"GAME TIME" shouted one of the guys from the improv show, David, Hannah thought he had said his name was.
"You ready for this?" Grace turned to Hannah with a smirk.
"Yes sure, I love games" Hannah replied.
"Ok well keep that attitude" Grace laughed and Michelle joined in.
Hannah was confused but just smiled along.
"Another drink Hannah?" Grace said getting up.
"Oh yes please" Hannah said as Grace disappeared to the bar.
David returned just before Grace with a Jenga game.
"Oh cool, I love Jenga" Hannah said excitingly.
Grace sat a drink in front of Hannah, "Hey David, have you explained the rules to Hannah" Grace asked.
Hannah was confused the rules? She knew how to play Jenga it was a simple game. She thought to herself.
"Oh no not yet Grace" He replied before opening the box and setting them up whilst turning to Hannah "Right so some of the blocks have dares written on them, you have to do the dare or if you don't want to the forfeit is everyone tips there remaining drink into a giant glass and you have to drink it. The same goes for the person that knocks over the tower. The blocks without dares on just mean that you have to take a sip of your drink. Got it?"
Hannah should of realised it wasn't going to just be a simple game of Jenga, but by this point she was feeling pretty drunk and she thought it could be fun "Sure got it" She replied enthusiastically.
David went first he successfully pulled one out. "Blank" he announced, taking a sip of his drink.
Next it was Johns turn. "Blank" he said pleased also taking a sip of his drink.
Chris was next "Dare" he said looking up before looking back down at the block "Drink the person opposites drink" Unfortunately for Michelle that was hers. She slid him the drink across the table and he proceeded to down it.
It was Hannah's turn next she had an apprehensive feeling in her stomach as she reached forward to poke a block out. "It's blank " she announced, relieved she took a sip of her drink and turned to Grace.
Grace slid one out "Dare, hold hands with the person to the left for the rest of the game. Do not let go otherwise the game is over" Grace turned to Hannah and grabbed her hand "Well that was pretty easy" Grace said confused.
"No, its actually not as simple as it sounds" Chris said."I’ve had that one before whoever came up with that was smart, its not just the fact you cant leave each others side now. Think about it, you're both effectively playing the game one handed now."
The pair both looked down at there hands.
"Oh, nice one Grace" Hannah shook her head joking with Grace.
It was Michelle's turn next. "Blank woo" she realised she didn't have a drink after Chris drank it and disappeared to the bar to get one.
The game continued in her absence.
The three boys all got blanks. Now it was Hannah's turn again she wondered if she was going to get lucky like last time and get a blank.
She saw writing, damn it she thought "Dare, lick the person to the rights knee" Hannah was speechless "What?"
Everyone burst out laughing including both Grace and Hannah. "Who even thinks of these." Hannah said.
Michelle arrived back at the table. "Oh no what’s happened?"
"Hannah has to lick my knee" Grace laughed "Good job, I decided to wear jeans with rips in tonight. How would that even happen if you had pants on?" Grace laughed.
Hannah bent down under the table to Graces knee. Cheers ensued from the three guys shortly followed by an Oh fuck off by Grace. Hannah felt Grace squeeze her hand she quickly licked Graces knee and returned from under the table slightly embarrassed. She made eye contact with Grace on the way back up and Grace gave her a quick smirk.
"Okay my turn" Grace said drawing the attention away from a slightly embarrassed Hannah which she was glad about.
Grace managed to get one out just about without the pile falling. "Dare, make out with the person to the right for 30 seconds" Grace sighed with a smile "What is this? I feel like I am in eighth grade again."
"Are you going to forfeit? I will get the glass" David said.
"Fuck no, I’ve never forfeited a dare in my life and I’m not about to start now, start the timer" Grace said
Hannah felt sober. Her stomach clenched and she felt sick. She had to get out of there.
"Well if you'll excuse me I’m going to the bathroom" Hannah said getting up to leave before being pulled back by Grace.
"Hold on Hannah, we cant let go remember, I will come in a minute just let me finish my dare" Grace said.
Hannah was torn she really didn't want to watch Grace complete her dare but she couldn't cause a scene not now so she sat back down.
"And... Go" David commanded.
Grace turned to Michelle and leaned in three quarters of the way Michelle made up the other quarter.
Hannah looked anywhere but there, she started fidgeting eventually picked up her drink with her free hand and started drinking before putting it back down. There were cheers and gasps from the people round the table. Hannah tried to keep a smile on her face for when they occasionally glanced at her.
And then she felt it.
Just as before on the subway, Grace was stroking the top of her hand in a soothing motion. She looked down to check she wasn't just imagining it. She figured maybe Grace was getting into the kiss too much and hadn't realised so she decided to give it a small squeeze. The stroking briefly stopped and a small squeeze was returned by Grace before it started again. Hannah felt like this 30 seconds was lasting a life time.
"Time" David announced.
"That was really hot you two" Chris said "But are you not worried what Brody would think?"
Hannah ears perked up at Brody's name being mentioned.
"No are you kidding he wouldn't mind one bit, he knows its only a game." Grace said.
Well that pretty much confirms it Hannah thought reaching for her drink and gulping it down she just wanted tonight to be over now. She stood up as did Grace.
"Oh yes, you need the bathroom" Grace said following Hannah's lead.
Hannah didn't even need the toilet really she only said that because she wanted to get away from Grace and the whole kiss scenario but here they were on the way to the toilet. Hannah went in the cubicle and Grace obviously followed because of the hand situation. Grace backed into Hannah and shut the door. Grace continued to face the door so she could give Hannah some privacy.
