Chapter 37: An Open Secret

Note: An ungodly amount of alcohol is consumed in this long chapter. Also, thanks for your patience with this one! This chapter naturally ended up longer than usual.


Eight shot glasses stood at attention among the dishes, popcorn kernels, and abandoned drinks that littered the table. Careful not to trade any glances that could give the wrong impression I wanted to start the game, I kept my eyes fixed on the whiskey waiting in front of me.

"I've got one!" Claire's voice called out over the music, and I raised my eyes as she leaned away to whisper in Popuri's ear.

"It's gotta be Mary!" Popuri announced immediately, and all heads turned to the librarian.

"It's the first question," Karen smiled as she nudged Mary's shot glass closer to her. "You have to take the shot."

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to," Gray interjected.

Mary smiled at him but wrapped her fingers around the glass. "I know. But I have a reputation to uphold now," she teased.

Karen rallied us to cheer as Mary brought the shot glass to her lips. Despite being Mineral Town's newest drinking champion, she couldn't hide a flinch before she carefully returned the emptied glass to the table.

"What was the question?" Karen asked Claire.

"Who could get away with murder?"

I joined the laughter as Mary's eyes widened with shock.

"It's always the quiet ones, and you must have read enough mysteries to know how!" explained Popuri.

"She does have access to poisonous plants…" Gray acknowledged with a raised eyebrow.

Ann smacked her hands against the table with an epiphany that nearly spilled our drinks. "And a partner in crime who could hide any evidence deep in the mines!"

I made a mental note to never get on Mary's bad side.

"And I thought I had an active imagination…" Mary chuckled.

"So now it's my turn to ask Gray a question?" Popuri chirped.

"No, Mary asks Karen," Rick immediately corrected her. I suspected he had plenty of experience playing Karen's games.

Mary twirled the end of her braid while she brainstormed a question. Just as Karen opened her mouth to spur her on, Mary carefully cupped her hand around Karen's ear.

"Ooh, Rick," Karen grinned, but he gave her an apologetic smile in return.

"I don't want to do too many shots. You know how I can get."

She gave him an encouraging squeeze of his shoulders. "But it's a good one. And it's my birthday!"

Ann's elbow poked my side. Her face, playful and pink from dancing, asked, "How many more times is she going to use that excuse?"

Rick sighed and raised his shot glass in surrender. Karen whooped over everyone else's cheers as Rick skillfully drained the whiskey from his glass.

"Until it stops working," my returning glance answered as I joined the applause.

"What was it?" Rick asked Mary in a rush of air.

"Who will be the next mayor?"

I was picturing a red top hat on Rick's head when Popuri let out a snort of laughter.

"That's perfect! He already tries to run everybody's lives!"

"No, I don't. You just—"

"Moving on!" Karen announced with a clap. "Ask Ann something fun!"

After taking a moment to adjust his glasses, Rick leaned to whisper to Ann.

"Gray!" she laughed. The table waited for him to raise his glass, but he merely leaned back in his chair and shook his head. Karen gladly accepted the challenge.

"Let's overrule him!" she encouraged, casting her vote by raising her shot glass and waiting for the rest of us to do the same. Her mouth fell with disappointment when only Popuri and Claire joined her. "You cowards!"

"I have a feeling I'm going to need to pace myself," I explained to Claire, a little embarrassed I hadn't joined in.

"Why bother? You're already drunk," she laughed.

"I am not," I insisted, deliberately enunciating each word and ignoring the warmth tingling in my body.

"Three against five. Ouch," Gray smirked as the girls lowered their still-full shot glasses in defeat.

"Oh well," Ann shrugged. "The question was 'who's been in a gang?'"

"You're not supposed to tell them, Ann!" Karen yelled over everyone's mixed laughter.

"I'm not?"

Rick began reviewing the rules with her before Gray interrupted them.

"Wait, what about me says gang member?"

Ann shrugged. "You lived in the city."

"So did Claire!"

I turned my head to wordlessly question Claire.

"Don't look at me!" she laughed. "I'm a law-abiding citizen."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're an angel." Gray rolled his eyes. "C'mere, Mary," he said, grabbing the seat of her chair and pulling it closer. Faint pink touched her cheeks after Gray murmured his question and she began deliberating.

Claire leaned closer to me. "Do you think that blush was because of the question or Gray?" she asked, her voice just loud enough for me to hear over the music.

"Mary, you have to pick someone," Karen cried out. "You take too long!"

"It could be because we're all staring at her," I offered, shifting my gaze to Claire.

"She did chug a glass of wine. And took a shot," Claire shrugged. "That can turn someone red."

"You're red now," I pointed out, and she pressed the back of her hand against her cheek. "What's your excuse?"

She took a moment to think before smiling. "Sunburn."

"Cliff!" Mary called.

I turned to find all eyes on me.

"Cliff, you cannot let me down," Karen urged.

I eyed the amber liquid in my glass. I was never a fan of whiskey.

"Aren't you curious?" Claire encouraged. "I know I am!" she added with a smile that made me decide whiskey wasn't so bad after all.

"Alright," I smiled, and the table sang with approval. Ann beat her hands against the table like a drum while I brought the shot to my lips. As if the whiskey were hot, I tilted my head back and threw it into my mouth. My jaw reflexively tightened as the whiskey smacked the back of my throat and flowed down to my stomach, leaving a dull burn the entire way down.

"Well done," Rick nodded as Ann began to slap my back instead of the table.

"Thanks," I said, my voice tight. I wanted a glass of water but wouldn't be the first to break down and get one.

"Tell us the question!" Claire urged.

"Who's most likely to do drugs?" Gray answered, his eyes lit with quiet humor.

I looked at Mary and laughed. "What gave you that impression?"

"Sorry! You just seem like someone who would like an escape," she explained, and I wondered what she could know about me to form that opinion.

"How would you even get drugs here?" Ann wondered.

"Won," Karen and Claire answered in unison before bursting into laughter.

