Hunter

"Icing?" my dad asks, giving me a pained look. I often see this look in answer to my brilliant plans, so I'm not going to be discouraged just yet. "The stuff you put on cakes?"

"Yes," I confirm, grinning widely, getting increasingly excited about my idea despite his old-man-like scepticism. "Nice runny, gooey, sweet, colourful icing."

"Coloured with food colouring?" My dad still looks like he should be smoking a pipe in a rocking chair on the porch of some retirement mountain cabin. His grey eyes are looking into mine with a mixture of amusement and a severe lack of enthusiasm. He shakes his head while he scoops some mash and veggies onto his fork and into his mouth. Strands of his greying brown fringe fall over his eyes, reminding me that it's time for me to trim his hair.

We're nearing the end of lunch and I know the bunch of hooligans I live with have some wild plans for poor Galen. I needed to pitch my party idea before they took off to the arena, or their heads would be in ice hockey land, where I would not be able to reach them. I did, and now I'm getting 20 questions instead of some supportive excitement. Even Jax is grimacing as if I said something weird... weirder than usual.

Where are the trumpets and applause I ordered to celebrate my genius?!

The guys will be all bruised, banged up and tired after the outing. Some will be off, clearing and salting more roads, while the rest will be lying in the living area, groaning like they'd been in a war, begging me for hot chocolate, snacks and TLC.

I have to get my idea going now, or I won't get another chance before breakfast to try again since Sunday dinners are mostly self-serve because we're all lazy and half asleep. I'll just pop some frozen sausage rolls in the oven, and those who want to eat will do it when and where they want to.

Breakfast is too far away. I need them onboard as quickly as possible so I can get the ball rolling in time.

"Yes, Dad," I huff, a little annoyed now. "That's where the rain jackets and fish bowls come in. We could also tell their parents to dress them in clothes they don't mind staining."

"Where are you going to get fish bowls that small?" Naresh is an old man, too, tonight. At this rate, he'll have to retire before he's even taken off to join his team. Actually, come to think of it, he can always find the dark clouds inside my silver linings. He is so darn practical and responsible. Yeah, I'm usually grateful in the end... but this is not the end now; it's the beginning. I'm not interested in being practical and responsible right now.

"It doesn't have to be actual hockey helmets with clear visors, it can be any kind of visors or goggles. Yes!" I exclaim, snapping my fingers as inspiration hits me. "We'll give them swimming goggles. They exist in the world. I've seen them on that weird thing called the internet that connects us to the whole wide world that exists on the other side of these white snow-caked mountains. We can order a bunch."

Naresh gives me a dark look, nicely rounding it off with a derisive snort and a smirk. He is so good at acting superior; it is like a superpower. I would toss a sausage at him if I weren't such a well-behaved little girl. I won't because I have only one left, and I know from experience that if I threw it, he would just eat it, and then I wouldn't be able to. He clearly thinks I'm an idiot - as usual - but he'll come around like he always does.

"What are they going to shoot the icing with," Jeroen asks, and I guess I'm grateful he's not asking for mathematical equations to explain my logic to him.

Oh, wait... maybe he is.

"Those big pump action water guns we used when we were hunting each other in the woods in the summer. We can buy a few more," I tell him, and when I see him pull a face, I hurry to add, "We'll make the spray holes larger. You can figure it out for me, Mr. BSc Engineering."

"Ja," he agrees, giving me an amused smile when I wink at him. I know, and he knows that he lives for stuff like that.

"How are we going to get the party room clean again?" Denny shocks me with his crazy question, and I turn my head to look at him in horror. If this weren't an uncomfortable angle, I would've slapped him for scaring me like this. "There's gonna be sticky colour gunk everywhere."

Since when does this guy care about cleaning up anything?! I've literally had to encourage him with a feather duster on his butt to bring the six million cups from under his bed and to put his dirty clothes in the washing hamper and not all over the house. Perhaps I've trained him too well.

I hope not because he's my best partner in crime. I don't want to lose him.

"Oh, my soul! You too, Dennis Watson?!" I snap. "I'm surrounded by nothing but old men! I can feel mould growing on me from dealing with you lot. What happened to your sense of fun?! I'm so disappointed right now. I thought you, at least, would have my back, Den!"

"I do! Always!" he says, holding his hands up. When he smiles, the dimples in his cheeks come out of hiding to persuade me not to get violent. They are, as always, very effective. "I was just asking..."

"We could use some drop cloths on the floor and string some up along the walls. We can test to see how high the weans will be able to shoot and make sure that area is covered," Galen suddenly speaks. He'd been really quiet since I started to pitch my party plan, just listening avidly. I look across the table at him, and my heart is warmed by how sparkly his eyes are while he grins a boyishly happy grin.

I think I might have found another partner in chaos and mayhem! Score!

"That sounds like an awesome idea," I tell him, and his smile widens.

"Aye, that way, it should be easy enough to clean," he shrugs. "The party rooms are wet-resistant since there's always melting ice everywhere. We can just mop it out or use a hose if we have to."

