Playing Games; Who's in?

Crisis averted, the teens went back to their assignments. Brandon and Kurt headed back down to the storage room to retrieve the generator, and would actually finish the job this time, while Gavin and Trent returned to the kitchen to continue preparing dinner. Ashley slumped down on the sofa beside Leon, irritated by her latest fight with Victoria and still stressed about the money the gang demanded in order to smuggle Hannah out of the country. Leon only wished he could do more to help. The others, Victoria, Madison and Chloe, lingered, trying to decide what to do next or where they were most needed. Seeing Jennifer deep in thought, Heather approached and drew her to one corner where they could talk, just the two of them.

“Hey, are you upset about me laughing?” Heather dropped her voice to barely above a whisper. She respected the hell out of her old Ranger friend, so the thought that she may have inadvertently insulted Jennifer didn’t rest easy on her. “You know I didn’t mean for it to seem like I was laughing at you.”

“I’m not mad. I might even be able to see how all of us arguing about a dud gun would be funny, if I wasn’t right in the middle of it,” Jennifer cracked a smile that faded quickly. “But it’s no laughing matter if there’s a gun out there, working or not. What do you think Shawn will do if Kendra pulls a gun on him? If she tries to pull the trigger and nothing happens? I don’t want to be responsible for doing nothing when tomorrow’s news reports that a girl was found dead in a ditch somewhere.”

Heather frowned but stood her ground. “Victoria says that Kendra didn’t take the ground.”

Flicking her dark hair to one side, Heather glanced over her shoulder to where Victoria stood, loitering on the opposite side of room, behind Ashley and Leon.

“See how calm she is? If she was lying, wouldn’t she be trying to warn Kendra not to use the gun?”

“True, although she’s not the only one I’m worried is lying to protect someone else.”

“If you think I would-” Heather came to an abrupt pause as she became aware of a bright-eyed blonde girl hovering beside her other shoulder. Heather waited for her to speak, but the girl just smiled. “Can I help you, Amber?”

“Nah, it’s just…I usually hang around with Sharon and do whatever she’s doing, or what she tells me to do,” Amber explained in a sweetly innocent fashion that disguised the fact that what Sharon wanted from her was criticizing anyone lower on the social ladder, while teasing all the men on the football team. “Since she’s not around, that makes you the boss.”

“Amber, I’m your cheer captain, that means that I’m always your boss,” Heather said with a bewildered laugh. “But maybe you could use this time to make some new friends. Some better influences than Sharon?”

“I think I’ve made enough new friends for today,” Amber confessed begrudgingly, while taking a quick look past Heather at the newest red-head in her life, who had currently struck up a conversation with Madison, sharing locker room stories from their time on the soccer and volleyball teams. “Why? What are you two talking about that’s so private?”

“If it’s private, why would I tell you?” Heather joked. “I’m just telling Jennifer that she would unwind a little. She takes her job so seriously and never lets her hair down.”

Amber focused on Jennifer’s ponytail. “I bet it’d look nice down. Kinda wavy, but…”

“No.” Heather corrected her mistake while rubbing the bridge of her nose. “I mean, she needs to enjoy herself.”

“Oh, yeah, you should worry less and just have some fun, Jenny.”

“Jennifer,” the Ranger grunted.

“You don’t like Jenny?”

“It’s just a bit familiar.”

“How about Jen?”

“No. Besides, aren’t you the girl that was whimpering and crying about the gun two seconds ago?” She noticed Amber visibly shudder at the mere mention of the weapon. “You’re awfully chipper suddenly.”

“I’m not in any immediate danger now…am I?” She glanced quickly at Heather and Jennifer’s faces, but saw no reason to be alarmed. Relaxing her shoulders again, she shrugged and added, “Besides, I have the game with Brandon to look forward to.”

“Now that’s a good idea, Amber,” Heather’s mouth formed a triumphant grin. “Jennifer, you should stay and play a game with us after dinner.”

“You mean one of your teen party games where you end up groping and making out with each other?” Jennifer chuckled at the very image that it painted in her mind’s eye. “No thanks. I think I’m a bit old for that.”

“Nonsense, you’re never too old to have fun.” Heather dismissed the excuse with a hand wave. “You’re only twenty-five. I’m sure it was only a few years ago you were playing these games in high school and college.”

“Yeah, like four to seven years ago.” The Ranger put a hand to her forehead as she realized what she’d said. “God, has it really been that long.”

“I say you’re still young, and you should embrace it. Otherwise it might boil over at a more inopportune time.” She raised her eyebrows as a fire lit up behind her electric blue pupils when she teased Jennifer. “Or maybe it already has…stuck up there in the Ranger station, bored out of your mind with no one but Colin, Samuel and Old Roger to keep you company.”

“They have a new recruit,” Amber noted with a smile. She enjoyed seeing Heather joke around with the Ranger. It reminded her of how Sharon would tempt and coerce the boys around school, and Amber liked seeing how Sharon made the boys squirm.

“Oh? That’s was good idea. You’ll be worn out less if you can take turns get railed by three, big-”

“You really are your father’s daughter,” Jennifer interjected, her face flushed. “I admit, there’s been times lately when it’s been closer than I would have liked. Not with my co-workers, never with them. But…”

Of course, at precisely that moment, Kurt and Brandon had to come through the living room, each one carrying an end of the bulky portable generator, their muscles bulging and their upper bodies working to heave the machine along, taking little steps as they went. Kurt briefly announced to Heather that they were taking it to the shed down by the lake and would return soon. Jennifer’s eyes betrayed her, following him every step of the way.

“No more buts, except the one you’re packing in those Ranger pants. You’re joining us for the game tonight,” Heather insisted, and without waiting for a reply from Jennifer, immediately turned to Amber. “How many people are playing this game so far?”

“Well, I kinda hoped it’d be just me and Brandon,” the young blonde admitted quietly.

“That’s no fun. The more the merrier, right?” Heather commanded. “You wanted a job, so here’s something you can do for me. Go around the room and get everyone to play the game. And I mean everyone. I don’t care how much you have to beg or cry.”

“Aye, aye Captain,” Amber affirmed cheerily, already in the process of turning and running towards her first target.

On the way, Amber paused briefly in front of Madison Cole, and stared at the tall brunette with a hard gaze through narrowed eyes. Madison looked back with confusion. Their mutual dislike was a common thread in their interactions but it was the abruptness of Amber’s approach that most alarmed Madison. Her hazel eyes shifted back and forth, and glanced briefly to Chloe who offered no answer, as she waited for Amber to reveal what her problem was.

Amber didn’t say a word, which was unusual in of itself. She wasn’t even contemplating whether to add Madison to join the game, she’d already decided she wasn’t going to do it. Heather had said the more the merrier but even Amber had her limits and allowing Bitchison to take part was just too far. Her hatred of Madison stemmed originally from Sharon, her red-headed leader despised Madison, so she too despised Madison. But in recent hours it had become more personal. Every time Amber tried to manoeuvre herself into a position to take advantage of Brandon’s newly acquired singlehood, there his twin was, getting in the way and bringing her plans to ruin. The real reason, that the twins had become somewhat closer than siblings should, was completely unknown to Amber.

No, she decided, Bitchison could fend for herself. With any luck, she’d be left out completely. But Amber couldn't just pass by without letting her know how much she disliked the brunette with her height and slender, toned volleyballer’s body. So she glared at the girl, viciously conveying her hate with her eyes and maintained it for several seconds before wordlessly moving away, and leaving Madison completely befuddled as to why.

Instead, she chose for her first objective to recruit someone who had become far more interesting for all the worst reasons: Victoria Walker.