That feeling in my chest IV: Drink the heart away

Sounds of laughter and voices talking muffled by the thick walls of the building, could still be heard in the hallways of RASAC dorm building. It was a nice and fully equipped building designed for the few hundreds of students coming from abroad and unwilling to rent in the city. The walls inside were quite neutral, yet refined, with beige being dominant and the floor being a polished marble. There were few tables in the hallways, decorated with vases and objects of all sort. The walls also had paints of famous people both know from the grand public and also some famous students throughout RASAC history. Wyatt was following Haufiku as the latter guided them through a long hallway with several doors. Haufiku had a hand in his pocket while the other was handling his phone he was looking at. The walk was somehow silent but not much since Haufiku would occasionally talk about the party and people he got in for the night. Apparently it included 2 other teammates of the Swimming team, one member of the music club, 4 friends and classmates of Haufiku and 3 students who had already graduated but still liked these kinds of small parties. And then, there was Wyatt and Matthew, the last two person of this party. Normally, parties weren't allowed in the dorms but as long as they could keep it down, it should be fine. Haufiku finally stopped before a door and Wyatt could hear music coming from inside. Matthew had walked beside the shepherd but the latter hadn't even looked at him ever since they went out of the tunnel. He lowered a bit to Wyatt's level.

Matthew: "Hey buddy, you alright? You look grim"

Wyatt looked at him and smiled before replying.

Wyatt: "nah it's fine, just a little light headed"

Matthew worried but the shepherd wasn't willing to exchange more words than necessary and Haufiku opened the door. What got their attention was the smell, it was pizza. Wyatt started drooling a bit and they got in following Haufiku. The hyena walked towards a table on his right and there, a friend of his was sitting while talking to another friend of his. Wyatt didn't know how to do now and was getting nervous, he could see several people in the room. Some sitting on the couch and playing a game on the TV there. Others watching on the sides and the rest talking here and there in the room. Wyatt felt Matthew's hand on his shoulder and looked up on his right to see the gator looking around then at Haufiku. The gator naturally walked to Haufiku and his friends who were actually the gator's teammates while still holding Wyatt's shoulder to let him know that he was not leaving him behind.

Haufiku: "Yeah and that's literally why, you never g-"

The hyena turned to Matthew and then back at his other teammates. The first to speak was an otter, and the one said to be the fastest on the team. She spoke with a really pretty voice while lifting a red cup.

?: "Hey big guy, thought you would never come and who is this cutie patootie"

Wyatt looked confused and pointed himself with his finger with his eye brows arched in questions. Matthew replied as his voice crawled through the music.

Matthew: "Melissa, good to see you...huh, this is Wyatt, a friend of mine"

Although it stung like hell to hear that, Wyatt bared it and smiled before waving his hand shyly.

Wyatt: "H-hi"

The other teammate of the gator was a water spaniel. He had a very strong look despite his overall cute appearance and his dark brown curls. He spoke with enthusiasm.

?: "Hey dude, that hoodie is sick!"

Wyatt replied a bit looking away for a second.

Wyatt: "Thanks...huh?"

Ben: "The name's Benjamin but my friend just call me Ben"

Haufiku: "He is the plus one I told you about"

Wyatt raised an eyebrow.

Wyatt: "the what?"

Matthew chuckled.

Matthew: "plus one, meaning you are a friend from a friend that is invited to a party and got invited by that friend"

Wyatt seemed to see algorithms and equations for a second as he was trying to understand that then just shrugged and looked at Haufiku then at the otter whose piercing blued eyes were staring at him.

Melissa: "So, Wyatt dude, what's your stuff?"

Wyatt: "I beg you pardon?"

Melissa waved her cup and he picked up on what she meant.

Wyatt: "oh I...huh I rather n-"

Matthew: "He can't drink"

Wyatt looked at the gator who spoke for him and frowned before turning to Melissa.

Wyatt: "You got Vodka?"

