Part Four
“Miss Cooper we are very pleased with your resume and your admiration for this firm. We normally don’t give a specification on job entries and applications right away, but I’d personally like to let you know now that you should begin looking for a place in the Orlando area.”
A smile so bright had never been seen before. “You mean I got the job?” she said in a very hesitant manner.
“That’s what I mean,” the man in the gray suit said. “New offices are being built as we speak, but they won’t be ready for a month or so. So if you like, you can just wait till we have a guaranteed room for you before you start work. Otherwise you’ll have to keep your stuff on a tray of sorts and kind of travel where ever there is room.”
“I can wait,” she smiled. “I need to find a place and get the rest of my stuff out here.”
“Okay then,” he stood. “Welcome aboard Miss Cooper,” he said and shook her hand.
“Thank you so much,” she replied. “I promise you won’t regret this.”
“I’m sure I won’t. It’s hard to start out in a huge firm like this, but I am sure that you will do just fine.”
“Thanks again. Is there anything that I need to do?”
“No. I’ve got all your information right here, so I will call you as soon as a spot is available in the building. It shouldn’t be any more than a month.”
“Alright,” she said with another smile. Slowly she turned on her heels and proceeded out the door. A sigh of relief escaped her mouth as she walked down the hallway to the elevator. While she waited for the elevator, she leaned against the wall with all her papers in front of her. She couldn’t believe that she just got the job that she had dreamed of. “Oh,” she exclaimed and took out some change from her purse. She got into the elevator and as soon as she got to the bottom floor she made her way to the payphone she had passed on the way in.
“Hello,” Chris answered.
“Chris! I got it!” an excited voice squealed.
“Mer? Is that you?”
“Yes! Chris I got the job here. I start in a month.”
“Wow, Mercedes I am so proud of you. This is the one that you really wanted right?”
“Totally is! I can’t believe it.”
Chris didn’t know what else to say.
“Mr. O’Conner said that they normally don’t let you know right away, but he told me to start looking for a place in Orlando.” Mercedes was giggling and bouncing all around the payphone. As people walked by they couldn’t help but look. “Look, I am on my way back okay?”
“Okay, and then we’re gonna celebrate!”
“Chris,” she said shyly.
“No if’s and’s or but’s ... I’ll see you soon.”
Mer smiled and told him okay. “Be back soon,” she said and then hung up the phone. She tried to collect herself a little more before walking through the crowded entry way. Once she felt normal again, she casually carried herself through the main lounge and then out to the parking garage and got into Chris’s car. Mercedes sat in the car for a moment and then smiled as she thought of all the good things that were in store for her. She couldn’t wait to begin her life in Orlando.
“Party at my house,” Chris said over the phone.
“Cool, but what for?” Justin asked.
“Mer just found out that she got the job at the firm she really wanted. We’ve got to celebrate.”
“Hey that means that she’s going to have to move out here right?”
“Right.”
“Damn straight it's time to celebrate!” he laughed.
“J, you are something else. Hey, call up Joe and tell him to get over her too. Well, uh,” he looked at his watch, “be here around six.”
“Will do,” Justin answered and checked his watch. “See ya then,” he said and then hung up to call Joey.
Chris then hung up his phone and called Lance. “Lance?”
“Yeah,” he said finally. “Sorry, I was watching something and like picked up the phone and hadn’t even noticed.”
“And you are a blonde I swear,” Chris mumbled. “Hey, what are you doing tonight?”
“Just hanging out with Jessica. Why?”
“There’s a party at my place,” he said quickly.
“What for?”
“Celebration. Mer got the job she was hoping for.”
“Wow that’s great. Uhm, what time do you want us there?”
“Six,” Chris said back.
“Six it is then. See ya then.”
“Okay, later,” Chris said and then clicked his phone off and then on again. He dialed JC’s number and waited for him to answer.
“Hello,” a lady’s voice answered.
“Bobbie?”
“Chris?”
“What are you doing in Orlando? I thought you went back to LA.”
