I had a closer relationship than he and she did. She did admit she was jealous, and that was when we had our falling out. She refused to talk to me when I refused to end my connection with Adrian. And now I was stuck with no-one to talk to about the last Hunger Games and Divergent books.

Adrian and I left the house before mum could ask any questions.

"What time is it?" I asked, kicking the neighbour's mail box as we passed.

"Ten past two"

"Where are we going?"

"We're doing our favourite pastime"

"I thought you said we weren't allowed?"

"I never said virtually"

"Omigod YES!!" I shouted grinning so wide I was squinting. "Finally, we haven't played lazer tag in AGES!"

"Well now that I have a job, I decided I can pay to shoot strangers" Technically youtubing isn't a job, but he does get decent money from it so I wasn't going to argue.

"You do that anyway" I pointed out.

"True" he admitted; "but now I get to see the disappointment and humiliation in their faces when I kick their asses."

I laughed "You mean when I kick their asses."

Adrian just chuckled, "We'll see about that"

We continued to bicker like that all the way to The Zone, and earned a lot of funny looks from strangers on the bus.

When we got there, we got our membership discounts and booked an hour and a half of lazer tag.

It wasn't until we were waiting for the game to begin when we saw Mandy, joining the game, accompanied by her supposed 'BFF' who may as well have been her Siamese twin.

I elbowed Adrian who was too busy to untangling the straps on his pack to see Mandy's evil looks in our direction. "Ouch! Whats your- Oh. Do you want to leave?"

Adrian had no idea why Amanda and I weren't talking only that we had a huge fight and refused to talk about it with anyone, especially eachother.

"No." I said watching her talking animatedly with the barbie impersonator. "I'f she's got a problem with us being here, she can leave."

"Eli, you know I can help if you just tell me what the hell happened between you two." He said, again.

"No you can't. And I'd prefer it if you let it alone."

"But-"

"Butts are for farts."

Adrian looked a cross between amused and frustrated but did not bring it up again.

The lights dimmed, signalling the game was about to start. The barbie impersonator squealed like a little girl afraid of the dark, and clung to Amanda, who squealed just as loud.

I scoffed, and crouched near my teams' base waiting for the match to commence.

Game on!

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