Melissa: "Wooo, strong stuff huh? Gotchu babe, be right back"

Matthew widened his eyes and looked down at Wyatt with a concerned look.

Matthew: "Wyatt, are you su-"

Wyatt spoke without looking.

Wyatt: "I can make my own choice, thank you"

Matthew felt a bit hurt by that, he just meant well but the shepherd is being very sour with him. The hyena looked at them.

Haufiku: "Hey Matthew, can you go with Ben, we need more pizza and since you have a car, it would be nice...?"

The gator looked at the hyena then back at Wyatt and at the prospect of leaving him alone again. He turned to the hyena.

Matthew: "Sorry but I can't leave Wyatt alone"

Haufiku raised an eyebrow.

Haufiku: "come on dude, he will be fine, he is not a child"

Melissa returned with a bottle of vodka and small shots and pat a seat next to her beckoning Wyatt to come. The latter started walking to her and Matthew's hand that was on his shoulder was now let free in the air as he spoke a bit confused.

Matthew: "Hey buddy I - "

Wyatt turned with a smile, it was so clear it wasn't real but somehow it was convincing.

Wyatt: "Come on dude, go fetch us some pizzas, I'm starving besides these are your friends, it's not as if I was going to die or something"

Matthew: "yes but wh-"

Wyatt: "Matthew !"

The shepherd almost burst before speaking looking at him while Haufiku and Ben were looking from each side of the table. Melissa was filling the shots and had to stop when he said the gator's name.

Wyatt: "it's okay, I will be fine"

The gator didn't know what to say and simply lowered his hand and turned to the door followed by Ben. Haufiku looked with a thoughtful gaze before turning to Wyatt who had a neutral expression as he waited for the shots.

Melissa: "Here you go lil babe"

She pushed a shot to him and he downed it in a second before speaking.

Wyatt: "another one"

She smiled before saying.

Melissa: "How about a little contest, the first to end 5 shots wins, the loser has a dare"

Haufiku spoke while chuckling.

Haufiku: "easy now you little rascal, Wyatt here is also a freshman remember ?"

The otter turned to him with a smug.

Melissa: "So I can't have a little fun?"

She then turned to Wyatt who seemed a bit out for a second seemingly thoughtful.

Melissa: "What do you say?"

The shepherd looked at the transparent liquid in the bottle then he could see his reflection before he spoke.

Wyatt: "Bring it"

Melissa cheered before setting the shots on the table in lines.

Melissa: "okay, I change the rules, if you lose, I will ask you a question to which you will have to say the truth"

Wyatt: "How would you know I am not lying?"

Melissa had a grin before leaning forward and speaking in his ear.

Melissa: "I doubt you can lie, it shows all over your face"

She leaned back and he was a bit stunned for a second from the proximity then he thought of what she just said and wondered what she meant.

Melissa: "Ready when you are babe"

Wyatt looked up and turned to Haufiku whose attention was also on him. He then turned to Melissa and looked determined.

Wyatt: "Ready"

Haufiku set a countdown from 5 and at his signal, they both started to drink the shots. Melissa slowed on her third because of the bitter aftertaste while Wyatt didn't even flinch and put the last shot down while exhaling with his eyes fierce.

Wyatt: "You lost"

Melissa: "how about another round? and if you win again then I offer you a gift"

Wyatt: "a gift?"

Melissa smiled before taking her phone out and scrolling through pictures before showing a picture of her with a hoodie with a very famous anime pictured. Wyatt's eyes widened and he looked at her.

Wyatt: "where did you got that ?! I thought they went sold out, out of this country"

Melissa smirked.

Melissa: "Woo, I knew you were a weeb. So, whatchu say?"

Wyatt: "you wouldn't bet something that valuable like that? What's the trap?"

Melissa: "There's no trap promise, I can even have Haufiku take it at my apartment and send it to you through Matthew or sent it directly by the gator"

She smirked on the emphasis and Wyatt started to add the dots. She then spoke again.

Melissa: "So whachu say?"

