Chapter 6 #2
“No grabbing my sister,” Drew added quickly.
Xander flushed red, but JJ complained. “What is he supposed to do? Topple her over with a huff and puff?”
“Can we just get this over with?” I intervened.
“I know I’m a sexy beast, Stella, but you need to be patient,” JJ said and blew a kiss in my direction.
Ignoring him, I focused my attention on the best possible way to beat Xander.
He was so skinny, and without his glasses, he might not be able to see as well.
But his fingers were long, which would make it easier for him to hold on to my wrists in a death-like grip.
It seemed best to go for a quick shove to the chest before he could get his hands on me.
“Someone say ‘go’ already,” Xander demanded. “Stella looks like she’s going to kill me.”
“On your marks, get set, go!” Alec said in a loud, clear voice. If I weren’t so focused on crushing Xander and JJ, I might have been shocked by the number of words that came out of his mouth.
Drew and JJ circled one another, neither making the first move.
“How long do you think this will take?” Drew asked me. I could tell that he was grinning. “Two minutes? One?”
I glared at JJ. “Five.”
“Five?” Drew asked, confused.
“Seconds,” I replied confidently. I dug my heels into his sides, like one would a horse, and my brother lunged forward in response.
My hands darted out and connected with Xander, slamming into his chest before he had time to react. I watched gleefully as his arms flailed and he and JJ collapsed into the water. One down, one to go…
“Xander, what the heck was that?” JJ sputtered when he resurfaced.
“Sorry,” Xander muttered as he wiped the water from his eyes.
“Well, don’t let it happen again,” JJ grumbled as he sank under the water so Xander could get back on his shoulders.
Alec directed the start of round two with a smile on his face. When he said “go,” JJ charged forward and the water rippled away from his waist, creating a small wake.
Even though his face was pale with nerves, this time Xander was ready to counter my attack. As I shoved my hands against him, trying to knock their tower over, his fingers coiled around my wrist, forming an unbreakable grip. I tried to rip free, but his hands stayed firmly clamped.
“Damn, you’re a lot stronger than you look,” I admitted to Xander as I tried to wiggle my way out.
“Thanks.”
“Concentrate, Xander,” JJ growled below him.
With newfound confidence, Xander furrowed his brows and tightened his hold on me. Then he started to pull.
“Come on, Stella,” Drew said, his voice rising in alarm.
He moved forward, trying to find his balance so I wouldn’t slip forward off his neck, but a wicked smile spread across Xander’s face before he yanked me to the left with all his might.
My stomach dropped and I hit the water with a splash.
It happened so fast that Drew didn’t even fall over.
Xander had pulled me right off the top of him.
“And that’s how it’s done, boys,” JJ gloated. Xander reached down and fist-bumped his friend, his lips turned up in a half smile.
Sighing, I cleared the hair from my face again and swam back over to my brother.
“Anyone have any breath mints on them?” JJ called out.
Drew and I both ignored him. “What happened?” he asked.
“Xander has suction cups for hands. I couldn’t get free,” I answered. A knot started to form in my stomach. Whoever took the next battle would win overall, and I had no clue how to best Xander. I had already taken him by surprise during the first round, and I couldn’t think of any other strategies.
“I have an idea,” Drew said. He bent down and whispered in my ear.
A look of doubt crossed my face. “Are you sure that will work?”
“Just trust me, okay? I won’t let you fall.” Drew squeezed my hand, and reassurance flooded through me.
“Can you losers hurry up?” JJ taunted us. Even with Xander on his shoulders, he was hopping from foot to foot in anticipation. “I’m tired of waiting. Do you want me to die of old age over here?”
“Your insults are improving by the minute,” Oliver said dryly as he rolled his eyes in JJ’s direction.
Drew ducked under the water, and I climbed back on, determined to win. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Oliver slip into the pool and swim closer for a better view.
Alec repeated the countdown. “Ready, set, go!”
JJ attacked again quickly, but Drew was faster and moved a step back. We continued to dance away from JJ until he was exceedingly frustrated.
“Would you two stop being such pussies and actually fight us?”
“I take offense at that,” I said, looking down at him.
“And I’ll take my kiss,” he said, his eyes laughing at me.
“Never going to happen,” Drew said, then tapped my ankle as if to ask, You ready? I squeezed his arm, Yes.
Drew moved forward to collide with Team Evil, and Xander’s hands swiftly found their way around my wrists.
I pretended to fight him for a moment before Drew let go of my left leg and wrapped his free arm tightly around my right.
I kicked out and my free foot slammed into Xander’s chest. My wrists slipped free from his hold, and he splashed into the water with a cry of surprise.
“Cheater! You can’t kick anyone,” JJ shouted and pointed at me. “I win by default.”
Oliver swam over to his friend and slinked his arm around JJ’s shoulder. “Actually,” Oliver said as he tried to hide his grin. “Kicking was never included in the rules. They covered balls, breasts, teeth, nails, and hair. Any questions?”
JJ turned to Alec, who only shook his head and shrugged. “I still don’t think it’s fair,” JJ complained.
Drew let me slide off his shoulders and pounded on his chest in triumph before pulling me into a hug. “Told you we wouldn’t lose.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled, but I smiled at him anyway. Then I turned to Xander. “Hey, you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
Xander grinned and shook his head. “Not at all, but you did scare the crap out of me.”
It took a few minutes of Drew pestering JJ to get him to hold up his end of the bargain. When the words finally left JJ’s lips, they came out in an embarrassed mumble, and Drew almost died of laughter.
However, once that was done, JJ seemed to relax and returned to his happy-go-lucky self. “I have to admit,” he said, turning to me, “that was one hell of a kick. You almost knocked me over too!”
“Thank you,” I said, “but it was all Drew’s idea.” My brother flourished his hand and took a deep bow.
“You guys might be cheating assholes,” JJ said, and for a moment I thought he was actually mad at us, “but this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.” He displayed a wide grin, and I instantly grinned back. Surprisingly, I felt the same way.
“More chicken fights?” Xander suggested.
“Definitely more chicken fights,” JJ and Drew said together.