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Slender fingers extended in front of you, once again, blocking your vision of the television. As the fingers
retracted, this time, clutching yet another strand of the black candy, your eyes locked on to it, and followed back
to where they came. You glared deep into the violet eyes of the Icelandic man as he opened his mouth and
proceeded to enjoy his snack. A look of extreme pleasure crossed his face as he closed his eyes and savored the
taste of the bitter licorice. Your eyes darted to the floor down by his feet where numerous empty plastic bags lay
scattered. Shaking your head and letting loose a deep exhale of breath, you whispered his name. "Emil."
He glanced up at you with half of the licorice still hanging out of his mouth as he quickly chewed and swallowed
the rest of the strand.
"I think.. You may have a problem."
He looked at you, amethyst eyes filled with confusion. "What do you mean, (name)?"
"Well, your addiction to licorice. Isn't it unhealthy?"
An attractive chuckle echoed in his throat and it was your turn to look confused. "So that's what you're
concerned with? My health?"
"Well, yeah.. But that's not all. The addiction itself is unhealthy. You can't go ten minutes without a piece of
licorice in your mouth."
Emil just gazed at you, eyes locked onto yours as he always did.
"Well, aren't you going to say something?" you questioned.
He took a deep breath and exhaled. "Look, (name) don't take any offense, but if I want to eat licorice all the time,
that's my business."
"You know, as soon as the words 'don't take any offense' came out of your mouth, it was immediately offensive?
Emil, all I'm saying is maybe you should cut back."
"And all I'm saying, (name) is maybe you should mind your own business," he retorted as he popped another
piece into his mouth.
"Alright then, smartass, let's make a bet," you snapped, venom lacing your words.
Emil's eyes narrowed and a smirk crossed his lips. "Alright, what did you have in mind?"
You thought for a moment then snapped your fingers as the brilliant idea hit you. "If you can go three full days,
meaning exactly seventy-two hours from now, without so much as touching a piece of black licorice, I'll buy you
ten bags at the store."
"And if I lose?"
"Then, you have to let Mathias give you a makeover... Blindfolded."
His eyes immediately widened with shock. "N-no way.. That's stupid. Bet's off."
You got up from the couch slowly, letting out a deep, overemphasized sigh as you began waltzing towards the
door. "Well, I knew you wouldn't be able to handle it, Emil. Too bad, I didn't think you'd be so afraid of a little
challenge."
You stopped mid step as you heard the couch legs scrap hard across the wooden floor from the speed at which
Emil jumped up from the couch. With your back still turned to him, a victorious smirk laced across your lips;
you knew you'd finally struck a cord with the silver haired Icelandic boy. You turned to face him, his violet eyes
ablaze and his fists clenched up in irritation. You couldn't help but laugh at his attitude. Emil's personality
seemed so confusing when you'd first met, but now, each and every action was easily predictable.
"So, you wanna try, Emil?" you said with a wink. "Or are you too chicken?"
His body relaxed as he tried to compose himself, but the anger and fear were still easily written upon his face.
"Yeah. No licorice for three days, I can do that."
"Alright, this is going to be interesting! Now, I'll be taking your stash until this bet is over."
Again, Emil just glanced at you with a completely blank stare.
You folded your arms as you met his gaze. "You really thought I'd just leave them here with you?"
"No," he gestured to the floor beside you. "But, you may want to grab that box."

After an hour of collecting licorice from the kitchen cupboards, Emil's room and even under the couch, you had
collected thirty-six full unopened bags, enough to almost completely fill the box. You pinched the space in
between you eyes in irritation as you let out a deep sigh.
"Seriously, Emil.. I think you may need professional help. This- you pointed to the box- is NOT normal.."
He shrugged his shoulders in reply and turned his gaze to the other side of the room, apparently, finding
interest in something absolutely meaningless. Feeling annoying since he was now ignoring you, you snatched up
the box and walked as briskly as you could with the extra weight. Hearing the barely audible footsteps of the
Icelandic man behind, you continued on to your car, ignoring him as he had just done to you. Dropping the box
purposely on the ground, you grabbed your keys from your pocket, opened the trunk and tossed the licorice in.
Honestly, you couldn't help yourself. You knew all of this would irk Emil and, frankly, it was just too much fun
to pass up! Turning back to him, the expression on his face was just as predicted- irritation. You gave him a
devious smirk. "I'll check on you soon, Emil. Remember, don't cave, or else!" you reminded.
"Yeah, yeah I know.." he replied, crossing his arms in exasperation.
You climbed into the driver's seat and turned the key, making the engine roar to life. Giving him one final wave,
only to be met with a shake of his head, you put the car in drive and drove home.