Wyatt looked at the shots and he could feel his knees being light, the alcohol was starting to kick in...drinking with an empty stomach was making it faster.

Wyatt: "Ok"

Another round started and Haufiku did the countdown. Once again Wyatt won and he rubbed his lips from the bitter taste of the vodka and grimaced a bit as he put the shot down.

Wyatt: "Damn..."

Melissa: "You are really good, a deal is a deal, I will send it to you"

Wyatt smiled in anticipation and with the effect of the alcohol, he felt very light and confident.

Wyatt: "in your face, bitch"

Melissa chuckled and lifted her hands up in dismissal. Her wool crop top lifted as well revealing a bit of her bra under and she spoke.

Melissa: "I bet Nikolai would like contesting against you"

The shepherd asked a bit spacing.

Wyatt: "Who's Nikolai"

The otter fixed her hair in a ponytail before getting up and grabbing Wyatt's wrist gently and taking him to the people playing. Haufiku stopped her.

Haufiku: "Melissa, remember he is a freshman"

Wyatt turned to him and smiled.

Wyatt: "Don't worry dude, I will be fine"

Haufiku: "You sure you okay?"

Wyatt laughed hard before walking away with Melissa. They reached a couch and there were sitting, a tigress, a ram dude with shades and a polar bear very big and tall. He was actually having issues using the controller with his big hands and it somehow reminded Wyatt of the gator who shook it off before frowning. Melissa looked at the screen and the polar bear lost his game against a female cat with piercings who stood up and cheered while mocking the bear a bit. He grunted before passing the controller to someone else. Melissa patted his shoulder and he turned back to her with a voice that was stretched with a thick accent.

?: "Melissa ? Who's the little one?"

Melissa: "Hey there Russian gang, I gotchu a nice fighter. He won against me in shots"

The bear looked at her before his icy blue eyes looked Wyatt up and down and he got up. He was definitely taller than the shepherd, probably as tall as the gator. His belly was slightly swollen but he was definitely, working out. Wyatt would normally be intimidated but since alcohol was running through his veins, he grinned and looked up at the bear.

Wyatt: "Helllooooo, big bear"

The bear was a bit surprised then looked at Melissa.

?: "I think he is drunk"

Wyatt: "I ain't or perhaps you are backing out"

The polar bear smirked and leaned closer to Wyatt's face and spoke. His hot breath smelling like fresh mint washed over Wyatt whose expression was the same. Inside his mind, he was a bit trying to control his actions but at the same time he didn't want to, he wanted to have fun to forget the pain...

?: "You got yourself a game, little boy"

Melissa: "cool, Nikolai here, is a Russian dude so Goodluck beating him in a drinking contest"

The bear looked at her and rolled his eyes

Nikolai: "I told you, just a half and besides that's not very appropriate to say, it's a stereotype"

Melissa laughed and started preparing mixes of drinks with the help of other people who now noticed there was someone new. Nikolai turned to Wyatt and beckoned him to sit across him on the couch opposite to his. There was an empty space next to the female cat he played against. Wyatt walked with efforts and sat on the couch. He looked on his right at the female cat and she looked at him.

Wyatt: "Hi, I Wyatt am....(*shaking his head*) sorry, I am...Wyatt"

The female cat chuckled and pat his head before speaking.

?: "Hi, Wyatt. We know each other, don't we?"

Wyatt looked closer and almost fell on her before saying.

Wyatt: "I think, we are in the same club....huh Nancy?"

Nancy helped him to straighten in his seat and looked at him.

Nancy: "Yes, but I am in many clubs as well. Anyway, you know Haufiku?"

Wyatt looked around to see if he could see the hyena and spotted him talking with 4 people and laughing with them.

Wyatt: "He is fun"

Nancy: "You bet he is. He's been organizing parties like this for 4 years...and sadly this is the last year we will have privileges to be here"

Wyatt frowned and looked at her.

Wyatt: "What do you mean?"

