Self Improvement, chapter 11

Previous chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/self-improvement-87440169?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

As the two sat talking, a sudden shift in Rebecca's posture ushered Rachael to turn around, revealing the group of guys painstakingly making their way back through the maze of other parkgoers.

"Sorry 'bout the wait. The line was insane.."

Besides the lackluster delivery, the glistening sweat and obvious pump were dead giveaways that the line was in fact, not that "insane". At least they came back with water at all..

"And who have we here?"

Hugh didn't seem to have recognized Rachael. Fair enough, with her back semi-turned it was difficult to tell who she was, especially considering how her hair was literally a different color. In response to his question, she turned around fully and made the big reveal.

"Wait ..are you? Noooo way!"

"I know, right?!"

Rebecca seemed more excited about the change to her friend's change than the culprit herself. But that wasn't necessarily the case, Rachael just didn't wear her feelings on her sleeve like that.

"Daaamn girl. You look fly A F."

Even Fred himself cringed at what he'd just said. Never the less, the statement stood true. Rachael looked damn good as a blonde.

"So what do you guys have in store for us this time? More trivia? Uno?"

"Actually.. We were thinking something more along the lines of "never have I ever".

"Ugh. Boys will be boys I guess. Sure, we're in. Right Rache?"

Great. Another public humiliation. And of course, no game of never have I ever is ever complete without a little bit of cleverly disguised alcohol.

At least I won't have to drink that much ..if any at all. Rachael knew perfectly well how many of life's pleasures and excitements she'd "missed out on" over the years.

"Right. So instead of just blurting out statements, we've got this app. Should keep things plane and simple. You ready right away?"

"Never better. Let's go!"

"Sweet. First up: Never have I ever ..fucked in the bathroom of a club or bar."

Everyone looked around in anticipation, waiting for that first set of arms to reach out for the mystery bottle. To say things got a bit anti climatic once the group realized that nobody would be taking a swig at that one would an understatement.

"Oooon with the next one I guess. Hugh, do you want to do the honors?"

"Sure. Here goes nothing: Never have I ever gone commando"

All four of the guys took turns on the bottle. Each of them grimacing immediately after swallowing the apparently much too strong beverage. If Rachael was hesitant about her first taste of alcohol in quite some time, their reactions certainly didn't help. Still, the chances of something coming up which she'd actually done were, in her mind, slim to none.

"Sheesh. That wasn't very pleasant. I thought you said you'd mixed this, Mark? What did mix it with? More Vodka..?"

"Yea yea I know. It could've been a slightly better ratio."

"Slightly? We've got very different definitions of that word. Here, let me do one. Never have I eve- I guess this one goes out to you ladies. Never have I ever had a crush on the quarterback."

Without a word, Rebecca leans in for the bottle and takes a quick swig without moving as much as a single facial muscle.

"Damn girl. An acquired taste I guess."

"You know what they say, blondes love their liquor."

"Never heard that saying before, but I'm all for it!"

The game progressed mostly as expected following that. They all took turns on the bottle, all but Rachael. At this point she didn't know which was worse, the chance she had to drink, or that she might not at all. Despite being weary of alcohol in general, she didn't fancy being left out either. Hopefully something came along sooner rather than later

"Never have I ever fantasized about a celebrity."

"That's a bit vague, isn't it? What type of fantasy? Just meeting them or fucking them?"

"Doesn't say."

Rachael saw her chance at once. Any healthy girl her age had their fair share of celebrity fantasies, albeit the ones she had weren't exactly the standard type. While the question most likely meant actors or musicians, she had fantasies about meeting presidents and famous diplomats. Celebrity fantasies none the less. The bottle seemed no more inviting than it had when the game started, but with it's contents getting dangerously close to gone, she didn't see herself getting any more chances to participate than this. As if ripping of a band-aid, she made quick work of the mandatory sip. Surprisingly, the liquid didn't taste bad at all. The vile flavor she'd imagined wasn't nearly as bad as any of the guys would lead one to believe. Perhaps it was true that blondes loved their liquor after all.. She absolutely wouldn't mind having to take another one, after all, she felt much less tense and more comfortable in the situation thanks to it.