"Go on," I prompt because I can tell that he's not out of ideas yet and seeing the look of pure adoration on my face, he blinks a few times, taken aback. Fortunately, he is on a roll.

"We can use some of the skating aids - the PVC frame ones - to make barriers. Cover them with camouflage net or something."

Be still my heart! The boy is brilliant!

"Where are you going to get camouflage net?" Jax asks, and if I could reach him, I would kick him. I love Galen's enthusiasm - it matches mine - I don't need people bringing him down with irritatingly good questions.

"Splash paint on sheets," Galen says, still grinning, and now my smile is the one growing wider. "We can use mud and leaves if we don't have paint. There's a whole forest out there with stuff like a gazillion pine trees we could use. All we need is our imagination."

"You agree the icing war is a great idea then, right?" I ask him, and he turns those bewitching eyes on me again, making my entrails tremble happily when his lips twist into a rather sexy, lopsided grin. I can hear harp music, I swear... and it's the Cupid-Has-Arrived kind, not the funeral kind.

"Oh, aye; 'tis a savage idea, lass. The weans will love it," he assures me, making me giggle like a fool until Denny pokes me in the ribs and Jax gives me a what-the-hell look from where he's seated next to Galen.

Yeah, that's what I want to know too! What the hell? I'm broken!

"Seems you've found yourself a volunteer, Hunny," my dad chuckles, and just like that, the joy falls from Galen's face, and apprehension takes over.

Thanks, Dad!

"Ye found a what?" Galen asks, grimacing.

"Don't you want to help me with Benji's party?" I ask, giving him my saddest look, happy to see him falter, and then he laughs a little awkwardly, rubbing a hand through his hair. He is messing it up and smoothing it down again. Galen has the most obedient hair I've ever seen; it's not half as rebellious as the rest of him.

His smile is the most rebellious thing about him, and every time he directs it a me, I fall further into a weird, mushy, warm place in my heart. I might disappear soon, buried under my own romantic aspirations that were born the moment I heard his voice for the first time.

Love at first hear: it's a whole new romance genre. I should tell Bren about it.

"Ye want me to help ye take care of a bunch of weans armed with icing and bazookas while acting like a shower of savages?" Galen asks, looking less and less keen now. His keenness is heading in the wrong direction!

No! Keenness, come baaaaaaaaack!

"Yes," I say, nodding enthusiastically, though I'm not sure where the shower fits into it. Perhaps afterwards... preferably at their own homes. "And as if that is not super fun enough, we'll get to shoot each other with icing, Gan! Come on, you can't say no to that, can you?"

"I can't?" he grins, cocking an eyebrow cheekily, the sparkle returning to his eyes. "Naw, I guess I can't."

"Well, when you put it like that, I'm totally in," Denny pipes up, putting his arm around my shoulders. I know that this might look like a jealous boy staking his claim to anybody who doesn't know us, but it's not. Den is my buddy, and I love him to pieces.

I knew he would get on board the second he saw the fun side of it all. Denny doesn't have any common sense, after all, which makes him the perfect friend for me. I can see a frown gathering on Galen's brow while he watches the display of affection, though.

Does Denny's attention make me seem more desirable? Oh! I hope so!

"I knew you'd have my back, Den," I smile, and then I turn questioning eyes on Galen. "So? You in?"

"G'wan! What do ye think, Lass?!" he laughs, and I'm not sure if that was a yes or a hell no, but his eyes are sparkling again. I think it might be a yes. If it's not, I'll just turn it into one later. I have some time, and I've been told that I'm tenacious. Well, the actual term used was 'annoying', but... whatever.

"Count me in, too," Jax grins, as I knew he would eventually, and I give him a happy thumbs up. It's always more fun when he is in the mix. Despite his mischievous nature, he has a startling responsible streak, so having him included in the quests Den and I get up to is always a good idea.

"I'll help with the setup, but then I'm out of there," Naresh offers, and I'm glad to hear that because he is really good with his hands and coming up with practical solutions, but he can be a bit of a party pooper when things become too much fun. I return his smile, and if I still had a sausage on my plate, I would've happily given it to him now.

"I'll do the math and figure out how to dispense the icing," Jeroen grins, and I really hope he isn't planning on changing my sub-machine gun idea into something boring. "But I have exams to study for, so I won't be there for the event."

"Me too, Hunter-chan," Kame says, leaning forward to look at me past Denny. "I will help you, please."

I knew I could depend on him! Kame takes the role of Denny's senpai very seriously. He is always making sure the boy doesn't hurt himself. In the last month, I've seen Denny stopping Kame from getting carried away a few times, though.

My dad was right when he made them roommates. They are a great influence on each other. Denny is reigning himself in a bit more - sometimes, he even thinks before he acts - while Kame is coming out of his shell more and more.

"Thank you! You guys are the best! Benji is going to love it!" I am really happy now. I can't wait to see the little boy's joy. There's nothing that Benji and his friends love more than making a huge mess.

Looking around the table, seeing all the empty plates and dishes, I give Galen a sly look. "Cool! Let's clean up and go break Gan!"

