“ WATER BALLOONS!” The war cry echoed and made time stand still for a second. Children’s eyes were glued to the cooler, swings squeaked to a stop, silence ruled during that frozen moment…

And then BAM! Screams and squeals of toddlers as they race to the coolers, adults sliding shut the glass doors to watch the blood bath from safety. Leaving us out here to fend for ourselves!

I mean the tree is far enough away we won’t be in direct line of fire and as long as we sit calmly and make sure they know we’re just observing...- Hey!!!

Hunter the Traitor is not sitting next to me. Nope. Because Mr. Traitor bolted during my inner monologue and is currently trying to gain a stash of water balloons from the cooler while blocking small children with his body. A true good example of an adult, obviously.

I watch disapprovingly as he races back to me, dropping a couple balloons on his way and already soaking his shoes. Hunter stretches out his hand in offering me one of the prized balloons and I just scowl at him and turn my head away in a childish manner that I’m sure Marcella’s trademarked. I. Do. Not. Want. To. Get. WET!

In my peripheral, I can see Hunter’s pout but then I see nothing...because some punk child just threw an ice cold water balloon in my face.

Oh it is ON!

I grab the water balloon so fast that Hunter doesn’t even realize I’ve taken it before I spot the kid (a slightly older pre-teen enry boy who’s currently trying to ambush a 6 year old so I feel less bad about destroying a kid as an adult) and with pinpoint accuracy thanks to years of football...I nail the twerp right at the back of his neck.

He shrieks and runs for cover. Meanwhile, I’m still fuming when I turn to see the pure glee on Hunter’s face at having me on his side. ‘You,’ I think menacingly, ‘YOU did this. You brought their attention to us. You-’ I feel a tug at the side of my pants and see the little six year old who must think I heroically saved her and was not just being a petty excuse of an adult.

She is the perfect example of shy innocence as she holds out a single water balloon for me…

Well, even I’m not going to turn down a sweet little child’s gift.

I like to think we both know who she wants me to get with this balloon, and the target has currently naively turned his back to me in order to pathetically miss a ton of his cousins.

By the way, the target is Hunter.

Oh but this time I don’t just chuck it. Oh no. Hunter deserves something special~

I walk up behind Hunter, completely normal. He glances at me from the side and he looks absolutely giddy over the fact that I decided to join him...Too bad I have to crush him.

In one swift movement I break the water balloon directly on the oaf’s head and for some reason amidst all the other chaos, this particular action makes the whole yard pause for a second.

Suddenly, I’m embarrassed. I took a game too far, I was too mean. I get caught up easily but I can usually control myself better. Oh God, the adults must think I’m a monster-

Except then literally everyone but Hunter starts cracking up at the dramatic betrayal. I can see the adults laughing inside, the Hair-Uncle looks like he’s wheezing, doubled-over. Grandpa Hunter’s clapping...is this...? Did I pass an initiation test? Am I an honorary..wait, I don’t even know their last name.

Hunter. Oh, Hunter. The face he’s pulling is priceless and lovely and I want a 100 copies. He’s frozen with shock and his eyes are huge but while he stares at me the “0” shape of his mouth slowly pulls up at the corners, and honestly it’s a little creepy because he looks like a deranged lunatic that enjoys getting water balloons burst over his head, but his eyes start literally sparkling with mischief and I am sure he’s somehow even more thrilled that I’d enjoyed myself.

Wait. I’d enjoyed myself?

The little girl from earlier taps my arm and when I twist in place to see her she raises her stubby little arms in the air in the universal sign of “Up.”

I turn back to give Hunter a smile and a look that says ‘We were never partners in this. This is my partner. We shall destroy you all’ and Hunter smirks in a ‘just try it’ way, before I pick up the little princess and place her securely on my shoulders before running off to a corner of the yard as she squealed joyfully in my ear.

Surprisingly it seems I picked the best possible partner. The girl, Morgan, had on this child’s tutu-skirt-overall thing that somehow had like four huge pockets that she’d stuffed with water balloons both filled and non-filled (I suspect her parent knew about this fight beforehand and armed their child accordingly). Needless to say, we slaughtered them.

Morgan would feed me balloons from above while also throwing a few of her own from her perch, and I would have a direct hit every time. The parents loved it, too. Probably because there’s something adorable about a cute little Morgan Tyrant taking out elder cousins. Plus, the Birthday girl had decided to join our ranks by my side (because we were winning) so you couldn’t really not cheer for us.