"There are mushrooms in the area with strange properties," Mary shared.

Claire threw an accusing stare my way. "Weren't you just collecting mushrooms the other day…?"

"I sold them to Won!"

"You're his supplier?!" she gasped and another round of laughter shook the table.

"Alright, enough teasing, ask a question!" Karen ordered.

I smiled when a question came to me. Careful to keep my distance, I shielded my mouth from the table's view and whispered at Claire.

"Can you say that again?" Claire asked.

I repeated it in a slightly louder whisper.

"Sorry, I can't hear you," she admitted with an embarrassed laugh and angled her body closer.

Under the table, her knee pressed against the side of my leg and sent a jolt up my back. As I suddenly felt the drinks buzzing inside me again, Claire arched her neck to offer me her ear.

I felt my face heat as I hesitantly drew her hair aside. My fingertips brushed against her neck as I cautiously dragged my hand through her hair. Determined to whisper the question as fast as possible, I leaned in and cupped my hand around my mouth.

"Who's the…" I began before the faint scent of wildflowers and cigarette smoke hit me. I simultaneously realized how stupid I was and how soft her hair was as I resisted the urge to run my hand up the back of her neck.

"Ooh, it's going to be a good one!" Popuri squealed.

"She's just tipsy," Ann laughed.

"Wh-Who's…" I tried again as I attempted to push the embarrassing thoughts from my head.

Instead, I forgot my question. A flood of alternatives came to mind, but they certainly didn't start with "who."

I let out a breathy laugh and peered out at everyone watching and waiting. I nearly uncupped my hand to hide my face.

"The anticipation is killing me," Claire joked.

Thankfully, the whiskey bottle on the table inspired another question.

"Who's…going to get the drunkest tonight?" I whispered in a rush.

I slipped my hand from her hair and retreated to a safe distance. Feeling a mix of relief and shame, I glued my eyes to my empty shot glass and waited for her answer. But instead of saying a name, Claire whispered back in my ear.

"Is that even a question?" she teased. "Karen, of course. Ask me another one."

"Another?" I repeated aloud, rubbing my neck where her breath hit me.

"Hey, that's not allowed!" Karen interjected.

"It was a practice question," Claire argued.

As she pled my case, I wracked my mind for another question, but nothing came to me except reluctance and anticipation for the actual asking.

"Try again!" Claire urged, having persuaded Karen to give me a second chance.

Still without a question, I turned to see Claire offering a reddened ear. She was blushing. It wasn't a sunburn, and it wasn't because of my question, but she was blushing.

You're being stupid, I was quick to correct myself. It's the drinks… Yet despite my thoughts, I could feel a weak hope that I was wrong.

She's with someone else, remember?

I let out a breath as I grounded myself again. Without touching, I leaned in and whispered my second question.

"Who'll be the first to get married?"

I pulled away, feeling half-tempted to ask Ann for another shot.

"I'm gonna say…Rick!" Claire announced to the table.

Rick received another dose of encouragement and whiskey almost immediately. Once I repeated the question for the table, he let out a dismissive chuckle.

"What?" Claire asked. "I thought you were a regular family man."

"Rick doesn't believe in marriage," Karen casually explained.

"Really?" Claire asked, and I found myself equally surprised.

Rick pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "It's just words. Why make promises you don't know you can keep?"

"How romantic," Popuri grumbled and rested her cheek against her hand.

Karen ran a comforting hand along his shoulders. "You're lucky I'm such a free spirit."

"I know," he sighed before leaning over to Ann and whispering another question. I watched as Ann's eyes flashed past me.

"Claire!"

Claire was already bringing the shot glass to her lips before Karen had the chance to persuade her.

"This better be worth it!" she called over the table's excitement before taking her first shot and sputtering.

"You alright?" I asked as Popuri patted Claire's back.

"Ugh-huh!" she half-laughed, half-coughed into her hand.

Gray shook his head. "Whiskey is meant for sipping, not shots."

"Don't listen to him—you just need practice," Karen laughed. "Give it another go!"

Claire shook her head. "Question," she managed, her voice strained and wet.

"Who's the best with animals?"

"Cliff talked about you and your animals a lot," Ann shared, and I wondered how often they had come up over meals. "I figure you must have a way with them!"

Claire cleared her throat. "Thanks, Ann! I had a good teacher and a good library."

"I don't think that was a very fair question," Karen pouted and tapped a fingernail against her still-full glass. "Most of us aren't even around animals."

"I'm good with cute ones at least," Popuri joked. "Rick's the chicken whisperer."

Rick brushed off the compliment. "You just get to know them and their quirks the more time you spend with them."

"Well, I wouldn't really know," she shrugged. "Alright, Claire! I'm ready for my question!"

"You're going to like this one," Claire grinned as she turned to Popuri. Her knee moved away from my leg, leaving the spot where it had pressed against me to cool against the empty air.

"I think…Mary?" Popuri giggled, and the group waited to see if Mary would take the shot.

"Not this time, I'm afraid."

"The questions are only going to get juicier as we keep playing," Karen warned. "You won't have an excuse later."

"I'm sure I'll manage," Mary smiled before she whispered to Karen. Karen's eyes immediately named Claire before she dared her to take another shot.

"But I just took one!" Claire laughed at Karen.

"Look at it as more practice!"

Claire bit her lip as she stared down at her empty glass. Then, with a laugh, she asked Ann for another.

"Here goes," she smiled before gulping down the shot and stifling her coughs.

"Better! Anytime you want a lesson, let me know. I'll make a winner out of you!" Karen praised, and Claire seemed to light up at the prospect.

Mary interrupted them to announce the question. "Who's keeping the most secrets?"

"What?" Claire said, and I imagined she would have blushed if she weren't so red from the drinks already.

"Don't act dumb!" Karen laughed. "You've been holding out on us ever since you moved here! I haven't forgotten how you played it cool about the good doctor."

