The hallway spanned about sixty metres in length and eighty in width.
A red rug was spread on the floor and the walls were painted in gold.Silver curtains were draped over the walls.
Tara wanted to use the fighting before her as a distraction.She took small steps as she headed towards the room.
"Hey!".A girl with a nose mask shouted."She's trying to get the cupcake!"
After that statement, everybody turned to her.
"Shit". Tara muttered.
Among her attackers were jocks,cheerleaders,and she even noticed Leyla sneaking around.
"Wait...Leyla?!".Tara stared at her.
"Shh".Leyla mouthed.She wore the same equipment as her,but Leyla's came with a gas mask.
"Now!".Leyla shouted.
The sound of approaching steps made everyone still and look towards the stairs.
Bruce and Chris appeared first ,then joey and Eddie who both heaved a large barrel.
All four wore gas masks.
"Eddie".Bruce called and pointed to Tara.
Eddie grunted and rushed towards Tara.He also wore protective gear ,but his were a little small for him.
The attackers responded by throwing rolled up bread at him,but Eddie continued running,bulldozing through the crowd.
Finally,he got to Tara with pastry all over his clothing.
"What are you doing?".Tara asked
"This is our ace".Eddie smiled and placed a nose mask over Tara's face.
"Bruce, I'm good".Eddie shouted
Bruce smirked and opened the barrel.
A pungent smell similar to the smell of rotten eggs emanated from the barrel.
"Ugh! What's that smell".David,the jock who punched Daniel,said as he clamped his nostrils.
"Hydrogen sulfide".Joey smirked.
"Isn't that against the rules". Someone voiced.
"Not at all.The rule states that only food should be used as a weapon ,but we aren't attacking you physically.And hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs".Chris said with a smile on his face.
"Eggs are food so I fail to see the reason behind your whining".Tara interjected,walking hastily to Leyla.
"Feels like I haven't seen you in forever".Leyla hugged her.
"Same here".Tara giggled
"I suggest you all leave".Chris faced the crowd."Hydrogen sulfide has been proven to destroy a person's sense of smile.And just in case one of you decides to be stupid,Pain will accompany the actions of that person".
Bruce whistled and more members of their group ascended the stairs with food in their hands.
"Go get that cupcake".Eddie nudged Tara
"Alright".Tara entered the room,crouched,and retrieved the cupcake."Victory".She exclaimed,lifting the cupcake.Her attire was stained with different colours ,but she didn't care.
"Your first food fight.How was it?".Leyla said,embracing Tara.
"A lot of fun.Something I'll remember for years"
"That's the spirit".Leyla replied.A blare ,like the one earlier, rang out and everyone went outside.
"The winner of this year's food wars".The girl went quiet to build suspense which wasn't warranted because everyone knew who the winner was."The hot misfits!".The girl exclaimed, raising the trophy.
Cheers and screams followed by supporters.
The game wasn't really a competition.It was just an excuse to have good old childish fun.
"Go on".Eddie nudged Tara to receive the trophy.
"Shall we?".Tara turned to Leyla
"We shall".Leyla giggled and headed to the front with Tara.
"Thank you".Tara said,receiving the trophy then giving it to Leyla.
"Speech! Speech! Speech!".The crowd chanted.
"Ok then,uhm I want to say thank you to all the participants. Without you all,there would be no food wars.I also want to thank the owner of this ridiculously large house for allowing us to use this place as a battlefield."
"You're welcome".The girl who presented the trophy said smugly.
"Yeah ,and that's it".Tara concluded her speech and rejoined the crowd with Leyla.
The cleanup of the house was optional but almost everyone stayed behind to participate. Remnants of food were thrown here and there ,and talks of bravery were shared with each individual having a slightly different perspective.
"How're you holding up".Tara said, sitting next to Leyla.Tara just took a really long shower and was feeling happy and more relaxed than earlier.
"Better than before.One would think we broke up based on the way I'm behaving"
"How long?"
"A month".Leyla replied sadly
"You really like him huh?"
"No".Leyla said."I love him..a lot"
"I'm there if you need me".Tara said,patting her shoulder.
Tara talked to Leyla for a while before leaving the building.
Tara turned to go home when she realized that she forgot something or rather someone.
"Shit Daniel,Why does this always happen".Tara went back inside the house.She searched the house but came up with nothing.
"I need to place a tracker on him".Tara said breathlessly.She was now walking down the street with no idea where she was going.
She stopped at the library and had an inkling to go in.
"Why do you keep doing this".Tara said relived as she spotted Daniel and walked up to him.
"What did I do?".Daniel frowned.His eyes wandered to her ravenous hair and the water droplets on her nape.They added to her sex appeal.Her clothes weren't stained in the slightest; despite being involved in the food fight.
"It's what you didn't do.I thought you were going to wait for me"
"I was the only one that wasn't playing and you were having a lot of fun.So I decided to come home"
"Ugh".Tara deeply sighed and sat."This is the second time I've had to look for you"
"Uhm Thanks".Daniel raised his eyebrows.
"You're welcome".Tara said, obviously not catching the sarcasm in his statement.
Tara was no longer mad and her mind cleared to give way to other pressing problems:Did Daniel like her?!
Daniel was also thinking the same thing.His mind was working in overdrive,trying to refine the lie he would give her.
"Daniel".Tara called
"Yes".Daniel responded.His heart wouldn't stop beating wildly.
"I'm going home.Are you coming or..?"
"Oh".Daniel frowned.That wasn't what he was expecting in the slightest."Yes".A smile broke out on his face.
"Okay then". Tara rose and walked out of the library with Daniel at her side.
The evening breeze blew gently as the sun gradually moved below the horizon.
"Do you smell that?".Tara breathed.
"What?"
"The scent of nature"
Daniel sniffed but his wasn't the scent of nature."I don't smell anything"
"Ugh".Tara groaned inwardly and didn't say anything until they reached her house.
"Well bye,Thanks for today".Daniel waved, turning to leave
"Do you like me?".Tara asked