#alyssa

"So, I say Cassidy starts, and then clockwise." Amber said, finally coming back from the kitchen, a bowl of popcorn in her hands as she sat down on the floor, next to Isabeau.

You didn't know how to read a clock. "Which way's that?"

"Towards the right." Isa said, amused.

"Which way's—"

"Me." Alysa interrupted, used to your antics.

"Fine fine, hand me the dice." You waved her off, tucking a strand of your bleached hair behind your ears.

Alysa shifted, gaze softening on you. "I feel like you need to dye your roots by now."

"Why?" You snorted, picking out the player piece you wanted. The bycicle, always the bycicle.

"They're dark again."

"Maybe I'll do red now." You grinned, giving her a glance.

"You would look hot in red." Amber said, as she threw a piece of popcorn in her mouth.

"Hey, five month girlfriend sitting right here." Alysa argued, suddenly sitting straighter. "But yes, Cassie, you would look gorgeous in red." She said, turning back to smirk at you.

"Can we please play?" Isabeau said, already exasperated.

You reached over for popcorn, throwing the dice whilst you moved.

"Six." You hummed, moving your piece, then throwing the dice again. "Two."

Just as Alysa moved to pick up the dice, she locked eyes with you, while she threw the dice.

That single look you'd shared so many game nights before crossed between you. A conversation without words itself.

Team up?

She seemed to ask.

Why not?

You'd always shoot back.

 »───────────────────────────────────────────»

"You two have got to be cheating!" Amber said, arms up in frustration as she once again lost a property to the bank, after loosing all her money.

"You don't have enough money to pay me rent." Alysa said, shrugging as she twirled the empty popcorn bowl in her hands.

"So to compromise, the bank's taking your Transilvania property, and giving it's worth in return to Alysa." You added, as if it were obvious.

"Oh yeah they're so cheating." Isabeau said, scoffing, arms crossed.

"Why would I want her to win?" You said, while simultanously, Alysa replied,

"I'd sell my organs before I let her win."

You two shared a look.

Oh really?

You seemed to ask.

Yes, maybe, wait no—

By the time Alysa had caught onto your skepticism, you'd already decided she wouldn't win.

 »───────────────────────────────────────────»

"You're giving her your get out of jail free card." Amber deadpanned.

"I am." You shrugged, handing Alysa the card as she moved out of the jail box.

"Is that even legal?" Isa groaned.

Alysa only smiled, setting the card down. "All is fair in love and war."

You smiled back. "You're quoting John Lyly."

"I am. You read it to me for some argumentative piece."

"I did." You hummed.

"They're so sweet," Isabeau whispered to Amber.

"They're a lying pair of cheaters, that's what they are." She hissed back.

"Hey, maybe she's cheating, I'm not." Alysa laughed, gesturing at you.

"I'm not cheating." You rolled your eeys.

Alysa had dared to throw you under the bus.

You'd throw her under a truck, then.

 »───────────────────────────────────────────»

But you loved game nights, you loved the stupid arguments, the thrill, the adrenaline...

So you kept on a small act.

Just enough for Alysa to keep helping you, so that she wouldn't notice how much you were winning, and how much she was loosing.

"You two have to be cheating." Isabeau said, calmer than Amber, who was now on her knees, staring at the board, her hands clasped in front of her.

"I'm telling you—" Amber spoke up, frustrated.

"How do you even cheat at Monopoly?" You snorted, rolling the dice again, getting your third six in a row.

"Oh yeah you're cheating." Alysa said, scoffing when she saw you move your piece again. The stupid, pretty, little rascal.

You laughed. "Guys, it's Monopoly! I just have good luck with throwing a dice."

"I'm not buying it." Isabeau sighed, leaning back.

You locked eyes with Alysa.

You still in?

Obvi.

She winked back.

Oh she was going down.

 »───────────────────────────────────────────»

"I quit." Amber finally relented, giving off her last property to the bank.

"I.... don't, yet, but my point of you cheating still stands." Isabeau said, rolling the dice.

"You're rich." Alysa suddenly noticed, looking over at your properties and your money.

"No I'm not." You said, laughing, trying to subtly cover the more than a couple 500's you had.

"You've so been swiping the bank." Amber said, gasping rather dramatically.

"No I haven't." You groaned.

"Let me be bank then! I'm not playing anymore." She said, grinning like a child with a lollipop.

"That seems fair." Alysa nodded.

"I'm in." Isabeau agreed, as she opened a pack of chocolate chip cookies.

You only sighed. "Fine by me."

But Alysa had thrown your partnership out the window.

You'd throw her out the building.

 »───────────────────────────────────────────»

"I'm broke." Isabeau groaned, leaning her head against the wall, closing her eyes like a Victorian actress.

"Isa, you're fine, take a loan." Amber waved it off, trying to get anyone to win except you.

"I can lend—" Alysa began.

"You owe the bank 40 and you have 15, and Isa owes 65." You deadpanned.

"So... we're all broke and in debt...." Isa said, eyes flickering open. "Except...."

All three of them turned to look back at you happily eating a chocolate chip cookie.

"Didn't we agree winner chooses the movie?" Amber whispered, voice lower.

"We did." Isa said.

"And I won." You smiled, dusting off your fingers.

"We're watching mean girls again." Alysa groaned.

Amber shook her head. "No surely she'll pick something else for once—"

"Please no not again—" Isabeau interrupted.

But you'd already gotten up, and picked up the remote. "I know right? She's a life ruiner, she ruins people's lives." You quoted, smiling.

"Please tell me that's another movie." Isa said, hopeful.

"No. That's Mean Girls." Alysa shook her head, softly. Because as annoyed as she was at having to see mean girls, again, she was happy. Her girlfriend was smiling. And seeing that was better than any movie anyone on the world could've ever chosen.

 »───────────────────────────────────────────»

You'd only gotten up for a minute, just to get water from the kitchen.

But Alysa had already trailed behind, arms around your waist. "Cassidy." She said, her voice low, a whisper into your ear.

"Yeah?"

"You made me lose, that was on purpose."

"It was."

"We're watching mean girls again because you made me lose."

"We are."

"I didn't charge you rent."

"You didn't— what?" You suddenly turned around, leaving the glass of water forgotten.

"You look so pretty when you're excited." She teased, smiling.

Your cheeks flushed. "Shut up Lysa, you let me win?"

"Eh, maybe." She shrugged.

"Why?"

"Maybe I knew I'd still get my payment?" She said, hands dropping to your hips with a suggestive smile.

"Payment." You repeated, cheeks still pink.

"The clean kind, pretty girl, relax." She laughed, pressing a soft peck to your cheek.

"What do you want?"

"I want my gorgeous, possibly redhead in the future, smart as fuck, pretty girlfriend to kiss me." Alysa said, her voice clear, no stutter, despite her words.

"Mhm, I think I could maybe splurge on that." You said, tilting your head in return.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, maybe." You teased, arms around her neck now.

Alysa ducked her head, meeting your lips with a soft whisper, her handa soft on your waist as well.

"Kiss me like I let you win monopoly."