I shifted in my seat, half-curious if Claire would explain to Karen what she explained to me.

"Don't listen to Karen," Ann advised. "She has to know everyone's business."

"Obviously. Why do you think this is my favorite game?" Karen teased and turned back to Claire. "Hey!" she yelled when she realized Claire was already whispering a question to Popuri.

"Gray," Popuri announced, and to my surprise, he took the shot.

"I'm thirsty and I like whiskey," he stated plainly when he noticed everyone's stares. "So, what was the question?"

"Who's most likely to get arrested?" Claire laughed.

Gray cocked his head in disbelief. "Why're you all making me out like some kinda criminal tonight?"

"What would he be arrested for?" Ann chimed over the laughter.

"Goddess, this town is so boring, it would probably be for a severely overdue library book," Karen scoffed.

"You wouldn't sic Harris on me for that, would you?" Gray asked Mary with a crooked grin.

"Depends on the book," she teased as she moved closer to him.

Gray took the invitation to ask the next question.

"Which meaning of the word?" Mary asked as another blush tinted her face.

Gray let out a surprised laugh. "You choose."

Mary grabbed her braid and thought until her blush faded. Karen grew visibly more impatient, but excitement sparked in her eyes when Mary finally chose Ann.

"I hope it's something good!" Ann sang before gulping her whiskey down. "Oh, it tastes awful!" she cried out as she shivered.

"You're not supposed to taste it!" Karen laughed, but Ann didn't acknowledge her advice.

"Goddess look!" she laughed and stretched her arms out against the table, showcasing the goosebumps that ran all the way up to the sleeves of her yellow t-shirt.

"I don't think that's normal," I chuckled and tried to rub them from her arm, but it only seemed to make them worse.

"The question was 'who's the fastest,' in case you care," Gray drawled from across the table.

Karen let out a low laugh. "I wouldn't say Ann."

"I would!" I laughed. "I can't keep up with her at all."

Karen snickered with Gray. "Ask him a good one Ann!"

"Get over here," Ann ordered, pulling my shoulder down. "I think about this one a lot!"

Ann leaned and whispered, "Who would you want to trade lives with?"

I didn't have an immediate answer and looked at the friends sitting around me, carefully weighing what I knew about them and what I wanted for myself.

My eyes first lingered on Gray, who seemed to be cozying up to Mary more as the game progressed. I considered how Ann was cheerful and surrounded by friends in a way that felt almost impossible for me. And then there was Claire, who had a level of independence I had thought I wanted for so long. But there was one person at the table who had what I wanted most.

"Rick."

On cue, Karen urged him to drink and he didn't even try to resist this time. When Ann happily announced the question to the table, Rick wiped his glasses as if it would help him hear better.

"Me?" he confirmed.

"Y-yeah…" I stuttered.

How do I explain this? I worried, but Karen's sudden gasp stole the table's attention.

"You are secretly in love with me!"

"N-No, I—," I denied, completely flustered as I tried to call out over the music and laughter.

"Relax, I was teasing you! Unless you have something to confess?" she joked again, and I watched her wait for Rick's reaction. He still seemed too stunned by my answer for jealousy.

"I bet you'd be a great big brother!" Popuri giggled.

A freeze not nearly cold enough for what I deserved pierced me as I stared down at the shot glass in front of me.

What am I doing? Drinking with friends? Celebrating? How can I be having a good time at all? It's not right. Do I care that little? I really am as heartless and selfish as Terra wrote.

I let out a slow shaking breath as my chest ached.

What is she doing now? Is she okay?

I felt a bump against my arm and pulled myself from my spiraling thoughts long enough to see Claire offering me a gentle smile as she pointed to her forehead.

"Stay with me!" she mouthed.

"Right…" I heard myself mumble amidst the sounds of laughter and arguing as the game continued around me. I rubbed my forehead to smooth the creases like it would somehow clear the thoughts from my head. The guilt wrung my chest and wrenched my gut for even attempting to relieve it.

I should be alone.

I pushed my chair back from the table before my name forced my attention.

"You should have said Cliff!" Claire called out amidst the bickering table, and several confused glances were shot my way.

"Sorry, what was the question?" I asked.

"Who's most likely to get drunk at work…?" Rick slowly repeated with a questioning look at Claire.

"Ann picked me, and sure, I enjoy a night out, but I don't have a problem!" Karen said with an awkward laugh my way. "She's the one drinking on the job right now!"

"I'm barely drinking!"

"But Cliff's going to be working at the winery," Claire announced. "Duke and Manna already had us drinking on the job today!"

"What?" Karen's mouth dropped.

"It's true," Ann beamed with pride, reminding me of my earlier happiness. Even though it was wrong, I felt myself begin to smile back.

"You knew?!" Karen happily yelled to her friend and jumped up from her chair.

"Hey, congrats," Gray called from across the table, and I was floored by his genuine grin. While I'm sure relief over not having to worry about losing half the rent factored into it, it felt so good. Before I could think myself out of it, Karen seized me from behind.

"H-hey…!" I called out as her arms squeezed Ann and me together.

"You have to hook me up with a friend's discount!" she cheered.

All around me, friendly faces and encouraging words were calling me back to the table. I felt myself melting from the unexpected surge of support, however undeserved it was. Beside me, Claire gave a relieved smile. My eyes lingered on hers, and I hoped in that moment she understood.

"Karen, stop strangling us and ask the next question!" Ann laughed. Karen ruffled my hair before she retreated to her seat and whispered to Rick. His voice was flat when he answered.

"Claire."

"Hit me," she laughed, and Ann poured her another. I raised an eyebrow as her shot glass was refilled. It wasn't my place to stop her, but…

Another wincing shot later, and the question was revealed.

"Who's going to end up the richest?"

"Ooh, I like that one!" Claire giggled. "Especially coming from my competition!"

"Don't get too ahead of yourself!" Popuri teased through a slow stretch. Despite not having a single shot, her earlier drinks appeared to be lulling her to half-sleep.

