A massive flat panel tv took up a good chunkof the library wall, and on it was a first-person shooter gamedivided into four panels with an intense game underway. Ronan,Maddy, Chase, and Aiden sat on the expansive L-shaped couch, eachfocused on the screen and throwing taunts at the others.
A loud crack echoed through the screen. Aidenstood and tossed the controller onto the couch, arms flailing. “Ah,come on. Where did that come from?” One corner of the screen wascovered in blood splatters, and the wordsYou have been killedby RONANflashed on the screen. “Where the hell are you?” Aidenglared at the screen searching for clues.
Ronan sat smugly in his end of the couch,body completely calm, his legs stretched out on the chaise in hisfar corner of the couch. His character ducked around a corner in adark room or cave or something so no one could see where he’dhidden. Payson watched his screen.
A few minutes later, a similar outburstechoed from Chase. It was still tough to see where Ronan was bylooking at his screen. His character stashed the sniper rifle andstarted to sprint across the map.
Maddy’s character was frantically searchingthe screen for her remaining opponent. Watching Ronan’s corner ofthe screen, Payson saw him draw a pistol, round a corner, and firethree shots right at the back of Maddy’s character’s skull.Gruesome, but effective.
Maddy’s screen flashed as red as the other’shad. “What was that? I was just in that room.” She glared at hertwin brother. He shrugged innocently. “Guess I should haveconsidered who I was up against; cops got nothing on spooks, isthat it?”
Maddy turned and discovered Payson standingin the doorway, quietly taking in the scene. The room went silent.What was that all about? She suspected there was more to Ronan thanhe let on, but she’d get it out of him later.
Clearing her throat, she entered the roomwith her book, “Guess this is not the best choice for a quiet placeto read.” She smiled as if she hadn’t noticed the change intone.
Sitting on the plush sofa next to Ronan, sheslipped off her boots and curled into him. He passed her thecontroller, “Want to give it a try?”
Maddy and Aiden erupted in objections. Aidenspoke loudest, “No, no, no. Haven’t you played any sports orcompeted against Payson in, well, in anything?”
Ronan glanced at her, clearly rememberingtheir day at the rec center. Payson rolled her eyes.
“She’s ridiculously competitive. Unless youwant a head injury from having a controller thrown at you if sheloses, or worse, a non-stop ribbing for the next week if shewins.”
“Hey, I’m not that bad,” she rolled her eyesand shrugged defensively.
Chase, previously sitting quietly in theopposite corner of the couch, spoke up, “We all love you, but youhave a serious competitive streak. And you’re a terribleloser.”
Scrunching her eyebrows, she thought aboutthe last time they’d tried playing video games together… and thefootball match last summer… and the 5k they’d run last Fall… andwhen Ronan beat her at laser tag. “Ok, so I may get a bit absorbedin the game.”
Ronan nudged her gently, “Really, I’ll takeyou on, anytime. I never lose, so as soon as you get used to that,I’m sure you’ll figure out how to lose more gracefully.”
“Oh my, that ego sure came back with fullforce bro,” Maddy teased.
He continued, raising his eyebrows, “But, asI’d like to get some tonight…” he handed Payson his controller.Groans echoed through the room.
Smugly, Payson snuggled against Ronan on thechaise end of the sofa and designed her character. As she selectedher weapons and armor, she offered, “I promise to not throwanything if I lose, and if I win, I promise only one day ofgloating.”
Aiden threw a suspicious look at her, “Onehour, tops.”
Payson nodded, “Agreed. Now get ready to getyour ass handed to you.”
Rolling his eyes, Aiden muttered,“Again.”
The game was intense, with some close calls.Maddy found Payson and fired off a single shot before Payson doveout of the way and hid again while her health regenerated.
Aiden took out Chase, with an outburst ofsurprise from Chase, and ran for the hills, tracking down hissister next. Sneaking behind as Ronan had, he nearly took her out,but a shot rang out from a distance, and the kill went toPayson.
Payson managed to quiet her normalsmack-talk, as promised. She’d been hiding on the cliffside andtook off running, moving into position to take out Aiden.
Aiden kept his eyes glued to the screen, butconspicuously whispered to Ronan from across couch, “You distracther so I can win this one, and I’ll buy the first round at Winter’swhen we get back.
Ronan shook his head, unblinkingly studyingthe positions of the remaining characters on the screen. “Nah. Ican buy my own beer.”
Again, Aiden made an offer, as his charactersearched the field for Payson. “Fine. I’ll take your share of boatclean-up when we get back.”
Still glued to the screen, Ronan countered,“You clean the boat, buy my drinks, and shovel the snow in mydriveway when we get back.”
Grumbling, Aiden agreed, “Fine. Now get on itbefore she kills me.”