A few hours later, you collapsed onto your bed, sinking into the soft cushion of the mattress. You curled up with
your pillow as you pulled the comforter over your being. Just as you closed your eyes, your cell phone rang with
its obnoxious tune. Groaning loudly with annoyance, you threw the pillow over your head and covered your ears,
trying to drown it out. Realizing your childish attempt would be futile, you reached over and grabbed the phone,
clicking the 'answer' button.
"What do you want now, Emil?!" you practically shouted into the phone.
"... You don't have to yell, (name)."
"Well, you don't have to call me every ten minutes!"
"I need to get my mind off it."
"Then go talk to your puffin or something and leave me the heck alone!"
"No. He won't stop talking about.. Well, you know."
You sighed deeply, hearing it resound in the speaker. "Goodnight, Emil. Go to sleep and you'll forget."
"Wait (name)-" And with that, you clicked the 'end call' button and turned your phone off, easily drifting into
slumber.

A loud rustle roused you from your sleep. The thought of someone breaking into your house seemed impossible
since you always locked your doors, but regardless, it terrified you. Nearly frozen by fear, you had to force your
limbs to move quietly as you slipped out of bed and grabbed the baseball bat that was placed next to the door. Creeping as silently as your feet would allow, you tip-toed down each step carefully so as not to make even the slightest sound. The kitchen light shined brilliantly, casting a perfect shadow of the person who had infiltrated your home. Baseball bat poised and ready to swing, you approached the edge of the wall and slowly inched your head around when a laughable sight came into view. Violet eyed Emil, stood next to your cupboard, licorice bag in hand and another piece in his mouth, a triumphant look plastered across his face. You took this perfect opportunity and leapt out into the brightness of the kitchen, weapon still in your hand and yelled, "Caught you!"
Poor Emil jumped with a yelp and dropped his candy, scattering the licorice all over the floor. You burst out in a fit of laughter, falling to the cold tile. His face flushed crimson and Emil hung his head low in shame, he'd been caught in the act, and now, it was time to pay up. After a few minutes of laughing yourself to tears, you pulled yourself up and went over to the embarrassed Icelandic boy. You played it up a little by grabbing his hand. He jerked his head up in surprise and you planted a small kiss on his nose, causing him to turn a whole new shade of red. Smiling sweetly, you declared the obvious. "You lost, Emil."
"Yeah I know. Don't rub it in (name). I just couldn't help it.."
Reaching up to the cupboard behind him you grabbed a package. Tearing it open, you pulled out a piece of the black candy and held it up for Emil to take a bite. Cautiously, he took the bait, and you grabbed the other end of the strand, biting off a good amount and causing his face to flush pink all over again. You chuckled and grabbed a couple other bags of the licorice then shoved them into Emil's hands.
"Tomorrow, you'll pay up."
He sighed deeply. "A deal's a deal, I guess.."

"Aaaaand.. Done!"
You ripped the blindfold off Mathias, for him to glance at his handiwork, and you both broke out into a fit of laughter. The poor victim flushed redder than you'd ever seen. Mascara laced in zig zags around his mouth, while blue eyeshadow dusted his cheeks and bright pink lipstick was smoothed all across his forehead. Wiping a tear from your eye, you reached for the bag behind you and handed Emil his dues. He munched gratefully on the candy amidst all his embarrassment.
"You know, Emil, if they have rehab for a candy addiction, that's where I'm sending you."
His amethyst eyes darted towards you then narrowed as he answered with a disgusted "Hmm.."
Suddenly, something flashed from the doorway and you turned to see Lukas standing with a camera, his normal expressionless look on his face.
Emil was immediately up and chasing him. "Seriously, Lukas?! Delete it now!"
"Maybe if you call me 'Big Brother'."