"I thought you said they wouldn't find out," I whispered.
"I thought my disguise was perfect," she replied.
"What did you do?"
"I left a whale onesie under the sheets."
"Wouldn't that be rather flat?"
"I stuffed it with the patient on the other half of the shared hospital room. I borrowed the old man’s blankets and put my whale stuffed doll on top to give it shape. The old man said he'd even imitate my voice, so they wouldn't grow suspicious," she explained.
"Darn. Maybe he didn't use a high enough pitch?"
"Maybe."
We both nodded in deep thought – the guys stared at us like we were speaking another language.
"Really. A whale onesie!" Jaxson stressed, lifting Scarlet's orange whale onesie.
"I thought you, out of all people would like it," Scarlet mumbled.
He groaned.
"Alright, why don't we take a vote?" Daniel proposed.
"No," Scarlet and I said together.
"It's only fair. Now, who's in favor of Scar and Mako going to the festival?"
Scarlet and I raised our hands, waiting for the others to follow. I turned to my knights.
"But...but..." I began, blinking my eyes as they began to water. The boys exchanged glances as they fidgeted in place. I sniffed, ready to start the waterworks when Marcus sighed, raising his hand.
"I can't do it. If she starts crying we're done for," he confessed.
Kai raised his hand. "As long as they promise not to leave our side, especially the Princess." He gave me a stern look.
"I don't leave your sides," I argued.
They all stared at me; even Scarlet glanced my way.
"Oh c'mon. I just get distracted!" I continued.
They shook their heads, but Elias raised his hand.
"It is her last evening here and we didn't get to do anything as a group, so I guess we can go," Elias commented.
Daniel glanced my way and smiled. "I guess she did work hard and took out a bunch of those lackeys with ease. A little festive fun is a good reward," Daniel chipped in, giving me a wink.
"As long as I get first dibs, I don't care." Ryder shrugged.
The guys groaned.
"You always get first dibs," Marcus complained.
"Do I need to remind you I'm the leader?" Ryder smirked.
"YEAH! So that makes seven against four." I grinned in triumph.
"You blackmailed them with your tears!" Ethan pointed out.
"But it worked," I announced, proudly.
"I love you, Mako." Scarlet hugged me.
"I love me, too." I beamed, giggling.
"BREAK IT UP YOU TWO! Don't go forgetting about me!" a high-pitched voice announced. We all turned to see Cece and Vinzent, her boyfriend, at the doorway.
"You two need REST! I'm with Team Seven! And so is Vinzent,” Cece declared. Vinzent sighed.
"I don't get a say?" he mumbled.
"No," Cece argued.
Kai grinned. "For the safety of your relationship, we don't blame you."
The others nodded in agreement; Cece rolled her eyes.
"Whatever! You have to rest!" she pointed out, placing her hands on her hips.
"But...we have enough votes!" I countered.
"You two don't count in the voting. So, it's six against five," Cece announced.
"We should bribe the nurse," Scarlet whispered.
"You think she likes chocolate chip cookies?" I asked.
"I love chocolate chip cookies," Scarlet replied.
"Me too," I agreed.
"No blackmailing the nurse with chocolate chip cookies," Cece countered.
We both frowned.
"Now what?" I pondered.
"Mew!"
"Meow!"
We all glanced down to Nightmare and Moonlight who bounced up and down in excitement.
"See! Nightmare and Moonlight count too. Nightmare. Moonlight. We'll buy you lots of bacon and catnip," I bribed.
They both froze, turning to face us.
"Yup. Extra catnip and I'll get customized plushies for you. Wouldn't you want a plushie of Moonlight, Nightmare?" Scarlet recommended, grinning.
"MEW!" Nightmare jumped up and down, racing to our side and walking onto Scarlet's lap, sitting down as her tails wagged quickly – glowing bright pink.
"I can't believe we're letting their familiars decide," Christian commented.
"Moonlight. Just come on this side. You want Scarlet to be nice and strong, right?" Junho cooed.
Moonlight looked back and forth between the two groups; his eyes lingered on Nightmare.
I'll make you a plushie of Nightmare.
"Will it look like her?"
Yes. White, soft fur with three fluffy tails and I'll even make sure they dye the tails pink.
"And she has to have a nice bell..." he mumbled.
As you wish.
He hopped over on our side, sitting next to Nightmare, who purred happily.
The other group groaned as my knights chuckled.
"The moment the familiars got involved, you should have accepted your defeat," Elias announced.
"At least we tried," Christian shrugged.
"YEAH! Seven against six! We can go!" I cheered.
"Just don't push it. Either of you!" Cece reminded.
"Yes, Mom," Scarlet and I said together, causing the guys to all laugh as Cece blushed.
"Let's go!" we cheered.
"Mako, stop jumping," Kai prompted; his arms wrapped around my waist to stop me from jumping over and over again as I held the rail.
"But, I'm so excited! The show is about to start!" I stressed.
We stood at the highest peak of the hill, waiting for the firework show to start. Scarlet stood next to me, having a discussion with Christian – his arm wrapped around her as he rested his head on her shoulder.
"Yes, but I don't want you falling over the rail," he pointed out.
"I'm not that clumsy," I argued.
"You’re not, but when it comes to you, anything can happen," Kai joked.
"You're just jealous of my awesomeness," I mumbled.
"Uh huh. Totally jelly." He grinned, kissing my neck.
"Hehehe, that tickles. And you did not say jelly." I lifted my head up to look at his amber eyes that twinkled in the light that shone from lanterns hosted across the park.
"I did. I bet the others are jelly you’re in my arms." He grinned.
I shifted in his embrace, going on my tip toes to glance over his shoulder, noticing Ryder and the others a few rows down. I laughed at their sour expressions as they stared daggers at Kai. I turned to Scarlet's men; all of them had similar expressions as they stared at Christian. I focused on trying to pick up their conversation.
"That's so unfair." Daniel sighed.
"Kai and his favors. Why did we do this to ourselves?" Marcus commented.
"His favors seemed appealing at the time," Ryder commented.
"If only we knew, all those cycles ago it would hinder us from Mako being in our arms as we watched the fireworks," Elias commented.
They all nodded as if reminiscing about their past life decisions.
"Better than us. Christian just blackmails us all the time," Ethan huffed.
"We all did get time with Scarlet except for him," Jaxson reminded.
"And he did drive us everywhere," Junho pointed out.
"I think it's just safer to give him what he wants," Cece sighed.
"One less mysterious death to worry about," Vinzent voiced.
They nodded in agreement.
I smiled, returning my attention to the phoenix shifter before me.