Chapter 4: Alcohol is best, yes?
"Ka-karen?" Gray exclaimed massaging his nose that was hit by the wooden door. He was standing at the doorway.
"We're here to par-tayy to-NIGHT!" Karen yelled happily and then she quickly turned to her left. "Hey, wh-where do you think you're g-going?" Karen said all giddy. She was dragging someone and that someone is the blondie farmer. Karen immediately does a headlock on the poor girl. "Ahhh stop that, that hurts!" Claire yelled trying to remove herself but Karen was too strong for her.
"Karen, be careful, you're gonna injure Claire if you do that." Elli said worriedly, placing her hand on top of Karen's shoulder.
"Hey don't get excited just yet hihihi!" Popuri commented as she enjoyed watching the two.
"Hey boy," Karen began looking at Gray with a menacing look. "You're letting us in or what?"
Gray tilts his head in confusion and checks his watch again. It's 7:25 pm.
"Aren't you a little too early? You always come here at eight." Gray commented suspiciously. He turned to Elli and Popuri. "Elli, I thought you don't like getting drunk and Popuri, isn't your brother against with you drinking."
"Yeah, I'm still against it!" Rick yelled, making Gray flinched.
"We're going to have a sleepover today, girls only!" Karen said as she raised her fist.
"Yeah, to celebrate Claire's welcoming party!" Popuri said. "And where else than the biggest room ever!"
"Claire's house? A random house?" Gray replied sarcastically making Popuri pout at him.
"No silly, one of your guest rooms there's enough beds there!" Popuri said.
"I better check my room if the lock's functioning…" Gray muttered. He is not on his mind today. He shook his head as he realized he's still blocking the entrance. He backed away, making everyone go inside. The girls are on their way to sit in one of the tables while Rick sits in front of the counter.
"Good evening Gray." the apprentice heard a soft voice and he then saw his friend, Mary standing next to him. He automatically smiled as he saw her.
"Hey Mary." he greeted. "You're sleeping over too?"
The librarian nodded while smiling.
"I'm surprised your mom agreed you to let you sleep in someone's else's house…" Gray commented.
"Hehe, she said I should get out more with the girls." Mary said softly. "And Karen and Popuri kept making me to agree with this for the whole day. It's so noisy at the library that time."
"Is that so? That's awful…" Gray said.
Mary nodded in agreement. "Hey you didn't come visit recently." she asked.
"Yeah sorry, I was busy at the shop, didn't realize the time." he said apologetically.
"It's okay, I understand, I brought the book just in case you want to read it hihi." Mary said happily covering her laugh with the book that she brought.
"Wow! That's great! I might not finish the whole night though." Gray said worriedly as he received it.
"Keep it! I'm giving you the first copy as a gift!" Mary said cheerfully.
"Wow, thank you very much! I'll keep it!" Gray said.
"Well, I'll join them then," Mary said awkwardly then she took a deep breathe. "Bye."
Gray nodded. "Good luck." and then he watches Mary off.
The young man soon made his way to the kitchen door. "Ann! Karen and the others are here!" he called as he saw their dinner on the kitchen counter.
"I know, I heard them! Tell them I'll be there in a minute." Ann said as she was still washing the utensils.
"I'm not your messenger y'know," he muttered irritatedly as he took a few plates and headed outside the room. His sister heard this and yelled back.
"Well, I'm sorry cuz I got too many things in my hand to not bother you." she yelled.
Gray ignored and headed outside. He placed those dishes at the empty table and joined Rick who was still sitting alone.
"What did you do to have you join their sleepover?" Gray asked with a serious tone and look.
"Hey, I'm not joining, I'm just early since Popuri's here." Rick warned. Gray snickered and faced the cabinets filled with different kinds of drinks.
"So what'll be?"
"The usual…"
The innkeeper's son then took a glass and wine from Duke's and hand a glassful to Rick. Gray took a nearby chair and sat. Rick then thanked him and drank the wine down in one gulp.
Rick slammed the glass and Gray poured it again. They're like this with Rick already having his fifth glass.
"You depressed or something?" Gray asked amazed at how Rick almost drank the content of the bottle.
"Stressed...you don't know how that sister of mine kept whining all over again about-"
"Kai?" Gray guessed assuming the huge crush she has over the summer guy.
