The Party (Ch. 4 9/31/23)

[MissAriel]

“Don’t worry, Alex!” Julia beams. “I’ve got this. You’re gonna have the night of your life. Promise,” Julia winks. I feel at ease. She’s got this. That blunder was just a fluke. Everyone knows Julia is great at chess.

Why am I thinking she will lose on purpose

That would be awfully adventurous and bold for such a shy girl. But Julia is full of surprises.

[dublinjohn]

“Don’t worry, Alex!” Julia beams. “I’ve got this. You’re gonna have the night of your life. Promise,” Julia winks. I feel at ease. She’s got this. That blunder was just a fluke. Everyone knows Julia is great at chess.

Why am I thinking she will lose on purpose

That would be awfully adventurous and bold for such a shy girl. But Julia is full of surprises.

Would it, being shy and a wallflower, doesn't mean that she lacks body confidence, (and she was a confident nude stripping off after game one) plus could she have lost a previous bet that she is honoring by losing, or could she be doing it as she thinks Alex needs it or could I be wrong and she wants to win

[MissAriel]

Why am I thinking she will lose on purpose

That would be awfully adventurous and bold for such a shy girl. But Julia is full of surprises.

Would it, being shy and a wallflower, doesn't mean that she lacks body confidence, (and she was a confident nude stripping off after game one) plus could she have lost a previous bet that she is honoring by losing, or could she be doing it as she thinks Alex needs it or could I be wrong and she wants to win

Well, whether Julia wanted to win or lose, that's really a question I'll answer at the end of the story. But I'll say that you're right, Julia doesn't lack body confidence, she's just shy about meeting new people. Alex is kinda her wing woman, helping her get out there. But Julia in this case is also helping Alex come out of her shell in a different way by agreeing to these chess games.

Either way, I think Julia would be happy winning or losing. She's having fun. And Alex is, too, she just doesn't know it yet

[dublinjohn]

Either way, I think Julia would be happy winning or losing. She's having fun. And Alex is, too, she just doesn't know it yet

Thats why its such a good story, you have posted hints that it could go either way, being greedy, I could imagine a win for the girls to get a draw, then a final game for all the marbles, but that might be asking too much

[channy13t]

Fantastic story! Love the direction it's going in, and the dialogue sounds very natural and realistic. Always a sign of a great writer/story

Can't wait for the next part! Will be waiting with baited breath to see what happens next!

[MissAriel]

Part 4

The air is tense. Julia and Sam are so deep in concentration, I’m almost afraid to speak aloud and interrupt their train of thought. Not that it would stop me, but just saying, they look serious!

“You got this, Julia. Hope you guys are comfortable with the size of your sausages, because you’re gonna be showing ehhhhverything,” I say gleefully. Even after losing a piece, Julia was able to even the playing field. She truly is my little chess genius. I’m so proud.

Ryan raises his eyebrow and grins. “You’re confident for someone that was blushing up a storm a few minutes ago.”

I flush again. “That was the luckiest moment of your life, mister!”

“The luckiest moment so far!” Ryan retorts.

“You know you’re cooked, Ryan. Julia is only a few moves away from checkmate.” Julia gives me an exasperated look. Okay, okay, I don’t really know what’s going on, but they’ve both only lost one minor piece. I know in my heart that Julia is on her way to victory. Yet Ryan still grins confidently. I can’t stand that smugness. Almost as if Julia senses my frustration, she gives me a reassuring smile to let me know that she’s good.

“I am looking forward to seeing that blush again,” Ryan says.

Julia makes a clever move with her knight, attacking the queen and the rook at the same time. I knew it, I knew it! Sam looks tense. He wasn’t expecting that. Not one bit. The game is in our favor. Julia is so solid, it’s impossible to take her down.

“Ooooh, nice move, Julia. Shame about your queen, Sam. Hey, Ryan, you mind if I invite some of our friends down here for the show? I’ve got some girlfriends that definitely want to see what’s under the hood. Unless you’re too embarrassed,” I say, taunting them mercilessly. Julia raises her eyebrow at me, but I mean, come on, you just won a queen, girl. I don’t really expect them to take me up on it, considering Sam is about to lose his queen AND his pants, but whatever.

“I mean, sure. Two of your friends, two of ours, I’d be up for that,” Ryan replies. Regardless of how badly he’s losing, he still looks so darn smug. There’s nothing I want more tonight than to wipe that smug grin off his face... to see him blush and trying to cover himself, but totally unable to, his arms restrained, his dignity stolen. Oh, it will be beautiful. Oh Ryan, I want you so bad.

