Winner

“Ohhh, you’re mean.” Clint grimaces at Wendy. “How can I have any fun with you around, hmm?” He gives her shoulders a squeeze. “All I want is for everyone to be thanked proper like.”

Jason rolls his eyes. He received Katie’s message just fine, but made no physical action to show it. “Give it up, Clint. It’s a losing game.”

“Ha!” Clint sits straighter, puffing himself up. “I never lose!” He bangs his hand on the table. “Now come on! Thank the poor girl. I can’t do it for you!”

“Clint, behave yourself.” Jeff walks behind him and slaps the back of his head.

“What?!”

“You’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’ and you know it,” Jeff warns, pulling out a chair. “I wouldn’t push that guy.”

“Aw.” Clint waves him off. “Jason wouldn’t hurt a fly… Ow!” He looks across the table after getting kicked in the leg. “What was that for?”

Jason shrugs. “Good measure?”

Clint smirks. “You’re just scared of kissing Katie, that’s all. Afraid she’ll slap you?”

Jason shakes his head. “What is with you tonight?”

“It was getting thrown into a pile of chairs I think.” Clint rubs his elbow. “Payback time.”

“At whose expense?”

“Yours?”

Jason’s eyes narrow. “You’re on thin ice.”

Clint grins. “I’m prepared to plunge. But apparently you’re not.”

“Clint! Cut it out!”

“I will if you just give in! I’m out for blood man! I’m not in the mood to lose this one!”

Jason’s eyes narrow. He hated to lose, but he was fed up with the razzing too. And it was his own fault. If he hadn’t started this whole thing with Wendy, Clint wouldn’t have started in on him. Then Katie didn’t even mind. What was he thinking?

Glancing to Katie, he shakes his head. Clint is a moron. Leaning over, he cocks his head and places his lips gently against hers. But even the lightest of kisses with Katie opens the floodgates of emotions, and for a split second, it’s a rush that Jason can’t manipulate. Pulling away is the only way to stop it and he does, trying ever so hard not to let his face get red in front of the others. He shouldn’t have done that… he was made vulnerable once again and he knew good and well that Katie had just felt too much of his own feelings once again.

“Ha!” Clint throws his hands in the air. “Winner, once again!”

Jason tries to laugh, but it’s weak. “Shut up.”