"Well, no I mean, yeah she does it all the time but she said recently," Rick began and sat up straight, having a sour expression.
"I'm already a grown adult, I can drink, I can do anything blah, blah, blah, I can do what I want, blah, blah, blah, stop forcing me blah, blah blah." Rick said in his falsetto voice assuming that she's mimicking Popuri.
"Heh, I kinda know how that feel." Gray said half-smiling, remembering all the whining Ann had ever since they were little. She was annoying.
"Come and have a drink Gray, Karen's too busy hearing my life." Rick invited but Gray declined.
"Sorry but I don't drink that much-wait, speaking of drinking…" Gray began and took another bottle and give it to Rick. He then walked towards the group of girls having the time of their lives chatting and playing truth or dare.
"Well if it isn't Gray with the bottle, gimme gimme…" Karen began looking like a drunk person, her hands wide open hoping Gray would give him the bottle he used to serve Rick.
Gray blinked. "This isn't for you, shut it!...but you sound like you're drunk umm…" His eyes then landed on Elli, who he knew the most mature one of them all to ask a certain question.
"Did she drink?" he asked the nurse.
"Uh-sort of, well, I heard she ate some alcohol chocolates from Won when I was shopping so that's probably it." the nurse replied.
Gray facepalmed and sighed. "Thank you…just don't let her barge in my room like last time, okay?"
"Hey, it's not my fault your door's wide open." Karen said. "I thought I was in the right room!"
"It isn't open, it's just not locked, you opened it!" Gray yelled angrily.
"Umm…" Claire began raising her hand. "I'm curious, can someone tell me what happened exactly?"
Everyone blinked at her question, Mary began fidgeting, Elli avoided her gaze and coughed silently, Karen and Popuri shrugged and Gray just crossed his arms. "Well Claire, make this story a life lesson every time you hang out with Karen over there:"
((The narrator for this flashback is Gray so this will be like his POV or something, like the narration is actually him telling the story. Note: The italicize is the flashback while the normal ones are happening in current time.))
As Cliff and I were playing chess in the middle of the night, the girls were having a sleepover at the next room. They were loud and always cursing. They were having girl talk and we didn't mean to eavesdrop so we ignore them.
"Check!" Cliff said as he moved the rook.
"Well played…" I muttered and reached for my king to move but a certain yell disturbed me for a second.
"W-where are you going?" Elli's voice was suddenly heard.
"B-bathroom! Leave me alone!" Karen yelled and ran.
"I wanna go too~" Popuri cheerfully said.
"They're having fun there huh?" Cliff said chuckling but you can see from his voice, he's worried.
"Yeah, kinda loud actually…" I said cleaning my ears.
"W-wait that's not the-" Elli's voice then was heard aloud and as after a few seconds...BAM!
The door opened and Karen and Popuri ran to our room, gave each of us a makeover and slept in our beds. I think they also peed while sleeping but-
"That's embarrassing! Don't remind that!" Popuri yelled slapping Gray in the face making him drop the bottle into shattered pieces.
"Ooof!" Gray exclaimed. He stared at the broken pieces of glass and silently walk away to bring a broom, not even bothering to try and yell at Popuri. He cleaned the mess he made.
As I was saying, we had a hard time carrying the two out of our rooms. They even let Mary and Ann get drunk, talk about shameful.
"Hey don't sleep there...Ann!" I called as I was removing the heavy makeup in my face with my towel.
"Yeah bro?" Ann said as she began hiccuped in between.
"You're drunk too? I said in desperation and then saw my sister trying to kiss Cliff. I mean, the poor boy got himself at a dead end. Luckily, I managed to pull Ann away from him.
"ELLLLII!" I then called Elli since she's the most mature of all of you. She was a great help to us.
"Err…" Claire began then Gray looked at her waiting for a response to his story. "I have another question,"
Everyone looked at her.
"Were you and Cliff pretty?" she asked with a mischievous smile.
Gray gave her an annoyed look while the rest of the girls all giggle and laugh.
"Yes, they were indeed pretty." Popuri said, looking at Gray with a mocking expression.
"Shut up…"
The girls laugh at Gray's irritated mood and then Ann was standing next to him drying her hands with a cloth.
"What are we talking about?" Ann asked but before anyone could reply, Gray looked at her straight in the eye. "Do NOT even try to get a hold of any liquor tonight. Not even if it's serving it to the customers." he said to Ann with a straight face and stormed away.
