Page 77 of Help Me Remember
Satisfied I can’t possibly carry any more, I make my way to the treehouse, which seems far too quiet. I crouch, making sure I’m not missing anything.
Where is he?
Brian runs out of the bushes, and he doesn’t make it more than a handful of steps before balloons start flying toward him from every direction. A colored one hits him in the back, and someone sounds a buzzer, announcing that he’s been eliminated.
Shit.
I need to be patient and hope the other boys do the same.
However, Timmy has zero chill and runs out. Again, there are balloons coming from all around. This is where the girls are too. Spencer is smart. He hid them and told them to throw. He gets closer this time, but he’s throwing balloons too and must’ve hit one of the girls.
“Timmy! You got me out!” she complains.
Then another girl comes down from where she was. “I’m out too. I hate water.”
She wasn’t hit with a color, but apparently the balloon splatter was enough.
“Taylor! You’re not out,” Spencer hisses, and I grin because he just gave up his position.
Then the first girl looks at Timmy and laughs. “You’re out too! I hit you!”
Timmy looks affronted and then sees the green splatter on his shirt. “Mable!”
The pride on her face is enough to make me grin, even if she took my teammate out. I love how happy she is.
However, now it’s only Kendrick, Saint, and me left, but Kendrick isn’t here.
I walk around the back way, catching a glimpse of his white shirt. Oh, he’s done now.
I put my balloons down in front of me where I can grab them easily and look for the best way to get him. There isn’t much room, but I’m going to try. I throw two balloons quickly and duck down.
They hit him because I hear him curse. “Where are you, Davis?”
I grin. I’ll never tell. I move a little to the right, make sure I have a clear shot, and then throw two more.
“That was close, sweetheart!” he yells back. “Why don’t you show yourself so it’s a fair fight?”
I roll my eyes. Yeah right.
I grab two more, ready to go back, and hear him laugh. “I see you, babe!”
Damn it.
It’s do or die. I throw my balloons quickly, grab more and load my shirt back up. I’m down to just four balloons. I am going for it now. I run while throwing them at him, and he does the same. As I do that, I hear Spencer let out a long yell. “No!”
I throw another, hitting him in the chest, and it’s red. “You’re done!” I call out, so much glee in my voice.
Then a balloon hits me, spraying green water everywhere.
“You are too!” He laughs.
Then I turn when Saint breaks in. “We win!”
And there he is, holding the flag above his head with no dye on his shirt.
Spencer is smiling as he walks over to me. “Well done.”
Laughing, I jump up into his arms and plant my mouth on his. Yes, this was well done and the most fun I’ve had in . . . well, since I can remember.
