violet paintball

At some point I plugged my ears with screamy music to block out Vanessa's squeaky voice.  She was grating at my nerves, and if I had to listen to her much longer I'd end up punching her in the face.  Though no one else seemed to notice her annoying, snotty behavior.  Toby seemed head over heals for her and Clo chatted with her easily, acting like a normal human being.  Clearly Molly liked her, and Izaak seemed to feel neutrally about everyone, at the moment making him the only person in the car I could stand.

When we pulled into the arena parking lot, I was the first out of the SUV despite my being in the very back.  I immediately lit a cigarette and walked away, stretching my legs and trying to pump myself up for the match.  At least I could channel any rage against Vanessa into my paintball skills.  

Everyone was already inside when I stubbed out my cigarette.  Feeling to make sure my baggy was secure in the little pocket of Vic's swim shorts, I walked to the tiny warehouse-type building.  Molly was chatting up the cashier while Izaak inspected guns.  

The other three were huddled up chatting and giggling, so I just stayed off to the side until Toby and Clo approached me wearing red vests, holding out one for me.

“It'll be us against Molly, Izaak, and Vanessa."

I mock-gagged.  “Don’t be a traitor and let your new little girlfriend win.”

Toby frowned.  “What's your problem?  We’re trying to do something fun and you’re out here with this constant negativity, it’s starting to get old.”

"What the fuck, really?  You're the one practically sucking face with a college student."  The adrenaline was kicking in, and mixed with the uppers was sure to end in a disaster.  I bowed up, fists clenched though I'd never actually hit Toby.  He was calm as NYC streets on Christmas Day.

"Don't make excuses for your poor behavior.  As you would say, it's not cute."

Before I blew up, Clo spoke.  “Hey, we’re going to be a great team!  Molly and Vanessa are going to be awful, I can just feel it.”

“We should probably develop a strategy,” I said.  “Izaak’s their top guy, we go for him first.  No offense, but they’ll prob be comin’ for me because, let’s be real…  You’re a pretty girl,” I said, glancing at Clo, then turning to Toby, “and you’re a pretty boy.  Even if you’re both better than me, they wouldn’t know it by looking at us.”

It irked Toby that we avoided the serious talk, but since he was outnumbered, he entertained our strategizing for a few minutes until we were called over to pick out guns and escorted outside.

The course was the size of about half a football field, a mixture of grass and dirt, metal barrels scattered throughout the arena.  There were also a few rusty cars and other objects to hide behind.  The cashier showed us the boundaries and the base, then explained the rules of the game.  It was a typical capture the flag, and we all agreed on 3 shots you’re out.  

There was an uneasy silence as my team went to our base.  Toby and I ignored each other, Clo stuck between the thick tension.

"So Toby and I will try to get the flag while you cover us," Clo repeated, trying to get our head in the game.  "Just watch out for Izaak, he should be easy to spot but he'll be looking for you."

"Yeah, I got it," I grumbled.

Toby decided to add his two cents.  "And don't forget to play fair."

As the whistle blew to start the game, I felt smoke coming out of my ears.  How dare Toby assume I wouldn't play fair?  I always played fair!  

Well, mostly.

Just the assertion that I'd play dirty triggered so much rage inside of me, but now I had to focus on the task at hand.  My teammates scurried off and I searched for an old rusty car to hide behind.  It was too soon in the game for much action, so I had to sit there for a while.  But I couldn't sit still, and my brain was racing.

The fuck is wrong with Toby?!  He thinks I'm gonna play dirty?  Well, I'll show him dirty!

It was the same rage I'd felt burning inside me the day Jason broke up with me.  Revenge.  That's all I wanted.

I couldn't wait there anymore, the adrenaline made it impossible.  I wasn't exactly stealthy as I hunted my opponents, quickly finding Vanessa and landing a few shots to her right thigh.

Then I was scolded for shooting too much.  Fucking rules.

Toby also gave me a glare as Izaak fired a shot at me, but I was able to duck into a hiding spot before he hit me.  So then Izaak hit Toby, causing him to go back to home base.

I snuck closer, firing shots at everything I saw moving, though mostly I stalked Vanessa.  For some reason she felt like the easiest target for my aggression.  But it bit me in the ass because I was too focused on her and Molly ended up getting the flag and running it back quickly to her base.

"Sonofabitch!" I yelled and knocked my gun against the barrel.

“Relax,” Toby said.  “We’ll get them next time.  Spread out, don’t focus only on one person.”

I didn't have time for his mouth. “Fuck off.”  For good measure, I also flipped him off, then ran towards Clo.  I didn't have time for his mouth.  To Clo I said, "stay low and near the edge of the arena, get the flag, I'll cover you."

She did as I commanded and I went back to focusing on the game, again mostly Vanessa.  I saw Clo out of the corner of my eye as she inched towards Izaak, who was looking at Toby.  Molly and Vanessa were nowhere to be found, so I took the shot towards Izaak, revealing my hiding spot, so I darted to a barrel.

A glimmer of blonde hair caught my eye and I shot in that direction, not exactly caring that I was sorta aiming for her head.  Vanessa shrieked and ducked down, though I wasn't shooting anymore.

That's what you get for not hiding yourself better, pendeja.

I looked over my shoulder to find Clo, no luck.  Then I looked over my other shoulder for Toby, also no luck.

Then I heard a lout BANG, BANG, BANG! and felt like someone had socked me in the stomach with a baseball bat.  Looking up I saw Vanessa standing entirely too close to be safe.  

"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" I shrieked, unhooking my helmet and slamming it to the ground with my goggles as I clutched my abdomen in pain.

“Jesus, it’s just a paintball.”

“You laid it on me you fucking piece of shit.  It’s supposed to be one shot!”  

Vanessa stood there nonchalantly, smiling even.   “You’ll be fine.”

I stood suddenly, ready to give her a taste of her own medicine, only to be blocked by Izaak.  “Easy there, tiger.  No real fighting in paintball.”

"Get out of my way," I scowled, shoving at him.  

He grabbed ahold of my shoulders, talking to me in a soothing voice, but it wasn't helping.  Since I couldn't move, I opted instead to chunk my gun at Vanessa, narrowly missing her ugly face.

It was a shitshow for a few minutes, Izaak restraining me from attacking this slutty bitch, Vanessa looking at me with shock, calling me crazy to Toby, who didn't even bother defending me.  Then the referee came to probably kick me out but it didn't matter because I was leaving anyway.  

Clearly nobody wanted me there anyway, siding with Vanessa instead of me, when I'd been friends with them much longer.  But of course, everyone always likes the pretty skinny blond girl.

I was already in the parking lot smoking a cigarette and ordering an Uber when I turned and saw Clo following me.

“Vanessa seems annoying.”

“Fuck her.  I hope someone shoots her in the vagina.”

Clo laughed and I offered her a cigarette, which she gladly accepted.

“Toby’s pissed at me, right?”

Taking a drag off the cigarette she shrugged.  “He’ll get over it.”

We stood in silence for a moment until my phone buzzed, telling me my driver had arrived.  “What do you say let’s get the fuck out of here?”

She looked back at the arena, nodded towards Izaak and smiled, then waved goodbye, finally turning back to me.  “Let’s.”