Nancy: "He is graduating this year so he will leave the dorm...and probably head back to his home country"

Wyatt looked at the hyena who glanced at him and smiled while waving. The shepherd then returned his gaze to the cat but before he could speak, Melissa was putting several drinks on the table between couches and spoke.

Melissa: "Okay, all set lil babe"

Wyatt looked at her and then apologized to Nancy who simply sipped from her red cup while folding her legs closer on the couch. She was petite and almost felt like she was the younger sister of someone here. Wyatt looked at the table and could see several red cups, each with a mix of colors and all smelling different. The polar bear leaned forward in his seat and loomed over the table and could see the mixes.

Nikolai: "Okay, so buddy, you ready?"

Wyatt felt his consciousness scream that it was not a good idea...but then again with alcohol came all thoughts he didn't want to have...those about his brother, those about his father's lie, those about...Matthew.

Wyatt: "Yeah"

Melissa and the ram beside her reached closer and Melissa spoke.

Melissa: "we will do it the old fashioned way, each one of you has to drink one cup during his turn. If you can finish the cup in less than 3 seconds, your opponent has a dare but if you lose, your opponent can drink 2 cups for his next turn. The winner would the one to drink the most cups, are you alright?"

Nikolai grinned and put his heavy hands on the table.

Nikolai: "As always"

Wyatt hesitated before speaking.

Wyatt: "Ok"

Melissa smiled and applauded a bit before the ram spoke as well, he had an accent as well.

?: "So, you also have 'o know that if you start 'o feel nauseous, and want 'o throw up, you lose"

Melissa: "Good point Josh"

Josh: "Yeah and there's the bucket because no way, we get Haufiku place dirty with vomit"

Josh placed a bucket next to the table.

Melissa: "Okay let's do a coin flip to know who starts"

Nikolai: "Heads"

Wyatt: "Tails"

Melissa flipped a coin then caught it mid air before slamming it on the table shaking the liquors around. She revealed "Tails"

Wyatt smiled and reached for a cup. Josh did the countdown and gave the signal. Time seemed to flow differently for Wyatt as the very moment he was to drink, he rapidly brought the cup to his lips and downed it in a single go. Melissa cheered loudly.

Melissa: "Damn boy, you got skills Iwish I had"

Josh: "Nah, your boyfriend's pickle has no need for skills"

Melissa: "How would you know he has a pickle, Josh?"

The ram smirked and laughed and she rolled her eyes. Wyatt felt his head spin a bit but put the cup down and looked at the bear who was impressed.

Nikolai: "Okay, I have to say, you are competent, what's your dare for me?"

Melissa quickly raised her voice.

Melissa: "No buddy, that's for the people to decide, HEY GUYS COME CLOSER, WE ARE HAVING A MATCH RATHER INTENSE HERE. NIK JUST LOST ONE ROUND TO THE NEWBIE"

Echoes of disbelief started to rise as they all rounded the couches. Haufiku crossed his arms.

Melissa: "Someone get a dare for Nik"

They all started mumbling and Nancy spoke.

Nancy: "How about push-ups with me on your back?"

The bear laughed and got up before getting in position. Nancy sipped from her cup and stood on his massive back and as if it wasn't enough someone changed the music and Nancy cheered while Nikolai started doing push-ups. Nancy had trouble staying up and had to sit. Nikolai grunted in slight effort with each push-up and people were cheering.

Nancy: "Okay dude, it's good now, I'm going to throw up with all this"

Nikolai waited foe her to get down before rising up again and looking at the crowd cheering him he buffed his chest and grinned.

Nikolai: "Yeah kids, daddy stands on business"

He then went back to his seat and looked at Wyatt who seemed flustered but maybe because alcohol was hard on him.

Melissa then flipped the coin again and Wyatt won again. Nikolai grunted a bit in annoyance and looked at Melissa who shrugged.

