"What now?" Jack questioned, effortlessly downing his tenth and last shot.
"Now you kiss my ass" Felix cursed, still struggling with his fifth shot, five more on his plate.
Two hours ago they were barely addressing each other, now they were sitting side by side at the bar counter chugging one shot of tequila after the other. They were both drunk, there was no doubt in that, but they were at least talking.
'The best bar in town', PJ called it earlier. The group's mood instantly rose after a round of beer and a good 90's playlist blasting in the background. It was almost one in the morning when the girls decided to take their leave first. Then Brad announced a drinking game challenge. The details were a blur, but it went oh so horribly wrong for everyone at the table. Brad wound up wasted, and PJ was the only slightly sober person able to walk him home. And that's the story of how Jack and Felix were left alone at the bar with twenty unfinished shots Brad never managed to drink.
"Finish your drinks and maybe I'll think about it" Jack teased, his eyes landing on the four left shots in front of his friend. And what a lie, he'd kiss Felix's ass at any given chance.
"I'm trying, Jesus!" Felix complained, gritting his teeth before forcing another shot down his throat and slamming the glass down on the counter. "Fucking Brad! Why'd we have t'clean up after him?"
"'Cause that idiot paid fifty bucks for this" Jack replied as a matter of fact.
"Sixty five" The bartender corrected.
Jack briefly glanced her way. The woman was watching them since Brad ordered the twenty shots and left, now she was patiently waiting for Jack and Felix to do the same. Jack didn't have it in him to give up. And whatever their challenge was in the first place, like any other drinking game, the key to winning was to consume every last drop.
"C'mon, Felix!" Jack urged, turning his attention back to the Swede "If you're not drinking them, I will."
"No!" Felix broke out, slapping Jack's hand away from his precious shots, then circling his long arms around them in a protective manner. He was so drunk he nearly knocked two glasses down in the process. "You touch my drinks, you dead."
Jack heard the bartender laugh in the back. It made his blood boil with impatience.
"Hey!" Felix shouted, watching Jack steal the four shots from underneath his nose and consuming one after the other.
He shouldn't have, Jack knew that. His alcohol tolerance must be higher than the average, but fourteen shots are usually enough to send anyone's world spinning. But when their eyes met and the bartender gave Jack a nod of acknowledgment, Jack couldn't feel prouder.
"Dude, you have a girlfriend" Felix spat loud enough for the bartender to hear. "Stop showing off!"
"I'm not showing off!" Jack denied. "And why are you screaming at me?"
"'Cause you're fucking annoying, that's why!"
"Jesus, Felix, calm down" Jack lowered his voice, in an attempt to settle what to the rest of the bar looked like a rising argument.
"Don't fucking tell me what to do!"
Felix was angry again and Jack could tell it wasn't because of the drinks. His frown was clear upon his forehead and he was at the edge of his seat. The moment Jack tried laying an apologizing hand on his shoulder, he snapped.
"Fuck this, I'm out"
And just like that, Felix got up and stormed out of the bar, forgetting his jacket behind. Jack was confused and the alcohol getting to his head wasn't helping. So he did what anyone would do in this situation: grab the man's jacket and go after him.
The air outside was ice cold and it had Jack wrap himself in his thin trench coat while making his way down the street. Felix shouldn't have made it too far, and the simple thought of losing him had Jack pick up the pace. Taking a right, Jack caught sight of the Swede a couple feet ahead trying to cross the road. With a heavily intoxicated mind, he somehow managed to run all the way to the other side of the road safely. Felix had noticed him by now, but still carried on storming ahead.
"Felix, come on!" Jack shouted, realizing his voice was hoarse and that he's been calling the Swede the entire time. "I don't know what I did, but I'm really sorry! Can you at least talk to me, please?"
Felix eventually slowed down and Jack was able to catch up to him. Only from up close was Jack able to see his red cheeks and blue-tinted lips. He was trembling with both anger and cold.
"Put this on" Jack insisted, helping his taller friend fit into his jacket. "Are you okay?" He found himself asking in a low, gentle tone, while buttoning up Felix's jacket.
"Okay, my ass" answered Felix in an unsteady, broken voice. "When're you planning to f'king tell me? In twenty years?"
Jack's face froze all of a sudden, and all he could manage was a "What?" spoken out of breath.
"Y'think I wouldn't notice? Come on, dude" he sighed, running a hand through his messy blond locks in pure disbelief, "I know you have a crush on me. And funny thing is I'm totally fine with it. But you know what fucking pisses me off? You not doing anything about it. It freaking annoys the shit out of me!"
Jack didn't say anything at first. He just stood there and took whatever Felix was throwing at him.
"I hate how you look at me like I'm a fucking god, 'cause I'm not, I'm a twisted piece of shit." Felix continued, "I wasn't even available and I kept leading you on. I don't know what the hell I was expecting to get out of it. God, I fucking hate myself."
"Felix" Jack started.
"No, Jack, I'm not done" He went on, "I thought it'll be all fun and giggles having you hang around for the weekend. Now my ass is just pissed whenever I see you around her. She's freaking awesome, dude, and I'm just fucking worthless in comparison."
"Felix!"
"Even Marzia knows, y'know? She knows everything and she's still with me! What kind of asshole am I to deserve that? Everyone should just kick me to the curb and move on-"
"Felix, shut the fuck up!"
Jack's third attempt was a success and the Swede was instantly silenced. He looked down to his feet, his bright blue eyes holding back the tears. So Jack approached him, circling his arms around his trembling body and pulling him into a gentle embrace.
"We'll talk about this tomorrow when we're calm and sober, okay?" He assured in a soothing voice while rubbing Felix's back.
"Fuck tomorrow" he stubbornly muttered in a trembling voice, pulling away from the embrace and gazing right into Jack's eyes.
Next thing Jack knew he was kissing a drunk Felix in the middle of the street at four in the morning, and he regrets loving every bit of it.