Back to the game

Plodding slowly down the stairs you think over Sarahs deal again. It seems almost intentionally bad, there's almost no reason for you to ever take it, unless you wanted to see Tom and Miranda having sex. Sarah can't really believe you're into that, right? Pushing it to the back of your mind you walk down the last flight of stairs and find yourself greeted by the sight of Miranda, leaning against the wall by the living room door. When she sees you she smiles in a way that lights up your world.

"Hey, John." She calls out as you descend the final steps. "I waited for you." When you get closer to her you lean in and kiss her, an action that is becoming increasingly natural, much to your own joy. Breaking the kiss she glances down at the box still tucked under your arm. "What's that?" She asks, her curious hands snaking to the lid before you could even think to stop her. "Condoms." You answer in a monotone as she flips the lid open.

Beholding the boxes contents she stares in shock for a few seconds, as if she'd unearthed a chest of buried treasure. "Whoah." She gasps, reaching in and sifting through the myriad pieces of latex and plastic. "This must be Sarahs, right?" She asks, curiously moving her fingers through the assorted piles of condoms.

"Maybe I'm just an avid collector." You joke, making Miranda laugh as she fidgets with the boxes contents. "Yeah, it is Sarahs." You clarify, eager to avoid any more misunderstandings tonight. "She always told me, if I needed a condom I could just ask her. I figured she meant that she had one in her purse or something, not a contraceptive smorgasbord." It's your turn to laugh at Mirandas turn of phrase, although something about Sarah giving Miranda condoms makes you feel uneasy. As if Sarahs actions tonight were part of a pattern of behavior. You're probably reading too much into it, maybe Sarah was just honestly trying to be a responsible friend, but still it doesn't sit right with you.

Ignoring this new unease you push forward. Wrapping your arm around Mirandas waist you stop her exploring of Sarahs box. "There'll be plenty of time for playing with condoms later." You tell her, pulling her in close to your side and kicking the front room door open, both your arms occupied with Miranda and the box respectively. "I hope so." Miranda whispers, leaning her head against you and making you feel bad for ever doubting her.

Proudly, you walk into the room with your arm around Mirandas wait. You casually toss the box onto the table, next to the hat, before reoccupying your old seat. Miranda doesn't wait for you to say or do anything, instead she hops happily back into your lap, draping an arm around your neck. Only now do you pay attention to anyone else in the room. Tom is still where you left him, blithely messing around on his phone. To your left you see Matt and Nicole have both returned and the pair of them are finishing a hushed conversation, occasionally glancing over at you. They both smile slightly in a way that indicates that the relationship between the three of you was sufficiently salvaged during the break.

Finishing their quiet conversation Nicole leans forward in Matts lap. "What is this John?" She asks, reaching for the closed box. "Why don't you have a look and find out." You say teasingly, making Miranda smirk in your lap. Tentatively Nicole grabs the box and pulls it a little way towards her before flipping back the lid. When faced with the boxes load she looks confused at first, until it dawns on her and a red blush creeps over her face. While the black box was already full of sex toys there's admittedly something more directly lewd about a box of condoms, so you understand her blush. Wordlessly she tilts the box so Matt can see. "Holy shit! Is it full of condoms?" He shouts.

At the sound of that word Tom starts paying attention again. Of course it would take something so overtly sexual to pique his interest. Leaning forward he snatches the box from Nicoles hands who lets it go without protest. "Fuck, you weren't lying. It's like Noah's condom ark in here." He exclaims, making you all laugh despite yourselves. "Small, medium, large, extra large, ribbed, lubed." With every type of condom he lists he lifts one out the box demonstratively, showing you all a rainbow specturm of condoms. "There's even some glow in the dark ones!" He says, holding up two neon green packages, with alien faces printed on the outside.

"This box is Sarahs, right John?" Matt asks, sounding a little concerned that it might be yours. "Of course it is." You say, feeling a little exasperated that he could ever believe otherwise. "What the fuck..." Tom mutters drawing your attention while still digging through the box. "I think this one needs batteries." He says while holding up another condom with a particular thick base. "Why would it need batteries? Nicole asks naively. "You tell me." Tom replies, tossing the black wrapped condom at her. She barely catches it mid flight and brings it up to her eyes. You see her eyes darting back and forth, reading the fine print on the plastic. "... I think it's a vibrating condom." She utters eventually.

"Yes. It is." Says a feminine voice from the doorway. You all freeze in your tracks, as if the teacher had returned to the classroom while you were in the middle of breaking the rules. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it was rude to go through someone else's things?" When she says this Nicole quickly tosses the vibrating condom back to Tom who slams the box shut and pushes it away from himself. There's a pregnant pause as Sarah steps into the room, standing tall over you all, until she busts into laughter. "I'm kidding!" She giggles, "You should have seen your faces!" When she says this everyone but you laughs too, and the tension leaves the room as quickly as it entered.

Walking back towards Tom Sarah continues. "I had John bring that down because I thought it might be useful later." She traces a finger along the boxes lid as she passes it. "I'm sure you can all think of a use for what's inside." When she says this there's a score of exchanged looks and glances between prospective partners, including a quick glance between you and Miranda that makes your heartbeat double. "But for now, I'm in charge." Sarah announces, taking control of the game like a naked ringmaster while she retakes her seat in Toms lap. "So, who should I pick to choose the next dare..." As she speaks she flicks her gaze from Miranda, to Nicole and back.