Atlas High

Chapter 4-Game Night Part 1

Hunter's Point Of View

            "Leo are you paying attention?" I say waving my hand in front of his face. 

            "Well not anymore Hunter. You've been saying the same thing for the last 10 minutes," Leo says with an eye roll. 

            "Can you blame me? I want this to go smooth," I say. 

            "You told me the same plan 7 times Hunter! I'm not an i***t," he says with a sigh. 

            "I know you aren't Leo...I think," I whisper the last part. 

            As soon as I said those words I felt a sharp slap on the back of my head. "I heard that Hunter. You really shouldn't insult the person who is helping you invite your crush over."

            Letting out a sigh I look at Leo before saying, "I'm sorry Leo I'm just impatient plus I've never felt this way." I say feeling slight heat on my cheeks. 

            "How do you think I feel? I have never seen you act like this and especially with a girl you've never met." 

            "I don't know I just want to see her and talk to her," I say to Leo. 

            "Honestly, it is kind of funny that you, Hunter Alexander Young famous quarterback for Atlas High is doing all of this for a girl he has never met before." Leo says while swinging his arms up into the air for dramatic purposes. 

    Besides being a little bit annoyed at Leo for being dramatic at the moment I can not help but feel nervous. Honestly, what the hell am I doing right now? For the last four years I have build a reputation of hosting or attending parties, my one night stands, athletic abilities, and my bad boy attitude. It only took a few seconds for me to start to feel something that I haven't ever felt before. And she doesn't even know who I am. Shaking my head side to side I let out a chuckle before signaling Leo to head to the door. 

    An excitement builds inside me as we make our way to the door but soon ends when a knock makes us stop. I look at Leo at the same time Leo looks at me. Opening up the door we are surprised to see Asher, Carter, Jack, Kyle, and Sebastian at the doorstep with food and drinks in hand.

            Asher notices us first standing there looking at them confused as to what is happening. "Why do you guys look so surprised to see us? Didn't Jack tell you it's your turn to host game night?" Asher says while looking at me. 

    I vaguely remember getting a call from Jack saying it was my turn to host our monthly game night. But when I got the call I was sort of 12 inches deep in a girl I was making out earlier in the day. I think her name was Kelly or Cara. Who knows but all I was trying to do was end that call quickly. And that is how we are in this situation.

            I look at Leo panicking at how our plans are in jeopardy. So looking to Asher I ask him out of curiosity, "how did you know I would be here?" I gotta know first before moving on. 

            "Well after driving to your house we talked to Kent and he said you went to hang out with Leo," Asher says to which I nod.

            "So are you guys gonna let us in?" Carter asks as if he is going to pee his pants by the way he keeps moving in a circle.

            "Uh yeah, of course, come on in," Leo says opening up the door letting them inside. 

            "Did you guys forget we were hanging out tonight?" Kyle says sort of hurt at the idea. 

            "No, they would never forget the plans they made, right guys?" Jack says while shooting us a look. He obviously knows that we did. 

            "No, of course, we didn't forget about game night. Come on we do this every month how could we ever forget something like this. We are just surprised since we were just on our way to um...go invite Leo's and Jack's new neighbors over. If you guys don't mind it's just that I was hanging out with them earlier and they seem pretty cool. Though it would be a great way for them to meet new people before school starts." I say trying to sound caring. 

            "Yeah, they're new to the neighborhood so why not invite them over to hang out with us," Leo says backing me up. "Just imagine moving to a new school for your senior year." 

            "That sounds cool why don't some of us go and invite then over while the rest stay behind and get the games and food ready?" Asher says while moving to the kitchen and bossing us around like he's our dad. 

            "Yeah sounds like a plan dad." I say that makes everyone crack up but Asher as he hates it when we call him 'dad'. Jack, Carter, and Ky (Kyle) get up and help Asher in the kitchen getting everything out on the kitchen island. While that is going on Leo, Sebastian, and I head over for the door. 

            On our way to their house, Sebastian speaks up breaking the silence we had going. "So is someone going to tell me the real reason why we are inviting Leo's neighbors over? Or are we gonna continue to pretend and lie to ourselves that Hunter is caring and concerned about them?" Sebastian says while looking between Leo and me. I hate how he can figure stuff out like this. 

            "Well, Sebastian our horny friend over here.." Leo says this at the same pointing his thumbs at me before continuing. "...saw a beautiful girl and now we're inviting them over so he can meet her and they can fall in love," Leo says sarcastically while I roll my eyes towards the end. 

            Sebastian only chuckles and gives me a glace before speaking up. "So Hunter Young has been struck by cupid, huh?" To which I shrug my shoulders to knowing how to respond to his accusations.          

    After our short walk to her doorstep, Sebastian presses the doorbell and wait for someone to open the door for us. As every second pass, I say a silent prayer that my angel will be the one to answer the door. What feels like 500 prayers later the door is finally open by Triston. I can't lie but my heart definitely sunk a little at the sight of him. But I try to mask my disappointment and focus on what Leo is saying to him. 

            "Hey, it's nice to see you again. I'm sorry I couldn't help out like I said I did but thankfully my friend Hunter helped both of us out today. Oh, this is Sebastian..." Leo points out Sebastian for Triston before continuing. "...anyway as a way to make it up to you why don't you join us at my house for game night?" 

            "Oh yeah, no problem we understood you had something going on," Triston says to Leo. "And about tonight why don't I meet you guys at your house in 15 minutes? Would you like us to bring anything?" 

            "Nope, see you soon," Leo says while waving goodbye to Triston. 

