Perfect School

I gave a breathless little laugh at that, no more than a single chuckle. "Humorous...but I don't think either of us are carrying each other."

Jonah:

I looked at her with one open eye and a crooked smile. Even a short laugh, if genuine, was musical to me. I took in a long deep breath then let it out slowly. After a couple rounds like that I sat up with enough energy to make it back to the cabin.

I tried not to doze off, and ended up pacing a little bit before he was ready. I wanted nothing more than a hot shower, a hot meal, and a warm bed to sleep in. But I knew that I'd need to stretch for a while and work out the kinks in my body unless I wanted to be miserable tomorrow.

Jonah:

They dismissed us shortly after and we left without hearing the scores. Once inside the cabin I laid down on the couch, not caring that I wasn't the cleanest. “Get me when you are done with the shower.” I told Kira, putting an arm over my face.

"Alright." I replied softly. The shower was a lengthy one, and took up the better part of half an hour where I just relaxed under the hot spray. Finally though I stepped out, dried off, and dressed before going to check on Jonah.

Jonah:

Within minutes of Kira leaving, I had fallen asleep. Now, once she was finished, I was soundly asleep with my lips parted and my arm and leg dangling off the side of the couch.

I looked over him with a slow shake of my head. He was filthy and in turn the couch would be too. And yet at the same time I didn't want to wake him from his rest. He'd been the reason we'd gotten through the challenges at all. If I had been forced to do the run and the rest of it? I'd never have made it to the swimming part and we'd have lost there.

Jonah:

I slept it off the rest of the day on the couch. And the next day, despite being sore, I still won hand to hand combat, much to the displeasure of the Irish boy who had been my final opponent. On the final day all of us were tired and bruised, some of us had more serous scrapes, or sprains, or in one case a broken wrist. Six people had been disqualified for failure to complete a task, but the very best still remained.

The final task was a masquerade ball, all of us would be concealed as best we could, with makeup and masks and misleading clothing, in the end it all seemed a bit silly considering we could all tell each other apart. Kira and I were separated early to be done up. I had been attired in a cream colored suit with gold accents and a jester mask that covered all but my eyes.

I was given a set of clues that could only be answered if I procured the proper information from others. For me, it wound be a piece of cake. Body language may have been my strongest suit, for it was a skill I had been studying long before the school found me.

I realized they had not just handed me the competition when I entered the ballroom. There were over two hundred people, all fully done up like I, and picked to purposely resemble all of the competitors in physique and movement. I grinned under my mask.

Kira:

I was done up like a princess, with heels, a gauzy white dress, and a mask of a doll. I glided through the room, hair dyed and extensions added so I looked like a blond. A corset underneath put my figure better on display and made it hard to breath to boot. I kept my hands clasped behind me, green eyes roaming the crowd as I kept my steps graceful and chin raised. If they were going to make me out as a princess, I figured it best to play the part.

Jonah:

My gaze raked the crowed in search of Kira, automatically phasing out those who could not pass as her, those who were big and tall. I spotted three girls that were likely choices from a distance and made my way to them. The first, a woman dressed in red with a black mask moved nothing like Kira and, despite the makeup over her arms, shoulders and chest, she was the wrong skin tone.

During my search for Kira, I questioned people as I went and received several answers to my clues. There were items hidden among the people that I had to find and take without notice.

I worked my way through the crowd, asking a question here, slipped an item into my small clutch there. I ended up standing beside a Dark lion who openly flirted with me, terrible pick up lines and all. It took some work before I was shyly able to excuse myself, cursing inwardly at the lost time. Weaving through the crowd I ran right into a solid form, stumbling back and nearly losing my balance as I blinked up at a golden Jester before me.

Jonah:

I steadied her by the arm and knew immediately it was Kira. Everything about this girl was familiar to me, the texture of her skin, the set of her shoulders, the space of her collarbone, everything down to the sound of her breath upon impact.

I slid an arm around her waist, taking liberties with familiarity. “There you are. Nice dress.” I said with a peak down at the cleavage brimming the neck line.

"There I am? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean..." I replied softly in a sweet clear voice. At his staring though I thrust out my chest a little more by clasping my hands behind me and arching my back slightly. I knew just who it was. It had to be Jonah. The feel of his arm on my waist, his voice, the very touch of his hand and the eyes that poked through the mask screamed it was Jonah.

