Chapter 18: Carouselambra

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Citlali's POV

"Run." Keith shouted, coming towards us.

Robert let me go, his face furrowed in confusion.

"Tag. You're it." Moon roared as he tapped me on the shoulder.

It took me a matter of seconds to react and I tapped Robert, running behind Keith.

"Hey." Robert shouted back

"You're it!" Keith and I shouted in unison

I could hear Bonham's throaty laughter and the gasps of the others as they arrived at the boardwalk.

They were met by a delighted laugh that could only be Robert's and groaned when one of them was tagged.

Keith sat on the grass for a few minutes, catching his breath. Footsteps were coming closer.

"I have an idea but I don't believe you'll like it." Keith said, brushing himself off.

"Why shouldn't I like it?" I said with curiosity.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him.

In a very seductive tone, he adressed me.

"Because we have to climb."

Then the seduction was gone and replaced by a mocking grin.

"Let's do it. And when they come we can scare them. " He nodded, probably proud that I had agreed.

We contemplated our climbing tree for a few seconds and Keith jumped up, hanging onto the lowest branch with his arms.

He groaned and I pushed his feet up, propelling him upwards. As he steadied himself he moved closer to the tree trunk so I could jump up beside him.

It wasn't very hard but the bark wasn't as rough as expected and the hands would easily slip off if too sweaty.

I was up without the help and Keith eyed me with curiosity.

"What?" I demanded

He shrugged. "You're unusually independent."

"Is that a mysoginous comment i'm hearing?"

"No." he chuckled "It's a good thing."

The laughs made us  go quiet.

Robert's POV

I'd run off in the opposite direction. Away from my tagged victim, Jonesy.

I made a turn,  wanting to seek her out.

Jimmy's POV

Jonesy smacked me across the forehead and ran off in a whirl of auburn hair.

Oh If I got my hands on him.

I ran away from him and tumbled into Robert.

"Hey." we said in unison, laughing.

He hadn't realized that I was tagged.

I waited a few minutes before pouncing.

"You're it." I called, tapping him on the butt and running away.

Robert's POV

I couldn't stop myself from laughing. I waved him the finger as he gestured to me from afar.

I heard laughs. One of them being Citlali's and followed deeper into the trees.

Everything grew quiet then. Only my feet snapping on branches betrayed a human presence.

I touched a tree trunk, caressing the bark and waited for the faintest of sounds.

Keith's POV

She was stopping herself from laughing. Robert was under the tree, waiting for someone to betray their position.

She'd slid down to the lowest branch and dangled her feet. She seemed so nimble, barely holding on.

She was so fun to be around.

"On three." she voiced, bringing her finger up to her lips.

I counted down on my fingers and on three she let herself fall. On top of Robert, of course.

Robert's POV

A weight came crashing down on me.

Was it a branch? It was too warm and too soft to be a branch.

A high pitched giggle made me realize the answer. We were a tangle of limbs. She'd tackled me down with her.

"You scared me, crazy." I complained, rubbing my chin whom had knocked into the floor on the fall.

"That was the point,  sweetheart." she replied.

"Cheeky." I remarked. I felt her weight lift. Keith had pulled her up and he was offering me his hand.

I took it gratefully and stood up. After brushing ourselves off we went to find the others.

Keith made her leap in his arms and he carried her whilst running.

She was laughing with delight, her hands threaded behind his neck.

How I ached for her touch again.


———

yes so this was something i had prepared

some fun light-hearted whatever

i'm on finals so as soon as the school year ends i'll be writing correctly again

sorry for the delay

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