"Too late! I'm already imagining my land surrounded by a sparkling fence of pure gold."

Gray scoffed amidst the laughter. "People lost their mind over Kai painting the Shack white. Imagine the shitstorm a gold fence would make."

"No one likes a greedy witch," Mary recited, and I let out an involuntary chuckle as the table burst with laughter.

"Wow, Mary!" Claire cried out.

"It's a line from the Witch Princess fairytale!" she defended, but she wore a guilty smile.

Claire merely shook her head and moved in to ask Popuri a question that made her go from half-lidded to wide-eyed.

"Claire! Goddess!" Popuri gasped with giddiness before hiding her face in her hands.

"Blame it on the shots!"

Popuri peeked through her fingers and giggled into her hands. "I think…Gray?"

"Me too!" Claire cackled.

"You too?!" Popuri shrieked and dropped her hands to reveal a face almost as pink as her curls.

"Fine, you got me," Gray said as he slid his shot glass over to Ann. Popuri buried her face against Claire as she waited for Gray to take the shot. The moment he set his glass back down, Claire burst.

"Who has the hairiest butt!"

Gray crossed his arms back over his chest as the table erupted with laughter.

"I thought it was going to be something good for a change," he grumbled.

"Should we check?" Karen joked.

Gray ignored the teasing and immediately dove to whisper in Mary's ear. I suspected he was eager to shift the attention from himself.

Mary said my name much more quickly this time.

"Do it!" Claire encouraged as she cradled an embarrassed Popuri.

I can handle it, I told myself as I asked Ann for another shot.

The weight of the whiskey fell on my throat. As the alcohol heated my body, Gray revealed the question with a grin. "Who's gonna end up a priest or nun?"

"Me? A priest?"

"You frequent the church so often and have a…priestly quality," Mary justified with a light blush.

I chuckled at the idea; I couldn't be more unlike the permanently cheerful and compassionate Carter.

"Hardly—I'm no good."

"Hey, don't say stuff like that!" Ann ordered. "You could be a great priest!"

"But what a loss that'd be for us, huh Father?" Karen winked. I felt my face grow even hotter as the table erupted into shocked laughter.

"At least Carter would be thrilled," Claire joined, biting a smile back. "You could take mushrooms together."

"So, I'm a priest who does drugs?" I laughed.

"Better than being a hairy-assed criminal!" Gray scoffed and the table descended into loud laughter once again. Karen's voice hollered over the noise.

"Oh, quit feeling sorry for yourself! At least people are actually picking you!" she hollered and she shot a mournful look at her empty shot glass. "Ask the next question, Cliff!"

With a last look at Karen, I repeated my question over and over in my head as I came nearer to Claire. It was surprisingly easy to ask her compared to the first time, though I supposed the lack of touching had more to do with it than the shots.

"Who cries over the littlest things?"

"Um, me?" she laughed too loudly, and I joined her.

"I do remember a few tears over a turnip, now that you mention it…"

"Hey, that was a big deal!" she asserted and jabbed a finger against my shoulder. I rubbed the sore spot as Claire called to Karen. "Can I say myself?"

"No, you need to pick someone else," Karen said, impatiently tapping her shot glass.

"Hmm…Popuri!"

Karen let out a disappointed sigh.

"Popuri?" Claire repeated when her friend didn't react.

"What?" Popuri startled, lifting her head from her hand.

Rick snapped out of his own thoughts to warn his sister. "I don't think you can handle a shot."

Popuri blushed a deep red, and, to my surprise, listened to him. With a glare towards her brother, Popuri asked Gray the next question.

"Claire."

Popuri whirled around, open-mouthed, to stare at Claire.

"Well, now I need to know," Claire giggled, passing her shot glass to Ann.

I raised an eyebrow. How many is that?

Claire swallowed another clumsy shot and scrunched up her face. "Let me hear it!"

"Who gives the worst advice…?" Popuri revealed, and Claire immediately demanded an explanation from Gray.

He shot her an icy stare from beneath his cap. "Don't you remember when you walked in on me arguing with Gramps?" he asked before turning to the rest of the table. "She told me to quit my training."

Mary gasped. "Claire!"

I looked at Claire in surprise. She had always been encouraging to me.

"But you said you were ready to quit and he was making you stupid!"

"Feel stupid. He was making me feel stupid," Gray corrected her through a clenched jaw.

"Yeah! I would've killed for someone to tell me to just quit when my parents were pressuring me! I had to figure it out for myself. And you know what? It was the best choice I ever made."

"You didn't sound sincere," Gray said matter-of-factly, and he glanced at me.

"I was!" Claire earnestly waved her hands, knocking her empty glass over and smacking my arm in one movement. "Oh, sorry!"

"No harm done," I said, righting her glass as Claire eagerly moved to whisper another question to Popuri.

"Karen," Popuri yawned.

Karen danced in her chair. "Yes! I can't believe I've only had one shot!"

"You had two before we even started!" Ann laughed.

"Shush. What was the question, Claire?"

"Who gives the best advice?"

Karen pressed a hand against her chest. "Aw, Popuri! A compliment and a shot? You are too sweet!"

"It's the least I can do; I'd still be single without your help," Popuri nodded sleepily.

"What?" Rick snapped.

"What?" Karen echoed with exaggerated innocence before she brought her hands together for a dismissive clap. "I think it's time we take this game to the next level! Let me show you how you really play…" she said, pulling Rick closer and distracting him with a whisper.

Rick abruptly pulled away. "I sat on the wrong side of you."

"Just answer the question!" she laughed.

Rick glanced around the table with dulled eyes.

"I don't know…" he shrugged. "Claire?"

"One more!" Claire laughed and pushed her shot glass across me for a refill.

I couldn't hold my tongue anymore. "Don't you think that's pushing it?"

"It's my last one, I promise."

