Chereads / God among Bugs (on hiatus) / Chapter 23 - basketball, bumper cars, and bikinis

Chapter 23 - basketball, bumper cars, and bikinis

Mike is waiting next to the entrance as a dejected Tom walks up to him "What happened to your prize?" Mike asks with a grin. Tom just points at Mari with the python thrown over her shoulder as she skips along with Chelsea holding her gorilla.

"Let's have a competition" Vic exclaims after her and Larry catch up to everyone. "highest score picks where we go next?" Larry asks smiling since this one is in the bag. "I'm fine with that." "Me too." "eh." "Sure." With everyone in agreeance they break off into three teams of two.

Larry, Vic, Mari, and Chelsea get in the first two cars while Tom and Mike await there turn. As they hear shouting laughter and screaming inside the two begin talking.

"Soo Larry and Vic went all the way?" Tom asks Mike. "Hell if I know man I found out they were dating this weekend just like you..." "You and Chelsea dating?" "Nah man I mean we hang out every once in awhile but it's just gaming and the occasional movie no actual dating, you know no kissing or hugging sooooo no I don't think we are?" Mike replied but didn't sound too sure.

"You two hold hands?" "Nope." "Cute talk?" "... Maybe, Does cussing the winner count?" "Nope." "Ah then no none of that either." "hmmm What should we do?" Tom asks when he finished grilling Mike. "What do you mean?" Mike replies slightly confused.

"Well if I was Larry and Vic I think I would want some alone time.. you know date stuff? I don't know I never had a 'real' girlfriend before and my only date ever blew me off.." Tom slowly gets quieter as his sentence ends finding himself in a dark place. "Aww poor Lil emo boy" "F∆¢k you Mike."

After a moment of silence Mike snapped his finger as if he had an idea. "How about we split up in groups?" "But winner chooses next ride dude remember?" Tom replied leading to more silence.. "What if there's a tie? then we could just say everyone breaks off and meet up every couple of minutes before we go back for lunch" Mike suggested and since Tom couldn't think of anything better he just nodded his head.

A few moments later Larry and Victoria walk out laughing and high-fiving as the losers followed. "Wasn't even close.." Mari sighed." "I think our guns were busted." Chelsea complained. "So what was the score?" Mike asked nervously hoping they had a chance to make a tie.

"1275 good luck chumps" Larry replied while flipping them both the bird. "We got this Mike." Tom laid a hand on Mike's shoulder and pushed him along.

Larry, Vic, Chelsea, and Mari wait by the exit but the only noise heard this time was the sound effects from the ride and the occasional "Reloading!"

A few moments later Tom and Mike walked out sweating like pigs and breathing heavily. "How did you.." before Vic could ask Mike showed his phone screen with their score of 1275.

"So me and Larry vs Tom and Mike?" Vic says but before she could run off Tom yelled "Wait! Since it was a tie why don't we break up in groups?" "Great idea Tom! Chelsea you wanna hit the bumper cars so I can thrash you like I did at DBZ last night?" Mike says quickly.

While Tom looks at Mike feeling betrayed Chelsea replies "You only beat me because you used an auto fire controller and you know it!" before bopping Mike with the gorilla and the two of them walk off...

"Since we're all splitting up do you wanna hit the basketball game real quick so I can win a few more prizes for you before we hit the rides?" Larry says while looking at Victoria.

"Oooh yes! I want a giant teddy bear!" Victoria squeals in delight almost making everyone forget she's the stab happiest blonde on the planet.

With everyone abandoning them Tom and Mari look at each other and just as Tom was going to open his mouth Mari stopped him. "No drop zone." ... "I was going to suggest the water park they just reopened for the season and since school is in we won't be swimming in kiddie p!$$."

"I would love to but I didn't bring any swim wear.." Mari says as they walk. "Eh count it as my treat It's only the right thing to do." "Why because you're a man wanting to see a woman in a bikini?" Mari eyes Tom jokingly "No because I don't wanna be alone in the lazy river, Come on they have clothing stores next to the water park section!" Tom brushed off her comment and started walking.

Shortly after the two made it to the clothing store Tom picked out some Snoopy swimming trunks and Mari went into the dressing room.