Melissa: "Don't look at me like that, it's scary"

Nikolai frowned and looked at Wyatt. The countdown went and once again Wyatt downed his drink. Wyatt felt less and less the taste and was hearing the music loudly while he felt hotter and looked around at people cheering him. He wondered where he was for a moment. Melissa spoke up again.

Melissa: "Another win for Wyatt! Woooo, he is on fire. So another dare for the big bear"

The tigress laughed while speaking from her seat.

?: "How about tease fountain ? Would be nice to have something nice to look at"

The bear widened his eyes and looked at her with a frown.

Nikolai: "Why would you ask that, Anvika"

The tigress sipped from her cup and looked at the others.

Anvika: "Someone reminds him or I do"

Josh spoke while getting his shades down a bit.

Josh: "Nik, last party, you asked Haufiku to do a tease fountain to Anvika, and she was flustered as fuck"

Anvika: "It was alcohol"

Josh: "Sure thing boo, but thing is, now she asked you to do it"

Nikolai grunted and looked at her again.

Nikolai: "Fine, who's the target? Nancy? You?"

Melissa: "So I am not even an option, oh my God, Nik, I am offended"

Nikolai: "Shut up, demon!"

Melissa faked a backward fall and people laughed. Nikolai attention was on Anvika who grinned mischievously.

Anvika: "Would be too easy for you...so I choose the newbie as your target"

Nikolai widened his eyes and spoke loudly.

Nikolai: "What the fuck?! He is a dude!"

Anvika: "Congrats you know what a boy is, now hurry up, I yearn to be entertained"

Melissa: "I didn't see that coming"

Josh: "Well, good thing I am sober enough for this, woo, damn. Go Nik, Go Nik"

Nikolai: "Shut it, fuck face!"

Nikolai grunted then looked at Wyatt who seemed to smirk but he wasn't even listening much to what was on about. Nikolai took a cup and walked to Wyatt still sitting there. Wyatt's senses came back a bit and he looked up and panicked.

Wyatt: "Huh...what's going on?"

Melissa explained while being very loud.

Melissa: "He is going to tease fountain you, basically teasing with clothes while making you drink"

Wyatt felt his ears sting red as he looked at her.

Wyatt: "What?"

Nikolai wasted no time and pushed Wyatt's legs apart before getting down and putting the cup between his legs on the couch just next to his crotch.

Wyatt looked down at the cup between his legs and at the polar bear head there as well. Nikolai sighed before rubbing Wyatt's thighs gently while looking at him and using his tongue to lick the cup seductively...the mirroring made was as if he was licking Wyatt's tool. Wyatt felt his heart beat faster and alcohol seemed to be at least helpful to delay any reaction from his body. Nikolai grunted then firmly gripped his legs and rose in a scorpion pose while maintaining his knees on the ground and reached Wyatt's chest. He closed his eyes and shoved his head in Wyatt's chest gently before snuggling him then slowly rising to his neck and exhaling his hot breath. People were cheering and saying "Holy fuck! He is into it"

Nikolai didn't respond and licked Wyatt's side of the neck and nibbled a bit sending shivers down Wyatt's spine. The shepherd felt his blood boil and couldn't help but contain his sounds. The bear then lowered back to the cup and took it with his lips. He rose up and straddled Wyatt's lap while grabbing the shepherd's head with his hands and rising it to look at him in the eyes. He was careful not to sit on Wyatt because of his heavy weight but was bending on his knees on the couch just above his lap which made Wyatt's drunk consciousness to put hands on the bear's waist. Nikolai widened his eyes in surprise but quickly got back on business and brought the cup to Wyatt's lips slowly bending the latter's head back while leaning his own head forward...their lips separated only by the cup. Wyatt could drink like this mostly because he was drunk otherwise he would have choke on reflex. When the cup was mid empty, Nikolai took the cup and drank it before looking at Wyatt and beckoning him to open his mouth. Wyatt felt very hot in the moment and opened his mouth. Nikolai then stopped and got down before swallowing the alcohol and sitting in his seat.

