Preparing to play a game

After a while of searching Josh cleared his throat somewhat loudly, which caused Tom to stop rummaging around briefly to look at him with a questioning look which asked Josh what was wrong, Josh then finally spoke up, "If you can't find it let's just play something else. You have loads of fun looking games here. Why don't we play one of them? Like the ones you've put on the floor or something?"

Tom turned his gaze from Josh to the numerous boxes containing games and different toys which littered his bedroom carpet, he then looked back up at Josh's face and responded to his question, "Nope, I've started looking so I might as well find it." He took a breath and glanced quickly from the shelf back to Josh and continued, "Oh, unless you'd rather play something else, I don't mind."

Josh quickly shook his head after hearing what Tom had said, "No, no, if you want to play Munupoly then let's play it. If you want to play something else instead I don't mind."

Tom paused for a second and worried about what to do, "Then… Well, I don't mind either. What do you want to do?" His voice was quiet and melodic.

"Well I don't mind either-" Josh responded but then stopped himself and thought for a moment before smiling to himself awkwardly, wondering why he and everyone he knew was so indecisive, "Well then, shall we play Munupoly? Oh and I can help you look if you want." He added at the end, however, he silently hoped that Tom would say no and wouldn't make him look too.

"Mn you can help if you want." He responded quietly as he turned back around to face the shelf as he once again began rummaging through the toys and boxes.

Josh sighed mentally at Tom's response and lazily and slowly got up from the bed and walked sluggishly over to where Tom was standing. He regretted having offered his assistance when he could've just watched and waited, but since he'd already offered he might as well do his best to help out.

In the end Tom seemed to have found what he was looking for, among the countless other games and toys, as he turned around towards Josh with a victorious smile on his small face, completely ignoring the multitude of games and toys which he himself along with Josh had shoved and dropped onto the floor in the vicious search for the specific game.

Josh looked at his friend and pointed at the floor to alert him of the mess they had made, but when Tom looked at it he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Then they instead just both decided to pay the mess no mind, and decided to instead just focus their attention and energy on the game.

They brushed the toys and games to the sides and laid the box out on the carpeted floor, they opened it and together read through the rules, it took a while but once they had both fully understood, or at least claimed to have understood, they finally began setting up the game, they set out the board and put the cards and cash out, they also chose their characters and got ready to start.

"Oo, I want the dog!" Called out Josh happily as he reached out his small hand to grab the dog character.

"Oh but I wanted the dog…" mumbled Tom with a small voice, he was quiet which resulted in Josh being unable to hear.

"What'd you say? Asked Josh with a smile on his face as he carefully held the dog character.

Tom pouted lightly and looked away from Josh to instead look at the characters left, he reluctantly chose the car and replied to Josh, "Uhm, it's nothing…" he said, his voice somewhat louder and more audible.

"Mn, okay." Josh replied with a smile, not doubting Tom for a second, "Woah a car, does that mean you'll be super fast?" He asked, his eyes shining as he looked at the car.

Toms face lit up slightly and his pout momentarily disappeared as he looked at Josh then back at his car then back at Josh, "You think so? Oh oh maybe the cars better than the dog because it's faster then?"

"Mm maybe," Josh replied smiling before he looked back at his hand which held the dog in his palm, his smile then faltered and he instead had a small pout on his face, "then… is Mr doggy bad?" He said quietly as he lifted his gaze from his palm up to Tom's face.

At this point they were both sat on the floor, Tom had his leg crossed in front of him and Josh had his legs bent to the sides of him, in the shape of an upside down w.

"No, no probably not. Otherwise it'd uhm, be unfair?" Questioned Tom as he shook his head wildly to reassure Josh so he wouldn't be upset.

"Then, do you want to swap?" Josh asked hopefully and hesitantly with a slight side smile on his face.

"Hm, no, I think the cars cool!" He said as he once again shook his head wildly, he then stopped and as a thought occurred to him he raised his palm and shook his hand at Josh, "Oh but, I think Mr doggy's cool too! Don't worry!" He exclaimed with a delicate smile on his small face.

Josh smiled in a way which showed he very much didn't believe Tom, he let out a sigh and closed his eyes for a few brief moments before he was prodded lightly a couple of times on the shoulder tbh his friend who was sitting next to him on the floor.

"If you're done and since we're done setting up, do you want to start to play? On tv I saw they said it's a long game to play with friends, so we should play soon, right?" He stated matter of factly but still posed it as a question as he seemed somewhat unsure of himself.

Josh opened his eyes after being prodded and after hearing what had been said he nodded vigorously in agreement and took the dice from the box and gingerly handed them over to his friend at his side.

"You should go first on your birthday." He stated happily with a smile as his eyes were closed tightly as he dropped the dice into his friends hands.

Tom looked at his friends expression and his features instantly adopted the warm and happy smile which was also on Josh's. "Thank you, but mum said that guests should be treated well, or something so… you should go first."

Josh nodded slowly as he lifted both of his palms up to Tom's outstretched hand as Josh opened his eyes and Tom gently dropped the dice into Josh's two joint outstretched palms.