Chapter 4 Emergency Staircase

• *Sandra’s POV*
• I didn't have a sec to see what Jake was up to; those ten shots in front of me stole all my attention. As the countdown hit 3, I considered that losing might not be the worst thing.
• At 2, Thodoris's feelings flashed in my mind, and by 1, all that came out was a casual “F*ck it”. The race against time kicked in as we slammed down the shots with purpose. Around shot number 5, my throat started throwing a fit.
• “Done,” Jake called it. Both Sly and I stared at him in shock. Ecstatic that Sly didn't snag the win, I grabbed Jake, planting a long kiss on his cheek. "Congrats! Let's get you a victory beer," I cheered, clinging to his arm, and guiding him out of the dining room.
• Nobody, including me, saw Jake’s win coming. Handing him the beer, curiosity bubbled up. "How'd you pull it off?"
• "Two shots at once," he replied straight up.
• I nodded, "I owe you big time. I would've been gutted if Sly had taken it," I spilt the beans.
• No need for explanations; Jake got it, and we smoothly continued our chat as if nothing else mattered. The beers kept coming, and we kept tossing them back, switching from shots with different names but down the same old throats.
• As Jake helped me light a cigarette, the realization hit: classes kicked off the next day. "Oh, oh. Quick, what's your number? You've got to be in class by 7:30," I said, playfully moving the cigarette up and down, making it a challenge for Jake to light.
• He snagged the cigarette, lit it, and then grabbed my phone to input his digits. “Saved them as JayK,” he told me.
• We lounged on the grass, soaking in the stars. "I need a best friend," Jake stated as if he were making a wish.
• I perked up. "What am I?" I asked, drunk concern lingering in my voice, my ponytail swaying side to side.
• "You tell me," Jake responded, safely tucking his arms behind his head.
• I liked Jake; he was a chill dude. Despite being quite the geek, he could spin a good yarn. "I'm that best friend you need because I want to spend your millions when you make them," I confidently declared.
• It hit me that I hadn't seen Thodoris that night as Jake and I stumbled back to our rooms, saying our goodbyes by the hostel door. I hoped he'd make it back safely, but honestly, I had my own mission: find my darn room.
• So, the second floor became this kinda tipsy maze, you know? Counting doors, humming some random tune—more pit stops than a drunk person should ever make. I was a few doors away, minding my business when nature's call hit me like a freight train. Cue the sprint to the bathroom, like, no time to waste.
• Air-drying the droplets on my fingertips, I pull this classic move and end up in front of the emergency staircase. "Oops, wrong door," I chuckled, feeling a bit like a lost puppy in the maze. Out of nowhere, a pair of arms scoops me up into the staircase, dropping me as the door closes.
• “I was down seven shots when you were on five. Technically I won,” a voice declared, and I groggily acknowledged his presence.
• "Jake won," I slurred, attempting to regain some composure.
• “He is not part of the deal”.
• “Too late for terms and conditions now."
• Stuck in this weird showdown, Sly's breath was doing this almost-touching-my-nose thing, and it gave me major shivers. I could sense the irreversible vibe in the air; if things escalated, there'd be no rewind. My brain was on overdrive, thinking about Sly's potential gossip and, oh yeah, the Tho-Sly beef in the background.
• "So, what's the plan?" I nervously spat out, the gulp I took making things even more awkward.
• Sly, the silent observer, watched me blink like it was a slow-motion movie, his thumb casually toying with my lip. Shaking off the spell, I snapped back, "Dude, I'm with Tho. Back off," trying to regain control.
• But Sly was playing the immovable object card. “What is he giving you that I can't?” he threw at me, his tone sharp.
• Caught off guard, I blurted, “His heart,” sounding way too dramatic for the situation.
• Sly took a step back, giving me a puzzled look. I seized the moment, clutching Jake's jacket like a lifeline. “I'm outta here,” I mumbled, bowing my head.
• Sly swung the door open, and there I was, strolling away with that typical over-the-shoulder glance, making sure I wasn't getting a tail. Sly, sturdy as the Statue of Liberty, stood his ground, unmoving. My headspace was all about the lingering feel of his thumb on my lips as I reached my room.
• "Nope, Tho's my guy," I mumbled to myself. The moment my mini skirt hit the floor, the door flew open. Thodoris barged in, looking like he'd partied a little too hard.
• “Babe, where've you been? I drank myself into oblivion thinking you got lost,” he slurred, locking the door behind him.
• I kept up my sober facade, “Library, prepping for tomorrow.”
• Nodding, Thodoris plopped on the bed, starting the shoe-removing ritual. “C'mere. You look chilly.”
• Remembering the pact with Carnie, I shot her a text about the room's status, then helped Thodoris into bed. The moment his head met the pillow, he was out like a light.
• Thodoris, with those long lashes and a jaw that could cut through anything, had nothing on Sly. Now, don't get me wrong—I love my boyfriend, and no, I wouldn't trade him for Sly and his 14-pack, sleek black-haired allure.
• Sure, Thodoris might lack a bit of that fiery passion, but he's hot enough for me. Cuddled up beside him, my mind started playing tricks on me, but I just held onto Thodoris's arm, reassuring myself that I was making the right choice.
• As I finally crashed out, it seemed like Thodoris picked up on my inner dilemma and just pulled me in for a cosy hug.
• Thodoris's warmth did zilch to ease my troubles, just steering my dreams into a wild scenario of sprinting naked into Sly's arms. The whole thing felt oddly real, thanks to Thodoris's touch.
• Thodoris, usually all chatty, went silent in the dark, and we kinda just fumbled through the whole puzzle of our tangled-up bodies. The night turned out epic. Hashtag a gazillion O-Faces.