[I]Stupid... Stupid, stupid...[/I] He chided himself angrily as she left for home.

"What's the matter?" He shut the door as Matt spoke, scowling as he looked back.

"Don't know what you're talking about."

"Liar. What? Did somebody ask your little girlfriend to the dance?" He teased, sticking his hands in his pockets. Matt, despite how he and his brother were always at each other's throats, was a nice guy when things seemed serious. He also managed to get voted in for class president and had had a hand in the organization of the event.

James was rather surprised that he had guessed so quickly; he didn't even argue that she wasn't his girlfriend. The two talked for a while and at the end, James mentioned the paintball fight and that Matt would be allowed to come if he wanted to. He said he'd think about it. How could he take back the 'as friends' comment though? Matt said that it was clearly the biggest mistake that he could have made in asking her out, that he should have trusted her enough to know that even if it was a no, then they would still be friends... probably. However, he didn't want to bring up anything while they were trying to study. Test day came and went, both of them doing well, as expected. Match day came quite quickly and the air was absolutely thick with excitement. Some of the club members were in some kind of ROTC program and Matt had decided to come.

Matt was, perhaps, the most desired fighter of them all. Not only did he even out their numbers to be split into two teams, but he was also the best shot and the most athletic of them all. He paintballed often enough and, though he had yet to tell his parents, was planning to enlist in the military. He was on the other team. Of course, the club was rather hell-bent on somehow evening it out, so a lot of the other seniors were against him, with the exception of James, Sasha, and a couple of other underclassmen. James checked his equipment; he had a basic rifle-style gun and a handgun. He'd never really cared for weaponry, but a part of him was always curious so he was at least a bit excited.

And thus, the game began. He looked to Sasha with a playful grin as she mentioned dinner. "Sur-" He started as CO2 was expelled from a gun not far away. The two ran to hiding places not far from one another as the paint splattered a nearby tree in vibrant red. He hadn't even tested the gun yet! What kind of range did it have? How quickly did the balls travel? As Sasha's tree was hit over and over again, pinning her down, he really stopped thinking and hit his knee, swinging out from behind his own. Instinctively, he began to pull his trigger...

... and was met with a feeling that he had never felt before. Up to that moment, it was the greatest thing he had ever experienced and he quickly grew addicted as he lined up the weapon and bombarded the other side. Their assault stopped and one stepped out.

"I'm out already?!" He shouted in frustration. It was Alex and James spun back behind his tree, hiding how absolutely ecstatic he was. They could play a hundred more rounds and he could have absolutely no hits in any of them and he wouldn't be upset after getting the blonde boy out. He felt like he could do anything as the others called for a retreat to regroup and attack again. They were singled out quickly, but it seemed like it had been Alex's attack plan with a few of the underclassmen from his own team. James waited to hear the footsteps running the opposite direction and he rose, running for Sasha's hiding place as something struck his leg painfully. It stung and he tripped, ending up against a fallen log with paint clearly visible on his left leg.

"No! My leg! I... Er... C-can't walk," He said breathlessly, trying not to laugh as he leaned up against the log and the woods filled with shouts and gung-ho charges. It was only about ten versus ten, so the round would probably not last all day. He beckoned for Sasha, and when she was by him, he put a hand on her shoulder, "M-my liege..." He said, improvising a scenario of war. Stories just made things more fun as he tried to keep from having a case of the giggles, clearing his throat and making his expression more sturdy. "I can't walk, you must... find the rest of the group. Don't... don't let the other team take you as they shall me..."

"James!~" Came Matt's call, "I got a report you were over here. You and Sasha took one of my men; I'm here for revenge."

"Blast!" James cursed under his breath, "Go. Don't let him see you, I'll keep him at bay for as long as I can... Go!!" He insisted dramatically.

Waiting until he was sure that she was gone, James called over his shoulder and beyond the log, "I'm over here, Matt!" He fired off his gun a few more times, only to hear it 'click' softly with emptiness.

"Stand up and face me, James," The older brother spoke as he spotted the boy. After a few deep breaths, he pulled his handgun from his hip and stood up shakily, keeping weight from his "injured" leg, lining up the small pistol.

"You're not going anywhere," He fired, but Matt was already sheltered. He didn't stop until he'd nearly emptied the weapon. Two more figures stepped out from nearby trees as James began to back away, limping backward. Three guns were now trained on his chest and he shook his head. He'd never be able to take them all out.

"What are you doing, Matt?!" He cried out, balling his hands into fists. "Think about what you're about to do!! I'm your little brother..."

"And you were protecting the enemy! You traitor, why do you deserve to live?" Matt called back fiercely through his mask.

"I'm not the traitor, you are... I was doing what I thought was best for us all!"

"Little brother... you don't get it... The road to Hell is [I]paved[/I] with good intention..." Matt shook his head solemnly, tsk'ing as he readied his rifle.

"I... I never thought of it that way..." James sighed and looked down, "In that case... Then... I guess..." He quickly brought his pistol up, "I'll see you there!" The soft expulsion of gas sounded and a moment later, Matt was looking down and he fell to his knees.

"You... you killed me..." He looked up pleadingly to James.

"You were going to kill me, brother... What did you expect..?"

Matt's breathing grew falsely laborious and he sighed, raising a hand, "Hold your fire until I'm gone, men..." He ordered, looking to James. "I'm sorry, James... Perhaps... Perhaps I was wrong, but there's no going back now... We all live with our mistakes, and so I'll die with mine. Fight for what you believe in, and..." The older brother took a deep breath and released it quickly, "Never forget me..." he shut his eyes and a flurry of red balls were unleashed onto James, splattering all over his plastic chestplate before he fell to the ground dead. A few moments later, the two brothers would rise, laughing, and take a seat to the side, spectating their own deathzone as they waited for the round to finish.

"Hey, uhm... I might be home later than you tonight. Sasha and I might go grab a bite when the club is done here," James said, taking off his mask and setting it aside with a wistful smile.