"Promise not to laugh?" She calls out from the inside. "Sure." Tom replied nonchalantly "I need a promise.." She calls back sounding embarrassed. "I Thomas Lanier swear on my life not to laugh at the great Mari Obi for showing me her half naked body."

Mari stormed out of the changing room "DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!!!" .. Time stopped in Thomas's eyes she was beautiful, she picked out a white bikini with yellow polka dots.

The contrast of the white and bright yellow against her dark complexion was eye catching and he could see the Henna tattoo around her belly button was made with a yellow dye as well matching the bikinis spots.

"beautiful.." Tom murmured under his breath before catching himself "It looks great on you Mari Really you had nothing to worry about."

Even though Tom said it under his breath Mari heard the first compliment and smiled. Again her pearl white teeth contrasted beautifully against her dark skin. "Ok let's grab some sunscreen and we can go."

"Huh I don't need sunscreen do you not see this bronze tan? I have never worn sunscreen a day in my life." "Well good for you but I do need it, I don't want to look like a black leather bag in my thirties." Mari replied while rolling her eyes. "Fine fine let's just get this and go." As Tom reached for the spray on sunscreen Mari smacked his hand.

"Bad Tom.. this is the only decent brand they have here." after picking up a bottle of heavy duty sunscreen they checked out at the register and made their way to the lazy river.

Tom changed in one of the stalls and when he got over to the river Mari called out for him. "Hey genius I know you've never been on a date before but mind getting my back for me?" Mari stood there with the bottle in hand.

"Oh right, yeah my bad here." as he rubbed the sunscreen into her back all he could smell was strawberries and coconut. "Your perfume smells nice." Tom says after he finished with her upper and middle back. "It's my shampoo but thanks, and don't forget my neck and shoulders please." Mari says while smiling, knowing Tom can't see her face.

"All done, how long does this stuff take to dry?" "Bottle says a minute but I like to give it five. You can jump in if you want though." Tom looks at her strangely. "I'll wait, do you want a soda? I'm kinda thirsty." "I'll take a Coke please." "Got it." After Tom walked over to the vending machine two men approached Mari.

"Hey sexy why don't you ditch that shrimp and hang with us?" Man number one asks "No thanks." Mari answers instantly "Aww why not huh too good to date your own race?" Man number two Replied "Excuse me?!?! I wouldn't date a thug wanna be like you if you were white, black, Asian, or Spanish, don't go thinking just because you don't make the cut I'm stuck up!" Mari shouted.

Tom could hear Mari shouting so he rushed over with soda in hand to see what was going on. After Tom showed up both men puffed up their chests and made their voices deeper. "Leave our sista's alone Honkey" Man number two growls at Tom.

Tom looks at Mari then the two men then back at Mari before setting the sodas down. "Hey dudes not trying to make you look any less.. cool but both of us are under 18, lay a hand on me she calls the cops, and if you think about touching her one of you will be calling the cops on me, so just cut bait and find a woman you can legally 'get with' cause my girl is out of your reach in many ways."

"The F∆¢k you mean we'll call the cops on you, you think your dangerous or something kid?" Man number one says while bucking up to Tom. Doing his best imitation of a Victoria smile Tom put a hand in the side pocket of his swimming trunks. "Were you guys smart enough to get past the metal detectors?" Tom says while lifting an eyebrow keeping the smile on his face.

"The f∆¢k you mean by.." Realization hit his face and he shut his mouth before staring at Tom hand. "I promise this ain't a happy bulge.." Tom says and a clicking noise could be heard from his pocket. "Hey man talk about calling the cops how about I do that now?" Man number two says and picks up his phone.

"Sure call the cops because you tried kidnapping a teenage girl and threatened to assault her teenage boyfriend.. I'm sure the police love easy work." "We didn't try to kidnap sh!t!". "Your word versus ours.." a few seconds of intense staring and the men left after spitting at Tom's feet, man number two tried punking Tom out with a fake jab and Tom just kept smiling with out even blinking.

"Creeps" Mari said after they left and Tom picked up her soda. "Here you go." "Thanks Tom... I can't stand people like him." "The racist one?" "That and they were both too ugly to try hitting on me in the first place." after the both of them laughed for a bit before getting in the lazy river, their belongings safely stored in a locker.