Ann poured Claire half the regular amount, though Claire didn't seem to notice before it disappeared down her throat. The moment she smacked the glass down, Karen practically howled the question.

"Who has sex on the first date!"

"Hey!" Claire giggled and her flushed face darkened. Her eyes darted to mine, and I immediately looked down.

"Well?" Karen pressed.

"Well, what?"

"Don't get all coy again!"

"You didn't say we had to answer the question."

"We know who to ask then…"

I bit the inside of my lip at Karen's implication. The all-too-familiar sinking sensation in my chest dragged my thoughts down with it.

"He'd never tell," Claire faltered.

"So, there's something to tell?"

"Aren't I supposed to be the one asking questions?" Claire laughed and her chair creaked as she turned her body away from me.

I fiddled with my shot glass, frustrated with myself for being bothered at all.

They're adults, they've been together for months, of course they would…

But I still didn't want to think about it.

"Mary!" Popuri squealed before she and Claire descended into a fit of giggles.

"No, thank you," Mary apologetically smiled when Ann offered the whiskey bottle.

Karen began to loudly spur us on. "Let's give this another go!"

After Karen nudged Rick's arm, the couple held their shot glasses in the air. Popuri stared down Rick as she raised her minuscule "shot." Claire rushed to join, but I placed my hand on her arm.

"Hey, you promised to stop."

"Oh, right!" she giggled and lowered her glass. "Then will you do one for me?"

"I think I've done plenty," I nervously laughed, my mind beginning to drift back to summer wine.

"What?! But I've had, like, a lot more shots than you," she emphasized by bringing her hand down hard on my shoulder. "Can't you keep up?"

I felt the corners of my mouth twitching upward at her sorry attempt to goad me. She had obviously had enough…but I could manage another.

I lifted my shot glass and gripped it tighter as Claire slipped her hand down my arm.

Ann bounced her finger in the air as she counted. "That's four against four. Sorry, Karen—"

"Five against three," Gray corrected with a smirk, his glass joining the others. Mary's mouth fell open at his betrayal. The table noisily celebrated as Ann began to dole out shots.

"Okay, on the count of three!" Karen shouted. "One…two…three!"

Whiskey splashed against my throat for the third time and I swallowed hard. Instead of getting easier to down, it seemed to hit me harder each time I came back to it.

"Nicely done!" Claire grinned at me. "You—"

"Just tell us the question," Gray interrupted.

Claire let out an embarrassed giggle. "Who loves dirty talk?"

Mary seemed as if she would have slid under the table with embarrassment if Gray's arm wasn't around her shoulders.

Karen arched her brow at Gray and Mary. "Is Popuri right?"

Gray simply chuckled and Mary's face turned a shade of red I had only seen on her when Ann and I stumbled across the couple outside the inn.

"I'll take that as a yes!" Karen practically howled, and I heard myself let out a goofy laugh along with her.

Mary didn't attempt to regain her composure before she leaned over and asked a question that made Karen open her mouth with excitement.

"Good one, Mary! Who knew you had it in you?" she bubbled. "Ann!"

Ann vigorously shook her head. "Uh-uh, I'm not taking that shot."

"What? Ann!" Karen whined.

"If you are that excited about it, I don't want to hear it."

Karen let out a sigh. "Alright everybody, you know what to do!"

Claire turned her whole body towards me expectantly.

"I'm not doing another one so soon, so don't even ask."

"I gotcha! Give it time!" she laughed, and my smile tensed.

Does she even realize what she just said? I searched her face for any sign and found nothing.

I wasn't the only one who refused—even Rick didn't raise his glass. Karen may have been growing louder as the game continued, but he seemed to turn further inward. I doubted he was even paying attention at this point.

"You're missing out," Karen sang in a final unsuccessful attempt to bait Ann.

"Alright, my turn!" Ann said, pulling me down by my shoulder.

"Who—?"

But before Ann could finish her question, Karen leaned across Rick and began tapping Ann on the back.

"Wait! Come closer!" Karen laughed and waited for Ann to join her across Rick. "Ask him…" she began before her voice faded below the music.

Ann abruptly pulled away from her friend. "Geez, Karen! No!"

"Then switch me places and I'll do it!"

"I already have one," Ann argued, which she hastily whispered in my ear before Karen could object. "Who'd go skinny dipping in the ocean?"

I felt relieved at her easy question and incredibly grateful I hadn't sat beside Karen.

"Popuri."

At the sound of her name, Popuri was pulled from her reverie long enough to push her glass towards Ann with a giggle. After little more than a splash of whiskey landed in her shot glass, Popuri swallowed it easily and Ann revealed the question.

"Aw, that's so tame! Spice it up, Ann!" Karen teased.

"Mind your own business," Ann retorted with a flustered laugh.

"Who hasn't done that?" Popuri suddenly asked.

I was raising my hand with Mary before I realized what I was doing. It felt incredibly satisfying, as if I were stretching the tension from my muscles with the slightest movement.

"You two?" Karen. "Even Gray and Claire have!"

"Hey, I've swimmed—swammed? Swimmed naked in plenty of lakes and rivers."

Claire released a burst of laughter.

"What?"

"You sound so proud!" she explained.

"I'm a good swimmer!"

"You'll have to show me sometime."

I shrugged. "You missed your chance."

"Hey, you two! I can't hear the question!" Gray interrupted and shot me a warning look.

I didn't think we were being that loud, but I held my tongue as Popuri giggled to Gray, her face bright pink. Even before she had finished, Gray was grabbing for the brim of his cap.

"Do I say all three of them or just one?"

Popuri used her second wind to let out a delighted shriek.

"Goddess, you've thought about this!"

"No, I haven't!" Gray immediately protested.

"Sure…just one."

"Karen," he mumbled.

Karen almost threw her shot glass over to Ann. "Gimme."

No sooner than the whiskey had filled her glass, Karen threw her head back and inhaled the shot. Popuri exploded with the question before Karen's glass hit the table.

"Who would try a threesome!"

