Matt

"Jesus, Jess… You trying to kill me?"

I pull my hand back, rubbing the back of it where she smacked it. Jess smiles triumphantly up at me, pulling the small stack of cards towards her own.

"Well, you always win. So I have to play a little dirty."

She winks at me as I continue to pout, my hand still stinging. The noise of the airport crowds swirls around us in a blur, the sweatpants and tacky sweaters coming into view only to fade out again as people rush to their planes. The floor is a little grimy, but I don't mind.

"Can I slap in?"

I look up to see none other than Mike Monroe smiling down at us, back from the bathroom in a flash. Jess nods as Emily scoffs, wandering off to find a place to sit beside us the floor. I lock eyes with Jess, the competitiveness (is that a word) of the card game overtaking both of us. Our cards begin to flash like lightning as we flip them down, searching for face cards or pairs. One king. Bam. Jess flips her stack three times and gets a Jack. Lucky girl. I flip my card. A Jack. Before I can even begin to move, Mike leans over and slaps the pile, effectively capturing half of the deck. Jess gasps, and begins to bop him over and over again on the arm as he flashes the cards around.

Just when I'm about to smack him, my phone goes off in my pocket. I throw my cards at Jess, who gladly accepts them, and pull it out.

Calling: Klondike Bar

Chris? Why the heck is he calling me at 11:00pm? I click the answer button.

"Ten-four good buddy, what's your status?" When we were younger, Chris, Josh, Mike, and I always had those cheap walkie-talkies on our bedside tables, so we could talk at two in the morning when our parents were asleep. This was back when the internet required use of the phone lines, so I couldn't talk to them on the phone while my dad was working, either. Chris' code name was "buddy," Josh's was "red-leader," Mike's was "ranger," and mine was "scout." Good times, good times.

"All clear, Scout. Requesting back up."

What?

"Come again Chris. What's up?"

"I need a favor. Are you in town."

I look up at the monitor showing our flight's status. It's been delayed over and over and over again.

"Bro, Matt, Jess, Em, and I are leaving for the beach. We can't help you."

I hear Chris sigh as a commotion occurs at the desk where the monitors are. Em is, running, over to us, a scowl on her face.

"Our flight's been cancelled and we won't get to the beach until the day after Christmas." She says in a huff. I cough, then turn back to the phone.

"Never mind, no plane. What's up?"

Ten minutes of Chris explaining his devious plan later and I'm smiling and hanging up the phone. I turn to the crestfallen Jess, annoyed Mike, and practically steaming Em.

"Guys," I start slowly, "I may have plans for us yet."

I know it's not Christmas any longer guys. Chill.

I know I said I would update, but I didn't. Chill.

I know you're all mad at me. Go eat a Klondike bar and calm down.

I'm holding on to the festive season for dear life cuz to be honest, my Christmas sucked ass.

I didn't get realised from the hospital until Christmas Eve.

I had to drive nine hours in the rain so my cousins could throw cake at me.

I HAD NO INTERNET CONNECTION FOR SEVERAL DAYS!

So chill.

Any-ho, thanks for reading. I know it's short, but I felt obliged to update something.

Ready for the cool part?

Whoever correctly guesses the name of the game first, gets an OC character named after them.

Now this has certainly peaked you interests. Merry Christmas.

Just PM me or leave a comment with your name (and gender if your name is bisexual) and the answer.

This should be very fun.

Hint: Related games- Slapjack; Beggar-My-Neighbor

Good luck, my the odds be ever in your favor, and see you guys on the flipside