#even when drunk

Everyone sat around the fire, either on the couches and chairs or on the floor when there was no longer space. Marlon quickly explained the rules, “You all know the rules for truth or dare, lowest draw is given a dare or truth from highest etcetera etcetera, but in this version of the game lowest draw also has to take a shot.” Faces were filled with excitement as Marlon paused for dramatic effect, “And.. if you refuse to answer or do your dare, you take two shots.”

While Marlon shuffled the deck of cards Louis turned to face Clementine who was sitting next to him, “Where’s AJ? You two are usually attached at the hip.” He gave her a little nudge with his elbow causing her to smile.

“He’s in our room with Tenn, they’re drawing together. I thought that would be a better place for him right now than around a bunch of drunk teenagers.” Louis gave a knowing nod. “Brody’s there too, she offered to keep an eye on them.”

“RIGHT, Clem, Louis, pick a card and stop flirting.” Marlon passed the deck of cards around the circle making sure everyone had drawn one. Vi was the first to draw the lowest number and Mitch was the first to draw highest. He took his time coming up with a truth that was sure to embarrass the girl that couldn’t be embarrassed.

“Got it. Vi, if you had to date anyone here right now, who would it be?”

“Clem.” The answer was almost instant shocking nearly everyone gathered in the circle and making Clementine turn a light shade of pink.

“And why is that?”

“An explanation wasn’t part of the question.” She grabbed for the whiskey bottle and quickly unscrewed the cap before taking a mouthful and swallowing as if having a sip of water. The rest of the group stared at her in awe when she didn’t react to the burning liquid making its way down her throat.

Louis cleared his throat in an attempt to move the game along. “Okay then.. next draw.”

It was very clear to everyone in the circle that Louis didn’t have a poker face, as soon as he drew his card his face broke out into an enormous grin, “So who am I asking?” Ruby slowly raised her card showing off her 2 of diamonds. The bottle was passed around to her and she had already decided that she would not be drinking any of it. “What if something happens and we need someone with a level head,” she spoke nervously. Usually the rest of the group would push for someone to join in with their activities but there was something about the way Ruby held herself that showed her mind would not be changed on the matter. They didn’t push her. Instead Mitch came up with a compromise.

“You still have to answer the question,” he began, “but you can choose someone else to have your shots for you.” The idea seemed to go down well with the others as a chorus of oos and ahhs irrupted.

“Ruby my love, how do you feel about our poor awkward Aasim over there?” Louis wore a shit eating grin. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of red, anyone would think all the blood in her body had rushed there at once. “I’m not answering something so childish,” she began, “I’m giving my two shots to Louis.”

“I feel like this… compromise, is flawed.” Louis took two gulps from the bottle. He quickly placed his hand over his mouth, his face screwed as the liquid burned his throat and warmed him inside. Almost instantly he could feel the effects of the alcohol starting to take hold. The dizziness, the blurring. The joy.

Everyone drew another card, continuing the game. Willy drew lowest and Clem drew highest. Pausing for a second, they all began to realise that it wasn’t the best idea for Willy to drink having only been a few years older than Tenn, although they weren’t really old enough either.

“I dare you… to go check on AJ and Tenn. See if Brody needs anything.” Willy frowned

“That’s not a dare! I want a proper dare!”

“A dare is a dare, Willy.” Willy let out a loud huff and stormed off towards the school without having his drink first. Ruby smiled at Clem, happy to see someone being responsible, for once. Responsibility was hard to come by when living in close proximity to Louis.

Once again cards were drawn and once again a question was asked but this time by Vi to Aasim. “Aasim, what is your favourite thing about Ruby?” They both blushed, something that was becoming very common.

“Well… err… “ Aasim quickly took his shot. “I guess err, that she cares so much, I mean you gotta care about people to be so interested in medicine and stuff and yeah,” He gulped. Ruby, as if it was even possible, turned redder. Her face resembled a tomato as she refused to look over at Aasim in fear that it would just get worse.

“AWWW, you two are so perfect. Anything to say Ruby?” Louis wiggled his eyebrows at the pair. Without a word Ruby grabbed the bottle from Aasim’s hand and took a swig herself glaring at Louis the entire time. “Well… I guess not then.”