“I did. Well I got there and had to turn around and come back yesterday.”
“What for?”
“Long story. You want JC?”
“Yeah, is he around?”
“Yup, hang a sec,” she said and covered the phone partially. “Babe, Chris is on the phone,” she yelled through the house.
“One second,” he yelled back.
“He’s coming,” Bobbie said to Chris and then handed JC the phone when he got there.
“Yo,” JC answered.
“Hey, party at my place. Tonight at six.”
“Awesome. What for?”
“Uh, if I told you you probably wouldn’t come.”
“Mercedes?”
“Yeah. She got the job she really wanted, so I am throwing a little party for her.”
“Damn,” he shifted his weight to the other foot. “Bobbie and I will be there at six then.”
“Be where?” Bobbie cut in. JC held up a finger telling her to wait. Bobbie hated that. She put her hands on her hips and stuck out her lips.
“Wow, that was easier than I thought. See ya then.”
“Okay, later then,” JC said and hung up. “We’re going to Chris’s.”
“JC I wanted to stay in tonight. I have to leave again tomorrow.”
“Well Chris is having a party and he wants us there.”
“What for?”
“It’s for Mercedes,” JC said and headed up the stairs.
Bobbie followed close behind. “For who?”
“You heard me Bobbie,” he walked into his room.
“I thought you couldn’t stand her. Why do you want to go to a party for her?”
“Because everyone else is going and it would be rude for us not to go.”
“So,” she pouted.
“So I’m going. Are you or not?”
“Well I’m not letting you go alone,” she announced.
“Fine, then get dressed.”
“Ugh,” she groaned and walked out.
“Bobbie we aren’t going to be like this all night are we?”
Bobbie stuck her head in the door and said, “I dunno JC. Are we?”
“We’ve got an hour. I’m taking a shower. Do what you gotta do,” he said and then walked into the bathroom.
Bobbie just stood there and watched as JC shut the door behind him. “Ugh,” she groaned again and then headed to the other bathroom so that she could also take a shower.
“Chris you really don’t have to do this,” Mercedes said just as Chris had gotten off the phone with his friend Vince.
“Sure I do.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Mer, lots of people are going to be here, so go get yourself all dolled up. You’ll have fun. I promise.”
“Thanks Chris,” she smiled and then kissed him on the cheek. “You’re too good to me.” Mercedes rose on her tip toes and then took off upstairs to change.
She really didn’t bring anything great to wear to a party, so she figured that she would just have to do something about that. She went through all the stuff and managed to throw together an outfit that was an eye catcher, and not normal for her casual self. She knew that it wasn’t going to be a formal party, but she couldn’t just wear shorts and a t-shirt either.
After getting together what she wanted to wear she decided that she should jump in the shower really quick. Mercedes stepped into the shower and let the water trail down her body and soak into her hair. A little less than ten minutes later, she opened the shower door and reached for the towel hanging on the wall. She carefully wrapped herself and then went into her room. Just as she walked in, she heard a knock on her door.
“Come in,” she yelled and readjusted the towel to make sure that she was fully covered.
Chris opened the door and then turned quickly when he saw her in the towel. “Sorry! Sorry! I thought I heard you say come in.”
Mercedes giggled and then said, “Chris it’s okay. It’s just a towel. And I did say come in,” she repeated with a smile.
Chris still didn’t turn around. “I’ll just stay this way. I just wanted to know if you wanted a specific type of alcohol. I’m running to the store really fast.”
“Uhm... can you pick me up some Fuzzy Navels, and ... oh and Raspberry Vodka!” she exclaimed. “No no, scratch the Fuzzy Navels and make that Mike Hard Lemonade instead. It’s great with Vodka.”
Chris chuckled, “Mer, is that all.”
Mercedes bit her lip and then replied, “Chris, that’s all,” and then laughed.
“Okay,” he laughed too. “I’ll be back in a few.”
“Okay,” she said and then reached for her lotion.