Jonah:

“Mm.” I unabashedly enjoyed the view while puling her closer so her body was pressed against mine. In one quick, seamless move her purse became one item lighter. “Care to dance?” I asked, turning her even as I asked. Music had begun to play and other couples had formed on the dance floor, of which we were on the outskirts.

A soft sound no more than a sigh slipped from my painted lips as he pulled me to him. I gazed up at him, head tilting ever so slightly until he asked his question. "It would be a pleasure." I agreed softly while moving my hands out from behind myself. I felt the lighter weight of my clutch by holding it in both hands and my eyes narrowed. "Clever...keep your trophy then."

Jonah:

I chuckled, placing my hand at the small of her back as I moved us closer to the center. “But my dear, you are my trophy, and I do intend to keep you.” I was immensely enjoying the ball and it showed in my mood.

"Oh am I? And what will you do with your trophy? Stick me on a pedestal for all to see?" I asked with the tiniest shake of my head at his mood. I couldn't blame him though, this kind of competition was made for him.

Jonah:

I twirled her around easily as we danced, she was rather light after all, even with the added wight of all the clothing. “I don't acquire trophies to show off to people, I do it so I can know what I have done and what I am capable of.” I answered though my eyes were not on her alone. Despite the fun I had in playing with Kira, this was still a competition I was going to win. I searched the other dancers for signs of pick-pocketing, and the other Items I needed.

"You'd keep me for yourself then." I stated, "Then move onto the next challenge and trophy." My eyes roamed just like his, much like everyone else at the party. I spotted what I guessed were marks and where they'd hidden items but with him dancing and spinning us around the dancefloor among the many couples I could do nothing but make a mental note as to where they were and let it go.

Jonah:

I knew she was doing exactly as I was so my goal was to move her away from the zone I needed to be. So I moved us across the dance floor, careful of other couples. As the music and the dance ended, I spun her around and dipped her.

I held onto him as I was dipped, surprised that he'd go so far. Few of the couples ended the song in a dip, and yet here we were. It was enough to shake my attention from elsewhere back to him. I was trying to figure out his play, why he was doing this with me when I knew he could charm anyone else here out of the items and information.

Jonah:

I pulled her up, stepped back and took her hand lightly in mine “Thank you for the dance,” I kissed the soft skin of her hand, “And good luck.” I released her and melted into the crowd of people. I mapped out the locations of the items in my head as I moved, seeking the closest first, and spiraling away from Kira. I identified the other competitors who were most likely to excel in this task as well and watched them carefully.

"Good luck? Doubt you will need it Jonah." I remarked softly while shaking my head. I began moving through the crowd, managing to snag a few items from where I'd identified them but I mostly kept an eye out on any likely looking competitors who would try to steal from me.

Jonah:

With the clues I obtained I found out that the very last item was a mask itself. I searched the faces for it. This mask was red and black with lace over the eyes. But it had a mark on it to separate it from the many duplicates.

After much searching I finally singled out the woman who had been doing nearly as well as Kira and I during the competition. Evelyn wore a black dress that exposed her long legs with a slit nearly up to her hip. The mask was fastened onto her face with the ties braided into her intricate hair due.

I stalked her while I searched for the best way to unmask her, while also appearing to not notice her at all for fear of others watching me. Her hair was held up by a pin, and I was sure if I removed the pin, the mask would be free. Evelyn herself, would not be easy to subdue though, I had to be quick.

My perfect opportunity presented itself when she moved to a dark corner in pursuit of someone else. I moved behind her silently and slipped the clip from her hair. Her hair pillowed down as suspected, but she was quick to hold the mask to her face, while landing a well placed kick to my gut. However, in less than a minute I had immobilized her and taken the mask for my own.

I kept to myself after gathering a few items and the rest of the clues. I had an inkling that the last item we'd need to get was a mask. But with out any real way to be sure I decided to just wait. Jonah had been the only one successful in stealing from me, all others were sporting various injuries from even trying before losing me within the crowd.

I'd expected not to win this competition, but I had hoped that turning it into an extra game would push Jonah further and make him try harder. I knew that Marie was sure to be watching the results, though I wasn't sure why I was trying to push Jonah so much farther ahead.