Chapter 41

Cards, Games, and… Handshakes?

Everyone spent the first couple hours eating, drinking, and talking about classes and life. Trevor and Charlie showed up at some point, and were now engaged in the conversation that was unfolding in the living room. Everyone was beginning to feel a little tipsy, but nothing overboard.

"No way," Elliot said, scoffing and laughing. "I'm not falling for this trap."

"El! It's not a trap. Come on, it's my birthday," Olivia pleaded.

Elliot laid his head back against the couch, groaning in response before letting out an exhale. "Fine. Pull the birthday card. Go ahead, give me my options."

"Okay," Olivia said excitedly, taking another drink of her beer. "Kathy, Alex's mom, and Jennifer Lopez."

"Seriously?!" Elliot complained, everyone else laughing as they awaited his response.

Since it was her birthday, Olivia wanted to play the game "Fuck, Marry, Kill." It was always one of her favorite games to play with her friends when they were drinking.

"Why do you have to drag my mom into it, Liv?!" Alex complained, resting her head against Olivia's as she sat on her lap.

"Because it's funny!" Olivia responded, chuckling to herself as she took another drink. "Now come on, El. Spit it out!"

"Fine. I'd marry Kathy," Elliot started before pausing, drumming his fingers against his knee.

"Why are you pausing?" Alex asked after several long moments of continued silence. "Are you contemplating fucking my mother?!"

Olivia couldn't help the loud laugh that escaped her body as Elliot began to turn red.

"No! Not like that! I'm just… weighing my options. My life depends on this response."

Kathy folded her arms, watching and awaiting Elliot's answer as everyone continued to giggle at his internal struggle.

"Come on, El, just pick," Olivia said, growing impatient. "It's just a game."

"Fine. I'd kill Jennifer Lopez and I guess I'd… fuck Alex's mom." Elliot immediately hid his face in his hands, making groaning noises from his decision. Nearly everyone erupted in laughter and gasps, clearly shocked by his choices.

"Dude, why the hell are you killing J-Lo?" Tim asked.

"I can't believe you seriously picked my mother," Alex said, letting out her own groan.

"Hey! None of you are dating her!" Elliot said, pointing at Kathy accusingly. "I made my choices to save my own skin. I knew this was a trap. Liv, you're next then."

"Fine. Hit me," Olivia responded.

"Alex, Alex's mom, and Kathy," Elliot said.

"Oh come on, that's eas –…" Olivia's sentence trailed off as she really thought about her choices. "Shit."

Alex turned herself around in Olivia's lap, crossing her arms and looking down at her with furrowed brows. "Don't. You. Dare."

"Ha! Now who's screwed?" Elliot teased.

Olivia looked up at Alex, catching her threatening glance. She immediately knew what she had to do. Swallowing, she gave her response. "Marry Alex, fuck Kathy, and I unfortunately have to kill Rosemary. But please know, that this is a decision that pains me greatly."

"Good choice," Alex said, lightening her expression and wrapping her arms around Olivia's shoulders. "Now, can we please stop using my mom as an example?!"

"She's hot though," Tim said, earning him some icy glares from both Alex and Olivia.

"Never in a million years, worm," Alex said. "Okay, Casey should go next. Trevor, Brad Pitt, and me!"

Casey immediately threw her head back and started laughing. "This is easy. Sorry, baby," she said, turning to Trevor and giving him a kiss. "Marry Alex, fuck Brad Pitt, and kill you."

"What?!" Elliot asked with a laugh. "Red, what the hell! You're killing your man?"

"It makes the most sense," Casey said shrugging. "I can't live without Alex, and I've already fucked Trev. Come on, I have to know what fucking Brad Pitt would be like!"

Everyone laughed as they continued on, Alex's turn being next. Casey decided she would be the one to give Alex her choices.

"Okay, Lex. Liv, me, and Taylor Swift."

Alex didn't even hesitate with her response, giving it immediately. "Marry Casey, fuck Olivia, and kill Taylor Swift."

"Hey, now!" Olivia said, mouth open.

Alex shrugged. "Sorry baby. I can't live without Casey either. Plus, I could just fuck you forever, so would you really be that upset?"

Olivia smirked at the thought before shaking her head. "Nah, you're right."

After everyone else in the group played a round, they decided to switch to Cards Against Humanity. Casey and Alex had never played this game before, but it was one that Olivia's group enjoyed often. They decided that whoever lost each round had to take a drink, which, would be everyone except 1 person. They figured this would be a good way to get everyone drunk faster.

