KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 145: Sunrise (Paul)

"Oops, I don't have any reds, guess I gotta use this! That's Uno!" "No! No you bastard! I'm calling it, you're bluffing! Show me your hand!" "No he's right! It's not a red! Draw six, Peter!"

I could hear them yelling even from in the shower, and after spending a few more minutes drying my hair and throwing on my pajamas, I headed down to the basement to a scene of total chaos. The four of them were standing around shouting at each other, chairs strewn across the floor because apparently the game was so intense they were all standing. They all fell silent, watching each turn with bated breath, Eric and Bruce down to one card each while Ace and Peter were closer to about twenty. It was Eric's turn, and he raised an eyebrow, looking around at them before a slow smile spread across his face and he threw down his card, holding up his hands in triumph as the rest of them burst into shouts of dismay.

"I would've won! I would've won, dammit!" Bruce cried, throwing down his last remaining card. "I nominate Bruce as the biggest loser!" Eric said gleefully. "Seconded!" Ace said, huge smile spreading across his face. "Thirdeded!" Peter chimed in, swaying slightly. "Bruce loses! Drink it!"

I leaned against the wall, folding my arms across my chest and watching as Bruce accepted the tall glass of something with a sigh. "Ready, go!" Rolling his eyes, Bruce raised the glass in a toast and started to drink. "Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!" the three of them chanted, until Bruce drained the glass and slammed it down triumphantly to thunderous cheers.

One glance at the pile of alcohol bottles on the counter helped to connect some dots. "Are you guys playing drunk Uno?" I asked with a laugh. They all turned to look at me before Bruce sat down abruptly, grinning. "H-hell yesh. An' I'm on a losing streak," he said. Eric giggled, nodding, and took a sip of his beer. "We mixed allll the drinks together and the loser has to drink it!" he said gleefully.

"Sounds like you guys are having a great time," I said, shaking my head ruefully. "We can deal you in if you want, hot stuff!" Ace said eagerly, cheeks flushed. "Nah, I'm okay, thanks though. Where's Gene?" They all shrugged as Peter started to deal out another hand. "Beach, maybe? I dunno, he left like an hour ago. He seemed pretty happy though, I wouldn't worry."

"Mm, probably hooking up with some girl on the beach," Ace said under his breath, frowning as he looked at his cards. "Or girls!"

Shaking my head and knowing they were probably right, I headed for the stairs. "Okay well I'm gonna be upstairs, try not to get too drunk, and don't go in the water at all, because y'all are drunk already. Have fun!"

"If you ever wanna join us, just let us know!" Eric said with a wave.

They went at it for quite awhile while I sat upstairs watching TV, and it was pretty funny to listen as they got more and more heated and their words got more and more slurred. At nearly one in the morning, the four of them stumbled up from the basement. Eric was slung over Bruce's shoulder while Peter and Ace were giggling hysterically at everything. "Okay goodnight Paul," Bruce said, giving me a smile and heading into his and Eric's room as Eric patted him weakly on the back. "No throwin up mmkay?" he mumbled. "I know, I know. I won't," Bruce said, closing the door behind them

"G'night shexy! Love ya!" Ace cried, blowing me a kiss and ducking into his room, Peter close behind him. Which meant I was alone again.

Gene didn't make it back until three, closing the door as quietly as possible behind him. "Where the hell have you been?" I asked. He jumped, turning to stare at me, face slowly turning red. "The beach," he muttered, shaking the sand from his hair. "For three hours? Doing what?!"

He shrugged again, face getting redder, and I realized he was covered in sand and sweat and that they had been right. "Who were you having sex with on the beach?" I asked in a tired voice. A tiny smug smile spread across his face and he shrugged. "Just a girl I had met earlier."