[ 13 ] just a game

Their argument had gotten to a point where they didn't want to be anywhere near each other. When classes were over for the day and Kennedy entered the club room, she saw all the boys in their regular parts of the room, with their regular guests. But there was one difference in the sight she was used to seeing. There were two small circular tables in the middle of the room, instead of just the one that Louis and Harry shared with their guests.

Each of them had their own, while their guests were oddly quiet and wondering why they were no longer speaking to each other. They hadn't witnessed the arguments of the previous day.

There was a black aura surrounding the two step brothers because of all the resentment they had against each other. And when Ashton approached them with a silver tray holding a beautiful chocolate cake on top, Kennedy knew it wouldn't help to make the situation better.

Since Ashton was a fourth year student and was older than them, also believing himself to be wiser, he announced to them in his cheerful voice, "Harry and Louis, you're both at blame for this fight. So I want you both to apologize to each other and then share this cake in the spirit of peace." 

When the two step brothers said nothing, he continued, "Actually, maybe we can split it in three since I want a piece too." And looking at a peace of chocolate bar at the very top of it, he said thoughtfully, "But then who's getting the chocolate bar on top? Maybe I should eat it since chocolate is my favorite..." All the while he spoke, Harry and Louis seemed to grow more and more annoyed. They shot the fourth year host death glares at the same time that they shot glares at each other.

Kennedy walked up behind Ashton and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned to face her, she whispered to him, "I think you're making it worse, Ash." And she led him back to his own table where Niall was waiting with the rest of their guests.

She thought it was best to leave them alone.

Perhaps if they had more time to think about how stupid all their fighting was, they would apologize to one another and make up. Though by now it was beginning to seem unlikely.

-

The moment club activities were over for the day, Harry got his things and was the first to leave the room. Louis was next, leaving approximately fifteen minutes after his brother. He had told Kennedy that the last thing he wanted was to run into Harry upon arriving at home.

Kennedy sighed as she sat at the dining table with the rest of the club after saying goodbye to Louis.

With a slight frown on his face, Liam said, "I hate seeing Lou and Harry fighting like that."

The rest of the boys and Kennedy nodded in agreement.

"They've never had a fight like that." Zayn added.

Kennedy raised an eyebrow at him in surprise. "They've never had a fight before?"

The boy with jet black hair shook his head. Today, his hands were tarnished with charcoal from his art. Even though he had washed his hands, there was still residue that was hard to get off. Zayn occasionally entertained guests, and they just liked to watch him as he worked on his art. But what he liked most was to be alone and in peace. At times Kennedy would go a while without seeing him because that was the way he preferred to spend his time, immersed in his art with no one else's negative opinions around him. 

"Well, they've had little fights." He shrugged his shoulders. "Though nothing like this. I'm worried about them because even though they have us...who they've always had from the start was each other."

"Yeah," Liam explained when he saw the confused look in Kennedy's eyes. "I know them since we were in primary, but I never talked to them until now because of the host club. And they didn't used to like playing with the other kids. They were always alone, together."

"I know them from middle school." Luke commented, as the memory came back to him. "And they kept everyone at a distance. This fight might be good for them. It will help them understand that not everything can or will go their way. It will teach them that they have to learn to apologize to each other."

Kennedy shrugged. "But if it is their first fight...how will they know when its time to stop? And when they do stop, will they know how to return to the relationship they had?"

-

By the fourth day of the brothers' fight, the host club was unable to open their doors for their guests. It was impossible to provide a nice atmosphere when two of their members were at each other's throats. Still, all ten of them were in the club room that afternoon. Harry and Louis were arguing again, and it didn't even come as a surprise to the rest of them anymore.

Tired of all their yelling, Michael shot up from his seat on the sofa, paused his video games, and grabbed something out of his pocket. It was a wooden cat doll that was about as big as his hand. Striding over to the brothers, he shoved it in Harry's face.

"If you want you want all of this to just end, why don't you write your brother's name on the back of this doll?" He asked him.

Kennedy eyed the three of them with suspicion. She didn't know what the doll was for, but she was about to find out. 

"Don't play with that, Michael!" Luke gasped.

"What is that?" Kennedy wondered.

"Its a curse doll I got from my sister Michella who's in the black magic club." Michael explained like it was nothing. To him, his sister's club was just a joke. He didn't believe in black magic and all the other stuff he coined as nonsense. "You just write the name of the person you hate on the back and they will have bad luck for the rest of their lives. Its just bs to me, but maybe it will shut both Harry and Louis up with all their fucking yelling."

Luke didn't think it to be nonsense. He didn't exactly believe in it, but he also didn't want to risk his soul. "That stuff is not a joke, Michael." As an experience came to him, he said to them, "Last school year I was walking down the hallway and I tripped on one of your sister's creepy cat dolls. She told me I would be cursed all year for that. And she was right! Immediately after, I had a quiz for my french class and I didn't understand a word on the sheet of paper. When I looked around to ask a classmate for help, I realized I didn't know anyone in the room. I was sucked into a parallel universe!"

Calum gave a roll of his eyes. "That is because you were so scared that you accidentally walked into the advanced greek class and took their quiz."

"Well still." The blonde argued.

Louis snatched the wooden doll from Michael and reached into his backpack for a black marker. "I don't mind cursing Harry for the rest of his life. Its what he deserves for being an arse." He twisted the top off and began writing something on the back. All the while the rest of the club members, minus Michael and Calum watched in horror. This was one of the worst arguments they had experienced.

But Kennedy had enough of it. She angrily took the doll from Louis and his him in the chest with it. "What is wrong with you? Are you crazy? You should never bring something like this into an argument, even less into a stupid argument."

The two brothers now looked at their first year class mate in shock. She had gone into full scolding mode.

"Now apologize." She practically ordered them. "Harry apologize to Louis, and Louis apologize to Harry or you'll never be invited to my house. But if you apologize right now, then you can visit me whichever day you want. Have I made myself clear?"

There was silence in the club room until both Harry and Lou's lips turned into a smirk.

"So what you're saying is..." They began in unison, "that we can go to your house if we make up?"

In that instant she felt her heart drop. 

She turned the wooden doll over to see the words fooled you written on it. 

"What the hell, guys?" Liam shouted. "We were all genuinely concerned about you!"

"Not me." Michael shrugged his shoulders with a grin. "They told me about their little act because they needed me to ask Michella for a curse doll."

"We were just bored. Some people like to play sports, some people like to play video games, but Harry and I like to play mind games. And we always win those." Louis said in a very nonchalant way. Kennedy figured it was most likely his idea, the whole plan about them pretending to fight. He was the mischievous type after all. And Harry was likely to follow his step-brother's plans.

"I can't believe I fell for it." Kennedy said in disbelief.

Still in shock over the whole situation, Luke commented, "Brothers with too much time on their hands are the devil."

-

another update for this story since im feeling pretty inspired. and i hope you all like it. thank you all so much for continuing to read and vote and comment on this story. as promised, im trying to post as often as possible. 

have a blessed thanksgiving week!

clary xx