OUT OF THE PICTURE

Chapter Thirteen || Marlin

Marlin was casually lying in bed with her head past over the edge, letting her hair sagged on the floor. With the help of her earphones, she felt total peace. Holding her phone high, she was currently in search of the best song that goes with her mood at that right moment.

Sometime later she heard Sarah calling her from outside. She took one side of her earphones and yelled "What?"

"Come over here!"

"Why?"

When she didn't get an answer, she put it back and was ready to choose another song to play-- until Sarah barged into her room, the reason she accidentally dropped the phone on her face.

"Mars come on!"

Marlin threw her phone onto the bed bitterly as she rubbed the sore part of her face. She got up and followed Sarah outside.

The two were sitting on the floor and she saw how they moved the couch for them to have more space. She sat along with them and didn't realize was zoning out.

"Hello?" Ivan waving a hand close to her face. She pushed this away.

"We're asking if you're playing this round?"

"Play what?"

She heard Sarah laughed. "Poker you idiot. What's happening to you."

My face freaking hurts, that's what's happening. "I'm in."

"Full House." Marlin spread out her cards.

Sarah tossed out her hands with frustration. "That's it! I'm so done with this."

Marlin giggled in victory as she raked the dollar bills in the pot. They were taking turns every round playing for hours now, and not even one game that Sarah had proven herself.

"So that's it? No other takers?"

"Not so fast fish." Ivan said.

Marlin paused there for awhile. It's been a long time since someone called her that.

"You're quite forgetting there's other card expert here in this room. Not just you." He put on a clever smile.

"Let see about that."

Marlin skillfully shuffled the deck of cards. She got the chance to look up and caught him grinning. Again. Might as well call him the Grinch. 

Lots of dealing, drawing, shuffling and bluffing in that moment. First Marlin raked in the pot, then Ivan, then Marlin, back and forth until they were down to their last dollar.

She checked her hand and was holding a straight. She bit her lip knowing that she was holding a winning hand and it gave her an idea.

"Tell you what, since we're almost tapped out, I'll make you a little deal."

"I'm listening." Ivan slowly nodded.

"Loser will have to knock next door, to the neighbor's, and strip one piece of his or her clothes."

She heard Sarah gasped. "Ooooh girl you're crazy. I like it!" followed by a giggle.

"Okay that's creative...and stupid. We don't have to bug the neighbors alright."

"Ivan, come on. Don't worry about the 'em, they'll get over it." Sarah pushed.

"It's fine Sarah. You can't force someone who's a wuss. We'll think of somethi--"

He laughed pathetically. "A wuss? Who me?" He scoffed. "Yeah right." He laughed again.

"So you'll do it?" Sarah asked with excitement.