The Bully Games

Chapter 4: The Game

[Atticus]

Laz records the results, documenting this decision in the meeting log and we move on to the next element of the game--choosing the method. As last year’s winner, I get to choose.

“I thought we’d go a bit ‘old school’ for this year’s game,” I announce as I stand and pull an old deck of cards from the pocket of my jacket. “Like Old Testament. How many of you know the seven deadly sins?”

Evie yawns, stretching her arms above her head. “BOOOOORING,” she moans, opening her perfectly painted mouth wide. “Sloth, lust, greed, envy, blah blah blah. When did you get religious, Ace?”

Taking a deep breath, I ignore my girlfriend and pull out a deck of cards. “Here’s the game.” I pull out seven cards from the deck. “I’ve written the name of the seven deadly sins on the face cards.” Holding them up I show them the cards, each one with a sin scrawled on the top in red sharpie. “I’ll shuffle them and place a card at each spot. No peeking. We all flip our cards at the same time.”

“Can we trade,” Zephyra raises her hand. “Like what if I got lust? I mean, I’m not making out with her just for this stupid game.”

“No trading, no takebacks,” I clarify. “You get what you get.”

“And you don’t throw a fit,” Simon finishes for me in a sing-songy voice. Zephyra glares at him, her pink lips pouting as her blue eyes shoot daggers from across the table.

“Just like in previous games, our actions will be scored by the other 6 Legacies based on a simple point system. The winner at the end of the year gets to plan the game for our next legacy council, keys to the legacy villa in St. Martin, and the 1 million dollar scholarship to whichever university they want. Any questions?”

Everyone around the table nods in agreement. Not a single hand is raised to question this decision.

I shuffle the cards one last time and set them one by one around the table. Once I’m seated, we all flip our cards.

There are a few groans but one by one, each of the seven announces their cards.

Evie is Wrath

Veronica is Envy.

Lazarus is Greed.

Madison is Pride.

Zephyra is Sloth.

Simon is Gluttony.

Which leaves only one card for me.

“Lust,” I announce as I hold my card up for everyone to see. It is the ace of spades. Ace, just like my nickname. I almost want to laugh at my good luck. Playing the lust card against Liliana Adare will almost be too easy.

“I guess I’ll pretend to be her boyfriend this year,” I grin and shrug. Everyone starts to chuckle, except for Evie who is so angry that her body is shaking as her face turns red, then purple.

“You…you…CAN’T!” Evie explodes, her emotion bursting forth and spilling over as she loses it. “This was a setup! You wanted to date her this whole time! Admit it!”

“Now Baby, hold on you saw me shuffle those cards, this was pure chance.” I try to calm her down but she refuses to back down. Her face beet red from anger she pulls away from me.

“NO!” Evie shouts. “I can’t believe a single word you say, Ace! Seriously, you pulled the Ace of Lust and I’m supposed to believe that is a coincidence? I saw the way you were looking at her, Atticus Preston! Of all the cards you get that one? This is some grade A bullshi…”

“But you’re the one who suggested Lily in the first place,” I argue, interrupting her rant. “I had no control over the target. It was a community vote. I had this game ready to go regardless of who we picked. How would I know that you’d pick Liliana?”

“After your display this morning?” she scoffs and then turns on the rest of them. “Were you all in on this too? You were all awfully nice to her this morning…”

“It’s just a game,” Simon rolls his eyes. “Chill out Evie. You’re boring when you’re angry.”

Evie looks like she is about to crawl over the table, grab Simon by the collar, and hit him repeatedly. So I stand between them, my arms outstretched.

“There is no secret plan, Evie,” I promise her. “Besides, none of this is real. You know that. It’s all just a game.”

“ARGH!!!” she screams in a fit, she runs out of the room slamming the door in her wake.

Sighing, I take a deep breath and follow her.

I find her leaning against the wall of the hallway just outside the library. She has sunken to the ground, her head on her knees, sobbing quietly.

“Hey, Evie.” I pat her on the shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”

“No, it’s not,” she argues through her tears.

Sitting down next to her I wrap my arms around her shoulders, pulling her into my chest. Evie melts into me, resting her dark hair on my shoulder as she cries out her anger.

“Don’t worry, Baby Doll,” I place a quick kiss on the top of her head. “You know you’re the only girl for me. Besides,” I add with a sly wink, as she looks up “think of how much fun you’ll have torturing her every time she looks in my direction. The rest of us might need to play nice to make our plan work, but you’ll be able to hurt her for looking at me all you want. You pulled the wrath card,” I remind her.

Her pout twists into a smile as she thinks about all the ways she could make Lily suffer.

“There’s my girl. Are you ready to do this?” I coax her playfully. She smiles, and I know I’ve won. We walk back into the room, hand in hand.

The bully games have officially started.