Can't Ask, Don't Need, Won't Acknowledge

Chapter 28: The Party

Wanda smiled at that, “Ok little cousin.”

“Come on Wanda, you are literally a few months older than me…” moaned Peter.

The house was full of people they carefully manoeuvred through the hallway into the main staging area which was the open kitchen living space. Becky shouted over from the kitchen table, “We are playing ring of fire, grab a tin.”

She pointed over to the cans of Stella situated on the kitchen bar. Wanda grabbed one and passed another to Peter and went and stood around the table.

“What are the rules?” asked Peter.
The others all looked at him like hyenas circling their prey. “You will pick it up as we go…”

George turned to Adam, “It’s your turn.”

Adam slowly pulled the card out of the circle that was surrounded the pint glass in the middle of the table. He held up the four of clubs, and then very quickly threw himself to the floor. Wanda and Peter looked bemused as all the occupants of the table hit the floor.

George yelled out, “four hit the floor.”

Becky grabbed Wanda’s arm and pulled her to the floor.

“Parker, you were last…”

Everyone stood back up against the table and starting banging against the table, chanting, “Consume your beverage, consume your beverage.”

Peter looked at Wanda in confusion who just shrugged at him. He tipped the can back and quickly downed it. For once he was grateful for his Spiderman metabolism aware the alcohol would have minimal effect on him, unless in large quantities. Adam threw another can at Peter who caught it easily. “Wanda it’s your turn pull a card, but remember don’t break the ring.”

‘What happens if I break the ring?”

“You have to drink the shit pint,” replied Becky knowingly.

“What’s the shit pint?”

She pointed towards the pint glass in the middle of the cards. She looked into it, and saw it was a mix of everyone’s drinks, and someone had mixed baileys with cider/ lager and by the looks of it grenadine. The baileys had curdled on the top of the liquid, giving it an almost solid state. “That is disgusting….”

As the game continued Wanda felt herself relaxing more and more into her environment. it also helped as she steadily got through more cans of alcohol.

Peter turned to her, “Wanda, I think you should slow down a bit.”

“I’m fine Peter,” she replied without thinking.

Adam raised an eyebrow at them, “Did you just call him Peter?”

Wanda paled at the realisation as she struggled to come up with a cover story, “It’s his middle name, family joke..”

Peter removed the can of Stella from her grasp, “You have definitely had enough.”

Wanda shoved Peter away from her, “back off, for once I’m feeling great Parker. I’m not stuck in my own head being a miserable bitch. So let me have this.”