“Your friend has a lot of faith in you,” Sam says.

“It’s well placed,” Julia replies.

“But do you really want to invite more people?” Sam asks. Again, Sam seems kind of sweet. He’s the quiet, introverted type, but when he does speak, it is always in a thoughtful sort of way, always asking Julia what she wants to do. Again, I like Sam. And I’m going to like him a lot more when he’s tied up naked.

“If that’s what Alex wants,” Julia says with a shrug. “I’m more concerned with converting this game.” That’s all I needed to hear, Julia.

Ryan and I both immediately start texting on our phones. It’s not the easiest thing to explain, how we got here, the whole chess bet thing, so I text my friends the short version. If you want to see some cute boys tied up naked, to come on down. I imagine Ryan is doing the same.

We wait in silence for several minutes as Sam analyzes the chess board. When he finally makes his move, I hear the door to the basement open and several pairs of footsteps coming down.

I’m not surprised to see Jennifer and Kelsi. And then there’s Cole. I’ve never really talked to him much, but he’s all right, I guess. But...

“Isaac?” I say hesitantly as the color drains from my face. Ryan is friends with ISAAC?

Isaac and Cole take a seat by Ryan as Jennifer and Kelsi take a moment to observe the room. Isaac high fives Ryan. “Wow, never thought Alex would agree to something like this.”

Kelsi and Jennifer give me a quizzical look. They thought they were down here to see naked boys and they’re understandably confused by Isaac’s excitement. “Erm, yeah, no. We have a chess bet going on. Only the losers get tied up naked.”

“And tickled,” Ryan adds.

“Erm, yeah, but obviously, the boys are losing,” I say matter of factly. I’m trying to distract myself from the fact that Isaac is here. Okay, some back story. Isaac has had a huge crush on me since high school and I’ve never given him the time of day. The fact that he’s even seeing me in my bra right now is probably one of the best things that’s ever happened to him. Ugh. I didn’t think Ryan was friends with him of all people. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Julia is about to win Sam’s queen and we are gonna see some dick. Several, in fact. And then Julia gets her kiss. And maybe I’ll consider sleeping with Ryan afterward. If he begs for mercy, then I’ll consider it. Hate to disappoint you, Isaac, but Sam and Ryan are about to lose their pants. I bet they already have boners. They won’t be able to hide their size this time around. Oooh yeah, show me what you got, Ryan!

“Oh, you didn’t tell me it was a bet. I love a good bet,” Jennifer says excitedly. “So, whoever loses is getting tied up naked?”

“And tickled,” Ryan helpfully reminds everyone.

Kelsi blushes. “This all sounds awfully embarrassing.”

“Kelsi, you know you’re just as excited as the rest of us to see these guys NAKED,” Jennifer beams. Kelsi gives her a dirty look. Kelsi always has been a little reserved about stuff like this, but on the other hand, she did come down here, so maybe she’s a little more interested than she’s letting on. Plus, who wouldn’t be excited to see someone like Ryan naked? Oh, Ryan, take it all off, baby.

“Pants off,” Julia says as she removes the queen from the board. Jen, Kelsi, I promised you a show, and I delivered. I always deliver.

“Take it off, take it off,” I begin chanting, and Jennifer soon joins in.

“I don’t think so,” Sam replies.

“What do you mean?” Julia asks. She looks surprised.

“We only have to remove our clothing if we lose an exchange.” Sam says. He moves his bishop to a square previously protected by the knight. “Check, by the way.”

Julia’s face turns crimson. She puts her hand on her queen without a word. After several minutes of agonizing silence, she mutters “the only legal move” as she moves her queen back to a defensive position.

Julia’s queen is pinned to her king. Sam could easily take it now. But it’s not that bad. They’re still even on material. I think we’re still okay.

But instead of taking the queen, Sam moves his knight. “Check.”

I read the room. The guys look smug, Julia looks nervous. The wind is changing and I’m getting cold feet.

“Um, Jennifer, Kelsi, don’t you guys need to get home soon? It’s pretty late,” I stammer.

“Oh no, we’re staying, you promised us a show,” Jennifer says, answering for Kelsi, too. Isaac stares longingly at my chest and I feel as if I’m already stripping for him, a nerd with a puppy dog crush that I’ve never given the time of day. And Ryan... oh God, Ryan. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this! He was supposed to beg me for this. I was supposed to wipe that smug grin off his face! Julia, what happened!? You said you had this! JULIA!

“Good game,” Julia says as she offers her hand to Sam.

“Good game,” Sam says.

We lost?

[dublinjohn]

nice to see this back