Also Hunter was absolutely soaked by the time the yard was out of balloons.

Now, I’m in Hunter’s room. Both of us exhausted and drying, lying with our backs on the bed and our legs over the sides from when we had sat down and just dramatically flumped back onto his mess of sheets.

Grandma Hunter had met us at the sliding door with towels and congratulations for me while Boss Aunt had a line of towels creating a path to the bathroom from the door and every piece of furniture was covered in towels.

The kids obviously got dried and cleaned up first, then me (Hunter’s mom had gotten me one of Hunter’s old corny T-shirts to change into and that was embarrassing as hell) and Hunter was last. I felt kinda bad about that part because he was the most soaked of anyone but his family wouldn’t let the guest and champion go last.

Morgan had passed out pretty quickly but her parents both flashed me a happy smile as they left along with many other families until I was pretty much the last one here. By now though, it was getting darker and colder and I wasn’t quite dry, and the main thing I needed was my jacket because somehow Hunter only owned one ratty coat since he had a body temperature of a child and I would not borrow from anyone else, so sweet Mama Hunter offered to immediately throw it in the dryer with the other clothes and I’d just wait till they were done.

Hunter had tried to weasel me into staying over but I was already way past my fill for social activity for the decade. Still, somehow sitting on a bed with a quiet Hunter was actually...nice. Some peaceful nothings were said every once in a while, a few quips about my betrayal, a couple awkward mentions of Marcella that I quickly changed the subject on, ‘oh is that a poster of the band Phoenix Fire Blazers?’ ‘Yeah I love them!,’ and some past stories of other family gatherings. Those were my favourite.

Not that I don’t love my family, I do, but we’re not like this (I couldn’t handle this 24/7). It’s so unique of a family and warm that it even draws an introvert like me in for awhile. And Hunter was officially an okay dude with me. Sure he could be extra annoying, and there was the whole Marcella thing, but anyone who can put up with real me? They have to be decent. That’s the reason that when Hunter asked,

“Hey, Jordan?”

“Yeah?” I ask cautiously while half sitting up because this tone sounded a bit more serious.

“ Do you think...Maybe...I mean I know you’re busy butifyouhavetimecouldwehangoutorsomething…” Hunter quickly mumbled off, and while I could tell what he was saying by context, it was amazing how it completely sounded like an alien language. Still it was cute. For a Hunter.

“Yeah. We can even be friends if you want,” I tease, and Hunter lights the f*ck up.

“Really!? I don’t get many new friends, especially not like you! Are you sure it’s okay? You can tell me if I’m too much, I-”

“Hunter,” I laugh because this frantic puppy is already too much. He’s way out of my comfort zone, but he’s funny in the goofy kind of way I don’t usually let myself be, and he likes Pheonix Fire Blazers, so that’s a plus. So what if he was the one my ex cheated on me with? That bitch doesn’t get to control my life. I had a really good time and..., and I need to actually reply-

“ It’s okay,” I assure and emphasize my words with a placating hand because Hunter’s shaking with excitement and nerves like he’ll explode. “ I’ll let you know if you get a bit much for me sometimes, yeah? But you just be you. I would like to be friends with you too.”

And before I forget, i warn “but you tell me if I’m being too mean or blah, okay? My mood can bounce around a bit and it’s usually negative. I don’t get violent… except maybe with water balloons, but still just walk away and let me know later, okay?”

“OKAY!” Hunter loudly agrees and I laugh for the hundredth time today.

Then Hunter’s Grandma comes in with my Jacket and clothes (I just put the Jacket on over Hunter’s shirt. I’m too tired to change and it’s late) and she doesn’t leave before pitching both our cheeks. I’m subjected to a round of Goodbye hugs just like the Welcome hugs before I’m finally at the front door.

Hunter and I quickly exchange phone numbers because I realized I may like a heads up if lord forbid Marcella actually hangs out with her boyfriend with her ‘busy’ schedule. Hunter seems nervous but then his Hunter-ness in his blood must win because I get one more big crushing hug before I leave.

Walking home at night, it feels very peaceful. Especially compared to what was happening a few hours ago. I turn back to take one last look at the Hunter household and find myself slightly smiling.

That wasn’t as bad as I thought.