Sixty-Five Roses

07

Most of the team was nursing a hangover the next day. While Parker wasn't drunk, she was having a rough day and debating going to the hospital to get herself checked out. The group had rearranged their office so that the couches were facing each other on the bright green rug. A small coffee table sat between the couches. Nick had seated himself on the end of one couch while Yo-Yo laid down on the other end. Lyle was curled up on the opposite couch across from Yo-Yo, with Billy sitting at the end across from Nick. Neha had claimed an armchair. Stuart had taken a couple beanbag chairs to make a bed. Parker was curled up on another beanbag chair, hacking up her lungs.

"The whole world looks like a pinwheel of death," Stuart complained.

"Price of making memories, Stewie." Nick told him. He was still hungover, but due to the coffee he had gotten for himself and Billy, the two were doing better than the other three who had drinks the previous night. "Parker, you okay?"

She nodded slowly and rasped, "I'll live. I think."

"Should you be going to the hospital?"

"I'll keep you updated."

"My liver hurts," Yo-Yo mumbled.

"Can't fix that one," Billy said with a shrug.

Chetty entered their office and began talking. "Astonishingly, your app received ten times more downloads than any of the other teams. It appears that you have won your first challenge."

"How bout it!" Billy exclaimed as he gave Neha a fist bump. Lyle grinned as he slowly sat up.

"Yay," Parker muttered, coughing.

"Congratulations," Chetty said.

Yo-Yo jolted up and threw up in a trash can.

"Woah, easy there big guy," Billy stated gently. Neha covered her mouth.

Nick reached over and began to rub Yo-Yo's back before saying, "He gets overexcited."

Chetty as he turned his attention back to Yo-Yo and replied in a disgusted tone, "Lovely." He left.

"Let it out. Let it out little guy."

As time progressed, they began acting more and more like a team. That night out had clearly done some good.

Parker sat in a corner, trying to catch her breath.

Stuart went to sit next to her and asked, "You okay? That cough sounds worse than normal."

She nodded. "I'm okay."

"Maybe you should go to the hospital."

"I don't want to. I can manage."

"Parker, what if it gets bad enough? Or what if you have an infection?"

She met his eyes and said, "I know when I should go and I'm okay for now."

The next day, Parker was feeling a little better, and when she and the team found out their next challenge was to crack codes, she was excited. Code breaking had always been a hobby of hers.

Neha and Parker did the challenge together, encouraging each other during the entire process. Their team cheered them on whilst the other teams were yelling at their contestants.

"Come on Neha! Yeah, Parker!"

"You got it, you got it, you got it."

"That's it, baby!"

Chetty walked by and looked at theirs before giving a thumbs up. Team Lyle had won their second challenge.

Parker smiled and Stuart hugged her before realizing what he'd done and stepped back awkwardly as he said nervously, "Uh, good job, Parker."