"Erm...Grace...I need help do you mind?" Hannah awkwardly asked.
Grace turned round and her eyes flashed down to see Hannah struggling with her jeans.
"Oh...sure" Grace said nervously "This is ridiculous" she giggled taking a step forward even more into Hannah's personal space.
Hannah felt like she couldn't breathe.
Grace reached down to the waist of Hannah's jeans with her free hand.
Hannah thought she heard Graces breath hitch. She looked up with her eyes, big mistake, Graces face was so close to hers and Hannah found herself studying it, her stomach was doing flips. She was so cute Hannah thought to herself. There was a small frown on her for head, her eyes were looking down at Hannah's waist, Hannah could tell she was thinking about how to go about it, her mouth was slightly open and her little tongue was slightly poking out. Hannah's eyes flickered back up suddenly she realised she looking directly into two brown orbs. Shit, she panicked when her eyes met Graces and quickly darted back down. Hannah felt herself going red and getting flustered. What had she just done she asked herself, how long had Grace been looking at Hannah studying her face had Grace realised she was looking at her lips because how bad would that of looked. Well done Hannah you just made an already awkward situation ten times worse she told herself.
Just at that moment the bathroom door went "Hi Guys" it was a females voice sounded like Michelle.
"Grace? Hannah?" Michelle questioned.
"In here Michelle" A flustered Grace manage to spit out.
"Oh right hows it going in there? The guys sent me in to catch you in the act" Michelle shouted back.
Grace let go of Hannah's waist and took a step back from Hannah "The act?" She questioned back.
"Yeah they bet me a drink that you were cheating and had therefore failed the dare" Michelle replied.
Grace seemed to relax "Nope, there is no way I’m risking doing that forfeit, its a struggle but were getting there" She laughed. "Enjoy your free drink"
"I will" Michelle laughed "I'll go and report back, see you guys in a bit" Michelle shouted back before they both heard the door shut again.
Grace once again stepped forward and reached for Hannah's waist.
"I don't know the best way to go about this Hannah but I think maybe if I hold this bit and you get the button" Grace said more focused on the task in hand.
"Yeah that might work, its just this button is so stiff sometimes I hate these jeans" Hannah replied trying to push the button through. They eventually managed to get into them.
Grace turned back round to face the door. Hannah managed to do the rest herself and went to the toilet despite not really needing it. A few minutes later Grace helped her close the button and they headed out to wash their hands which in itself was quite a task. they had to rub the soap into each others spare hands and use their spare hands to rub it in to the joint hand.
"I regret when I said it was easy, this is so complicated" Grace laughed.
"I know right. The person that came up with that is an evil genius" Hannah said.
The whole process had taken about 10 minutes. They headed back out to return to the game.
It was Hannah's turn she carefully began to push it out ever so slowly before Grace sneezed which effectively made Hannah jump out of her skin and the tower fell down.
"GRACE!" Hannah screamed.
Grace laughed. "Oops" she said with an evil smirk.
"Oops is that all you have to say for yourself" Hannah said in a high pitched voice.
Everyone was in fits of laughter. John reached for the big glass and started tipping everyone's drink in it, the concoction alone looked toxic. Grace was full on belly laughing at Hannah's face.
"That's not fair" Hannah whined.
"Drink up, half each" John announced.
Grace’s laugh was cut short. "WHAT!" She gasped "I didn't knock it over"
"You played a part in it though, its only fair" John said and everyone agreed much to Graces disappointment.
"HA!" Hannah laughed in Graces face.
"You have 10 minutes to drink it in" John announced "Go!"
Hannah took a sip cringing at the sheer taste of it before passing it over to Grace. Grace tipped her head back and downed half the drink and handed it back to Hannah.
"What. How?" Hannah said speechless and confused.
"Drink up, Hannah" she said smugly.
"Is your tongue made of wax or something?" Hannah said, attempting to take another sip.
"No I’m just not a complete pussy" Grace said cockily, adding a little head wobble towards Hannah to further add to the cockiness.
"Shut up Grace" Hannah replied. She kept taking small sips and just about managed to finish the drink within the ten minutes.
About half an hour later Hannah realised she was so drunk and everyone was starting to leave so she went outside to try and get herself a cab back home.
Grace came staggering out "Hannah, where did you go?"
"I'm going back now" Hannah replied
"No Hannah, please don't leave, stay with me tonight" She pleaded.
Hannah looked confused "No Grace that's not a good idea"
"Why? Michelle won’t mind. Come stay at ours" She said again reaching out for Hannah again, clenching at her top pulling her closer in the same way she had the night before.
Hannah pulled Graces hand off her this time. "I have to go. Bye Grace' she said getting in a cab.
In the cab home Hannah realised to herself that even though they had only known each other a short time right from the start she had mistaken Graces niceness and friendship as flirting and the opportunity for something more. Grace was with Brody, that had been confirmed by David tonight after the kiss. Grace hadn't done anything wrong in this situation, she was just being her kind and lovely self Hannah thought. This was all on herself she hated herself for making more of it in her head and if she didn't get a grip of herself and her feelings she was going to end up losing a really great friend in Grace or end up torturing herself for the rest of her life. She kept thinking Grace was giving her signals but that couldn't be true, it was probably just drunken wishful thinking she told herself. She needed to forget it.
So that was part 8, let me know what you think. I felt slightly uncomfortable writing certain parts of this particularly the kiss with Grace and Michelle but its all part of the story anyway like a domino effect so please don’t be mad haha. Also fun fact: To help me write this part it involved me trying to get out of my own jeans one handed. Its a struggle let me tell you.
