Perception

Part 13

Sang POV:

I vaguely feel myself placed in the car, then some time later I a swirl of vanilla and strong arms and a chest shift me once more until a golden light glows behind my eyelids. We must be back at Nathan's. I would have been content to snuggle in and sleep some more, but the guys kept whispering!

"You guys are dumb! She totally won that challenge!" I hear Nathan whisper-yell from across the room. If they were watching me they'd see my eyes roll behind their lids.

"Fuck that! Who would give up nine favors if they didn't have to? I know what I'm going to get for my favor! Trouble's going to be so maaaaad!" my Meanie ended up singing the last bit.

"Do you think we should call off the payments? I mean, I feel like I'm cheating or something," Kota asks the others.

"Nah. Sang Baby knows what she's doing. If she wanted to get out of owing us favors she would have told us which direction was which. I mean, she did tell me which direction I was in after you all left. Right, Nate? I was standing next to Doc and he was dead south," North bellow-whispers.

"Yeah, you're right. Now I know why she keeps telling us not to call the circus. First arrow throwing, then hypnotism, now she's a friggin' compass? What's next? Teleportation? Levitation? Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if she pulled anything off at this point. She doesn't need to join the circus; she IS the circus!" Nathan says in a quiet, but normal speaking volume.

"Honey, that's not very nice. I only use my powers for good, not evil," I open my eyes to meet his blue ones and wink at him with half a smirk. Heads snap to face me with blank, surprised faces for a beat or two before everyone laughs. I giggle and my face heats a little from the attention, but I squirm to sit up from my too-comfortable spot on Luke's lap.

"Thank you for being my nap cuddle-buddy, Luke," I give him a whisper-soft kiss across his lower cheek before standing up. Luke's ears color a little, and his dark eyes sparkle. I look around, and see my boys all smiling at me—some with unspoken questions, some with amusement. Mr. Blackbourne and Dr. Sean are no longer here. I feel a twinge of sadness, but shake it off when I realize that they aren't usually here for sleepovers anyway.

"So are you up for playing some games before bed? It's only about 10:30 or so, and I don't have to be anywhere too early in the morning," Luke asks.

"Damnit Luke! I have to work at seven." North grunts out sounding grumpy but the look in his eyes is one of indulgence.

"It's up to you Aggele Mou. I will play what you want to play," Silas offers with a mischievous smile. Shoot! Don't they realize I'm pretty new at this?! I think. The only games I can think of that we haven't already played were ones we did in elementary school either in gym class or at recess when the weather was too bad to go outside.

"Well, what about telephone, or pass the orange?" I ask knowing they'll probably laugh at such kiddish choices.

"I know what telephone is, but do not think I am familiar with pass the orange," Silas says.

"We've played it before when we were on that retreat, remember? We used an apple though. It got a little....cozy, if I remember right," Victor corrects with a small laugh.

I look between everyone, and saw dawning looks of comprehension, and then apprehension.  I don't understand the apprehension until I think back to some of the places and ways the fruit was passed. Oh boy. This could get uncomfortable...and embarrassing. I feel my cheeks starting to heat, and the guys must have seen it. Before I could offer to forget that game they all shouted that they were in! Oh boy! What did I get myself into?

Nathan jogs off and grabs an orange. To start he places the orange in the crook of his arm between his elbow and bicep. Silas manages to take it in a similar manner, but it slides to the point where he has to pin the orange with his arm and abdomen, eliminating the space to grab it the same way. Kota displays his dexterity by nabbing the orange with his foot, and balancing it between the top of his foot and his shin. Victor ducks down and grabs it under his chin. North moves in and gives Victor what looks like a headlock to grab the orange in the crook of his arm, then pushes Victor down so he doesn't have to hunch into him longer than necessary. Luke swoops in and grabs the orange under his chin then makes his way over to me. I can't reach with my arm or my chin, but Luke lowers himself down, and leans forward until his face is near my own. I try to grab it with my chin but it is too awkward an angle. I then attempt to take it with my elbow crook, and manage it to some extent. Unfortunately, I self-congratulated too soon, and it slips! No way do I want to be the one to drop it after all of the boys' careful passing, so as it slips down my arm, I pin the orange to my hip. Gabriel is the only one who has not gone yet, so I look at him a little desperately. I'm twisted in such an awkward way that my muscles scream.

Gabriel's eyes are blazing blue electricity. So much mischief is present that I know whatever he has planned will likely be uncomfortable. He drops down and walks to me on his knees. Once he's at my side, I see that he plans to take the orange with his chin! I feel his breath on me, and as he gets near, he rubs his face up the outside of my thigh. My face blazes, and I do the only thing I can think of. I shift my arm and let the orange drop right on Gabriel's face.

I shrug and say, "Sorry, Meanie. I guess you win," and everyone laughs. Gabriel blinks in confusion a few times before hopping up.

"Damn straight, Trouble! I win, I win, I win, win, win!" Gabriel chants, and everyone laughs harder.

"Alright, I think that's enough games for tonight. Bed. Now," Kota decides.