Going first, Olivia was the judge since it was her birthday. Picking up the first black card, she read the prompt aloud. "What's there a ton of in heaven?"

After everyone laid down their choices, Olivia read them all out loud before picking her choice of the winning response. "Seriously… who the fuck put the 'Dead Parents' card?! Oh my God."

"I mean, it makes sense though," Elliot said as he chuckled and shook his head.

Johnny took a bow before everyone else took a drink, then picked up a card to read. "During sex, I like to think about _."

A few moments passed before everyone laid down their choices. Following what Olivia did, Johnny read each card aloud before reading his winning response. "It's gotta be the 'Your mom' card."

"Really?" Amanda said annoyingly to her boyfriend.

"What?" Johnny said in response, chuckling. "Whose card is it?"

Everyone nearly died of laughter when Alex held up her hand.

"Oh my God, Al," Olivia said as she laughed, taking her losing drink.

"Well, it made the most sense since you guys can't stop thinking about her!"

Alex then proceeded to take her turn, with Casey winning that round. Once the group got to 10 rounds played, everyone was feeling considerably drunker and decided to move on to something else.

"Hey," Olivia said, slightly slurring her words once the cards were back in the box. "Why don't we break out Guitar Hero? Get the ol' band back together?"

Elliot immediately sprang up, jumping over the back of the couch as he ran to get the Xbox 360, guitars, and drum set up in his room. While he was setting everything up downstairs, Olivia threw on her new leather jacket again to help set the tone as Alex and Casey poured everyone some more shots.

"You guys always get crazy when you play this game, I love it," Kathy said with a laugh, stumbling to the couch and plopping down to watch.

"What is this exactly?" Alex asked, her speech slightly slurred as she sat next to Kathy, Casey taking the seat on the other side of her.

"They're basically like a rock band. Elliot plays drums, Tim plays bass, Johnny plays guitar, and Liv sings. They pick songs and try to get the highest score, really," Kathy explained. "They used to play this all the time when they'd drink, so you're in for a treat. They're quite entertaining."

Alex smiled and watched as Liv grabbed the microphone and they all argued over what song to play first.

"No! It's my birthday, I get first pick, assholes," Olivia said, taking another quick shot of whiskey before lightly jumping up and down, prepping herself for the game. "You know what we're doing. I shouldn't even have to tell you. I bet Kathy knows!" Olivia pointed to Kathy, who of course guessed Olivia's choice.

"Misery Business?" Kathy asked.

"Hell yeah!" Olivia said, throwing her arm up as the song began playing.

Alex only smiled wide as she watched Olivia jump around, shaking and bobbing her head to the music as Elliot, Johnny, and Tim started hitting the keys on their fake instruments. She learned very quickly early on in their relationship that Olivia's all-time favorite band was Paramore. She had been to a couple of concerts already and knew nearly every one of their songs, so Alex smiled proudly and watched lovingly as Olivia began belting out the lyrics to the song.

"Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change. Once a whore, you're nothing more I'm sorry, that'll never change. And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged, I'm sorry, honey, but I passed it up, now look this way!"

Once the song was over, they somehow had scored the highest they ever had on that song before, which delighted Olivia greatly. Next, it was Elliot's turn to choose a song. Looking through the list, he chose for the group to play "The One I Love" by R.E.M. It was always one of Kathy's favorite songs.

Feeling considerably looser, and already knowing the words to the song, once it started, Olivia turned to Alex and began singing the words to her, not even paying attention to the screen.

"This one goes out to the one I love. This one goes out to the one I've left behind."

As the song drug on, Olivia still singing to Alex, she began swaying a little bit from side to side, dancing in front of Alex who was encouraging her on. Once the slight instrumental part hit towards the middle of the song, Olivia turned her back to Alex and looked back at her, slowly taking her jacket off before throwing it in her direction. Alex couldn't contain the smile on her face and blush on her cheeks as she watched Olivia completely let herself be free in front of her, giving her a few more sways as the song slowly winded down.

Following up her performance with some hollers and clapping from Casey, Alex, and Kathy, Tim decided to pick the next song to up the tempo. Before she knew it, "Hot for Teacher" by Van Halen began playing as Elliot frantically tried to keep up with the drums in the beginning.

Once the guitar parts began ramping up, Olivia began bobbing her head up and down as she tapped her foot and moved closer to where Alex was sitting on the couch. She soon began singing the lyrics somewhat incoherently, as she was pretty much drunk at this point and was only really focusing on Alex. She moved her hips a bit provocatively from side to side before soon placing a knee on either side of Alex on the couch, grinding against her as she sang the lyrics of the song.

