Wood and Roses

The kitchen table was littered with empty beer bottles as the clock struck three. A shot glass with a quarter in the bottom sat between Mercedes and Bobby, who were locked in an intense battle of wills. Neither wanted to admit they were drunk and though Mer knew it was almost time to call it a night, her pride wouldn’t allow her to rise from the table until Bobby had conceded to the fact that she could indeed keep up.

“Alright Mermaid, I hate to do this to you.” He stated, his tongue slipping on the syllables as they rolled out of his mouth. Hands were clasped firmly together in front of him as he leaned on the table and though he was trying to give her his best look of intimidation, the pink in his cheeks companied but the occasional wavering of his stance caused her to giggle and counter his look with what she hoped looked like a challenging gaze.
“Mhm?”

“I’m going to take out the big guns and bring this whole thing to a close…” As he said this, he made to lean in closer onto the table with a look of seriousness, but one elbow slipped and he nearly toppled from his seat. Mercedes could only laugh louder, shaking her head and feeling the heat in her cheeks rising with her inebriated state. Angel and Jack both let out an ominous “oooo” at this last remark and as Bobby reached a hand out towards Angel, the slightly younger brother produced from seemingly nowhere a twenty-sixer of Jack Daniels.

“Whiskey?” She countered, raising an eyebrow and trying to appear serious. “I will have you know I happen to bleed whiskey…so good luck.” Mercedes found that she too was having trouble getting the words out clearly, and her brow furrowed in concentration. “Bring it on hot shot…” Jack, a knowing smile spread across his features, put down his own beer and reached for two shot glasses that sat on top of the refrigerator, laughing at an inside joke that apparently only he understood. “And don’t you laugh at me Jackie boy…after I’m through with him I’ll drink you under the table and still walk myself upstairs.”

“I didn’t say a damn thing…” He laughed; placing the shot glasses in front of the two and with dramatic flare. The drinks were poured and placed in front of each contender as man and woman countered each other with what both were certain were intimidating stares. The reality of it was both were wobbling in their chairs and seemed to be having a hard time keeping their eyes trained on one another. Mercedes was the first to drink, giving Bobby a curt nod before tossing her head back and swallowing the warm whiskey. Bobby was next and downed his in much the same fashion, coming dangerously close to spilling the shot before it reached his lips.

“Now we’ll see…” He stated contently, leaning back in his chair, amusement clear across his features as he undoubtedly waited for Mer to make a face and stumble towards the bathroom. As the seconds ticked bye and Mercedes remained in her chair, he let out an annoyed growl and signaled to Jack to pour them another. As the shots were poured once more, Bobby leaned back on the back legs of his chair and watched Mer take her second shot, placing his hands behind his head in his best non-challant pose. Unfortunately for him, he had made a grave error in judgment. He had assumed much to his demise that he was sober enough not only to balance on two legs of a chair, but to rise from that position to take another shot.

In a flurry of flailing arms and legs, he let out a cry that clearly stated he had been caught off guard when the chair fell out from beneath him and he landed squarely on the kitchen floor. For a moment all was silent. Bobby remained where he was; face up on the kitchen floor, staring at the ceiling in bewilderment as to how he had gotten there. Then in one explosive outburst, the entire house was filled with the drunken hysterical laughter of Angel, Jack, Mercedes and Bobby.

“The winner!!” Angel pulled Mercedes roughly by one arm into a standing position and paraded the girl around the kitchen table like a boxer who had one her match. She placed a steadying hand on the table as he did so, the sudden standing motion seeming to bring all the alcohol to her head in one swift movement.

“Fuck…” She muttered still laughing, though concentrating heavily on remaining in a standing position. “I think I might be drunk guys…” After a pause she tried to stand upright but quickly leaned back onto the table. “Never mind…I take that back…I’m fuckin wasted.”

“Alright Mermaid lets go.” Jack laughed, swinging her up into his steady arms and heading for the stairs.

“Oof.” She muttered, head rolling back as she studied him from an upside down angle. “Easy there juice…” He repressed a smile and simply looked down at her sternly.

“You gonna puke tonight?”

“Nope.” She grinned like a Cheshire cat, reaching a hand up to poke the side of his face as he began to climb the stairs. “Are you?”

“Nope.”

“Good.” She seemed content with his answer, and with the final confirmation that Jackie boy was indeed not going to puke, she nestled into his arms and closed her eyes. “I don’t want you to puke Jackie boy…”

“I know chicky-poo.”

“If you ever puke again, like ever again in your whole entire life…I promise I’ll come hold that pretty hair of yours…”

“I’ll hold you to that babe.” The floor creaked under their combined weight as they reached the top of the stairs and he turned into his old bedroom, crossing the floor in one quick stride and placing her softly onto the bed. Mercedes seemed to squirm around a bit as if trying to get comfortable and finally with an indignant huff launched herself into a wavering sitting position. Jack regarded her over his shoulder as he pulled his shirt quickly over his head and tossed it into a corner.

“Whacha doin girl?”

“Getting comfortable…” She mumbled, reaching under the back of her top and unhooking her bra. Bra and shirt were quickly tossed onto the floor beside Jack’s discarded clothing. Mercedes looked first to the quilt on her left, then right as if assessing her sitting satiation, brows furrowed in deep concentration. Jack turned back towards her now clad only in boxers and sighed. There she was, wild brunette locks falling over her shoulders, pert breasts and flat stomach completely bared for his viewing…and she was wasted. He felt robbed of the moment he’d waited for for so long, but couldn’t help but laugh at how cute she looked. She was clearly having an intense inner monologue with herself as she stared down at the bed, her lap and the bed again. With a sigh, she rolled her eyes and nodded defeatedly. “Jackie…I need help with my pants.”