Gray shielded his face with the bill of his hat while we erupted with noise. I half-expected Rick to scold his sister, but he merely shook his head. Karen, on the other hand, roared with laughter.

"Don't act all embarrassed, you wanted to be caught!" she accused Gray. "Like I'm not going to take the shot!"

"Wait, who were the other two?" Claire blurted out, but Gray hid under his hat without a word.

"I'll ask him that next!" Popuri promised.

Gray's head shot up. "I swear if anyone picks Popuri…!" but the rest of his threat was lost under the laughter.

"Now how am I going to top that?" Karen wondered with a mischievous smile that once again made me thankful I was next to Ann.

A moment later, Rick answered with "Gray" in a disinterested voice.

"Not a chance," Gray flatly refused.

With only a wink, Karen raised her and Rick's glasses. Mary quickly followed suit.

"Mary, why?" Gray moaned though I thought I caught a hint of a crooked grin before he lowered his head.

"It'll make us even!"

Claire's hand on my shoulder pulled me away from their chatter.

"You taking the shot for me?"

"Claire, c'mon…" I half-groaned, half-laughed as I gently pulled her hand off me.

"You want to. I can see it in your eyes, you know!"

"Yeah right. Why would I?"

"Because Karen has the best questions!"

I had a hard time remembering the last question Karen asked, but decided to take Claire's word.

"Okay—"

"Yes!" Claire praised and whirled around to convince Popuri.

"—but this is it," I assured myself. I asked Ann for my last shot. I was starting to get hot from all the whiskey.

Gray cast a dark look my way.

What's his problem?

"Count me in!" Popuri chimed, and Claire let out another excited giggle.

"Five to three," Ann cheerfully announced. "Drink up!"

The staccato of empty shot glasses hitting the table joined with various whoops, groans, and laughs. I licked the aftertaste of whiskey from my mouth and wiped the back of my hand across my tingling lips—I was getting sloppy.

Karen's voice was hoarse as she yelled over the table. "Who's most likely to have a one-night stand!"

The question made me sweat.

"You're wrong about that!" Mary laughed and Gray almost looked like his pride was hurt.

"How many have you had then?" Karen asked him.

"I haven't had one!"

Popuri turned her sleepy head towards him. "Not even in the city?"

"No! And again! Claire is also from the city!" he said, throwing his hands towards her in exasperation.

"I haven't had any!" she snickered.

"Has anyone?" Karen asked, and I avoided her searching eyes. Those nights weren't something I was terribly proud of nowadays, and I could only imagine the questions Karen would pose next. When no one confessed, Gray turned to Mary

"Okay Mary, how about this…?" Gray held her closer and began to whisper. His question must have been a very complicated one from how long it took him to get through it.

"Y-you…" Mary squeaked, her face scarlet.

"Hey, you can't do that—he already knows! Pick someone else!" Karen ordered.

Gray bit a smile back and watched Mary closely as she frantically looked around the table.

"Um, Rick…?"

"Don't bother," Rick announced before anyone could encourage him to drink. "I'm about at my limit."

Gray raised his shot glass even before Karen to Mary's horror. Popuri joined, but no one else followed. Karen gracefully accepted defeat this time.

"Promise you'll tell me later," Karen begged Mary.

"I couldn't…!" Mary breathed, and Gray let out a burst of laughter.

He clapped in an impression of Karen. "Take it away, Rick."

"Wait!" Karen cried, catching Rick and whispering to him.

He pushed his glasses up to rub the bridge of his nose. "Isn't that a little boring?"

"Not for Ann," Karen assured him.

After a heavy sigh, Rick whispered the question to Ann. Within seconds, Ann was a deep shade of red and glaring at Karen.

"What?" Karen wondered with faux innocence.

Ann didn't answer her, but just hid her face in her hands and mumbled.

"A little louder," Karen snickered.

Ann lifted her head and met my eyes for a split second. It was long enough for me to see her eyes were already pleading for me not to take the shot before she said my name.

I felt my heart race with unease as I realized I probably didn't want to hear the question either.

"Go for it!" Claire encouraged me.

I shook my head resolutely. "No, I've had too much as it is."

Karen raised her shot glass.

"Please don't," Ann begged, but Karen only smiled at Rick until he joined her with a heavy sigh.

On cue, Popuri followed suit, and Gray smirked as he did the same and waited for Mary to join in. Thankfully, Mary folded her hands against the table.

Beside me, Ann let out a deep breath.

"Four to f—" she began to announce before Claire thrust her glass up too.

I whirled to look at her, dizzy from the movement and speechless from her broken promise.

"…five," Ann finished and surrendered the whiskey bottle to Karen. "Pour your own shots."

Karen happily obeyed, not bothering to spare the more intoxicated a drop. I gave a sidelong glance to Ann, but she wouldn't look at me. The group went silent as they threw their heads back together. The moment they resurfaced from the whiskey, Claire called for the question. Bypassing Rick entirely, Karen happily answered.

"Who's the best kisser?"

I felt my face blaze at the laughs and oohs that passed around the table. and looked sidelong at Ann. She reluctantly met my eyes, and I could see she was holding her breath.

"I wouldn't say—" I began, hoping to keep this in the hypothetical.

"She would know!" Karen interrupted, and embarrassment coursed through me as the conversation moved too fast for me to control.

"When did this happen?" Claire giggled. "The Fireworks Festival?"

"The Cow Festival," Karen corrected her.

"The Cow…?"

"That's it! Game over," Ann decided as she shot up and snatched Karen's shot glass from across the table.

"Ann!" Karen called after her. "Don't be that way!"

But Ann was already storming off towards the kitchen. She pushed through the kitchen door hard enough to send it swinging rapidly behind her.

"I…better check on her," I decided.

I stood up and sent my chair falling backward as I truly felt the drinks of the night for the first time. The whiskey weighed me down and lent my body a momentum I couldn't quite control. Determined to escape, I made my way through the strange, smooth heaviness towards the kitchen.