Chris shut the door and trailed off down the stairs. He quickly grabbed his keys and then hauled for the car so that he could get to the store and back before everyone started to show up at his place for the party. He couldn’t believe how many people he had ended up calling. Mer wouldn’t know anyone, but by the night’s end, she would have plenty of new friends.
“Mercedes!” Chris yelled from the foot of the staircase.
“Almost!” she yelled back.
“This party is for you and you’re like the only one not here. There’s already a handful of people here!” he continued to yell.
“Just one second!” she yelled for the last time. She was nervous about meeting so many more people. She had already met all the guys, but now she was going to meet all of their friends as well. She looked in the mirror and grabbed her mascara to add the finishing touches. “One second I promise!”
In the middle of her yell the doorbell rang and Chris turned to answer it. “J-man, C. Hello Bobbie,” he greeted the three at the door.
“Now the party can start,” Justin gloated.
“Very funny J. You guys are late.”
“Yeah yeah. I’m sure we were missed,” JC said sarcastically and put his hand on the small of Bobbie’s back and gave her a slight push into the house.
“Where is Mercedes anyway?” Justin asked.
“Right here,” a voice said from the stairs.
“Wow,” Justin’s jaw dropped.
Mercedes stood before them in a pair of three inch solid black shoes. She had on a short, but not sleazy, black skirt that was no higher than mid thigh. Her firm bare stomach showed in a triangular shape. This was because the white collared shirt that she wore wasn’t buttoned down all the way. It was a long sleeve white button down collar shirt and Mercedes only buttoned two of the buttons in the middle of the chest. She had it buttoned just enough to hide her fuchsia colored bra, which slightly gave the white shirt a hint of color. Her sleeves were rolled so that they were now three quarter sleeves, and her collar was left unfolded. Her silky brown hair was in soft curls and hung around her shoulders, all except for two small braids around the sides of her face. Her lips had a mauve gloss look to them and her eyes were accented with a light shade of eye shadow and a hint of mascara. She looked stunning and all the guys there would definitely agree.
“Nice to see you again too Justin,” she smiled and stepped off of the last stair.
JC didn’t say a word. He just looked at the sight in front of him. Bobbie was sure to notice that. She tried to break the vision by stepping toward Mercedes. “Hi. I’m JC’s girlfriend Bobbie.”
“More power to you,” Mer said softly in a sarcastic tone. “Nice to meet you. I’m Mercedes,” she said and put on a big fake smile.
“So I guessed,” Bobbie said back with a fake smile.
“JC,” Mercedes said and nodded to him.
JC just nodded back.
“Wow, yeah so, uh...” Justin stammered. “You wanna go mingle? I’ll introduce you to people.”
“Sure,” she said and stepped closer to Justin. She turned her nose up to JC and walked off with Justin.
Chris smiled at her and told her how beautiful she looked as she walked by him. “Have fun,” he told her.
“I’m sure I will.”
“You sure?” Justin asked.
“Hit me!” Mercedes yelled.
“But Mer...”
“Justin!” she whined.
“Okay,” he said and filled her glass with more Raspberry Vodka and a pinch of Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” she giggled as she took a huge gulp and her face cringed at the potency of the vodka. The party had been going on for at least three hours and people were starting to file out. “You don’t have to go,” she cried to one man as he approached the door.
Justin held on to Mercedes and said, “don’t mind her.”
“Justin, what? Do you want him to leave?” she staggered.
“Mer, everyone has to leave eventually.”
“You leaving too,” she made a sad face.
“No, not yet.”
“Good,” she smiled. Mercedes’s head flung up like she had just gotten stung by a bee. “Oh my God!” she yelled.
“What? What?” Justin asked in a hurry.
“Are you like deaf!!!” she literally screamed as she heard the beginning of a song she adored. She started to grind her hips.
“If you keep that up I might be by the end of the night.”
Mercedes covered her mouth and whispered, “I’m sorry. Whoops,” and then giggled some.
“She’s a mess,” Chris laughed as he looked over at Justin and Mercedes.
