Separated

Chapter XI

SAM

Music: Park an Gleann from Mario on an Soarie

One common way our group loves to kill time is by playing "Would You Rather". Typically, our questions will provoke lots of discussion among the group, and it gets pretty fun when the questions require a lot of thought. So that's what we've been doing for the past...

Y'know what, forget about time for now.

"Alright, Avery, your turn," Skylar says after we finish giving our responses to her question. I shuffle Mackenzie in my arms. Heath and I have been taking turns carrying her unconscious body.

"Damn it... um...," Avery mutters, thinking to herself for a brief moment. "Okay, here's one. Would you rather have a really talkative barber, or a really clueless substitute teacher?"

Avery's not normally as much of the "creative" type as most of us are, but coming from her, that's a really good one. "Hmm..." Heath mumbles.

"What kind of class is the sub teaching?" Skylar asks.

"I dunno. Something complicated, like anatomy or something."

"Specify gender. That might make my decision easier to make," Heath suggests.

"Male barber, female teacher."

"Is the barber gay?" I ask. This isn't meant to be offensive, but it would make more sense to me if that's the case (not trying to stereotype or anything).

Avery raises an eyebrow at me. "No."

"Is the teacher at least somewhat attractive?" Heath asks.

Avery shakes her head in response, and then says, "Alright, I'll take it up a notch. Not gay barber, but he obsesses over his cat, or really hot, fresh out of college, clueless substitute teacher?"

Heath's eyebrows raise and a grin appears on his face. "How hot are we talking?"

Likely knowing that this kind of answer will get to Heath, Avery puts on a smirk and answers, "Works out on a daily basis."

"I'll take the teacher, in that case," Heath chuckles.

"I'll take my chances with the barber," is Skylar's answer.

Avery looks to me. "Sam? What about you?"

"Well, that's kinda a tough question. Do I want to get an erection, or do I want to kill myself?" is my response.

Avery goes back to looking forward. "Okay then."

Now it's Heath's turn. "Okay, I've got one for Sam." He laughs after he says that, which I already take as a sign that this is not going to be a fun question.

"Damn it," I sigh.

"Would you rather stand on top of an electricity pole during a lightning storm, or..." He pauses for a moment before finishing the question. "...be forced to make out with Avery?"

Avery gives him a disturbed glare, as do I. "Well, let's see. Both of those things have a very high chance of killing me," I reply.

"He's not wrong," Avery nods.

I shift my gaze to Avery. We end up making awkward eye contact for a few seconds. This is actually a really tough question and situation. Finally, I reach a decision. "I have a much better chance of surviving against Avery, so we'll go with that," I answer. Heath laughs and Avery just shrugs.

I don't know how I don't notice it right away, but I quickly realize that Skylar has been at a halt for at least a couple seconds by now. I take a look at her face and see fear.