AN: I have very sad news. I'm being dragged on an out of town trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin and Chicago, and I won't get back until Wednesday. But I'm going to take my laptop and write the whole time, and when I get back on Thursday, be ready for an UBER- UPDATE!!! I'm sooooooooo sorry about this…I tried to get out of it cause it's gonna be boring…but you know parents.
Anyways, time for the veto competition!
Blink
"Mush…you got nominated."
He nodded. I was amazed that he didn't seem all that surprised. I pulled up a chair and sat down beside him, and he sighed. "Who's the other?"
"Me."
He seemed surprised at that one. He looked up at me, his eyes widened in shock.
"Really?"
"Yep."
Another uncomfortable silence fell, and I wondered what was wrong. "Mush…if you're not talking because of the dare…I won't tell anyone if you drop it for right now."
"No, it's not that. But I will take you up on that anyway."
"So what is it? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
I raised my eyebrow. "Yeah, right."
He fell silent again, and I started to get mad. Don't you hate it when someone's upset and they won't tell you why?
"Mush." I started, and he looked up at me, and I saw something written all over his face that I never expected to see there: Guilt. "What's wrong? I'm your best friend in this house. You can tell me anything."
"It…it doesn't matter."
"Obviously it does, if you're this torn up about it."
He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's just…well…last night."
"What about it? Did I say something wrong?"
"No! No, I just…this morning, when Cowboy woke us up…"
I wasn't following. He wasn't there when I woke up; I'd assumed he'd gone to his bed sometime during the night. "What are you talkin' about, Mush?"
He shifted uncomfortably again- this kid could not just sit still. "Nothing. Just…Nevermind."
"Don't drop this. What are you talking about?"
"They guys, they found us this morning on the couch…in a very…compromising position."
My mind froze. It hadn't just been my imagination that someone moved off of me this morning just before I got up. Mush had been there.
"Oh."
Mush swallowed hard and dropped his gaze back to the floor. The poor kid, I thought. That's what he's been so upset about?
"It's okay, Mush...Really, it's no big deal."
He didn't look up this time, and I grabbed onto his shoulder to make him look me in the eye.
"Mush, listen to me. It's fine. I don't care."
He smiled weakly. "You're sure?"
"I'm certain. Who cares about them anyways? I don't know about you, but I slept well."
That got a laugh out of him, and the tension began to drain from the conversation.
"So that's what the guys were implying at the breakfast table?" I asked, and he nodded. "We'll get 'em back. Trust me."
Suddenly a groan came from the bed, and Skittery's eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Go get Specs." I ordered Mush, and he took off, practically knocking over his chair in the process. I stood up and walked to the bedside, looking down at Skittery. He didn't seem to be able to focus his vision quite yet- his eyes seemed glazed over.
He blinked and his eyes finally focused on me, and immediately he shut his eyes tightly in a stab of pain.
"Skittery? You okay?"
Specs ran in, and I immediately noticed the dark spot on his neck and the fact that his hair was a mess. Looks like he'd worked things out with Dutchy.
"Skittery? Can you hear me?" he asked, and Skittery nodded, though he kept his eyes shut tight. Dutchy ran in, his hair in much the same disarray, confirming my suspicions as he handed Specs the flashlight.
"Skittery…can you open your eyes for me?" Specs asked gently, and Skittery slowly opened one eye, and then the other. "Okay, I'm gonna shine a light in your eyes. Just keep them open."
He finished doing that and Skittery closed his eyes once again, pressing his hand against his forehead.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice weak.
"You took a good hit on the head, buddy." I said.
He moaned and dropped his hand back to his side, and I looked up at Specs. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"Yeah. He's gonna feel like shit for the next few days though."
"I'm right here, people." Skittery mumbled, obviously not liking the fact that he was being told that bluntly how he was going to feel for the next few days.
"Guys! Time for veto competition!" Cowboy yelled, and without a second thought, Mush offered to forego his position in the competition to look over Skittery. Talk about selfless- he was even on the block this week.
We walked out to the backyard, and there was a table there with a sheet of paper at each place. I sat down at the placing with my name, and then I noticed Snitch- who was head of household and not allowed to compete- sit down at Skittery's place. He said that if he won, Skittery would take the veto.
