"And it's hard to hate someone once you understand them."
— Lucy Christoper, Stolen: A Letter to My Captor

I was reading Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella in the kitchen, laughing my butt off because of Emma. She found out that the stranger who she kept on babbling her secrets off on the airplane ride, was her boss. She spilled her dark secrets to her big-time boss.

And now I hope that someday if I ever meet the one, I hope we meet in a situation that'll be hilarious. That'll leave the future man of my dreams something to remember me by. I know, of course that at the start I'll think, "who the hell was that guy to do that to me?" because I have no idea that he is the one, but I gotta dream. Or, I could just wait for my "dark knight in shinning armor", accidentally and not intently rescuing me from my bedroom from a freak who wants to marry me- okay, I'm thinking of Will Herondale too much when he rescued Tessa Gray.

So much for my daydreaming, I heard a female scream from the living room.

I left Ron, Mike and Fi in the living room doing gods know what an hour ago. Ron, so insensitive, didn't feel like leaving my house at all. Shutting my fears off, I trusted Ron with my cousins and I left them there. Now what in tartarus are they doing?

"GWEN! LOOK OUT!" Mike yelled at me when I was at the entrance of the living room.

There was a small helicopter toy, flying around the living room. Fi was the one controlling it and somehow, the helicopter was flying out of control. When Mike yelled at me, the toy almost hit my neck but I ducked.

"What? YOU WANT ME TO BE NEARLY HEADLESS NICK?" I yelled over Fi. She was panicking and quickly thumbing the remote control.

"Holy Hades! WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!" I nearly screamed off of my lungs. Now that there wasn't any helicopter trying to kill me, I got a look at the living room.

The couch was upside down, Ron, Mike and Fi were hiding behind it. There were crashed eggs on the walls. Stuff toys were armed and seated all over the living room. The three were wearing pillows and blankets all over their bodies like they were some sort of armor. And Ron was wearing that seems like the cover of a lampshade as a hat. It was like World War Three happening here.

"PRIVATE!" Ron called out to me. "Get your butt over here before you die." His voice was stern. I observed his face to find something. I don't even know what that something is.

What the? Is he serious? What should I suppose to do?
I have thousands of emotions running through me. I mean, Ron is kind of a stranger to me and he's playing with my cousins like they were doing this all the time. I never felt so confused right this moment in my entire life. This seems all weird.

I was dumbstruck of what was happening, I didn't see an arrow pointed at me. The arrow hit my forehead and man did that hurt. I rubbed my forehead.

"Gwen! Are you alright?" Mike ran over to me and reached for the arrow on my feet. I didn't answer. I  was still rubbing my forehead when Mike pulled me towards the couch.

"She needs medical attention." Ron announced. Mike made me sit down behind the couch with them. I looked around and there were more trash here.

"Who shot me?" I asked.

"Get me the rubby-thingy," Ron ordered Fi and ignored my question. I blinked twice, focusing. Ron wiped my forehead with something wet and cold.

"Who shot me?" I asked again.

"I did, Private." Ron simply replied and continued with what he was doing. I slapped Ron's hand off of me.

Private? Why the hell did he shot me? Instead of asking those questions, I asked, "Could you please turn off that war music? It's making my head dizzy."

They were playing a background music from Resident Evil. I know because, I only watched the films, like twenty times.

"Can't. We're still on war, Private. You of all people know that."

"Quit calling me that." I scowled at him. "And what is that screeching sound? Stop making that wail sound."

"We're not doing it. It's the enemy." Mike said, acting scared.

I stood up and followed where the sound was coming from. It was coming from the other side of the living room. I started walking over there to know what it is but Fi stopped me.

"You can't."

"I need to find out what's making that sound, Fi."

"Private! Don't you dare—" Ron's warning behind me died off when I found out who was wailing. It was Sam.

"Genral! Genral!" Fi called Ron. I was going to correct how to pronounce 'General' but I was still processing what's happening. "Look at what I could do!" I heard Fi said in the background.

Behind, I saw what was happening between Ron and Fi.

"I swear that I would never say this but, oh my God, Mary. Look at Fiona, she just," he made a fist and pointed it at his mouth, "and, woah, I admire you kid." I looked at them and rolled my eyes. His "General" character seemed to be gone. He was amazed by Fi.

I am officially hating children. Why do they have to be so messy and childish? And... disgusting? I thought of the last word when I saw Mike sneezing at me.

"Mike!" I gasped.

Okay, back to business. I need to stop Sam crying because his wailing sound is killing my ears.

"Fiona, get Sam's bottle in the kitchen." I ordered firmly. "Ron, pick up Sam. Mike, start cleaning up and start with killing off that bloody music!" They all quickly did what I told them to do.

After an hour, the living room was neat again and Sam was having a death slumber upstairs thanks to Ron.

After debating what we can do next after they explained why they did those, somehow the four of us ended watching silently the movie, How To Train Your Dragon. We were at the part when Hiccup drew Toothless and Toothless is "drawing" Hiccup. Fiona and I sat on the armchairs while Ron and Mike sat on the loveseat that was in between the armchairs.

The three explained that Sam started crying and Mike and Fi didn't "know" what to do so they asked Ron what to do. Ron confessed that he wanted to play Soldier and he was the one who play-pretended like Sam was Godzilla. Both of my cousins thought it was fun so they played too. There were some damages with the furniture and some broken, therefore Ron insisted to pay for what he broke and replace all that was damaged. I tried to assure him that he didn't need to, but he was adamant so I let it go.

I asked them about the eggs to change the topic, they simply replied, "Classified information." I didn't push them for any further explanation. What I don't understand was how I didn't hear them. I wondered if it was because I was too engrossed reading.

When Hiccup was doing the hand-thing to Toothless, I covered my mouth with my hand and I was watching intensely. I felt my eyes watering. Even though I watched this film numerous times, I just can't help to get the feels.

"Mary, are you seriously crying?" Ron asked me. He was smiling, but only one side of his mouth curled. And one of his eyebrow is furrowed. I absently wiped my eyes.

"So? This film was beautifully made therefore it is tear-worthy." I said, not looking at Ron.

Later on, I heard Ron whispering something to Mike behind me. I tried to focus my full attention towards the movie but I couldn't help myself but snoop. I slightly looked behind me, trusting my peripheral vision more to see.

"How To Train Your Dragon is Gwen's favorite movie. Other than the Harry Potter films and Star Wars films of course." Mike said to Ron.

Ron didn't reply, which made me curious to fully look behind me. When I took a glance at them, I saw Ron winked at me. I quickly change the course of my eyes to the television.

For some unknown reason, I ended up blushing all night until Ron finally decided that it was time for him to go home.

A/N: HELLO! What do you guys think of this chapter? What do you think of Ron? Was too comfy in the Cohen Residence? Have you guys read The Hidden Oracle? (I know, last questions is out of topic 😂😅) Comment your answers and thoughts below in the comment section! If you think this chapter was good, vote! Thank you for waiting and still reading this book, THANK YOU! And because of your support, I have a surprise for you this week!!! 😊😊
See you next update...

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