A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR MY LITTLE BEARS!
I'm officially in 2018! I'll see all my international bears there soon! Xx
P.S: I'm a little on the happy drunk side so excuse the spelling mistakes. ðð½ââï¸ðð½ââï¸ðð½ââï¸
* * *
It's been two weeks since I had that coffee date with Jaxon. Well, not a date. It was more of a meet up, definitely was not a date. Even with just one meet up, it's a lot easier to talk to him. I think mainly it's because we weren't dancing around our issues or secrets anymore. He was open and honest about everything that was happening behind my back. There's that little banter that's back between him and I.
However, that's where it stops. It's all just been friendly. Don't get it wrong, I appreciate the fact that we are going slow. He's respecting the fact that I asked to think about our situation and not dive into the deep end. I just needed time to think about us and what I want in my life.
Was I really ready for an us again? Do I want to be in this relationship with Jaxon? I felt conflicted about it all.
I let out a sigh as I closed my eyes just as the cool breeze blew past me. I opened my eyes and chuckled as I caught up with the conversation my friends were currently having.
"Are you guys still arguing about when to go paintball?" I asked before taking a sip of my orange juice.
It was currently lunch time but the guys decided they wanted to sit outside today because it wasn't completely horrible outside. So, here we sat on a picnic bench in the seniors garden while debating when to go out as a group. Technically, Peter and Mason were debating while Nikki, Laura, Michelle and I listened on. I never realised it was this hard to all agree on a date to go out, I was so used to being called on the night and given fifteen minutes to get ready because I was getting picked up. This was a whole new world for me.
"We are not arguing, we are having a manly discussion." Peter added before throwing a chip at me, successfully landing inside my top. The rest of the group erupted in laughter when they saw the shock on my face.
"I swear! I was not aiming for there!" Peter forced the words out in between his laughter.
I let out a chuckle as I pulled the chip out before throwing it back at him, hitting him in the face, "You're such an asshole."
"You love me, Winters" Peter responded before leaning his arm over the picnic bench to offer me his chips. I leaned forward to grab one, smiling at him before eating it.
"I swear, a way to this woman's heart is to share your food." Mason said, I turned my head to the left to challenge him but I let out a chuckle when I saw him smiling at me.
"Back to business!" Peter said, clapping his hands before rubbing them together.
"It's not that difficult. Can everyone do the day after tomorrow?" Michelle asked.
"Normal people call it Saturday." Mason replied, resulting in the rest of us to chuckle lightly as Michelle groaned.
"Asshat." She mumbled underneath her breath.
The group fell silent shortly after Michelle's outburst, so I decided to respond seeming everyone else didn't know how to, "I think I can, I gotta see Alena first but if memories serves correctly, I think she has Sarah's birthday tomorrow."
"Guys, can I bring Isaac?" Nikki asked. My eyes moved to where Nikki was sitting and I saw her looking at me already. I let out a chuckle before shrugging my shoulders.
"I don't mind."
"The more the merrier."
"While we are talking about bringing people, can I bring my brother?" I asked.
With exception to Nikki, they all stared at me dumb founded before Laura spoke up, "You have a brother?"
I nodded in agreement, "Yeah, older by a year. He actually used to go here!"
"What's his name?" Laura asked as she leaned over the picnic bench.
"Drew."
"Drew Hunter?!" They all shouted simultaneously, causing me to lean back slightly in shock.
"Yeeeeah?" I responded, suspicion and worry evident in my tone.
"Oh man, he was The Man." Peter responded while Mason nodded in agreement.
Laura let out a dreamy sigh before nodding alongside them, "His six pack was so dreamy."
"TMI, Laura." I said before chuckling at her. She must of realised that she had said it out loud because her face immediately turned red, lowering her head against the table in shame.
I laughed out loud as I leaned forward and messed her hair up with my fingers.
"Something that has been bugging me for a while, why is his surname Hunter and yours Winters?" Nikki asked as she bit into her sandwich.
"Well, it turns out that Hunter is my dad's surname and Winters is my mums. When we moved away, I guess she changed our surnames to reflect her maiden name."
"Aren't you supposed to be a Hunter though?" Laura asked, creasing her eyebrows in confusion.
"Technically, yes. However, I have no intentions of changing it to be honest." I said, shrugging my shoulders.
It felt good to not have any secrets with my friends but it also felt uncomfortable when the spotlight landed on me and my family. I think Nikki must of sensed my uneasiness because she quickly winked at me before speaking up.
"Okay, so let's focus! Tomorrow? Let's assume Avery is good to go. What time should we all meet up?"
"What's this for again?" Peter asked.
"PAINTBALL!" We all shouted simultaneously, I let out a chuckle at the scene playing in front of me.
"Got room for two more?"
I turned my head at the sound of his voice. There he stood alongside Lucas who was already smiling in agreement. When I looked back I saw that everyone on the bench were staring at me. It was at this point that I realised that they were waiting on me to answer Jaxon's question. It made me smile at the fact that they could have easily agreed because according to them, anyone would kill to be seen "chilling" out with these guys. Yet, no one responded to them, they were waiting on me.
"Sure. Why not?"