"Hello, house guests."
"Hello Sarah."
"Today's veto competition is simple, and it will help you to get to know your house mates better. The first step: fill out the form on the table in front of you. Do that now."
I looked down at the form. It started out with the basics- age, hair color, eye color, birth month, etc. Then it got more specific- favorite band, favorite movie, favorite color, and so on. I filled it out as quickly as possible, and then I sat and waited while the others finished.
When everyone was done, Sarah spoke again. "In a moment, I will ask you to get up and walk around, talking to the other house guests. When you find a house guest with the same answer as you, you will get them to put their signature beside that blank. The first person to get a signature for each answer and rings the bell on the table wins the power of veto. Does everyone understand?"
We all nodded.
"Alright. You may begin."
I made a beeline straight for Dutchy- the other blond. Not only that, but he had blue eyes. Easy enough. And who knew that Spot had a thing for Evanescance?
But I wasn't quite fast enough- Snitch rang the bell about three minutes into the game. Which meant Skittery had the veto.
Oh, shit. Leave it to the kid with the concussion to do something weird.
Cowboy
"Skittery, you have the veto." I said as I passed his room.
"WHAT? I didn't compete! And I don't even know who's nominated!" he yelled, immediately regretting the yelling and moaning as he pressed a hand to his forehead and Mush pushed him back on the bed. I leaned on the doorframe, snickering as he recovered from his own outburst.
"Snitch competed for you. He nominated Blink and Mush."
Skittery opened one eye. "Why Blink and Mush?"
"Beats me."
I moved on to let Mush explain, and I sat down at the kitchen counter, wondering who in the world was going to cook dinner now that Skittery was out of the kitchen. I sighed, stood up, and started to make everyone turkey sandwiches- that would be the best they got without Skittery's five-star cooking.
Nobody seemed to mind, though. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood at dinner- even the nominees, or at least the one present. And especially Specs and Dutchy- those two were practically giddy. But eventually the honeymoon would end, and they'd have to face up to what they'd started- and they'd have to face up to their families. I mean, from what I understood, Specs's father was the biggest homophobe that ever lived, and he was probably sitting at home tying up a noose for Specs right now.
They were in a sanctuary right now, where no one could touch them. But the second they stepped out those doors, it was over. Paradise lost.
But seeing Spot in a pink miniskirt was worth anything I had to undergo once I was out of here. I couldn't count how many times he'd fallen on his face because of those heels. That was absolutely priceless.
Mush
"Mush…I think I know what I'm gonna do with the veto. And I…just wanted to warn you."
I looked up at Skittery in surprise as he held a damp rag on his forehead. His fever had started to set in, just like Specs said, and I would've guessed that he had the flu any day.
"You don't have to do that."
"I know. But I want to." A chill coursed through his body, causing him to shiver even though he was sweating through his shirt. "You're a real sweet kid, Mush. No one in their right mind is going to vote you off."
"Aw, I don't know about that…"
"Don't be modest. It's true. And that's why I'm taking Blink off the block and not you."
"Okay."
He continued his explanation, although it wasn't necessary. I guess he felt guilty about not taking me out.
"See…if I put someone like Cowboy or Spot up against you…there'll be no question. I'm just…I hate to say it, but I'm using you. To get them out."
He'd been talking fast, trying to make his case, and it was draining his strength.
"I understand. No explanation needed. You need to sleep."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do. Go to sleep."
"Yes, mother."
I would have snapped right back at him, but he was out like a light. I felt sorry for him- what a time to win veto.
"Mush, I'll take over for you. Go eat your dinner…Cowboy made his famous 'mystery sandwich'." Snitch said, walking into the room and sitting down on his bed, which was right next to Skittery's.
"Alright. Thanks Snitch."
I got up and started to walk out.
"Mush?"
I stopped and turned around, and Snitch looked up at me like a guilty little kid. "I'm sorry, man."
I smiled. "It's okay. It's just a game. And be careful; Skittery talks in his sleep."
AN: Another chapter done! And hey…I may get one more done before I leave, if I'm lucky- I have the computer all to myself today, no sharing with dad. Next chapter, Skittery uses the power of veto, and I think we'll also evict in the next chapter…