"cupcake?".Tara frowned
"Yeah! Prior to the game,The location of the cupcake is announced.The goal is to stop other teams from getting to it".Chris said
"How?".Tara asked
"This is food wars Tara.What do you think?".Bruce smirked and left.
"Wanna be on our team?"
"Yeah sure".Tara replied excitedly."But what of him?".Tara glanced at Daniel.
"You mean the nerd?"
"Yeah"
"Nerds don't play games, Tara. Besides,he's famously single"Chris said.
There it was again.That stupid phrase"famously single".She was tired of hearing it.It didn't make any sense.
"I thought you were better than this".Tara said and left.
"What did I do".Chris thought.
"Hey".Tara said, sitting next to Daniel."what's wrong?".She noticed Daniel's pensive look.
"You turned his offer down"
"Yeah.Just because you're famously single doesn't mean you can't participate"
"That's exactly what it means.I can't do anything. I'm powerless against them.I don't get included in anything whether parties or sports ,and I'm honestly okay with it.But the fact that you're turning down fun just for me is not okay"
"You're being irrational again"
"Maybe, but it doesn't feel right for you to deprive yourself of fun just for me"
"Daniel".Tara sighed deeply.
"It's okay.Go have fun".Daniel smiled softly.
Tara agreed and rose to find Chris.Truth be told,she wanted to play the game.
"I'm in".Tara said,bumping into Chris.
"Alright then,Let's get you some equipment"
"What?"
"Just because it's food doesn't mean it won't be painful"
"Alright! I get to inflict pain on people"
"That's the spirit".Chris said as he led her to the balcony.
"Wow".Tara exclaimed as her eyes fell upon the loads of protective gear.
"Let's see,You'll be our Sword'
"Your what?"
"It means you'll be the one to get the cupcake while we protect you"
"If you're protecting me,it means I don't need all this stuff"
"That's where you're wrong".Chris crouched and started sorting gears."You'll need googles,Head gear, Shoulders,knees.All that stuff"
"What do I need goggles for?".Tara said as she put them on.
"Peppered foods".Chris replied.
He gave her an helmet and shoulder and knee covering.
"That should be all".He said
A loud blare broke the cheery atmosphere in the house.The expression on people's face turned grim as everyone rushed out of the house.
People ran to their team's base for orders and to get their equipments.
After ten minutes,another blare broke out.This time, everyone gathered at the front of the house with their protective gear on.Tara noticed a group of people who looked like they were going to war.Their expression was stern and they covered every inch of their bodies.
"Okay Guys".A girl started."Welcome to the annual food wars!"
Hoots and cheers broke out.
"Your weapons are at different places in the house so feel free to use them to your heart's content.I urge the four teams to conform to all rules of the game.Violation of any of the laid out rules will equal immediate disqualification of that team.Jocks,I'm talking to you".The girl glanced at a group of tall guys."Alright.The cupcake is in my room underneath my bed.Without further ado,let the food wars begin!".
Everyone rushed inside the house and grabbed a chunk of food as weapon.While some grabbed french fries and tater tots,others armed themselves with chicken wings and bowls of soup
"Tara".Bruce called.
"Yeah".Tara replied,barely avoiding the rushing crowd."Aren't we supposed to go get the cupcake?"
"Don't worry,This game takes a really long time.Come with me".Bruce said,leading Tara to the balcony.
She was just in time to hear Chris' plan.
"This is it guys".He brought out a detailed drawing of the house.
"Who drew that?".Tara turned to Chris.
"Joey"
"Where is he?"
"He should be arriving soon".Bruce replied and turned to face Chris.
"She will be our Sword".Chris pointed at Tara."We have to play a defensive game.No one gets near that room.Understood?!"
"Yeah!".Their voices rang out in unison.
"Onward to victory".Bruce grinned as he led them inside the house.
On getting inside,buckets of sticky liquid were poured on them.
"What the—"
"Save your breath".Chris said,raking his hand through his now sticky hair."It's gelatin.Damn team gets us every year.Come on,We mustn't let this dampen our spirits"
Tara glanced upstairs and wished she hadn't.
Out of nowhere,a flying meatball hit her square in the face.
"Ouch! Who did that".Tara snapped but all she got was a chuckle from the attacker.
"That's why you need protective gear.You alright?".Bruce asked
"Yeah".Tara replied.She now understood the game.The game was built on the ingenuity of a team to utilize food as weapons.
"Tara,Head upstairs.We'll be right behind you".Chris said.He nodded his head to the left and three members headed in that direction.
Tara ascended the stairs hastily.She didn't want another meatball hitting her on the face.
"Intruders". Someone shouted from upstairs.
Immediately,She was surrounded by three people.They all wore helmets so she couldn't see their faces.
"Where are you from?"
"Uhm Queens"
"Attack!". Bruce's voice came from behind.He grabbed two chicken wings and ran up the stairs.
The rest followed Bruce with Chris walking behind them.
"Here's your chance.Her room is the second by your left.Take this Incase".Chris handed her a spray bottle.
"What's in it".
"You don't want to know".He smirked and ran ahead.
"Okay.Just avoid the crazy guys and get the cupcake".Tara said before running ahead.
Tara liked this feeling.The pure excitement coursing through her veins.
Recently,her feelings had been full of gloom and despair but now she could finally have a good laugh.
Tara ran briskly up the stairs and stood facing the largest hallway she'd ever seen.
The hay could comfortably house two cars side by side.But presently,it was being used as a battlefield.Twenty individuals on opposite teams were battling.A guy grabbed a bowl of sauce and dumped it on another guy.
Frank used his size and just shoved people out of the way.That was until he was stopped by a pint of dough.
"Take this".A girl threw a handful of cheese at Tara.
Tara who was still awestruck got hit in the face for the second time.
"C'mon Tara, Focus".She rallied herself