What Has Become Of Me?

Two full force, freezing cold shots of water hit me straight in the face. I gasp and hear two sets of manly chuckles. Quickly I wipe the water off my face and glare at the two guilty men standing before me. Dom and Nathan just grin. I’m a little taken back as this is the first time I’ve seen Nathan behaving care free. Both of them are holding water guns. They are so dead.

“Before you kill us” Dom whispers and hands me a water gun.

“They have a special attachment that allows you to fill it with an ice cube so the water is cold” Nathan informs me just above a whisper.

“Why are we being quiet?” I ask as I examine my fully loaded water gun.

“Because it is about to be all out war and it’s best to use surprise attack” Dom whispers.

“Finally get revenge on Seb for last time throwing me into the pool” Nathan whispers.

“You’re with us” Dom tells me, “Betray us and there will be hell to pay.”

I nod trying not to laugh. How can they stay so serious? Grown men plotting a water fight? I love my pack. Dom hands me a small cloth bag similar to the ones he and Nathan have strapped to their belts. I stare at it quizzically.

“Water bombs, in case you run out of water away from a tap” Nathan explains then grins.

“Now, I’ll hold your gun while you go inside and draw the boys out the back where we’ll be waiting” Dom whispers taking my gun back.

“Be sure to stay a little distance away from them” Nathan advises before he and Dom jog off towards my back gate.

I slip the bag’s draw string through my belt loops on my pants before heading back inside.

“Who was that?” Chase asks me while holding a fully inflated whoopee cushion.

“Naked volley ball team” I answer trying to keep back my smile, “they asked if they could use my hose to wash themselves off after a mud fight.”

This should probably trick the guys; I doubt they would think twice when there was a mention of naked women. Chase looks at me with doubt.

“They’re out the back using the hose if you don’t believe me” I say with a nonchalant shrug.

“Annie would never lie!” Seb declares before sprinting towards the back doors.

Dan and the other three follow him. I hear open fire in the backyard from water pistols. The guys yell curses and quickly I slip open my bag while still keeping it attached to my belt loop. Carefully I pluck out a half full water balloon. Quickly I run out to the back doors just in time to hit Brian with a water balloon as he made a dash for the door.

“Traitor!” Brian yells before getting another shot of ice cold water to the back of his head from Dom.

I close the door behind me then sprint over to Dom to take my gun. By now Jett has run over to the fence and jumped it. Seb is hooking up the hose. Chase and Brian are whispering some sort of plan. I spray the two of them as Dom and Nathan concentrate on Seb. As soon as my gun runs out of water Chase and Brian start charging for me. They are dripping wet from head to toe and make small squelching sounds as they run. I back away from their evil grins desperately trying to fish out another water balloon.

“Dom!” I yell before I am embraced in the wettest hug from both sides.

The guys press their wet cloths into me and rub their wet hair over my cheeks.

“Ew!” I yell as I finally get free a water balloon but my arms are pinned at my sides.

Brian and Chase laugh.

“Reinforcements!” Dom yells before completely soaking the three of us.

“Not helping!” I yell against the force of his water gun.

Finally he stops spraying and I have water dripping off me just like Brian and Chase. Both guys laugh from either side of me. I turn my head to scowl at Dom but suddenly Jett is behind him with a bright orange water gun. Dom sees me looking at something behind him and turns just in time to get a face full of water. Brian and Chase laugh. Jett backs away to his own pile of water guns.

“Where’d they come from?” Brian asks as he and Chase bolt over to the pile.

“Back of my car” Jett grins, “Never can be too prepared.”

Seb by now has worked out how to use my hose and Dan sits just watching until Seb sprays him.

“Hey!” Dan yells as he shakes his head to clear off some water from his hair.

Brian strips off his soaking wet T-shirt and Chase does the same. My wolf looks up from her cosy corner of my mind where she resides in my human mind. I unintentionally lick my lips, it’s my wolf’s fault! Brian and Chase are very muscular. Thankfully I’m torn from my stare by Jett spraying me with his gun. I seem to be a target. I need to get higher and get a shield. Nathan is just slightly shorter than the giant Brian and I grin.

