Okay, so it's a bit overdramatized...

As soon as we were finished playing Sardines, I took Ace and Mouse into my room and talked to them about what had just happened. They claim that it was on accident, but I had my doubts. I had gotten to know Ace a little better and she didn't seem as shy as she had at first; I could see why Spot liked her. She was a bit on the devious side and could be obstinate at times. She had the tough fighter nature as well, which made her fit right in with the rest of the family.

About that time Riley and Blink got home from their date and she settled in for the night a look of sheer joy plastered across her face. I was happy for her. I really was, though I was a bit jealous, everyone I knew had someone "special" in their lives, Mom had Dad of course, Riley had Blink, Spot had Ace, Spades had Skittery, Mouse had Bumlets, and Media had Mush. Sometimes, it could be depressing being the only person you really know that is single! Ah well, enough of my rambling.

I hadn't spoken to Jack at all the next week; in fact I had been avoiding him. I was still embarrassed from playing sardines; and my wonderful, though a bit misguided friends were not helping. The following weekend was going to be difficult though, because I was going to be forced to be around him all the flipping time. I still avoided him if it was at all possible. I was going through great lengths to avoid him though that Blink, the usually unobservant one, noticed.

"Angel, I noticed that you were avoiding Jacky Boy a little more than usual? What's going on?" he asked.

"Nothing's going on, what would make you think something was going on?" I asked hastily.

"For one, the way you answered that question, two you've been jumpy all day, and three even he noticed it," Blink said looking at me.

"Oh, is that all?" I asked trying to make light of the situation and failing miserably.

"You know that you can tell me, Angel. I won't tell anybody."

"Promise?"

"Promise"

"Ok, well, I like him, I like him a lot!" I confessed.

"Is that it?" Blink asked skeptically.

"No," I said seeing as how there was absolutely no way he'd believe my lie of yes now. "See it's just that every time I'm around him something awkward happens."

"Such as?" Blink prodded.

"Such as, the first time I met him, I gave him a black eye! The second time I saw him, not only did my cousin's boyfriend hurl a pillow at me knocking me into the door, but also my cousin decided to get into a tickle fight! The third time, a freak was stalking me. The fourth time I was almost raped and he saw me in my BRA! And then last week, we were playing sardines and fell on top of him!"

"Yeah, so?"

"I can't believe I just said all that out loud," I said in a daze.

"Said what out loud?" Jack asked walking up to the counter.

"Oh, she was just telling me about-" Blink started.

"NOTHING" I finished for him, yeah sure I can trust you Blink!

"Oh, ok den. Just stopping by to say hi," Jack said before turning and walking off. I sank to the floor, cheeks blazing red. I started hitting my head on the wall.

"I'm. So. Stupid." I said banging my head with each word. Blink stared at me with a what-should-I-do look on his face.

"Hey Blink," Spot said walking up.

"Hey Spot," Blink answered.

"What's she doing?"

"Um, as her brother, I was hoping you could tell me."

"Angel, stop banging your head on the wall, whatever you did it wasn't that bad," He said with the ok…it's getting old voice.

"Yes it was!" I moaned, partly because my head was throbbing.

"Anyway, Blink, here the keys to a Blue Mazda Miata. License Plate number, H46-FRK," Spot said ignoring me.

"All right, I'll put it down," Blink told him. "Angel you might want to get up or act like you're doing something because your dad is coming over here."

"CRAP" I said getting up and looking like I was searching for something.

"Angelica, are you down there?" my dad asked.

"Yeah," I said standing up, when the counter reached out and blocked my accent. "OW" I complained rubbing the back of my head.

"You really are accident prone as of late."

"As of late?" Spot asked looking at me with that mischievous smile of his.

"You're dead later!" I said menacingly. "Anyway, can I help you Dad?"

"Uh, Juan can't come in on Wednesday, and I need you to cover his shift."

"Ok, I don't think I'm doing anything."

"Good, you'll be working with Jack."

"No, anybody but that!" I said my eyes growing big as saucers.

"And, why not?"

"Uh, I, uh, I have to go help Spades!" I said before dashing out the door.

"What? That's my job!" Spot yelled at me.

"TAKE MINE" I yelled back.

"She's still helping Jack on Wednesday, whether she likes it or not," my dad said, though I didn't hear him.

A few nights later we (meaning Media, Mush, Mouse, Bumlets, Ace, Spot, Spades, Skittery, Dodger, Blink, Jack and myself) were all invited to a Christmas Party at an Opera House. It was one of those rare occasions that I dressed up, so I went all out; since it was a formal event. I wore a strapless corset top with a matching A-line skirt in a deep crimson color. It contrasted beautifully with my pale skin and made my cheeks take a rosy glow to them. The twelve of us were going so we had to delegate who would be driving to the party. Mush, Ace, Dodger, Jack and I all had cars, and Media, was in between cars. We could all drive though so, if someone happened to get drunk that night, since I didn't know what would happen, the others could drive us all home. And thus the chaos of deciding who would ride with whom began.

"I wanna ride with my boyfriend!" yelled Spades.

"Ok, Skits, who are you riding with?" I asked.

"Uh Mush," He replied.

"Ok, Media are you riding with Mush?"

"Duh"

"I was just checking, so in Mush's car we have, Mush, Media, Skittery and Spades. Right?"

"I can fit 4 in mine," Dodger piped in.

"Ok, so in Dodger's car we have Blink and Dodger, anyone else?"

"I'll go," said Mouse.