The game continued, and most people were either drunk or tipsy excluding Ruby and Willy, who never came back to the group but decided to stay with Brody and the boys. Mitch was lay on the floor because ‘the cold felt nice’, Marlon was struggling to keep his eyes open and Louis couldn’t keep still nor quiet.

“I’m s’drunk.”

Violet’s eyes rolled, “Louis, you always act drunk, there’s no difference.” In his drunken state he failed to even hear Vi’s comment and instead started poking Marlon in the ribs. He simply grumbled in response.

“Pass the deck ‘round. Want another go.” Marlon was silent but did as he was told before collapsing back into his chair. Everyone examined their cards discovering Louis and Clem would be participating this round.

“Cleeem, you’re high, I’m low. Ask awaaay.”

She smiled and shook her head before thinking of a dare for the very, *very* drunk Louis. “I dare you to shotgun a beer.” Marlon and Mitch had both done so earlier for their own dares, evident by the cans laying around them. Louis sprung up from his chair and grabbed one of the cans laying on the floor, he held his hand out and gestured for Clem to pass him her knife. After puncturing the can he positioned the hole over his mouth and opened the tab. He was successful, for a few seconds, until he started to splutter, and the beer made its way down his coat, soaking him. The circle irrupted in laughter, even Mitch who everyone thought had fallen asleep on the floor.

As the laughing died down and tears were wiped from eyes Louis turned to Clem, a look of admiration on his face, “What an amazing dare Clem, so fun, so… Clem, why are you so great at everything...” Before Clem had a chance to react Louis turned to Marlon, “You’re such a good friend Maaaarlon.”

“You too dude like, s’best friend.”

“I think I looove you,” Louis grabbed his cheeks with his sticky beer covered hands and started to lean closer puckering his lips. At the sight of his face Marlon instantly sobered up trying to remove his hands and push him away, “LOUIS NO!” Mitch started laughing uncontrollably at the sight before him with tears in his eyes, it was clear that they had, had too much to drink. Noticing the serious look on Marlon’s face Louis turned back towards Clem and poked the tip of her button nose.

“I think I might love you too.” The laughing stopped, and everyone fell silent as their eyes widened in shock. “I THINK I LOVE ALL OF YOU,” Louis swung his head back hitting it on the back of his chair. The laughter started again his earlier statement almost forgotten.

“I think it might be time for everyone to head to bed,” Aasim tried to speak between laughs, “especially Louis.”

“S’right,” Violet coughed trying to hide the slur in her voice and repeated herself. “He’s right.”

“Vi, are you drunk?” Mitch asked in shock, the girl had seemed sober all night. She quickly stood up in protest, “No, I am not.” As she tried to walk towards the school she tripped over nothing but her own feet and landed on the floor proving Mitch to be correct.

“VI’S DRUNK.”

“Shut up,” Violet stalked off towards her room and nearly everyone got up to follow her into the building, everyone but Louis. “No. Don’t wanna. Having fun.” Clementine offered to make sure he got back to his room safely and didn’t pass out on the way there. Louis jumped up at the talk of Clementine escorting him stating he would only go to bed if she took him.

Escorting Louis to his room was a lot harder than Clementine expected. He tripped over his own feet constantly and she had to make sure he didn’t fall face first into the hard floor. He kept laughing at nothing in particular as well and although it made the walk a little longer Clementine didn’t mind. It was nice to see people laugh and smile again, really nice. She wished it could happen more often.

She opened Louis’ door with her foot while her arms were busy trying to keep him on his feet. After dragging him over to the bed he lay down, not bothering to take his beer-soaked coat off.

“Now go to sleep and sober up.”

“Clem, wait...” She looked back at him from the door with a puzzled look on her face.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, I don’t think you could have made it back here on your own anyw-“

“No,” Louis stopped her mid-sentence and closed his eyes, “No, thank you for crashing your car.” She fully turned around to look at him with one of her eyebrows raised questioning his statement. “Because, if you hadn’t then we would never have met, and I d-don’t think I like the idea of us never meeting…” Clem fondly shook her head telling Louis once again to get some sleep. She walked through the door and was about to close it behind her when she heard his voice once again.