"Going to give her another demonstration?" Karen called after me, but I ignored her, only stopping to apologize to the kitchen doorframe when my shoulder hit it.

The kitchen was noticeably cooler and quieter than the dining room, but Ann looked determined to change that. She snapped the dials on the fryer, cranking up the heat. The way her electric eyes stared down at the oil made me think it would burst into hot bubbles instantly.

"I can't believe Karen!" Ann railed as she jerked the refrigerator door open and yanked out a mountain of prepped food. "It's bad enough when she's sober, but at least she doesn't blab to the whole town!"

Her arms overflowing, she kicked the door shut hard enough to rattle the refrigerator. She darted around the kitchen sending ingredients and utensils clattering across the countertops. I cautiously steadied myself against a counter, dizzy from her speed.

"She needs to sober up!" Ann dunked a basket of french fries in bubbling oil, and it dawned on me that she wasn't cooking for herself. A small smile crept across my face as I watched her aggressively prepare her friend's favorite food.

"I'm never serving her another drink again!" she vowed, too angry to realize Karen was left unattended with an open bar anyway.

"Doug is going to be a very busy man then," I joked, hoping a little lightheartedness could diffuse her anger.

"She put Rick up to it! And he just goes along with whatever she says! You'd think he'd have grown out of it by now, but no! It's been that way since we were kids!" Ann ranted, not seeming to register my attempt at humor.

"Why'd Mary have to pick Rick anyway? He's barely even playing the game. I should have cut everyone off a long time ago. Dad would've! And that question! I mean, what was I supposed to say anyway? You're the only one—!"

Her eyes met mine and she fell silent. We faced each other, listening to the sizzling fryer and muffled music from the dining room.

"…well, you're the only one I've kissed."

I gripped the counter tighter while her shaky words squeezed my chest. I could feel she was waiting for me to say something. I was waiting for me to say something. I parted my lips, but…nothing. The whole kitchen felt empty without my words. I had hoped we wouldn't need to talk about that night again, at least not until…I didn't know when.

Karen's laugh rose above the noise on the other side of the door, and Ann dropped her eyes to the floor.

Guilt flared within me. I had so much to apologize for; how carelessly I had treated her, how I was the one responsible for her embarrassment, how silent I was now. What was blocking me from saying the words?

"Ugh, why did I open my mouth at all?" Ann laughed through a sheepish smile. "I should have just quit or said Karen or…something! Stupid shots! They don't even taste good!"

I couldn't help but return a pale imitation of her infectious smile.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Ann breathed. "I know you don't need any of…whatever this is right now. Just forget I said anything, okay?"

I felt the grip inside me relax. "You don't have anything to say sorry for. I'm just glad you're smiling again."

She let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, me too."

A pronounced knock on the door interrupted us.

"Put your clothes back on!" Karen's muffled voice passed through the door. "I'm coming in!"

Ann's smile abruptly fell and her eyes flashed in a way I hadn't seen since spring.

Karen playfully poked her head around the door, a wide grin on her face.

"Hey, if you guys're just talking, you can talk out here!"

Ann marched over to the fryer without acknowledging her friend.

"Oh, she's mad at me." Karen rested an arm on my shoulder, anchoring me in their argument. "What's wrong?"

Ann kept her back to us, her shoulders high.

"The silent treatment, Ann? Really?"

"You could use a little silence," Ann grumbled.

Karen stared at me with narrowed eyes, her face awkwardly close to mine.

"What'd you do?"

Ann racked the fryer basket with a crash and whipped around to face Karen. "Why do you keep pushing me?"

"You need a push every now and then!"

"No, I don't! Geez, between you and Dad—!"

Karen's horrified gasp interrupted Ann. "Did you just compare me to Doug?"

"You're worse than him tonight!"

I felt Karen lean more heavily onto me as Ann shook the fries into a snack basket and threw it down on the counter.

"Hey…" Karen abruptly pushed off my shoulder and nearly sent me reeling. "I'm sorry, Ann," she said, taking her hands in hers. "I am the worst."

"No, you're not," Ann sighed. "I just…overreacted again."

Karen shook their hands furiously. "Oh no, please, this is so all on me. I'm not letting you try and put this on yourself."

Ann pressed her lips together and nodded.

"Let's just have a good time," Karen sang, and she began to pull Ann's arms closer to her. "No shots, no pressure, just fun. I owe you that. Let me give it a try. We still haven't even danced together!"

"Fine, but I'm holding you to 'no shots'—no more drinking games, got it?"

"Got it."

"And you need to apologize to Cliff too."

Karen freed a hand to grab me and pull me closer. "I'm sorry, Cliff."

"No harm done."

"And you're going to eat these," Ann ordered as she seasoned the fries.

"I'll piss you off more often if it means I get food," Karen joked before biting into three fries at once.

"Careful," Ann warned, though I wasn't sure if it was a warning against upsetting her again or for how fresh the food was.

"Let's go back then!" Karen suggested through an open mouthful of hot fries. Ann's body relaxed as we were led towards the door. She was so forgiving—I loved that about her.

"Actually, I'm gonna get some more food going for everyone first. I may have overserved tonight," Ann laughed as she stared at us.

"We'll keep everyone breathing until then," Karen promised.

I pushed my way through the thick, hot air of the dining room. Even with the drinking game abandoned, Claire, Popuri, and Rick were seated at the table. While the girls were caught in slow conversation, Rick held his head in his hands. Karen caught me staring at him with some concern.

"Oh, don't worry about Rick. Sometimes he gets like that," she reassured me. "The rest of us can have a good enough time for him, though probably not as good a time as Gray and Mary are having!" she snickered and tilted her head towards where the couple was nearly hidden together by the stairs.

I abruptly looked away. Claire's eyes briefly met mine as I debated whether I could pick my chair up or not.