"I think of all the education that I've missed. But then my homework was never quite like this! Oh, I've got it bad, got it bad, got it bad. I'm hot for teacher."

Olivia gave Alex a quick kiss before flying off the couch and dancing around a bit more through the riffs before the lyrics ramped up again. But before they did, she quickly ripped her shirt off, leaving her in her sports bra, and threw it at Alex, who was absolutely star-struck at this point. She then again suddenly climbed on top of her on the couch and began swaying as she sang, Alex running her hands over Olivia's toned stomach.

"Liv, I thought this was your birthday, not mine," Alex playfully said with a giggle, pulling Olivia into a deep, alcohol-tasting kiss as the song ended.

Breathless, Olivia chuckled as she climbed off of Alex again, but not before giving her another kiss.

"Okay," Olivia said. "I'm calling it quits. The band is disbanding again. That song wore me out."

"Me too," Elliot agreed, now stripping his shirt off, causing Kathy to whistle at him. "Too much drumming. Time for some COD?"

"Absolutely," Olivia agreed, switching out the Xbox 360 for the Xbox One and firing up Call of Duty: Ghosts.

Alex, Casey, Kathy, and Amanda went to the kitchen for some more drinks and food while the guys and Olivia all stayed on the couch taking turns on COD. So far, Elliot and Olivia had the best records compared to everyone else. Alex had even brought Olivia and Elliot a few more drinks before finally sitting on Olivia's lap as Trevor and Charlie played against each other.

Leaning down to whisper in her ear, Alex said, "Think I can beat Elliot? I've been practicing."

"Uhh," Olivia started, pursing her lips as she tried to think of a way to let Alex down easily. "Maybe on my next birthday, Al. As long as you keep practicing."

Alex only scoffed as she got up from Olivia's lap, leaving Olivia looking sad back at her from the sudden loss of embrace. Standing behind the couch, Alex again bent down to whisper to Olivia. "Just wait. I've got some tricks up my sleeve, babe. I'll prove you wrong."

Olivia turned around to look at Alex with an eyebrow raised, watching her carefully as she poured one shot glass full of vodka, and another full of water. Winking at Olivia, Alex took the shot glasses and waltzed over to Elliot, handing him the one with the vodka inside.

"Hey Muscles. Have a shot with me," Alex said, a devilish grin painted on her face.

Elliot smiled back at Alex, took the glass, clinked it with hers, and then sloshed it back. Alex did her best to make a disgusted face so Elliot didn't know she wasn't actually drinking vodka with him.

Whistling, Elliot handed Alex back the shot glass. "Surprised you did one of those, Blondie. Wanna do another?" Elliot asked, his eyebrow raised.

Alex only smirked. "Sure thing, let me get us some more."

Alex walked back into the kitchen, poured 2 more shots the same way, and proceeded to hand the vodka-filled shot to Elliot. They again threw them back, and Alex resumed her position on the couch on Olivia's lap.

"You are… evil," Olivia whispered to Alex, unable to control the grin on her face.

Alex shrugged. "If I can't beat him the traditional way, I guess I have to get creative."

Once Trevor and Charlie were done, Olivia played against Elliot again so she could measure how much the alcohol was affecting his performance. Deciding he still would have too much of a reign over Alex, she suggested to the group that they take a few more shots.

This cycle repeated itself over the next hour until Elliot was to a point where he was swaying and slurring his words almost incoherently.

"Now's your chance," Olivia whispered to Alex, who got up off the couch and stood innocently in front of Elliot, clasping her hands together and smiling at him.

Looking up at her with drunk, half-shut eyes, Elliot spoke. "Wassup Blondie?"

"Well," Alex started, twiddling her thumbs and rocking back and forth on her feet. "I was wondering if you wanted to play Call of Duty against me."

The slowest, goofiest smile formed across Elliot's face before he responded. "Really? Me? Against you? M'kay. Prepare to lose."

"Hmm," is all Alex responded before sitting down next to Olivia and picking up a controller. Elliot scooted his way next to her and picked up the other controller to start the game.

"Wait," Alex said, Elliot swinging his head to look at her. "Shot for good luck?"

"You got it," Elliot said, standing up from the couch and staggering into the kitchen to pour himself and Alex another shot. "Here."

"Elliot, honey, you really should probably stop now," Kathy said from the opposite end of the couch, braiding Amanda's hair.

"Ehh, I'm fine, woman," Elliot slurred before throwing back the shot.

Alex then followed suit, reluctantly throwing back the vodka, struggling not to gag at its horrendous taste. "Alright, let's do this now."