“You’re telling me,” Joey chuckled.
“Justin, let’s dance. This is like my song.”
Justin turned his attention to the music and realized what was playing. ‘Let me tell ya what I wanna do...’ the song sounded on the radio. “Ahh, Peaches and Cream, eh,” he laughed.
“Let me see you work those hips,” she instructed to Justin.
He was a bit surprised when she grabbed his waist and pulled it right against hers. “Whoa,” he let out. Justin decided to go along with it. No harm, no foul.
Mercedes put a leg between Justin’s and thrusted herself against Justin’s hips. The two bodies hit one another in a perfect match. The beat was unmarked and perfect. Her arms threw themselves around Justin’s neck and ran down the lengths on his arms. She then put her hands firmly against his chest and popped her body closer to his yet again.
Justin was in a complete trance. He couldn’t believe what was happening. As a matter of fact, neither could Chris. “She’s sooo drunk,” he laughed again.
“What are you all laughing at?” JC asked as he re-entered the room with Bobbie.
“That,” Joey laughed and pointed at the two grinding in the middle of the living room.
JC turned to looked and was astonished at the site before him. Justin’s hands were tightly grasped around Mercedes’s hips and Mercedes was running her hands up and down Justin’s strong back. Justin was licking his lips as his hips slid closer and closer to Mercedes’s. JC was almost disgusted at the site.
“I’m thirsty,” he said and grabbed Bobbie’s hand and led her in the direction of the kitchen. He tried to totally avoid Mercedes and Justin’s path, but no such luck.
“JC!” Mercedes yelled and ran a hand over his chest.
Bobbie’s eyes shown with hate. “Excuse me,” she said and pulled on JC‘s hand instead.
Mercedes stuck out a foot and turned. “Excuse what?” she asked. “Whoa,” she then laughed as she watched Bobbie trip.
“You little....” Bobbie yelled from the floor and started to stand.
JC pulled her back. “Bobbie it was an accident. She was just turning around and you got in the way,” JC said in hope of keeping them from going into a cat fight.
Bobbie got in Mercedes’s face and said, “I suggest you lay off on the Vodka sweetheart,” and then walked off into the kitchen.
Mercedes giggled and hid her face within her hands. She then looked up at Justin and saw the smile on his face. She placed her hands on his chest and continued to laugh. “Accident my ass. She tumbled... and she thinks I’m a little topsy turby.”
Justin couldn’t help but crack a laugh.
“Is everything sane over here?” Chris asked as he approached them.
“Just hunky dory!” Mercedes proclaimed. “Bobbie had a boo boo but she’s gonna heal just normal.”
“Ooookay,” Chris laughed. “No more vodka for you.”
Mercedes made another puppy dog face and said, “Mer Mer drink drink too too much!”
“Exactly,” Chris laughed and took away the glass she had just picked up.
Bobbie held her body up as she leaned on the counter with one hand. “JC, she tripped me. Why are you defending her?” Bobbie snapped.
“It was an accident. She’s drunk Bobbie,” he said as he too leaned on the counter in the kitchen.
Bobbie gave JC a disgusted look and then cracked open the Jack Daniels bottle, which sat to the left of her. “Yeah, well maybe if I was drunk I would have seen it like that,” she blurted out and then took a huge gulp of the liquor.
JC took the bottle from her, “Bobbie is this really necessary?”
Bobbie snatched the bottle back. “I can tell myself when I don’t need to drink JC. Don’t think that you can do it for me. Go flirt with your little....”
“Don’t say it Bobbie, I mean it.”
“Or what JC? I’ll regret it? I highly doubt that,” she said and then stormed out of the kitchen and back into the main room.
“Jesus,” he cursed and started to follow her.
“Well, it looks like it is basically just going to be the crew here pretty soon. Everyone seems to be leaving,” Joey said just as JC left the kitchen. He held out and arm and stopped JC from passing him by. “Are you the only one who hasn’t had something to drink?” Joey laughed and held a drink in front of JC.
