Viggo raced by as I was describing how to empty the gunpowder, and I offered him the beanbag launcher. He took it, looking a bit puzzled until he fired a beanbag at Oskar. The small bag exploded, and Oskar was covered in gunk and goo.
“Holy shit!” Oskar gasped and launched into a Danish rant.
“Wait for it,” I whispered to Laila and Viggo. Moments later, Oskar whipped his tee off and gagged. “I added the smell of rotten eggs and food to it.”
Viggo roared with laughter as Laila giggled.
“Is that a cattle prod?” Laila asked as Jesper snuck nearer.
“Not quite. Ever experienced a static shock? It’s like that. I don’t think your mom would appreciate me giving you full-powered ones.”
Laila let Jesper creep closer and then shocked him. Jesper yelped and ran off. “So damn cool. Can I keep this?”
“I was going to give it to Lars and Oskar to scare off wannabe boyfriends.”
“Nah, I don’t like boys,” Laila said.
“Good! Stay that way,”
Laila grinned. “I prefer girls.”
“Then they can chase potential girlfriends away,” I replied without blinking. Laila beamed warmly, and I knew I’d just passed a test. “Is Jody aware?”
“Of course. The whole family knows; it’s not an issue.”
“Hell no. Has anyone given you grief about it?” I demanded, bristling.
“No. Nobody at school knows. Not because I’d be bullied, but I don’t like them enough to share. There is one girl, but she’s kinda out there.”
“In what way?” I asked, loving this. Laila was confiding in me.
“She’s out as a lesbian but acts up. She’s full-on goth, and I think it’s playing into a role and not because she wants to be.”
“That’s a shame. Nobody should be uncomfortable with who they are. If you wish to come out publicly, that’s your choice, fuck what anyone has to say,” I stated.
Laila nodded. “Morsaid the same. Back in Denmark, they were more accepting of the LGBTQ community. Here, it seems awkward to be myself. Could just be me.”
“If you feel like that, there’s a reason for it. I can’t say what, but clearly you’ve picked up on something.”
“Yeah,Farwould tell me to do as I want, like you are, but something worries me about that school,” Laila admitted.
“Is there a problem?”
“We’re outsiders because of our accents and being born in Denmark. There were comments telling us to go home and that sort of shit. But nothing I could actively say is bothering me. I think the kids act younger here than they do in Denmark. They’re so immature. Worrying about their car, hair, makeup, or what boy likes them. I mean, grow up. High school isn’t the be-all and end-all.”
I laughed at Laila’s disgust before I realised where it stemmed from. Grief fuelled her words. Laila had learned the hard way that there were more important things in life. Unsure if I was overstepping, I reached out and placed an arm across her shoulders, leaving the choice up to her. Laila leaned into me for a hug, and I happily obliged.
“Someone explain what the hell is going on?” Jody snapped. I turned just as Jesper hit her with a grenade, and Jerrik got her with a stink bomb.
Jody fixed her evil eye on me, and I cringed.
“Hi!”
Chapter Fourteen.
Jody
Three showers later, the stench was finally out of my hair. God knows what Magic had put in those things. Stupidly, I hadn’t expected chaos when I got back, but should have. It was Magic’s way of doing stuff. All the kids were in their respective bathrooms getting clean, and I couldn’t help but notice how happy and relaxed they’d all been.
