We Need A Plan. No, Not That One by Sarah McCormack (Me) (ink book reader txt) 📕

from somewhere?” Gage wondered aloud. He watched as her cheeks flared red.
“No. You don't know me. Now, if you don't mind..” She pushed past him without ordering a drink. He checked over his shoulder to see if he could see her walk away, but she had already disappeard into the crowd.
Gage handed Mario and Chase their drinks before taking a long swig from his. Across the table he could feel Cosco's eyes on him, watching him.
“So, what do you think of Angela?” Chase asked him.
“Who?”
“The barmaid that you were flirting with!” Rooney added. Gage looked at Rooney before he realised what they were asking.
“Oh! Oh, yeah, she didn't go for it.” He lied and took another mouthfull of his drink. The table was silent for a moment. “So I couldn't help notice a young chap over by the pool table earlier.” He offered as he caught sight of the young boy being approached by two players.
“Yeah? Well you seem to be on a bit of a role tonight. Why don't you go and play him?” Mario suggested and finished his drink.
“Eh, I don't know. I'm a bit of a newbie. Why don't you all have a shot first?” Gage knew this was the hard part, that's why he had given himself that part.
“Well, maybe because you took all our money!” Chase laughed.
“I think you should have a shot, Welker, after all, 'beginner's luck', isn't that what you said?” Cosco pitched in. Gage nodded, playing it cool.
“I think I actually said 'starter's luck.” He corrected and scanned the pool table. The two men had walked off, leaving the boy alone, again. “I guess I could have a shot.” He answered. The five men got up from their seats and crossed the room to the pool table.
He put his glass down on the wooden edge and looked to the young boy who held a que stick in his hands. “Alright if I give you a game?” He asked. The boy across from him was only sixteen. He had black hair and dark eyes. His skin was pale and he wasn't as tall as Gage. He wasn't as good at acting either.
“Gage.” Gage stretched his arm across the table to shake the boy's hand. He felt the firm grip of the boy's hand, returned aswel as the sweat. He tightened his jaw.
“Joshua.” Gage nodded and took his hand back. He already knew the boy's name. He already knew the boy's age. He already knew that he would let Gage win the first game even though he was a much better player. In fact, Gage knew absoloutly everything about this Joshua, down to the way he swapped hands each time he took a shot. He knew all this because he had grown up with him.
Joshua was nothing like his older brother. Where Gage was light haired, golden skinned and grey eyed, Joshua was dark haired, dark eyed and pale skinned. Gage knew no one would be able to guess that they were related. Not even Rooney knew that Gage had a younger brother.
“Yeah. You're going to have to wait your turn, though.” Joshua said to his older brother. Gage faltered for a split second before composing himself again. “I said I'd give her a go first.” Joshua explained, pointing towards a girl with dark brown hair. The same girl that Gage had met earlier.
“Oh. Okay, well I can wait.” Gage told him and stepped backwards. He finished his drink and again wished his younger brother could understand him or have the same idea as him. To let the girl win. It would make the hustle so much better.
Gage swallowed the last mouthful of beer. He hated the taste of it, but he didn't need to stick out. He sat against the wall and observed the game. Joshua broke the balls apart like an amatur.
“Nice..” Gage said to himself. What he was more focused on now though, was how loosely the girl held her que stick and how she looked so natural with it at the same time. From where he sat, he watched the game unfold. After a long five minutes, neither of them had potted a single ball. He had kept his eyes on the girl, even though he knew he should be watching his brother.
Was she...?
“Son of a-” He sighed to himself and folded his arms. He now understood what was happening. She was trying to hustle Joshua and then the rest of the guys too. He could see it in the way she barely let the que tip hit off the white ball and in the way she forced disapointment onto her features every time she potted the white ball by accident. She was very convincing. But not for Gage. He had been playing this game for a while. Longer than her, by the looks of it.
By the looks of it, Joshua was getting more frustrated by it, too. He was trying so hard to set up the ball for her to get a clear shot, aswel as miss his own shots, and she was just missing them each time. Gage knew that it was hard enough for Joshua to lose in the first place; he never wanted to lose. And losing to such a 'poor' player would kill him. Gage wondered if Joshua could tell that she was trying to play the same game he was.
Gage kept his eyes on the girl. She played as if she were a ditsy blond, trying not to break a nail. When she sighed after potting the white ball again, Gage caught her glancing his way. He smiled at her and saw that flush of red flash into her cheeks again.
