Considering Wells was in charge of planning the bachelor's party, I shouldn't be surprised that the venue he chose is an arcade. Specifically an arcade known for their game of laser tag.

Before we suit up and start the game, Wells informs us that the only rule he has is that we all have to down three shots of fireball, as apparently laser tag is more fun when you're drunk. I watch as the others willingly agree to this rule, tilting their heads back as they swallow the distasteful liquid.

Unwilling to break my path to sobriety, I merely toss my head back and allow the alcohol to trickle into the trashcan I'm standing next to. With that, we all grab out laser guns and head into the darkness for a round of the game, each player serving as their own team.

From the moment the game starts I'm certain that I will win. Not because I consider myself to be some sort of superior laser tag-playing god, but because the rest of the boys are tipsy and damn sure acting like it.

I find Wells first, as he's running around without bothering to hide, giggling like a school girl with a crush. I aim my gun at his vest, my laser hitting him square in the chest. Wells' bubbly demeanor disappears immediately as his gaze drops to my laser beam pointed at him, freezing in place.

"Dammit!" Wells cries, dropping his gun to the floor. "I was really hoping I wouldn't be the first out this time!"

I chuckle as I wander back into the shadows, calling to him, "See you on the flip side!"

I think to myself that Wells should be glad I found him before Asher, as I get the feeling Asher wouldn't go so easy on him. Wells hasn't made his flirting with Emmie so subtle lately, and Asher's history with the girl is clearly still a fresh wound to him.

I find Jay next, though on accident. I wouldn't have spotted him if I'd been in a hurry, and his presence startles me so much I almost scream. Sitting in the corner, quietly munching on some cashews, is Jay. Only the gleam of his eyes is visible because of the spot he's chosen to hide in.

"Jay?" I question, beginning to wonder if it's really him or an abnormally large squirrel. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Shh!" Jay hisses. His gaze skirts back and forth through the hallway, as if trying to make sure the coast is clear. "I thought I would sit this one out," he admits in a whisper. "The last time I played laser tag with Thorne . . ." Jay trails off, shuddering as if he can hardly bear to look back on the memory. "I'm safer here," he mumbles, popping another cashew into his mouth.

"Okay." I draw out the word as I study Jay with curiosity. Aiming my gun at his chest, I say, "you know I can't spare you now, right?"

Jay lowers his head in shame, a heavy sigh leaving his lips. "Do what you have to do," he murmurs, "just do it quickly."

My laser hits his chest, signifying the end of the road for Jay. He rises to his feet slowly, bag of cashews in hand as he heads for the exit. "Guess I'll go join Wells," he mutters.

Furrowing my eyebrows, I ask Jay's receding figure, "How'd you know Wells was out?"

"Because Wells is always the first out," Jay calls back, disappearing afterwards. I shrug off the encounter, ready to track down my last two opponents: Thorne and Asher.

Walking around the dark arena, I find that's it's oddly silent. I begin to wonder if it's possible for anyone else to be out already, just as I hear the sound of voices.

Slipping behind a corner in the wall, I peek my head out and watch as Thorne and Asher have a showdown, their guns pointed at each other, ready to shoot at any given moment.

"Sorry, old friend," Thorne teases, flashing a smirk. "I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to this."

"Of course you were," Asher agrees, nodding in understanding. "Nobody wants to lose."

"I take it you're talking about yourself?" Thorne retorts.

"Actually, I was talking about you." Asher shifts the gun in his hand, pointing it at Thorne's forehead.

As Asher goes to pull the trigger, Thorne counteracts him by sending off his gun, his beam hitting Asher in the blink of an eye. Asher's hand hefting his gun falls to his side in shock, expression one of defeat.

"Oops," Thorne taunts. "My finger slipped."

Asher wordlessly flips Thorne off as he pushes past him on his way to the exit, mumbling something about a rematch as he goes. Once the door closes behind Asher, I realize Thorne and I are the only players left. The only card I have in my favor is the fact that Thorne is tipsy and I'm sober.

"Oh, Noah!" Thorne coos, spinning around slowly like he's trying to locate me through the darkness. "Come out, come out, wherever you are! If you give up now I'll make your end quick!"

"Not likely," I say as I step out of the shadows, gun aimed at Thorne's chest, finger already brushing the trigger.

Thorne studies me with surprise, taken off guard. He quickly regains his composure, hefting his own gun and pointing it at me, a smug expression taking over his features.

"Give it up, Reed," Thorne chides. "We both know you can't beat me."

"Doesn't mean I can't try." I set aim at Thorne's chest and pull the trigger. Without a moment's hesitation, Thorne dodges my laser, missing my hit by mere inches.

A rueful grin spreads across his lips. "That was a mistake," he warns me gravely, clearly enjoying himself.

I barely have time to move out of the way as Thorne fires off his own gun, beam missing me as I quickly take cover. Thorne's gaze follows my movement as I run behind a corner, aiming for him and firing. I miss, though the grin Thorne offers me says it was a good try.

I'm starting to think I don't have a chance, though I'm not going to give up quite yet. It bothers me that even when inebriated, Thorne Baxter is still remarkably talented at laser tag.

"You can run, but you can't hide," Thorne calls as he tries to lure me out of the corner, his footsteps hardly making a sound as he approaches. "And you can try, but you won't win, Reed."

"You sure about that?" A thud resonates somewhere to my left. I smile in satisfaction as I turn to face the area, gun held out before me. It seems I've got Thorne right where I want him, and he has no idea.

"I am, actually." Thorne's voice drifting to me from directly behind where I stand startles me to the point of flinching. I turn around in shock, only to have the laser beam from Thorne's gun hit me right in the chest.

I stare down at the red dot on my vest in confusion, trying to understand how the tables turned on me so quickly. Sensing my confection, Thorne smiles smugly, removing his beam from my chest as he strolls over a few feet to my left, bending over to retrieve a pack of mint gum.

"I threw this to distract you," he admits, slipping the gum pack back into his pocket. It dawns on me that the small pack of gum must have made the thud sound I'd foolishly mistaken to be Thorne.

"That's why you're supposed to stay on your guard, buddy," Thorne teases, patting my shoulder. "Anyone can be fooled if they're desperate enough. But I have to admit, it was a good try. No one has ever gotten so close to beating me before."

I roll my eyes good-naturedly, shaking my head as I make my way to the exit alongside Thorne. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

Thorne chuckles. "Like I give a shit about how you feel. You're still a loser, Reed."

"Gee," I mumble as we burst through the doors that lead to the arcade, "thanks."

"You're welcome." Thorne flashes me a smirk before walking up the bar, taking a seat next to a very drunk Wells, who is shamelessly flirting with the bartender. She wrinkles her nose at him in disgust.

It doesn't take long for my thoughts to wander to Blake, evoked by a curly-haired dirty blonde standing few feet away who looks at lot like her from behind. Lost in my own world, I find myself thinking that Thorne hadn't been too far off when he called me a loser.

After all, I've already lost the most important thing to me of all.

____

a/n: i am struggling to keep my eyes open sjsjsjsj