4 AM Forever

The Game

Ashton stood at the far end of the field with his lacrosse stick ready. He ran toward Kassie, who's hands were up ready to stop the ball. Lifting his stick, he passes the ball pass her toward Mikey, whizz ing by her head. "Come on, Kassie, we've been working on this for a week now." Ashton says collapsing to the ground, breathing heavy, "I can only run so much in a day!" He says.

"I know. I know.." She says with her hands on her knees.

Mikey walks over and hands her a bottled water. She takes the top off and drinks it down.

"You got this, Kas." He says sweeping her bangs from her forehead. She nods and straightens up.

"Alright. Let's go." Ashton gets up and grabs his lacrosse stick. He scoops up a ball and cradles it for a few seconds,running toward her.

"It's coming straight for you this time!" Kassie nods and readies herself.

"Here it comes!" He releases the ball and Kassie watches as it flies through the air at an alarming speed. She raises her hand and focuses. The ball right in her zone, she throws both her hands up and this time she feels the force leave her hands. It slows the ball just in time. She exhales and blinks.

"Holy shit." She says as her eyes widen. "Oh my god! I did it!" She says grabbing the ball out of the air.

"I did it!" She yells, jumping up and down. Mikey runs and picks her up.

"It's good! The crowd goes wild!!" Ashton yells running around with his arms out toward Olivia and scoops her up.

"I told you, you got this." Mikey says putting her down. Kassie hugs him tight. Ashton and Olivia make their way to them.

"Alriiiight! At least now we know you're a force based gift." Ashton says, "Olivia is nature. So says the proof of the trees on that side of the feild." He teases poking her side, making her jump. Luke and Cherish make it to the group from the bleachers. "Now what?" Cherish asks. Mikey, Ashton, and Luke smile all at the same time.

"In the Fay world we have this game." Ashton begins, "a game most folks now a days call Man Hunt," Mikey says, "but with a major twist." Luke finishes and the game begins.

***

"You know when you said major twist, I thought we were gunna be using our neato powers..." Olivia says holding a white bucket filled with balloons.

"Patience." Ashton says kissing her nose.

"Whom ever gets hit by a balloon has to yell 'Claimed.' And walk around with the person who hit them. If a claimed hits someone with their balloons then they become a claimed." He says taking the bucket from her. "If the person who hit you gets hit, your free and you better haul ass in a different direction. Who ever has the most wins." He finishes. Olivia picks one of the balloons up. "What are they filled with?" She asks.

"paint and glitter." Mikey says holding his own bucket. They settle under the burnt trees, "Okay, rules are simple, not injuring the other players, but you can use your gifts, do not make me regret playing this Olivia.. No fires this time." Ashton says teasing her and Olivia sticks her tongue out. "since Cherish is non Fay folk, she'll have a grace period of 30 seconds of running before a Fay can claim her. But other than that it's every Fay for himself." "The 20 seconds rule is in effect as of NOW." Ashton says grabbing three balloons and running into the woods. Everyone grabs as many balloons as they can and run after him and spreading out in every direction.

So far Kassie had only heard one 'claimed' and it sounded like Luke. She lays still in the brush and waits for people to just pass by. She hers the rustling of the branches next to her and she's yanked from her hiding spot.