JC looked at the glass and then at Bobbie. She fixed her eyes into his skin and it filled his soul with anger. He then looked over at the giggling brunette on the other side of the room. Mercedes was surely enjoying her evening. JC looked back at the drink before him and took it, and within seconds he consumed all of its contents. “Of course I’m not the only one who hasn’t had a drink.”
“Cheers!” Joey then laughed.
It was about a half an hour later when everyone but the guys and their ‘dates’, more or less, had cleared the house. It was safe to say that every last one of them had consumed their fair share of beverages. Not a single one of them was sober on the fullest. Though some were drunker than others, they all were a bit tipsy.
“How about a game?” Justin suggested. He looked around the room to see that it was just him, Mercedes, JC, Bobbie, Lance, Jessica, Joey, and his ’friend’ Marie, Chris, and a girl he was casually seeing, Julie. ‘All paired up,’ he thought to himself. “How about a little truth or dare?” he then asked out loud.
“I’m up for it,” Joey yelled from the other side of the room.
“I guess I am too,” Lance chucked.
“You know I am,” Mercedes giggled.
“Can’t resist a game,” Chris broke in.
JC looked around at everyone. “I guess so,” he then answered.
“Good deal. Who wants to go first?” Justin asked.
“Well since you suggested it, I think you should,” Jessica said.
“Fine by me,” Justin replied with no hesitation. He loved this game. Lots of secrets always seemed to come out, and an evening full of pure embarrassment usually took toll also. “Joey. Truth or dare?”
“Truth,” Joey said taking the easy way out.
“Loser,” Justin laughed from the couch. “Okay, hmm... truth. Joey, how many girls have you really been with?”
“Oh my God, you expect him to count them all?” Chris laughed.
“Well,” Justin insisted.
“Uh,” Joey looked at Marie.
Marie just gave him a blank stare.
“Three?”
“Oh Lord. Don’t lie!” JC exclaimed.
“Times four?”
“Sounds a little more realistic like that,” Lance joked.
Marie hit Joey in the arm.
“What?” he asked innocently. “I hit puberty at an early age,” he tried to convince her.
“Next,” Justin interrupted.
Joey looked at everyone. “Chris. Truth or dare?”
“Dare, cause I am a man!” Chris yelled and stood on the chair.
“Oh brother,” JC chuckled in an un-sober manner.
“I dare you to do anything that,” he paused. He considered his options. “Anything that Mercedes tells you to do!”
“Well that’s a new one.”
“Well.”
“I get to tell Chris what to do?” Mercedes uttered with pure amusement.
“Exactly.”
“Oh wow. This is great. Chris, you know I love you so oh so so much,” she stuttered. “But I can’t let my audience go un-entertained,” she choked. She kneeled up on the couch. “You, my very straight man,” she began.
“Mer, you better not...” Chris pleaded.
“Ew, no. I’m not gonna make you kiss someone. That’s... gross,” she stumbled for the words.
“Thank God,” Chris said relieved.
“Instead,” she broke out in laughter. “You have to.... drum roll please,” she motioned to Justin. Both of them thumped their palms on the table. “You have to give JC a lap dance.”
Joey laughed so hard that he almost fell off of the couch.
“A what?!” Chris yelled.
“You heard me. Get to dancing!”
“This isn’t fair,” JC moaned. “Don’t I have a say in this?”
“Suck it up,” Mercedes gasped. “Be a man,” she laughed even harder. Within giggles she managed to say, “a man getting a lap dance from another man.”
“This is classic. I need a camera,” Justin announced.
“Don’t you dare!” JC snapped back. “This is so unreal. You’re gonna get it Mer,” he guaranteed.
“Whatever!” she turned up the radio. “Hop to it. Or on it,” she said in a fit of laughter.
“This will never leave this room,” Chris laughed as he got up. Chris was definitely not a sore player. He knew that it was a game and that it was all for fun and laughs. He had always been known as the prankster of the group, so he figured that this was just another prank.
