The Jaws of Life

13

Its a random Tuesday night and for once we're tired of doing fires. Instead Tony suggested we stay in and play a party card game that Alia had packed. We each take turns pulling a card and reading the prompt that all of us except the card reader has to answer. If you don't want to answer then you have to take a sip of your drink, unless its a really good question then you have to take a shot if you want to avoid it. I'm currently tree shots in and maybe two drinks down so far, which is still somehow miles behind everyone else. 

"Alright, Jaime you start for this one - ooh this is a good one too." Alia says excitedly. "Who was your first crush?"

Jaime considers this for a moment, then asks. "Like celebrity or real life?"

We watch Alia read the card over and shrug. "It doesn't say. Do each I guess."

"Let's see, first celebrity crush... oh I know." he says with a smile as he recalls it. "It was definitely Britney Spears."

"I'm with you there." Tony says with a laugh.

Alia rolls her eyes at them. "And real person?"

I swear for the first time since I've ever known Jaime he actually blushes. His cheeks turn a soft pink colour that one could think is from the alcohol, but it's actually from him feeling shy. I didn't think it was possible for him to blush.

"Oh this is going to be good." Alia says, noticing his blush as well. "Spill."

"Well if you must know, it was actually Karlie." he says, his eyes on anything but me.

Alia's eyes, however, fly to me, which in turn makes me blush along with Jaime. She looks from Jaime and I with excitement, obviously loving the fact that she's exposed her brother's old crush on me.

"Why didn't you ever tell me!" she yells at Jaime.

"Because you would've told everyone you know?" he says as if that weren't obvious.

"So! When did it start?"

"I don't think that questions on the card." Tony pipes up. Alia turns and gives him a look that makes him back down instantly.

"Like the first time we met." he says. His eyes flash over to mine for a second and as they do his blush deepens a little.

"No way." I say, finally joining the conversation. "The first time we met you made fun of me."

"Did he?" Alia gasps. She turns and hits Jaime on the arm. "You dick!"

"I didn't!" Jaime protests. 

"Yes you did." I argue. "I was over at your place, Alia had just gone to get us something to eat and you walked into her room thinking she was there but it was just me. You literally looked at me and said "What the hell happened to your hair?" and I told you nothing happened to it, it was always like that and you responded with "Oh that sucks for you."' I say, reliving the moment in my head. As a kid with curly hair I was already insecure about my hair when I was younger, but hearing Jaime, who I thought was so cute, say that, I was crushed. I'll never forget it.

"I did not say that!" Jaime protests.

"You did! I'll never forget it, I was so crushed. I thought my hair looked great and you come along and make fun of it before you even knew my name!" I exclaim.

"Well I'm sorry." Jaime says, an apologetic smile on his face. "For the record I always thought your hair was nice, I don't know what prompted me to say that."

"You just didn't know how to talk to girls." Alia says. "All boys make fun of girls they like."

"I never did that." Tony says.

Alia puts her hands over his. "Thats because you've always been a gentleman."

"Hey!" Jaime exclaims, obviously offended by the implication that he's not a gentleman.

She just shrugs at her brother. "Shouldn't have made fun of my best friends hair if you wanted to be a gentleman."

"Well I don't anymore." he protests before turning to me. "Come on, tell her I'm nice to you now."

"Well, you did ditch me during that bonfire..." I say. I try to look serious but a grin fights its way to my face before I can stop it.

"Oh come on." Jaime says. "I don't want to do this anymore."

"Okay, okay, attention is off you." Alia says. "Kar you're next. Who was your first crush?"

I give Jaime an apologetic look. "Attention is back on you, sorry. It was Jaime."

"I knew it!" Alia yells. "You would never tell me but I fucking knew it! Why didn't you tell me!"

"Again, you would've told everyone." I say, repeating Jaime's answer. We love Alia with all of our heart, but she cannot keep a secret for shit. At least not other's secrets.

"You guys should've told me!" Alia exclaims. "I would've tried my hardest to set something up."

"I think thats why they didn't tell you." Tony points out. 

"Maybe we should pick another game." I say, hating the attention that Jaime and I are getting at the moment. Do I love hearing Jaime had a crush on me? Hell yes. I don't necessarily believe it per say, but I delight at hearing it. Sharing my crush on him, however? Mortifying. 

"I agree." Jaime says, because of course he would. This is just as much fun for me as it is for him, which means its absolute hell.

"Why! We're learning so much about one another." Alia says. 

"Too much." Tony says, a grin on his face as he looks and Jaime and I.

We move on with the game, and thankfully for the rest of the night no other questions involving first crushes or anything comes up. I can't help but notice, though, that Jaime keeps sneaking glances my way every so often. For the briefest of seconds I think maybe his crush isn't just from childhood, but then I realize I'm wishful thinking again and brush the idea off as I carry back on with the games for the rest of the night.