“I think I'm going to have to give up soon. I'm terrible at this game.” She said in a high pitched voice that didn't belong to her. Gage knew that much. She added a giggle and turned her back on Gage.
“You don't need to quit.” Gage said. “I think you're holding the que stick wrong. Chase can show you how to hold it, can't you?” Gage turned to Chase. He seemed surprised to have been brought in, but didn't refuse helping her.
“So that's what this thing is called? I've been calling it ball poker since I started.” She giggled and shot a fierce look at Gage. Chase moved up behind her and helped her with holding the que stick inbetween her fingers. With Chase's help, she potted the first ball of the game. She squeeled like a little girl.
“Ha! Thank you.” She said and turned so she was in Chase's arms, facing him. Gage could see the heat rush to Chase now. He stifled a smile.
“If you want, I can help you some more..?” Chase offered. Just as she was about to protest, Gage interuppted.
“She sure needs it! You should help her out.” Gage coaxed. The game only lasted another few minutes. The girl with dark hair won and left Joshua at the starting line. She smirked at Gage.
“I wanna play again!” She cheered. Joshua came and stood beside Rooney. His eyes only barely flickered to Gage's, but Gage knew it was enough for Cosco to spot. “Will you play with me?” Gage raised his eyebrows when the girl turned to him.
“Go on Welker, you wanted to play, didn't you?” Gage nodded.
“Yeah. I did.” Gage admitted. He stood up and took another que stick into his hands.
“Wait..” Gage turned to Cosco. He had been getting ready to beat this girl and he didn't want to lose his opportunity.
“What's wrong Cosco?” Mario asked him. “We're just about to see Welker lose the money he so proudly won. Our money, I might add.” Mario said with a smile.
“No. There's something else. You,” he pointed to the girl. “I recognise you.” He said. Gage turned to see the red flow back into her cheeks for the third time. “Yeah I do.” Cosco added when the girl shook her head.
“You were on that television show! The one where you won the junior championship at pool!” Gage gasped loudly and she scowled at him.
“No. Way! You were trying to hustle me?” Gage tried to sound hurt, surprised but also sarcastic. And she sensed it. She shot a glare his way. “I feel...violated. Vunreble even.” He continued. The girl put her hands on her hips and waited for him to finish.
“You done yet?” She wondered, her natural voice coming out instead of that squeeky, hystarical voice that she played before.
“Nope. You know there should be a law against this, shouldn't there?”
“There is.” Gage swallowed hard and turned to Cosco. “Here in Vistic there is a law against it.” Gage raised his eyebrows in surprise. He smiled and turned to the girl.
“Did you hear that?” He asked her. Her face was blank.
“So you're going to charge me with NEARLY hustleing you? I'd like to see how that turns out for you.” She retorted.
“Well you're going to.” Gage was pushed aside by Cosco as he made his way over to grab a hold of the girl's arm.
“Woah, C. Do you really think this is nessicary? I mean she didn't actually get the chance to hustle anyone.” Rooney said. Cosco shook his head. Gage could see that he was holding the girls's arm tightly, bruising it already. He stepped forward, serious now.
“Hey, Cosco, let the girl go. It doesn't matter.” Gage tried to reason. “She was caught before anything happened. Chill.” Gage said, meeting Cosco's eyes.
“It's dirt like her that give people in Vistic bad names.” Cosco growled and ignored her struggle to get free.
“Or is it guys like you?” Gage watched as a purple vein exploded from Cosco's forehead. And the girl in his cluth whimpered a little as he squeezed harder. Gage looked away for a second and then back at Cosco. “Listen, all I'm saying is to learn a little forgiveness. Besides, I was the one being hustled. Shouldn't I be the one handleing it?” Gage waited until Cosco let the girl go. She rubbed her arm.
“You piece of-” She began. As Cosco narrowed his eyes, Gage thought of a physco killer with huge bulging eyes that seemed to come out from their sockets. Gage quickly pulled the girl close to him and put his hand over her mouth.
“Come on, I'll take you home.” He said. “I just got you out of being pummled to an inch of your life, could you please stay quiet for a minute!” Gage whispered into her ear. He could smell the sweet scent of her skin.

“Okay, what's your deal?” Gage asked when they were outside. She pushed his hands away from her and began walking. Gage followed her and looked over his shoulder when he heard the door of the bar open. Joshua came out and looked both ways before seeing the two. He didn't follow.
“None