“Yo Nathan!” I yell as I run towards him while throwing my last water balloon at Brian.

On my way over to Nathan I swap my empty blue water gun for one of the orange, full water guns Jett had retrieved. Nathan turns to face me confused.

“Boost me!” I yell.

He turns his back to me and crouches down slightly. I leaped onto his back and scramble up while clutching my water gun. Finally I am sitting with my legs wrapped around him. When I start slipping Nathan passes me his gun then uses his hands to grip my legs and support me. I shove his gun down the back of his shirt then open fire on my unsuspecting victims. Seb cops a face full of water as I quickly pump the pressure from my gun. He tries to spray me but Nathan ends up taking all the water. Quickly Nathan spins to face Chase and Brian who had tried to sneak up on us. I soak them with my gun then turn to the side to spray Jett. Dom is standing over a soaking wet Dan with the biggest grin before turning on Seb to wrestle the hose off him. They fall to the ground trying to grab the hose. Suddenly strong arms pluck me off Nathan’s back.

“No!” I yell as my arms are held behind my back and my gun is taken from me.

“We have a hostage!” Chase yells coming into my view holding my water gun trained at my head.

I struggle but I can’t do much. Behind me I hear Brian chuckle.

Dom jumps up holding the hose over Seb’s face as he pins him down by pressing his foot to Seb’s chest. So water isn’t pouring in Seb’s face, Dom has the hose kinked in one hand while training the nozzle over Seb.

“Release the girl” Dom says in a fake policeman’s voice.

I frown since I can’t see where Nathan has gotten to during this stand off.

“No, drop your weapons of mass water damage” Chase says.

Suddenly Nathan is behind Chase with a water gun to his head.

“Let her go” Nathan says with serious face.

I turn my head slightly to see he also has a water gun to Brian’s head as well. Chase and Brian exchange a glance before a long sigh. My arms are released and I snatch my gun back off Chase.

“Now the foot is on the other table!” Dan exclaims while holding a water gun that doesn’t appear to be filled with water.

“What the-?” My question is cut off as he opens fire on us.

Milk sprays all over us. I splutter as I jump away from the quick stream.

It isn’t long before Dan runs out. All of us grab our water guns.

“Uh oh” Dan says before he takes off running and leaps over the front gate.

The guys chase after him but before I start running after him, I sprint inside and gather some eggs. He upped the ante first; I just have to make it even. Once I’ve got the egg carton I sprint out the front door. Dan is just about to sneak in the front door while the other guys are searching for him. I grin at him before grabbing an egg and pelting it at him. He covers his face as the eggs strike his chest and I laugh evilly.

The boys run over just as I throw my last egg. Innocently I smile at them.

“Found him” I say sweetly.

They laugh as Dan brushes egg shells off himself with a scowl. We look at each other smiling before realisation washes over us. There’s only one shower but eight of us.

“Bags first shower!” Seb yells raising his hand at the same time as Jett.

“Shot gun double bags!” Chase yells.

Dan and I don’t bother with that, we’ve known each other long enough to know that never works. We wrestle each other through the front door.

As we reach the base of the stairs I’m in the lead but suddenly Dan pushes me against the railing and bounds ahead. Quickly I grab his ankle bringing him crashing down. I leap over him and avoid the ankle swipe. Ahead of me the bathroom gets closer while Dan scrambles up onto his feet. He’s right behind me then I jump inside the bathroom and slam the door shut. There is silence after I lock the door. His footsteps travel down the hall towards his room. Yes! I won! I look around the bathroom as strangely Dan’s footsteps return to the door.

“Psst, hey sis?” I hear him stage whisper through the door.

I frown, oh dear he’s got a plan.

“Yeah?” I respond.

“What are you going to do without a towel or clothing?” he asks and I can hear his smirk through the hardwood door.

Silently I curse my stupidness before replying in a calm tone.