Chris walked over to JC. He did it with a stride, more or less. He concluded that he might as well make the laugh worth it. He raised his hand to his shirt and pulled it a little above his stomach. The music filled the room, and yet it wasn’t louder than the laughs escaping everyone’s mouths.
Bobbie didn’t want to be a part of this, for she found it extremely un-amusing, so she got up and left the room. Mercedes watched as she stalked off, but paid her no mind. She wasn’t going to let anyone ruin this moment.
JC pulled himself back further in his chair, hoping that Chris would go away. Deep in his mind though, he found it crazy funny. He couldn’t believe that he was about to let his friend do this. JC broke free from his 'no fun attitude' and decided to join the fun. “Bring it on!” he laughed.
“Woohoo!” the ladies yelled.
Chris got closer to JC and then put a leg over him. “Oh, my how strong you look,” he played in a high voice. He ran his leg up the side of JC’s slacks. With one leg on each side he sat on JC’s knees and jumped up and down. Though it looked like a scene straight out of a comedy book, it was actually painful for the both of them.
“Tell Santa what you want,” JC said to break the ice.
Chris couldn’t help but break a laugh. Like a child, he tensed up and got closer to JC. “I want a pony... to ride,” he said softly.
JC couldn’t take it anymore. “Oh get off,” he yelled with a laugh and pushed Chris to the floor.
“You’d get fired if you were really Santa,” Chris laughed from the floor.
“I’d kill the guy who sat on me the way you did,” JC laughed back.
The alcohol definitely made the whole event easier to do. “That... was... great,” Mercedes said between her subtle snorting laughs.
Chris pulled himself up off of the floor and almost fell in the process. “Now, you my dear shall pay the price! And JC, it isn’t nice to push a friend on the floor,” he said in a stern voice. “Mercedes. Truth or dare?”
Mercedes was in deed afraid of what Chris would make her do, so she took the easy way out. “Truth.”
Chris looked at her and smiled. “Wonderful. How nice of you to choose dare.”
“But I,” she protested.
“Nope. You chose dare. Everyone heard you. Right?” he asked everyone.
Everyone nodded in agreement with Chris.
“So unfair,” she slumped over on the couch.
“I dare you... to kiss JC...” he started.
“No way,” JC sat up straight.
Chris held up a finger. “I dare you to kiss him from his belly button all the way to his nose. Not a quick duck peck either. You have to sensually kiss him all the way up. No spots missed. Then you have to kiss Justin.”
“Chris,” JC started.
A drunk Mercedes even knew that she didn’t want to do that. “Ew no. I refuse to kiss JC all over like that. I detest him and you know that.”
“And you think I want the rep of being gay. I just gave him a lap dance,” Chris reminded her.
“That was all in fun and games.”
“So is this,” he reassured her.
“Chris, please.” She looked at JC. “Can I switch the rolls. Please.”
“You mean kiss JC and then do the rest to Justin?”
“Yeah,” she said.
“No complaints here,” Justin sneered with a chuckle.
Chris thought for a minute. He guessed that a kiss would work just the same. “Fine.”
“Chris this is cruel,” JC stammered.
“Life sucks and then you die.”
“Let’s just get this over with,” Mercedes sounded off. She walked over to JC and sat on the space provided next to him; the spot that Bobbie filled before she got up and went into the other room.
Mercedes studied JC’s face and then licked her full lips. Slowly she raised a hand to the side of JC’s face. He just starred blankly at her. She leaned in and their lips met. Both of their eyes closed as their lips collided with one another. Within a second Mercedes pulled away. Chris just said kiss. He didn’t specify what kind of kiss, so she didn’t take the initiative of making the kiss an intimate one. JC’s eyes fluttered open as Mercedes backed off of him. His deep blue eyes fell into her own eyes and he looked deep into them as if he was trying to read her most inner thoughts.
Mercedes broke the silence by standing and saying, “happy?!”
“Sure am,” Chris said with a shit grin smile. “On to the next part,” he directed.
