Third Person POV

According to Kaye and Dina, Princess put them in charge of the party. The two kids stood shoulder to shoulder in the center of the living room, their faces puffed up with absolute authority as they explained how things were going to go down.

Faye had to play their games if she wanted to see her beloved Princess. It wasn’t Princess’s idea, but the kids’. They had taken the opportunity to hijack the whole event, twisting the rules into their own little chaotic tournament just to mess with the teen-adults. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Faye sat down on the couch as people lined up, waiting for her to choose one of them. She sank into the soft cushions, her arms resting over her large baby bump while her friends stood in a loose semi circle before her, grinning and whispering.

It was Faye vs. the kids. Five games, and the winner gets what they want. The loser has to wear a puppy costume and dance while barking and laughing on TikTok, which Katie suggested as punishment... Faye’s jaw dropped slightly at the stakes, a shiver of pure embarrassment hitting her as she imagined herself hopping around on a phone screen for the entire world to see.

The rules were simple: none of them was going to play the games themselves. They had to pick two champions to represent them. The kids crossed their arms, nodding firmly to confirm the setup.

The kids picked Henry and Eriko as their champions. Henry stepped forward with a nervous laugh, scratching his neck, while Eriko just leaned against the wall, a confident smirk touching his face as he rolled up his sleeves.

Faye looked at the people standing around, trying to figure out who would be good enough to win whatever games she was about to get herself involved in. Her eyes rolled from left to right, scanning the faces of her friends, her breath coming in short, calculated puffs as she weighed her options.

She thought of Sasha and Haley but then changed her mind because the kids were aware of Sasha using her powers to cheat. Kaye had immediately pointed a finger at Sasha, shouting about bans and illegal mind tricks before she could even step up. She thought of Ruger and Alex, but Kaye refused because he knew what those two were capable of. They were the best at both indoor and outdoor games, so he eliminated them immediately. The little boy shook his head frantically, waving his hands to shut down the selection before Faye could even voice it.

Faye stared at her nephew. She knew what he was doing, trying to make things difficult for her. She narrowed her eyes into sharp slits, sending him a heavy glare that made him chuckle and hide behind Dina’ shoulder.

She sighed since she badly wanted to see Princess, to kiss and thank her for her wonderful surprise.

The irritation in her chest was building fast, her fingers tapping against her knee as she realized she was going to have to play along just to get her girlfriend back.

Then her eyes searched for Malo. She was sure they had arrived together, but she didn’t remember him coming inside with her. He had vanished the exact moment the car parked, slipping through the shadows like a ghost.

She looked toward the corner. Charlie, his little sister, was inside her carrier, which meant he was around somewhere, probably with Princess and her supposed best friends. The plastic handle of the carrier was sitting right by the kitchen, confirming that Malo had dumped his babysitting duties the second he saw a chance to escape. Well Haley was busy watching the little girl.

It made her wonder what other surprises Princess had planned for her, and whatever Kaye and Dina were doing was clearly stalling, giving Princess more time. It was a setup, a deliberate delay tactic to keep her occupied while something else was being prepared behind closed doors.

Faye rested her head and groaned as a thought entered her mind. She let out a long, heavy breath, her head tilting backward against the fabric of the couch as a sudden plan sparked in her brain.

She slowly turned to her dear brother, who was sitting beside her on the armrest. She cut her eyes toward him, her lips spreading into a slow, mischievous smile that made him freeze.

"W-What? What?" Paye muttered, trying to escape by standing up. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his legs shifting instantly as he tried to slide away from her reach.

Faye pulled him back into the chair and leaned against his arm. Her fingers wrapped tight around his sleeve, tugging his heavy frame right back down into the couch beside her.

"I choose my lovely big brother as my champion," she giggled. She squeezed his forearm, letting out a bright laugh at his horrified expression.

Paye tried to refuse, saying he had to go to bed for work. He shook his head frantically, pointing toward his room door while mumbling about his shift and needing his sleep.

"Alright then, Mr. Paye Grande is officially qualified as your number one champion. Who is your number two?" Dina asked. She jotted his name down on a small piece of paper, her pencil clicking loudly in the quiet room.

"My dear boss, Pali Patel."

The moment Faye said it, Pali, who was standing by the window drinking from his glass, almost choked. A loud cough erupted from his throat, his hand flying to his mouth as the liquid spilled slightly over the rim of his glass.

He never expected that. His eyes went wide, his whole body stiffening against the window frame.

Paye turned to look at him, and Pali immediately avoided eye contact. Paye’s jaw clenched, his scruffy face darkening instantly as he glared across the room, while Pali suddenly found the pattern on his cup incredibly interesting.

"Faye, choose someone else. Not that one," Paye said. His voice dropped into a low, rough growl, his fingers tightening against the armrest.

"No. I have made my choice. You and Uncle PP are going to be my champions." Faye shrugged, her expression totally stubborn as she locked her choice in.

"I think a customer needs me at the shop," Pali said, heading toward the door. He set his cup down on the windowsill with a sharp clink, already turning his shoulders to slip out of the room.

"But Boss, the shop is closed for today. There’s no one there. I already did all the deliveries, and you attended to all the customers on time," Henry said. He blinked innocently, completely ruining the man’s escape route without even realizing it.

"Ahh, I forgot there’s one more patient who needs me," Pali said. He paused near the entryway, his hand resting flat against the wall as he tried to scramble for another excuse.

"Liar, liar, pants on fire," both Faye and Henry sang in unison. They pointed their fingers at him at the exact same time, their voices blending together to mock his terrible acting.

After trying to persuade the two to become partners, they finally agreed. It took several minutes of heavy staring and crossed arms, but the two young men finally dragged their feet into the center of the room, standing a clear two feet apart from each other.

Faye did it on purpose.

The two had been childhood friends, but not anymore because of the past. The thick, icy tension between them was practically vibrating through the ground, making the surrounding air feel heavy and suffocating.

Even when Pali had arrived earlier, Paye hadn’t acknowledged him or even greeted him. He was still angry about what Pali had made Faye do when she was a child. The old grudge was written clear across Paye’s face, a dark, protective anger that had never truly faded over the years.

Eriko wasn’t close to them the way Pali and Paye had been during their school days. He stood a little to the side, his hands tucked into his pockets as he watched the two rivals with a quiet, knowing look.

Matter of fact, Eriko had always been the third wheel in their friendship. He knew exactly how deep the history went between the two, having spent years watching them ride or die together before trust was broken.

As the four champions stepped forward, everyone gathered around, some standing and some sitting to watch the games. The crowd pushed closer, creating a tight circle around the living room rug while the music in the background hummed softly.

Faye hoped those two would set their differences aside and work together to win. She watched Paye’s rigid shoulders and Pali’s tight jaw, her chest rising and falling with a anxious breath.

She also secretly wished they would become friends again. She wanted the old laughter back, the ease that used to exist before the mistakes of the past ruined everything.

"Let the games begin!" Dina shouted, clapping her hands together as the colored lights of the cottage suddenly flashed, kicking the room into high gear.