* * *
I thought I'd feel regret it when I invited Jaxon and Lucas to paintball but surprisingly enough, I didn't. I was rather excited about our group outing, mainly because I've never done paintball but also I was looking forward to the ten of us just hanging out. Jaxon has offered that we all met up at his house and carpooled together.
So, here we were in two car loads as we drove an hour out towards the city to this arena with Drew and Peter's cars, mainly because they had cars big enough to fit four passengers. Somehow, it ended up being Drew, Lucas, Jaxon, Michelle and I in one car and Isaac, Nikki, Peter, Mason and Laura in the car behind us. I looked to my left and smiled at the sight of Lucas and Michelle passed out asleep, leaning my head back I turned away from them to look out the window. My eyes landed to the review mirror of the car, mainly on Jaxon who was driving and concentrating on the road, while Drew who sat to the left of him leaned back in his chair messaging on his phone.
I closed my eyes as the wind blew past my hair, thanking God I wasn't the one driving. The sun was in perfect position as it reigned it's power over my face, making me inhale a deep breath appreciating the smell of freshly cut grass. I let out a content sigh as I finally felt myself relaxing and for the first time, my mind was completely clear. I could feel myself falling asleep which I didn't want because then I'd feel groggy when we arrived. I forced my eyes open, leaning forward to stretch my back. My eyes involuntarily moved towards the side mirror, locking eyes with Jaxon who was already looking at me through the mirror. It was like I could feel his eyes on me the moment the car stopped at a red light, but now I was stuck. I couldn't move away, I was hypnotised by his stare. Our contact was broken away at the sound of Drew clearing his throat.
"What?" Jaxon asked.
"The light is green, dude." Drew mentioned.
"Right, I knew that." Jaxon responded before driving to our destination. There was a faint smile on my face that I couldn't shake off. The sound of my phone beeping redirected my thoughts. Grabbing it I unlocked it instantly to read the message, chuckling lightly at the content.
Sat, May 28, 10:46 AM
Drew: I think someone is smitten by you. ð¤
Sat, May 28, 10:46 AM
Me: Shut up ðð¼
Sat, May 28, 10:47 AM
Drew: ð¤¢ð
Sat, May 28, 10:47AM
Me: You're such a shit.
Sat, May 28, 10:47 AM
Drew: Now I gotta lay the big brother smack down law on him... again ð
Sat, May 28, 10:48 AM
Me: Don't even start me with that BS.
* * *
FOR THOSE READING FROM A COMPUTER/LAPTOP.
* * *
I smiled as I heard Drew chuckle out loud before looking over his shoulder to wink at me.
"What's so funny?" Jaxon asked as he came to a stop at another light.
"Just received a rather amusing message." Drew responded before leaning back in his chair.
"How long until we get there?" I asked. Yes, it was an attempt to change the subject but I was also getting anxious the longer I sat here.
Jaxon looked at me through the review mirror before responding, "It's actually around the corner."
Around the corner he was right, we finally arrived and we were immediately greeted by two huge pillars on either side of the gated entrance, it was amusing to see that even the entrance was covered in paint but I think they did that for dramatic effect. I let out a relaxed sigh as I stretched my body out before following the rest of the group towards the front office.
After receiving the gear, a ten minute lecture of the rules and the regulations regarding how close you can be to shoot someone, we finally made our way towards our secluded arena. It kind of felt bad ass that we had this arena to ourselves, this was the small arena and it was huge. Imagine if they had booked the large arena, I'd be spending more time trying to find my way around than anything else. The double gates were kind of daunting as we made our way in. We all looked around the arena which looked like an army barricade, they had tall towers, walls, sandpits and big crates scattered all over the place. The entire arena was covered in colour, clearly they gave up in trying to clean the paint from every attendance.
I watched as Drew looked around, before grabbing bark from the floor. He made his way towards us and we all took a bark off him, "Two longest barks are captain."
"That's a fair way to do it." I said as I grabbed a bark.
We all kept our hands closed until he handed them all out, "Show em!" Drew demanded.
We all raised our hands and looked around, those with the shortest barks immediately lowered their hands, until there were two left.
"You boys are our captains." Drew said as he looked between Isaac and Jaxon.
"So, who chooses first?" Jaxon asked as his eyes landed on me.
"Rock, paper, scissors?" I suggested. The guys shrugging in agreement move to stand face to face.
"First person wins." Drew said.
We watched as the guys shook their fist, Jaxon drawing paper, Isaac drawing scissors. Isaac smirked at Jaxon before looking at me,
"Let's go, Boo-Bear."
I let out a chuckle as I jogged towards Isaac.
"Drew, let's do it."
I watched as Drew chuckled before hi-diving Jaxon.
"Oooooo. Battle of the siblings." Lucas said before rubbing his hands together. I let out a chuckle as I shook my head. The boys kept choosing their team members and it was all quiet until Drew came to stand next to me.
"I'll make a bet with you." He said.
My eyebrow raised at him in question.
"If I shoot you first, you and Alena have Sunday lunch with us.
"Too easy. I love having lunch with you and Michael." I said as I chuckled lightly.
Drew shook his head in denial before smiling at me,
"I meant at my home, with the entire family."
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A/N: HAPPPPPPYYYY NEEWWW YEEAARRR!!!
LOVE YOU ALL!! Xx
Next Chapter: What should Avery put as her bet if she is to win?