I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding. Leo and Sebastian break out in a fit of laughter. Me getting irritated by them to shove Leo into Sebastian causing both of them to fall to the pavement. We make it back into the house to find the guys laying out all the games they could find in the living room. From UNO to Poker to spin the bottle to Jenga there are so many games we could choose. I make my way to the kitchen to make sure they put away the drinks and that food is out in the open. Not long after we hear the doorbell ring. I can feel my hands get sweaty and clammy

    All the guys were in the living room sitting on the couches bickering about what game we should play first. Were so competitive we actually have a whiteboard to keep track of the points. I make myself comfortable in the L-shape couch sitting next to Carter. Leo makes his way to the door opening it to the guest of honors. I hear them talk for a little bit until they come back to introduce themselves to the group. I continue to stare at my hands that are clasped together until I can see their feet approaching us. We all get up to introduce each other to the newcomers.

 Tristan Hall Point Of View

    I don't know how we let Ellie go out on her own but deep down we know it's what's best for her. She needs time to forgive herself we all do. I know all I can do is smother her with love and make sure to protect her like a big brother is supposed to do. It was about an hour or so later when I heard the stomps of one of my brother's feet hurriedly coming down the staircase. I come face to face with Eric, Ellie's twin clutching a pillow in each hand and one under his armpit. 

    Seeing the mischief in his hazel eyes and in the smirk he has on his face I knew what he was planning. Without uttering a word to each other I give him a smirk and walk off to the living room where I know Angel is watching his favorite show, Criminal Minds. I tap his shoulder and bring the pillow up for him to see. It takes only a few seconds before nodding his head. We all go in search of more pillows which was harder to do since a lot of the stuff we haven't unpacked. 

    After a few minutes, we all come back to the living room holding up 3-5 pillows. Just in time to see Ellie pull into the driveway. We move to hide anywhere we can attack her the moment she walks through the door. And not too long after I hear the jingles of her keys. As she steps into the house Angel, Eric, and I jump from our hiding spots attacking her wherever we can.  

            "Ahhh," Ellie yells out followed by her giggles filling the room. 

            "Okay I think she got the point," I say to Angel and Eric.

            Ellie rolls her eyes before speaking up, "wow so this is the welcome I get? Maybe I should leave you guys until you show me your sibling love."

            "Oh come on baby sis you know we love you so much!" I say as I go up to her and bear hug her, followed by Eric and Angel. We stay for a moment until she speaks up.

            "Of course I know that who else would go to the Shell (gas station) just to buy their sister a slushie and two bags of flaming hot Cheetos." 

            "Anything and everything" was all I said. 

    That saying has been said at least a million times if not more. No matter how many times one of us says it somehow it never fails to hold on to the love and trust we have for one another. It never fails to bring us hope or whatever we need from each other. We have been through a lot in the last few months that we further believe in our saying. Not one day has gone by since that night that not one of us has said that. I don't know when or if we will ever stop and I hope we don't ever stop. 

    Ellie made her way to her room bringing up the pillows were they belong. I make my way to the living room sitting by Angel. After watching 7 episodes I hear the doorbell ring. I get up wondering who could be knocking at my door since we know none here beside two people. I open the door to see our neighbor Leo, Hunter and another guy. Leo's dark brown hair is styled in his usual fluffy self with one or two strands stick out, slightly blocking his hazel color eyes. He's about my 6'0 height but his friend Hunter has my color of dark black hair.

    Leo starts talking and while I listen I notice what they wear discretely. He is wearing a simple pair of jeans with rips on the knees and a white tee showing off his tattoo on his forearm of a compass with some writing on it that I can't make out. To his left was the guy who helped out earlier who was wearing all white shoes, light wash jeans with slits at the knees, a bright red sweatshirt, a black jacket over it with what I'm assuming are his initials and a black hat that says loyalty. 

    And on his right is Sebastian who is wearing grey sweatpants with a matching grey sweatshirt and white and grey shoes and his aviator classic Ray-Ban. His Ray-Ban hides his blue color eyes while his sweatshirt that is over his head covers up his longish golden locks. His blue eyes are similar to mine but mine a more sapphire blue. On his right hand and wrist, I can see a white ink tattoo of a snake. By the time I'm done I respond to his question since it would be a great way to meet new people before school starts. Get a feel as to how things are run here.

             "Yeah sure, why not. Why don't I meet you guys at your house in 15 min? Would you like us to bring anything?" 

            "Nope, see you soon" I finish saying then close the door. I yell out my sibling's names and soon enough all three of them are in front of me waiting for me to speak. 

            "Wants to tell us why you are yelling out our names, Tristan?" Ellie says while placing her hands on her hips. 

            "Go get ready all of you we got invited to our neighbor game night," I say to the three of them. 

    They all go to their rooms to change. About 10 minutes later Angel comes down the stairs wearing black skinny jeans, a light pink shirt, an olive green jacket, and his vans. His brown hair was to the side showing off his jawline. Eric wears a simple olive green shirt showing off our sibling tattoos that wrap around his arm. Paring with grey skinny jeans and grey converse.  Next up was Ellie who was wearing a light grey sweatshirt that said dreamer pairing it with black skinny jeans and her grey converse. She had her hair down and parted to the side letting her eyes be seen. 

            Ellie looks up and down at me before speaking, "That's how you wanna go?"

    I look at myself in the mirror. I was wearing blue jeans with my white vans, a grey beanie that hides my black hair, and a pink camo color sweatshirt that makes my blue eyes pop. 

            "Yep now let's go before we're late."

    Getting out of the house we make our way to their home then knock and wait for someone to open the door. Not waiting long the door is open by Leo. 

            "Hey glad you could make it. Please come in," he says. 

            "Thanks for having us over," I say with so much sincerity.