"I'm cut off, but the good news is there's more food on the way!" Karen sang as she fell into her seat with her basket of fries. "How about we dance some more when I'm done eating?"

"Actually, can I get that lesson you promised?" Claire smiled as she poured herself another shot.

"Haven't you—?" I began, but Karen excitedly interrupted me.

"Really? Well then," she threw down her fries, pushed her chair back, and slapped her thigh. "Sit on my lap and I'll teach you everything you need to know!"

Drops of whiskey splattered against the floor as Claire stepped over my chair in a step that was far higher than necessary.

"Karen, you just telled Ann—" I began, but Karen pressed a finger to my lips.

She gently shushed me. "I'm not going to drink. I'm just going to coach Claire!"

Claire passed me to settle in Karen's lap.

"The first lesson is to relax!" Karen said, taking the shot from Claire and setting it on the table. Her fingers reached to unhook one of Claire's overall straps.

"What're you doing?" Claire giggled.

Karen shrugged and let out a hoarse laugh. "I don't know!"

While Claire was distracted, I took the shot from them and slid it across the table. "You're gonna get sick."

"You're being a downer!" Karen protested and jumped up to fetch the glass. A second later, Claire was giggling on the ground.

"Goddess, sorry! I really do need to eat." Karen fell back into her chair with a laugh.

"I'm fine," Claire smiled.

I bent down to help her up. "Here…" I moved too fast to the ground as if there were weights tied to my body determined to drag me down. Thankfully, I managed to stay upright.

"No, I got this," Claire swatted my hand away and gripped the table edge to pull herself up. "I'm not that drunk. I would've fallen either way."

The table tilted from her weight before Popuri and Rick smacked their hands down to hold it. Whiskey from the abandoned shot glass spilled into a puddle on the table as Claire got to her feet.

"I think it's time for you to go home and sleep this off," I suggested.

"Then call me a cab," Claire joked.

"You're a cab!" Karen chimed in, and Claire's giggles mixed with Karen's raspy laugh.

"Claire…" I sighed, not understanding why she was making this difficult. "I'll walk you home," I offered, despite knowing I wasn't in any shape for it myself.

"I can stay here, you know? There're rooms!" she said, but something shifted over her face. "Or maybe I'll get a room and then turn around and go home anyway? Any bed will do, apparently!"

"Well, whatever works," I said, confused.

She grabbed my arm and began to pull me away from the table.

"Hey, slow down," I warned as we stumbled to the jukebox.

"I thought the city was bad, you know?" she called, her voice nearly masked by the blaring melody. "But at least my landlord waited a day after I gave notice to start showing the place!"

"You're not making any sense!"

"Pfft! I can't believe you made me think I was being crazy this whole time. Why are you always making me think I'm crazy?"

"What?"

"Hey, I'm used to it!"

"No," I shook my head in disbelief. "No, you make me crazy!"

"Yeah, right!"

"You do!" I laughed with frustration. "You've been doing it all night!"

"No, you, you know? And you know you know!"

"Wait, what?" I paused, genuinely confused by how her words mixed with the music and whiskey.

But Claire was no longer focused on me, instead, the irritation vanished from her face and was immediately replaced by a surprised smile.

"Well, surprise!" Trent's voice called over the music, and I turned as he strode over.


Who is most likely to procrastinate? Me.

This was a super challenging chapter to write! But I hope you all had fun with it and learned some new things about these characters. (I said Cliff had never been in love, not that he was completely chaste 😉) Unfortunately, I had to scrap a lot of questions I originally included, and then many others that I wanted to include but would have bumped up the story's rating! Here are my answers to your suggested questions that aren't in the chapter, but feel free to share your take too!

1. "Who's the biggest flirt?" – krose13

There was a lot of flirting going on in this chapter (haha), but in general I think Karen, especially when she is drunk. She will flirt with everyone and becomes very touchy-feely (if you hadn't noticed already!) Karen unhooking Claire's overalls is based on a friend of mine who always undoes a few buttons on people's shirts when drunk.

2. "Who's the fakest?" – krose13

Claire, hands down. It's the root of most of her problems. We'll learn more about that in future chapters.

3. "What's the #1 thing you would never want your parents to find out about you? (low-key want Mary, Gray or Claire to answer this one TBH)" – SundaeContender

Mary: she writes explicitly erotic stories with fabulous plots and characters.

Gray: he misses home despite things being much better for him in Mineral Town.

Claire: her address.

4. "What's your biggest fantasy? (I feel like depending on the person answering, they'll take it differently. To me, Gray or Karen would take this in the sexier way, while Ann would just talk about food xD)" – SundaeContender

Lmao okay, here we go. I think if asked that question Gray, Karen, Popuri, and Mary would first think of a sexual fantasy. Karen's would be impossible without divine intervention, Popuri's would be complete with romance cliches (I'm thinking like in True Blood when Sookie runs across the moors in a white nightgown to Bill's mansion?), Mary's would be shockingly lurid, and Gray's would be ridiculously vanilla.

I think the others would think of more personal fantasies first. Cliff's would involve extensive time travel, Claire's wouldn't actually make her happy if it were reality, Rick's would restore balance to his life but few else's, and Ann's would make Doug both proud and disappointed.

5. "What's the biggest secret that you're keeping from everyone in this room? ( CLIFF/CLAIRE HELLO - but maybe Rick too. I feel like there's more to him LOL)" – SundaeContender

Cliff and Claire's contain spoilers, but Rick's can be inferred from the next chapter!

Had to throw that classic cab line in for our drunk city girl. So many characters are flaunting their flaws in this chapter!

Also, I made a Tumblr where I share music I enjoy listening to when writing, fanfic updates, and dumb Harvest Moon/writing humor. Feel free to check it out if you're interested! My username is modern-tsunamis. I'm open to messaging with people there too. 😊

Be ready to share a drink with the doctor next chapter and get to know him a lot better! I've kept him waiting for way too long. About time I did that to a doctor, instead of vice versa.