"Me too," added Bumlets.

"Which leaves me with Ace, Spot and Jack," I said grabbing my keys. "Does everyone know how to get there?"

"Acorn, chill!" Media snapped.

"Ok, sorry, just feel like a bomber pilot about to go into battle, gimme a break!"

"You are a weird one, Angel," Spot quipped.

"Yeah well, you're related to me so that makes you weird too."

"I like the fact that he's weird," Ace chimed in.

"Can we get in da car; it's a little on the chilly side over here," said Jack who was standing in the direct line of wind.

"Oh, right, sorry," I said unlocking the door.

The ride over was uneventful, other than me telling Spot and Ace to keep the slurping down in the backseat. They didn't listen so I slammed on my breaks and threw them into the seats.

"Angel, what was that for?" Spot protested.

"I can hear you two making out back there, keep it down."

"Turn on da radio."

"Fine," I turned the radio on and cranked it up in the back.

"Ok, we get da point!"

"What I can't hear you the radio's too loud!" I yelled at Spot, who glared at me.

We got to the party a half an hour later and found it buzzing with excitement. We entered the door and were immediately plunged into a world of dancing, drinking, smoking and anything else you could think of. Before we got to into what was going on I made, Ace, Spot, Mouse, Bumlets, Spades and Skittery promise me that they wouldn't drink, no matter what; which thankfully they agreed to do, setting me free to enjoy the night.

After a few hours, I'd had quite a bit to drink, and was starting to feel tipsy. I was also feeling quite free like I could do anything that I wanted to. And at that moment I wanted to go say hello to Jack. So, I clumsily made my way through the mass of grinding bodies to where Jack was chilling in the corner. I didn't realize it, but a huge silly grin had spread across my face as I drew close to him.

"HI JACKY BOY, HOW'RE YOU DOING?" I said as I plopped down in a chair beside him.

"Um, hey," He said.

"GREAT PARTY ISN'T IT."

"Yeah, it's something else."

"LIKE YOU! I-I MEAN LIKE THE DRINKS THEY HAVE HERE!" I giggled as I felt myself blushing.

"Yeah the drinks are something else," Jack smirked.

Out of the blue, I got the sudden urge to dance, so I turned to Jack and leaned in close to his ear so he could hear me.

"Do you wanna dance?"

"Yeah, um, okay," he replied.

"YAY!" I cheered, raising my hands in a cheerleader "V" smacking Jack in the eye as I did so.

"OW"

"Oh I'm sorry, ya want me to kiss it and make it better?" I asked giggling. Jack seemed to be enlightened by my words and led me out to the dance floor, which was good since I almost tripped on my chair. Once on the floor my passion for him surfaced as our bodies moved to the beat of the music. My back was to him, so I turned over my shoulder so I could look into his gorgeous hazel eyes before the rest of me turned toward him. And then I kissed him. Jack seemed pleased yet taken aback at my actions and deemed it best to go sit down. So I tripped back to the table holding on to Jack's hand as he led me. He got up and searched for everyone else to tell them that I was sloshed and that he was going to take me home. A short time later he returned with an angry looking Spot and a very confused looking Ace before leading me out to the car.

"Where are my keys?" I slurred searching my purse for them.

"Oh," I giggled, "There they are!" Jack promptly pulled them out of my fingers and proceeded to open the passenger side door for all of us to get in.

"It's my car, I wanna drive!" I said slurring my words even worse than before.

"No, you're drunk, you're not drivin!" he said sternly.

"I'm not drunk! I'm just a little tipsy."

"Get in da back. Spot, you drive," Jack said tossing him the keys and forcing me into the back seat before climbing in after me. Spot drove us to Blink's house since we had made arrangements to stay there since we knew we would be getting home late, with me complaining most of the way, or at least until I passed out.

I woke up the next morning, my head pounding. I tried rolling over but that just made the headache worse.

"Ugh, someone turn the sun off!" I muttered into a pillow. Pillow, wait, where was I?

"Good Morning!" came an overly cheery voice.

"Ugh, stop yelling," I moaned.

"Are you going to be okay, Angel?"

"I feel like someone ran over me with a pile driver."

"Yeah, that's what happens when you get hung-over," I knew that voice, where did I know that voice from? "Here, drink some water," They said handing me a glass. I took it gratefully and gulped it down I was really thirsty.

"Thanks" I said opening my eyes to see Jack sitting on the bed beside me. I looked around and didn't know where I was.

"What happened last night?" I asked.

"What was da last thing you remember?"

"Uh, noise, drinking, looking at you, and that's about it."

"Well, you got drunk, Angel and then you passed out on the way here."

"Wait; are we at Blink's house?"

"Yeah, you're in my room."

"Oh. I'm sure you want it back then," I said attempting to stand up, which only produced a wave of nausea to hit me. "I think I'm gonna be sick" I muttered as I stumbled off to the bathroom to puke. So there I stood doing the Technicolor yawn while Jack held my hair for me.

"What all did you eat yesterday?" Jack asked.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Cause this is like the eighth time you've puked."

"Oh, honestly, I don't remember what I ate," I said finally done puking. I curled up on the floor, miserable beyond all reckoning. Jack tried to help me stand, but that just produced more nausea, so he finally just picked me up and carried me back to the bed.

"Stay here; I'll bring you some food in a little while."

"Ok," I moaned dropping back off to sleep.

I would just like to say, in my defense, at the time that this was written, I had no clue what it felt like to be drunk...now that I am older and wiser...yikes.