“Run butt naked through the house, brother dearest.”

“You realise the house is full of perverts, right?” he asks.

“Of course, got to keep it interesting” I say as if it is nothing while desperately my eyes search the bathroom for a towel.

There has to be one somewhere in here!

“Alright, just to make it more interesting I’ll call the guys up here for the show” Dan says.

“You’d let them all mind-rape your sister?” I ask as if offended.

“Apparently my baby sister likes to dangle herself in front of guys, what more can I do?” Dan responds.

I won’t lose this battle of wits!

“I thought you’d at least try to protect me” I say.

“There’s a point when a baby sister needs freedom, I think the worst thing to do while you go and wolf it up is to stop you” he replies nonchalantly.

Damn him.

“Since when have you ever taken that approach?” I ask.

“Since you started roaming the woods with four paws” his responses are lightening-quick.

“So you stop protecting me as soon as I’m a pup?” I question.

“I just know when to back off, it’s not like these guys won’t know every inch of you already after we brought you home completely bare.”

The milk is starting to smell as I stand there.

“Bring me a towel” I sigh.

“You know where the linen cupboard is, get it yourself” Dan responds.

“I’m already naked” I lie.

“Then why isn’t the water running?”

“Because I’m waiting for a towel”

“Alright, unlock the door and I’ll drop it in” Dan sighs in defeat.

That was easier than I thought. After a long pause I unlock the door and strip down. Once the water is warm I step into the shower. I smile as the milk slides off my skin and down the drain. The glass of the shower fogs with steam as I grab a generous handful of shampoo. I close my eyes and apply it when I hear the door open.

At least Dan was pretty quick at getting the towel.

“Thanks” I say without turning towards the door and my eyes still shut.

My fingers massage my scalp as I work in the shampoo. I grimace at the feel of the milk. At least I managed to get revenged with the eggs. I hear the door to the bathroom shut as I start to wash out my hair.

“You’re welcome” Brian says suddenly as the door to the shower opens.

I spring against the wall shocked.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I scream at him as I try to cover myself.

Brian grins guiltily but doesn’t turn to leave or even avert his eyes.

“Daniel said you were lonely, came in here to cheer you up” Brian tells me.

Before I can say another word, Brian starts stripping off his pants.

“Are you insane?” I shriek at him as I grab Dan’s bottle of expensive body wash and throw it as hard as I can at Brian.

The bottle strikes him then falls to the tiles with a clang.

“Ow, I’m just trying to take a shower” Brian says as he throws his pants aside.

“Get out!” I yell at him.

“Come on, won’t hurt you to share” Brian says as he reaches for the top of his boxers.

“No but it’ll hurt you!” I yell.

“Look, I’m just here to shower. I‘m not going to try anything” Brian says with an honest face, then it turns sinister, “that you don’t want.”

He starts pulling down his boxers.

“Don’t you dare!” I yell at him still attempting to cover myself, “Take them off and I will kick you where the sun don’t shine.”

My threat is overly used but I’m past creativity at this point.

Brian sighs.

“Can I at least have next turn?” he asks.

“If you let me finish in peace, yes”

He nods satisfied then goes to sit on the bathroom counter top.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Waiting” he replies.

“Aren’t you going to put your pants back on and wait outside?”

“Can’t” he says as if it is the most obvious thing.

“Why?” I ask slowly.

“My pants are covered in milk and if I go outside I have to go to the end of the queue.”

I sigh and shake my head.

“Could you close your eyes at least?” I ask getting real sick of the way he looks at me.

“Sorry, no can do.”

I groan then close the shower door. Hopefully the steam will block out most of the sight. Quickly I finish scrubbing the milk from my body.

After turning the water off, I snatch the white towel Brian had brought in for me. Drying myself off I realise that since I’ve got no clothes with me I’ll have to walk to my bedroom in just a towel, that means walking past the so called queue. I securely wrap the towel around myself then step out of the shower. Brian’s still on the counter and still without pants or a shirt.

