Tree Time, Part 1

Once again, I vastly underestimated just how big this goddamn tree really was. I swear it looked a lot smaller when it was surrounded by other flashing, glitzing trees like it, and yet here it was beset on all sides by everyone here and there was still space leftover for another team or two. 

I managed to place Sera and I right next to Adaila's team, lucky me. But that also entailed being situated right next to Amanda's team, whose partner in crime was pretty much an automatic win since Nick could just stand on tiptoe and drape all the nice decorations beyond any of our reach. So, unlucky me. 

Speaking of which, Amanda herself didn't look like she had any intention of going easy on me… which was, um… understandable enough… 

"Hey," I muttered, nudging her by the arm. "Not mad, are you?" 

And look just how stiffly she turned her gaze to answer me—scary.