Mini Chapter
Further adventures of Emily and Mike (names changed). Can be read in series or standalone, background in Part 1.
Tess-O'Meter -- Green.
My timing on a trip to Mike's hometown had coincided with a birthday bash, and Mike's crowd, who are lovely, had invited me along.
By now it was no secret that we were 'friends with benefits' and apart from teasing Mike about his penchant for older women and accidently-on-purpose calling me Ms Cougar from time to time, it was just an accepted thing.
A far as I knew, only K- was aware of the nature and purpose of our F+B relationship, and as he had joined us in some experimentation, I didn't think he was going to 'out' us in a hurry.
This party night was taking place at a Laser Tag center. All urban scrawl, fake warehouses and graffiti covered streets. Dark, confusing, echoing spaces, flashing lights and background siren noises.
We had split into girls verses boys for the night, and I was thoroughly enjoying these fun young ladies, in their high heeled boots, glittery nails, and fake eyelashes, contrasting with the camouflage vests and helmets that we had all been forced into.
Low maintenance these girls were not. I was the only female in jeans!
However, trying to move fast and quietly with a group of giggly girls dressed for a night at the clubs, was not proving to be very successful and the guys were hammering us.
We managed to lose them in some confusion, and I signaled an emergency huddle to try and turn the tide.
"Girls, we're losing here, we need to even out the odds," I said.
"How?"
"We use our advantage."
"What advantage?" S- wanted to know.
"Duh! We are girls, they are boys. Boys are easily manipulated," I pointed out.
"You've got a plan?"
I grinned at L-, "I've got an evil plan," I confirmed.
"Let's hear it."
"We ambush them. Set a trap and blast them, massacre them."
L- glanced over her shoulder and then made carry on motions.
"They've gone the wrong way, but they'll double back, we've got like five minutes, tops," I pointed towards the open area we had just run through.
"Bait. Collapsed in the middle on the floor. They will have to check, they're guys. Christ, one's a paramedic, he won't be able to stop himself. They'll all go into protective mode, then BAM. Lock and Load sisters - aim and fire!"
"Who's the bait?" S- asked.
"Me silly," I confirmed, "they'll think I've had a heart attack or something, I'm way older. You hide out behind these crates, people with less lives left stay further away, shoot and run."
L- was laughing but S- looked troubled.
"What if we hit you instead of them?" she worried, rubbing my arm.
I took her hand in a dramatic gesture, "It'll be worth the sacrifice for you girls, we can't all survive, and I'm down to one life. Plus, I really want a coffee. Ssshhhhh."
We all shushed L- as her laugh became a whoop.
"Sorry," she spluttered, "This is awesome."
"For sure, we doing this?"
They all nodded, and we knocked fists before moving out.
I took my position on the floor as L- sent the girls to best cover and retreat positions.
I sprawled out, gun dropped, arms out, clearly defenseless in the middle of the floor.
I could already hear footsteps getting closer and knew it was the boys realizing their mistake and heading back.
Closing my eyes, I concentrated on not laughing as the whispered conversation came closer.
"D-. D-?"
"What is it?"
"It's Em, I think something's wrong."
"What?" that was Mike. I heard movement, then the sound of a gun being dropped beside me.
"Don't move her," D- warned.
"Em?" I felt Mike gently cup my face, but he was careful not to move me. A laugh started to tickle in my tummy.
A firmer hand pushed up my sleeve as D- felt for my pulse. "Em? Emily can you hear me sweetheart?"
HA! If only he knew.
More movement as the rest of the guys surrounded us.
"She okay?"
HOOK. LINE. SINKER.
"Her pulse is rapid."
Yea, because I'm trying not to laugh, sucker!
"Emily?" D- sounded more suspicious now, come on girls.
Suddenly all hell broke loose as the boys were fired on from numerous positions.
Fish in a barrel, they scrambled to grab their guns and fire back, but there was little cover.
Well, apart from behind the bodies of their teammates.
War is cruel.
Two minutes later it was over, the sound of running feet retreated.
Wow - loaded silence much.
I propped myself up on my elbows to observe the damage.
Three men down and many 'lives' lost.
Mike and D- somehow still had five lives left, F-, T- and M- two lives each, J- was down to one.
"Little bitchy bastards," K said, sounding impressed, even as his vest informed him that he was toast.
Mike sighed, ran his hand down his face and stood, still straddling one of my legs he looked down at me, eyes hard.
"Whose idea was this?" he asked, indicating the carnage around us.
I just smiled.
Mike nodded slightly, sighed again before aiming and firing at my chest.
He then stepped over me and walked away before my vest had even started bleeping, 'Game Over, Game Over'.
The remaining team followed him as they ran for cover towards the crates.
D- followed after a quick glance back at me, still torn between concern and disbelief.
I winked and he grinned and then followed the others, now on the hunt for the enemy and payback.
I looked up at K-, "Did you see what he did? That was cold."
"That was cool," K- was laughing but he helped me to my feet, and we all headed for coffee in good humour.
Sadly, the girls lost, despite our ill gained advantage, having been ruthlessly hunted down.
S- turned up not long after we had sat down, complaining that her eyelashes had gotten in her way. K- grumbled that he had broken a nail and they started to compare notes as I smirked into my coffee.
Twenty minutes later it was over, the boys came back to cheers and took their bows, all five of the post-ambushees having survived.