"What!?" he exclaims, aghast. "I dinna need any breakin'!"

The blizzard left a nice thick blanket of fresh snow all over the landscape. It is sparkling invitingly in the blinding sun when we leave the warm house for the cold trek to the arena. After grabbing our jackets, gloves and boots, Denny and I told Galen we wanted to show him where the back door was and the shortcut we always take to the arena, and he followed us out of the house like an innocent little lamb.

I almost feel cruel now.

Last night's storm lasted until deep into the morning. I started to think that I would not be able to go skating with Robbie and that he would have to spend the entire day with us. His mood was deteriorating as the minutes ticked by relentlessly. Not even my father could break through the thick coating of grump painted all over the boy's soul. At some point, when the wind was less fierce, I strongly contemplated heading to the arena through the storm. Anything to get Robbie in a better mood.

When the wind finally died away completely, the sky cleared, and my dad declared it safe for us to leave. Freed from Robbie's dark cloud, I nearly ran outside to kiss the snow with joy. I'm not kissing the snow with all that much joy right now, though. It's cold and stings my lips!

If I were wise, I would walk behind someone bigger and stronger - like the two dudes I'm with - so I could have a nice path cleared for me to stroll along daintily like a proper lady in Elizabethan times. I don't, of course, because I'm not particularly wise, and I'm feeling boisterous after my skating session with Robbie. It went wonderfully well and sent him on his way home with a smile on his face.

I'm also hyped with excitement about Benji's party. It will be so much fun for me and the little boys... oh, and Benji and his friends will all have a blast too. My heart flutters when I remember the look of wonder on Galen's face while I talked about my plans. He was enthralled. I think Galen has a vast capacity for having fun and the youthful exuberance to make things happen.

Right now, though, we need to reach the arena in one piece, preferably unfrozen. The snow is up to my knees, and I have to fight my way through the trees behind our house. At first, I lift my feet as high as I can, bending my knees outward and jumping from side to side like a marionette. When that gets old (really fast), I try to force a path with my legs while shuffling my feet, groaning and moaning as I go along. This is hard work, really good for building muscles, but at least the snow is still fairly soft, which makes falling down relatively pain-free.

When I face plant for the fourth time, I stay on my stomach and try to swim through it, but I'm just getting snow up my nose. I squeak, half in fright and half in delight, when Denny comes up from behind, pulls me to my feet and drags me onto his back. He is now doing the marionette thing with me bouncing my guts into a tangle, and we inevitably end up in a heap in the snow, too weak with laughter to get up.

"What are ye pair of muppets doing, acting the maggot like this?" Galen chuckles, dragging us to our feet. He has been walking behind us, finding it a little bit easier to stick to the almost non-existent path we're kind enough to create for him.

"Why is your face covered in snow?" I ask him, and he shrugs, giving me another of those paralysing lopsided grins.

"This stuff is giving a whole new meaning to the Irish blessing: May the road come up to meet ye. It met me right in the bake twice."

I laugh, brushing the snow from his lashes and cheeks, enjoying the warmth of his gaze travelling over my face. Oh, my soul! Who needs a snow plough when this guy can just melt the snow with his smile? He is melting me too, and I'm friggin' giggling again!

Kill me now!

"There must be an easier way to do this," Galen remarks when the three of us trudge along again, wrestling a path through the snow, helping each other up when we fall... even when we cause most of those falls on purpose. I'm impressively good at making them fall, and I've just done it again, though my technique needs some work because I fell too.

"Oh, there is," I tell him, trying to sit up. "But this is more fun."

"Are ye sure about that?" he chuckles, groaning when my knee presses into his stomach. I lost track of Denny the second I realised that my body was delightfully tangled with Galen's. It's not the most romantic position, though, because he's mostly trapped under my legs, and I'm kissing snow again.

Yes, my technique really needs work. I'm doing it all wrong.

Galen pulls me into a sitting position, which allows him to sit up too. Startled by the sound of an engine, he turns his head, laughing when he sees my dad riding the ATV Quad snow plough with the salt spreader attached to its back along the vehicle shortcut from our driveway to the arena. The official path we normally use is a few trees to our right. The three of us are thundering through Noman's land here.

My dad is clearing a slash of snow for the rest of the old men I'm living with to follow calmly behind him on the path. There's no falling happening over there in the geriatrics ward. Galen gapes at the responsible people passing us where we're sprawled in a tangle of limbs in the cold snow.

"Yer off yer nut, both of ye!" he tells Denny and me, his clear eyes reflecting the brightness of the world around us, and now a full choir of angels has joined that beautiful harp playing in my head.

"Damn straight," Denny laughs, happy to hear stuff about nuts. As the first one back on his feet, he holds out his hands to help Galen and me up too.

"Sure look," I shrug, brushing the snow off my butt. I grin when Galen laughs, yanking on the braid snaking over my shoulder from under the hood of my powder blue jacket. I don't miss the fact that his hand lingers a little longer than it needs to, his fingertips brushing against my chin while his eyes darken, causing a thrill to run through my entire body even though he is wearing gloves.

"Cheeky muzzy!"

~~~