Nikolai: "That's my max sorry, no kissing guys"

Melissa pouted while Anvika seemed happy with her revenge. Wyatt closed his mouth and his tail wagged a bit before he looked at Nikolai...the bear although seemingly reticent was gentle all the way through. Melissa noticed the tail of Wyatt and smirked before speaking again.

Melissa: "Another round, so n-"

Nikolai: "He won"

Melissa turned to him and frowned.

Melissa: "Come on man, you can't back out now"

Nikolai: "I just did"

Melissa frowned and looked as Wyatt got up and took the cups on the table and downed them one by one before cheering and laughing.

Wyatt: "Take that big guy"

Nikolai grunted and looked away and Anvika smiled before saying.

Anvika: "I guess, we have a new best drinker"

Nikolai cursed under his breath and spoke.

Nikolai: "Okay, fine, one last round to set it all"

Melissa: "He drank 4 more cups so you have to be at his level of alcohol first"

Nikolai grabbed a bottle of whiskey half full and started drinking and gulping the liquor until it was empty. He felt it stings and burn his throat but his honor was on the line. The alcohol kicked in and the bear was getting lighter as he rose and loomed over Wyatt.

Nikolai: "What do you say, little fella, how about one last round to set this?"

Wyatt looked at him and poked at his chest with a finger while grinning.

Wyatt: "Oh? What do I get to win from that?"

Nikolai didn't know what to say and Melissa spoke up.

Melissa: "If he wins again, you will get to strip tease him"

Nikolai: "Why does it always have to be lewd?! And with a guy?"

Melissa: "Shush it"

Anvika spoke while getting closer, her eyes looking up and down at the bear.

Anvika: "Yeah, that's a show I won't miss"

Josh: "Damn brutal buddy, sorry for you"

Melissa: "So whachu say?"

Nikolai: "What if he loses?"

Melissa thought and said.

Melissa: "We will decide then, for now DRINKSSS"

Haufiku spoke as he got closer to Melissa.

Haufiku: "You are being loud, you do realize that you aren't supposed to drink that much right?"

Melissa: "Dude, i only had the shots from earlier and my cup all this time. I am just excited because no one could take against Nik, not even me, like for real"

Haufiku was impressed and looked at Wyatt who was grinning with confidence.

Haufiku: "Just no one throws up on my couch or walls or anywhere please..."

Josh: "Worry not, i have the all sacred bucket of vomit"

Haufiku: "That sounds gross"

Josh: "Nah, it's a cool name"

Anvika: "It sucks"

Nancy: "I have to agree"

The friends of Haufiku that were a bit on the side also agreed and Josh rolled his eyes and adjusted his shades.

Josh: "Anyway, Drinks!!"

Melissa was already back with two cups and spoke.

Melissa: "To make it even more difficult, those cups have my secret formula of drinks, the most bitter one I have...best of luck"

Nikolai grinned and Wyatt didn't seem to mind either.

Melissa: "The first to finish his cup wins, go!"

Both started to drink and stopped as it was worse than bitter. Wyatt felt like his stomach was going to melt and Nikolai just grimaced before downing the cup the first. Wyatt couldn't go that far, it was disgusting and he wasn't feeling his legs anymore.

Nikolai: "I WON, I FUCKING WON, BITCH ! NOW WHO'S THE BEST DRINKER"

Anvika cursed under her breath and looked at him before taking her cup to sip some more.

Melissa was deciding and spoke.

Melissa: "Okay buddy, now your dare will be to kiss -"

The door opened and Melissa grinned mischievously before pointing at the one entering. All heads turned to see Matthew with several pizza boxes in hand and he looked at them with confusion.

Matthew: "huh..."

Wyatt's head wasn't the one making him move, he was already walking to the gator as Haufiku turned to Melissa and spoke but Wyatt couldn't here anything. His eyes were focused on the gator who put the pizza on the table and seemed concerned.

Matthew: "Wyatt? You alright?"