Cherry Bomb (A Michael Fassbender Fanfic)

4: The Gazebo

Michael licks his lips as I draw hump after hump on the white board. Carl and Uncle Geoff are the only ones on my team guessing what I'm trying to draw. Mom is chatting away with Adele, Michael's mom.

"My lovely lady lumps?" Carl doesn't sound too confident. I stop in mid apex and cock my head before shaking it no.

I draw one more hump before making a little furry looking creature... Fuck, are moles furry? I use the side of my palm to wipe away the little furry guy and try again. This time, Uncle Geoff shouts, "Humpty Dumpty!"

No.

I draw a rat-creature with large glasses and make a small hill next to it. I glance at the timer and panic, waving my hands, urging my team members to guess better.

Seriously, it's obviously 'making a mountain out of a molehill'!

Carl winces as he shouts, "Harry Potter!"

What?

The timer buzzes and my team groans.

"Mountain out of a molehill," Michael laughs. Raegan shrieks and high fives him when I nod. Another point for Raegan's team.

I love to draw but I cannot draw under pressure. I fucking hate this game. I hand over the marker to Michael, who is next up for his team. I sit next to Carl and he pats my hand. "You tried."

Sigh.

Michael fishes a piece of paper out of the bowl, reads it and smiles. He nods to Raegan who starts the timer.

I reach forward and grab a handful of cashews to munch while Michael draws. So far, there's... a cherry? No, an apple? He draws a little wiggle coming out of it. It's got to be an apple with a little worm. Okay, so apple... and now a circle...? With... eyelashes... eye! Apple of my eye! I hop in my seat, so wishing I was on Michael's team.

My grandmother is throwing out random words. "Cherry pie! Early bird gets the worm!"

Raegan jumps up, arms flailing. "Apple of my eye! Apple of my eye!"

"Yes!" Michael replaces the lid to the marker and takes a bow as his team claps and cheers. Raegan runs up and tackles him with a hug, which takes him by surprise. But being the sweetheart that he is, he gives her one in return.

Raegan pulls back, holding him by the arms. "We make such a good team!" She boops his boop-able nose, which for some reason really bothers me. I look at Carl to see how he reacts and apparently I'm the only one even paying attention. Carl is half asleep, sitting straight up.

I give poor Carl a slight nudge with my elbow. "You okay?"

He yawns and chuckles. "Rae kept me up all night. That plus the jet lag, it's killing me."

"Okay. That part about Rae? Didn't need to know that, but thanks."

Carl winks. "Aye, that's what all that noise was?" Uncle Geoff asks. "I thought someone weren't feeling the May West." He laughs and smacks my back. Uncle Geoff is the funniest guy Uncle Geoff knows.

"Huh? May West?" Carl looks to me for interpretation.

"He means 'ill.'" Great. Now I have these images and sound clips of Raegan thrashing around in my head. I shudder in disgust and excuse myself from the couch.

Raegan's team won and now I suppose someone will select a new game. I'll probably sit this one out and nurse some spiked eggnog out back.

Outside, the gazebo looking over the man-made pond is decked out with white Christmas lights. I make a mental note to come back out when the sun sets to see it all lit up. It's gotten a little warmer since last night but it's still freezing. I like seeing my breath as I breathe. There's something magical about it. I hold my head back and let out one long breath, like a smoker after a long drag. I look back at the house and see everyone by the Christmas tree laughing. This time I literally am on the outside looking in.