Ann, who has no idea what's going on just blinked at him. "Uhh...okay, sure…" She looked at the girls and laughed awkwardly. "We're not drinking tonight aren't we?" she asked looking at only Elli for assurance.
After dinner, the girls all headed to Ann's room while Gray is taking over Ann's shift. There isn't much to do since he's done serving food and drinks and is currently at the counter supposedly drinking with Rick about issues with the sisters and ladies but the guy passed out a while ago so he's alone. Gray only took one or two glasses so he's good and just became sober.
"Look who's drinking…" Claire said standing next to Gray.
"Hey," he greeted inviting her to sit next to him.
"Hi!" Claire said awkwardly looking at the counter and cabinets. Gray saw this and stared at her.
"If you're getting any liquor, not a single chance. I don't care if it's one of your dares." Gray said then he remembered something. He took a pitcher filled with juice beside him and give it to the farmer.
"I know we're old enough to drink but this is really important to both Cliff and I. The lock in my room is broken and I can't handle seeing my drunk sister kissing a dude, let alone drunk people giving me a horrible makeover that will look like a clown. So please understand." Gray said frankly.
Claire nodded. "What is this?" she asked looking at the liquid.
"It's grape juice so technically, it's like wine but with no alcohol. I forgot to give it to Ann a while ago." Gray said. 'Just fool them to think it's wine so that they'll shut up."
"By the way," Claire began, turning to face Gray. "I'm curious, what will you do to that guy who kissed your sister?" she asked.
There was silence between them.
"I'll kill him!" Gray said frankly, showing his fist. "I don't care if I go to jail."
There was silence again.
"Karen said you hate me, is that true?" Claire asked again.
Gray blinked and avoided to meet her gaze. He doesn't wanted to answer that.
"Why?" he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
Claire shrugged. "Curious~" she replied smiling awkwardly. "I just want to know what people think of me that's all"
Gray frowned. "Actually, I really hate you..." he said gulping the remaining of his drink then set it aside. "And to be honest the reason is-"
"I bought the farm before you?" Claire finished his sentence and and Gray snapped his fingers.
"Exactly!"
"Sorry I didn't know."
"Nah, it's fine, I don't hate you now. I'm kinda childish if I still do." he said staring at his glass. "I will still find a way to get that farm of yours."
"I think you have enough wine today, you might get drunk." Claire said worriedly, trying to change the subject. She puts down the glass Gray was holding.
Gray just laughed. "I'm just sober, don't worry I can still handle it and will not do anything bad." Gray said reassuring Claire in case of misunderstanding. He then looked at Rick and turned to Claire.
"I have to go Claire, I have to bring this drunk bastard home. He had 25 shots today." Gray said carrying Rick on his back.
"Wow that many? Did you really count that?" Claire asked and Gray nodded.
"See you!"
"Yeah, bye!" and the two bid their goodbyes.
Once Claire enter Ann's room, Karen managed to tackle her, almost making her drop the pitcher she's holding.
"Did you bring something good?" Karen who is at her pajamas said crawling in the floor towards Claire.
"Y-yeah, I managed to put it on the pitcher to avoid suspicion." Claire lied, remembering what Gray said to her. She raised the grape juice so that everyone could see.
Karen, Popuri and Ann cheered for joy while Mary and Elli clapped for her hardwork.
"I knew that if I were there, my brother would question my actions whatever I do!" Ann said cheering as well then she throws a piece of chocolate to her mouth.
Claire stared at the chocolate. "Is that the chocolate that Won guy gave to Karen?" she asked.
"Yes, it is." Elli replied and glares at Karen. "Karen somehow managed to bring it along."
"Of course, sharing is good yeah?" Karen exclaimed and she and Ann danced around. "Hey Claire, want some?"
"Nah, I'll pass." the farmer said pouring each cup with the grape juice. She noticed Popuri already sleeping.
"Bottom's up guys!" Claire said raising the cup to toast. Everyone followed suit and drink. Claire noticed Mary still staring at the cup, hesitating to drink. Claire scootched next to the librarian.
"To be honest, that's actually juice, so it's fine." she whispered. Mary then drank it with bravery.
"Thank goodness, the three idiots are drunk…" Claire muttered with relief that only Mary and Elli could hear.