Picking the controller back up, Elliot started the game. He and Alex decided to play Team Deathmatch on Warhawk against each other – first one to 75 wins. This is usually what she and Olivia would play too, with Olivia beating her every single time by a ton of points. But Alex never really minded much. She just loved spending time with Olivia doing something that she enjoyed doing.

But Olivia couldn't help but feel nervous as the match went on. She knew that no matter the outcome of the game, either Alex or Elliot would be mad. And for her sake, she really was hoping it would be Elliot.

"Give it up, Blondie. You're losing by 9 already," Elliot slurred, running through the map and getting yet another kill.

Alex only continued to stare at the screen with her own alcohol-clouded eyes, trying her best to win.

It was no use.

Despite being really drunk, Elliot ended up winning 75-52.

"Ha!" Elliot said, sitting down the controller and throwing his hands up. "I beat you."

Alex laid back against the back of the couch, folding her arms. "Congratulations. You beat me 1 time. Our overall score is now 1-1-1."

"Huh?" Elliot said confused. "We haven't played this before."

"No, not our Call of Duty score," Alex responded with a less than amused eye-roll. "Our challenge score. I beat you with the burger, we tied with the wings, and now you beat me at this. So we're even." Alex paused before pointing a finger at him and driving her next point home. "For now."

Elliot only grinned at Alex before sticking out his hand. "Until the next one, Blondie."

Alex returned the grin and put her hand in his, shaking it. "In which I'll win that challenge I'm sure."

"Uh huh, sure," Elliot chuckled, still shaking Alex's hand.

"Yeah. I will. So you better prepare yourself now, Stabler," Alex responded, still shaking hands with Elliot.

"Oh, using last names now are we? You're on, Cabot."

Yes. They were still shaking hands.

Olivia, starting to get a little concerned with their… (friendly?) competition, put her hand on Alex's shoulder to try and pull her back as she looked at them with caution. Kathy was doing the same from her position on the couch.

"I don't see why not. We might as well make this a formal affair after three challenges. What'll it be next time, big guy?"

"Hmm. Well, since we both like food so much, and we're pretty evenly matched in that department, I say we do a food challenge again. I can out-eat you," Elliot responded, bringing his other hand over to now lay on top of Alex's, sandwiching her hand between his.

Alex began to laugh as she gave him her comeback. "Oh please. I know I can out-eat you. It's one of my favorite activities, you know." She then brought her other hand up to place on Elliot's as she turned to look at Olivia, giving her a wink and a smirk as Casey nearly spit out her drink.

Olivia immediately began turning red. "Alex!"

Elliot blinked at her dumbly, trying to process the true meaning behind her words. Once he got it, he scrunched up his face and finally released Alex's hands from his, wiping them on the fabric of the couch. "Alright, I didn't need that image in my head, Blondie!"

Alex only chuckled as she sauntered back into Olivia's lap, resting her head against her shoulder. She stayed here for a moment before lifting her head up slightly, whispering to her girlfriend so no one else could hear.

"So. Ready for your birthday gift now?" Alex asked softly, poking her tongue out at the end of the sentence to trace along Olivia's ear.

Olivia's grasp on Alex tightened as her hips shifted slightly, telling Alex the answer without actually speaking any words. Even so, Olivia nodded to Alex's question as she looked up into her blue eyes.

"M'kay," Alex said, giving Olivia a kiss before climbing off of her, grabbing her bag, and heading upstairs to Olivia's room.

Looking over at Kathy, Olivia let out a breath as Kathy smiled at her and motioned for her to go upstairs. As she was walking past her, Kathy grabbed her arm and pulled her down to whisper, "I got it down here, Liv. Go enjoy yourself. It's going to be fine."

Olivia gave her a nervous smile before retreating upstairs to her bedroom.

"Where's she going?" Elliot asked, now laying on the couch as Tim and Johnny were again playing the Xbox.

"You know where," Kathy said through gritted teeth, raising her eyebrows at him in hopes he'd understand.

After a few moments, Elliot grinned widely, his hands behind his head. "Got it. We should probably turn some music on down here then. Ya know, help drown them out."

"I'm on it!" Casey said, springing up from Trevor's embrace to grab a speaker and put on some music. "Now, we all have to leave them alone tonight, okay? We can't have a repeat of Elliot's party."

"Agreed," Kathy said.

"No problemo," Elliot said, yawning and closing his eyes.

Casey smiled to herself as she picked out a song, silently cheering her best friend on upstairs as music began to fill the room. She knew Alex would be just fine.