“Yeah yeah. Off with the shirt Timberlake,” she instructed and walked up to him.
“Yes mam,” he said back and quickly rid himself of his shirt. He slid his hips forward and leaned back against the seat.
Just then Bobbie walked back into the room and took her place next to JC. “What’s going on? Why is Justin taking of his clothes?” Bobbie asked. She was totally unaware of what had just happened.
JC didn’t answer her.
“Hello?!” she said louder.
JC snapped back into the real world. “Sorry, what?”
“Never mind. I figured it out. Looks like Mercedes is doing what she does best,” she said slightly under her breath.
JC just looked at her and then back to the ongoing dare.
Mercedes was on her knees kneeled between Justin’s legs. She looked at the room. Everyone in it. Her eyes dead locked on JC’s and then she smiled. She turned back to Justin and smiled up at him.
Justin was motionless, as well as speechless. All he could do was look down at Mercedes.
She raised her hands to his stomach. His skin was soft and his abs were perfect. You could run your finger over each of his packs and feel the indention between them. She glided her silky fingertips around his belly button and then brushed her lips against his skin. Justin flinched as her skin touched his. Carefully she raised her head and kissed him again, just above the belly button. Her lips entrapped his every being. A soft and baraely wet kiss went further up his stomach. She ran her hands further up his chest and followed with her mouth. She fell upon the center of his pecks and Justin’s body trembled at her touch. She teasingly flicked her tongue against him.
JC watched her every move. He was disgusted with her, but intrigued with her grace and sexual being. He saw the face that Justin made and his own face cringed at the thought. He didn’t appreciate how Mercedes was doing this dare. It wasn’t supposed to be so... so real. And most of all, it wasn’t intended to be done on Justin. He hated her... what was he thinking? She had been nothing but mean to him since their first encounter. Finally JC came to the conclusion that she was only doing this to irritate him. She knew him so well, even though they barely knew one another at all.
Mercedes continued her way up Justin’s neck and then stopped at his lips. ‘It’s just a dare,’ she reminded herself mentally. ‘Nothing real.’ She gently pressed her lips against Justin’s and let her tongue grace the tip of his lips. She then kissed the top of his nose ever so softly. With that done, she pulled herself away from Justin. Justin sighed and grabbed the nearest pillow available. Needless to say what he needed to do with it.
“Happy?” she turned to Chris. Mercedes looked to JC and within his eyes she saw the words he wanted to say.
“I know Justin is,” Joey laughed.
“Shut up!” Justin yelled and threw another nearby pillow at him.
JC stood up and said, “I’m beat. Are you guys gonna party all night or what?” and then sat back down.
“I’m tired myself,” Lance said. “I’m gonna be so shit faced tomorrow,” he chuckled.
“Aren’t we all,” Chris said.
“Well let’s call it a night then. Cab number is on the desk.”
Each of them laughed and headed to the desk. None of them were in any kind of shape to drive home. “Get two of them and we’ll double up or whatever,” Lance told Joey.
“Sure,” he said and then clumsily dialed the number to the cab place.
JC caught Mercedes looking at him out of the corner of his eye so he decided to play a little of her game. He turned toward Bobbie and planted his lips against hers. They both lay against the back of the couch and Bobbie ran her hands up against JC’s back.
Mercedes looked at the ‘sometimes happy couple’ and turned her nose up. “Gag,” she said out loud and then fumbled past them. She for sure couldn’t walk straight. “I’m going to bed,” she stammered.
JC pulled off of Bobbie and acted as if nothing had happened.
“Thanks for the great party,” an exhausted Mercedes said to Chris.
“Anytime doll,” Chris replied.
Justin finally got up off of the couch and walked over to Mercedes. Mercedes felt somewhat guilty at what she had done. She knew that Justin was attracted to her. “It was just a game right Justin?” she said to him when he approached her.
Justin nodded with a smile. “Just a game. I know.”
She smiled back and said, “good. Goodnight.” She then grabbed onto the stair railing and dragged herself up the stairs for some much needed sleep.