“Just a question,” I say to him as a thought crosses my mind, “what are you planning on wearing after your shower if your clothing is covered in milk?”

“My new boxers” he replies with a grin.

Well that’s the mystery of who bought the boxers solved. I suppose Chase owns the whoopee cushion, so who belongs to the jumbo jar of peanut butter? I shrug off the question as I take a deep breath. Hopefully they’ve gotten bored and gone downstairs; that could happen, right? As I step out of the bathroom my question is answered with a group of perverts staring with mouths open and practically drooling. We stare at each other for a moment then I make a wild dash for my room. An outrageous wolf whistle follows me as I slam my bedroom door shut. Heat rushes up to my face probably causing a light pink tinge to paint across my cheeks.

Hurriedly I get dressed into an outfit which consists of a simple pink T-shirt with the words ‘Ninja’s make better boyfriends’ with an image of a ninja holding some yellow flowers below and some plain jeans. No need for shoes around the house. I walk out of my room carrying my towel. Brian must still be in the shower, but I need to hang up my wet towel. Let’s see how he likes being barged in on! I walk pass the queue of guys, Nathan is closest to the door followed by Chase then Jett. Dom is after that followed by the short Seb. None of them stop me as I boldly throw open the bathroom door. Brian should hopefully hate this. He turns in the shower cubicle to face me.

“Couldn’t stay away?” he asks with a devilish smirk.

I clench my fists. Damn him! He wasn’t suppose to like me barging in on him.

“Hanging up my towel” I tell him and walk over to hang it up on the rail.

When I glance and see him looking away, I snatch up his towel. Let’s see if this counts as better revenge, hopefully he’ll think twice next time.

I walk out of the bathroom smiling while carrying Brian’s towel. The queue of boys smile at me as I close the door. Dan walks over carrying his own towel and a change of cloths.

“Thanks for keeping my spot man” Dan tells Nathan with a smile.

Nathan just shakes his head and motions to the end of the line.

“Screw this” Dan says with a scowl and heads for the stairs.

I follow him knowing that he’s probably going to do something stupid. He walks to the kitchen sink with me still following. Before I can try to figure out what he’s doing, he strips off his clothes except his underwear then jumps onto the bench top.

“Hey!” I yell as he starts trying to wash himself in the kitchen sink, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Express queue for a wash” he answers in a bored tone.

“No! Get out of it” I scold.

He sighs and turns off the water. As he hops off the bench I notice pieces of egg yolk jiggling around in his hair. He strolls towards the back yard.

“What are you doing now?” I call after him.

“Taking a shower” he yells back.

“Keep your underwear on this time, the neighbours threatened us that if you were out there naked for a fifth time they’d report you!” I yell to him then shake my head.

These boys are a worry, that’s for sure.

I sit up on the kitchen bench still holding Brian’s towel. What is there to do? I glance around the boring kitchen in search of some way to pass the time.

“Anika!” I hear Brian yell before footsteps thud down the stairs.

I nearly fall off the bench top when I see Brian come running towards me with nothing more then his hands covering himself. Water trickles over his muscular body as he stands in my kitchen. I tear my eyes away and cover them with the towel.

“Ew! Brian!” I yell at him while my wolf savours the mental image now burned into the back of my eyelids.

Wow he has a superb body. Stop that.

“You stole my towel” he says.

“You violated my kitchen with your nakedness” I shoot back.

“Give me my towel before I chase after you” Brian tells me slowly.

“Like you could catch me” My eyes widen after the words leave my mouth.

Why on Earth did I set him that challenge? Am I insane?

He chuckles darkly and I take my chance to spring from the bench. I bolt for the door and I hear him running behind me. Why don’t I just let go of my towel? I try to but my wolf is now whispering to hang on to it, run a little slower, let him catch me. Why? That’s crazy. Why would I want to slow down and feel his strong wet arms encircle my body with warmth pulling me off my feet? I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts. I dash out the back door then nearly trip as I find my brother butt naked and under the hose. Why is my house full of wet naked men?!