Here's a short story I wrote for English II...

High Stakes

Kids were yelling and screaming as they ran around, drunk with exultation. And probably something stronger too, Chrissy thought, nimbly stepping around a couple holding hands and sitting on the floor of the hallway. When she arrived in the kitchen, Kyle Manhauser stumbled over to her.

“Will come ta mumble bode,” he slurred.

Chrissy just walked away, a smile playing at the corner of her lips as she heard him fall with a thud and a groan.

“Hey, Chrissy!” Someone from across the sea of people started to move through the tide. A few moments later Christian stood at her side.

“Sorry about Kyle, he’s an ***. He also tends to forget that this isn’t his house, especially when he gets like that.” He gestured to Kyle, all glory and drool, curled up on the couch where he had managed to crawl before passing out.

Christian ran his hand through his unkempt blond hair. Blue eyes twinkled at Chrissy as he smiled; she couldn’t help but grin at his infectious good mood. “No problem. Didn’t even faze me.”

He cocked his head to the side. “That’s what I envy about you. You never show much emotion. You’re – solid – like a statue.”

“You’ve obviously never seen me losing a game of Halo.”

He threw his head back and laughed as he took her arm. “Well, time for your two-cent tour.”

***

Coming to this party was definitely the right thing to do, Chrissy thought. Dimitri was across the table and Christian was next to her. Of course, there were other people seated at the table, but Chrissy hardly gave them a thought. After all, she was only here for two things: one, to learn how to play poker; and two, to score a date with Dimitri. All year long she’d been pining over him. She had gone to his games and had seen only him on the field. An occasional glimpse of him working out had been enough to drive her insane. He had the body of a god and it always looked oh-so-fine running on the track. Sadly, things weren't going well on either of the aforementioned battle fronts.

Poker wise, she was fighting in unfamiliar territory. Chrissy was more used to TV and video games than cards. Not to mention she couldn't keep all the different hands straight in her head. Did a full house have to be all the same suit? Or is that a flush? And what is a flush, by the way?

It doesn't help that the other girls at the table who actually know how to play poker keep drawing Dimitri's attention away from me. Hello!? Don't they remember that the whole reason we started playing poker was to teach me? Chrissy’s many thoughts came one after another in a giant whirlwind of emotions. At least her game would improve now that Christian was scooting his chair closer to hers so he could help her play.

He leaned in close and started to whisper in her ear. “Now, the hand you are holding isn't a winning one yet, but you have a chance of getting a straight.” His breath stirred her dark brown hair.

From across the table Chrissy heard a slight snarl. It had either come from Carla, a girl who wore too much makeup, or Nadya, a girl who didn't wear enough. In testament to how much she wanted to win, she ignored them. Competitive by nature, Chrissy had a fiery spirit and wasn’t afraid to show it. Both girls had always gotten on Chrissy’s bad side and this sort of thing was nothing new. Last time they had a “disagreement” Chrissy ended up suspended for three days while the pair got off scott free because they had parents who worked at the school.

“Straight?” She asked the question quietly, yet the confusion in her voice was evident.

“Remember? When you get five in a row – Ring a bell?”

“Ummm… Yeah… Sure…”

Christian’s exasperated sigh made her laugh. “Aren’t you ever going to learn?”

Chrissy’s light blue eyes glistened with merriment. “Probably not, but it’s fun to try.”

The game continued. Chrissy wasn’t playing very well. Every once in a while she would get a decent hand, but she feared raising the stakes to what she really wanted, dinner and a movie. Finally, she was dealt a potentially great hand – two aces, two kings, and a ten. Feeling lucky, she upped the ante.

“I’ll see your five pennies and raise you dinner.”

Dimitri just looked at her like she was crazy and returned his glance to his hand. “I fold.”

Chrissy looked at him and blinked twice before asking, “What?”

“Bad hand.” Dimitri shrugged and left the table.

Carla and Nadya started to crack up laughing; Chrissy could barely hear them. It felt as if her world had been engulfed in acid and it was eating away at everything she held close to her heart. Carla and Nadya followed Dimitri into the kitchen. Chrissy closed her eyes. Feeling very foolish, blood rushed to her usually pale cheeks and she started to rise. A hand on her arm stopped her and she sat back down.

“I’ll see your dinner and raise you a movie.” Christian had a silly grin on his face.

“I really don’t think I’m up to this anymore.” Chrissy began to stand again.

“You’re just scared you won’t win. And you probably won’t, I have an amazing hand.” He taunted her by waving his “amazing” hand in front of her.

A challenge. How could she not rise to it? She took her seat and placed the card that she wanted to trade on the table. After receiving the replacement, she grinned.

Laying her cards down with a flourish she proudly pronounced, “Full house. Aces and kings. I’ll take these,” she said as she pulled the pennies over to her. She was relieved that she could now leave the party. People had been giving her weird looks.

“Not so fast.” Christian laid his cards down one by one, naming each one as he went. “Ace. King. Queen. Jack. Ten. All hearts. I introduce you to my dear friend, the Royal Flush.” That infectious, idiotic grin was back on his face.

Chrissy slumped back into her chair, incredulous that the finest hand she’d been dealt all evening had been bested. Strangely enough, dinner with Christian didn’t sound like such a bad idea…

“So, Friday night okay with you?”



--What do you guys think?

I think it was a great story. i loved it!!

Thanks!

well i just hope people will like my story/really long story