<em>"Well, it seems you weren't the only one who needed a drink.  I think Alex and Jase are jealous cause they don't regularly get any."</em><br/><br/>"Ouch.  Hannah is bringing out the big guns early."  Alex commented with an over-the-top expression of being hurt that could not have been taken seriously by even the most gullible of people.  It was the only means he could think of to hide the actual feelings of regret that caused a knot to form in his chest.  She had unknowingly struck one of the more vulnerable spots in his emotional armor.  There was no doubt in his mind that even when he was on his game, he was nowhere near as successful at the art of seduction than the others on their worst days.  An inevitable byproduct of his introverted nature around strangers and acquaintances.  Alex had always done his best to hide how self-conscious he was about this fact, something that wasn't difficult when he was only around them since his shyness is no longer an issue.  His record was littered with droughts and rainy seasons, more of the former rather than the latter and he was well aware that it had been a solid two months since he'd gotten laid.  He had always been envious of how well the others handled social situations and how seemingly effortlessly they managed to flirt with complete strangers.<br/><br/>Then came another round of shots that helped him to shove those thoughts to the dark recesses of his mind where it belonged.<br/><br/><em>"The execution failed, I think we need another two doses. Vicky, Casie; care to join us?"</em><br/><br/>"Several of life's lessons come with learning curves.  We shall continue drilling this one until the concept is firmly rooted into your brain, even if it takes all night!"  Alex had just finished pouring another round of shots when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye.  Immediately, he looked at his shot glace with terrified awe while his hand shook it slightly causing the surface to ripple in pulses much like the popular scene from Jurassic Park.  "What is going on?  It's.... something big.... and it's getting closer!"<br/><br/><em>"Couldn't wait for me to take a quick swim, huh?  Well, don't stop now, pour me one of whatever is flowing and let's have another toast."</em><br/><br/>"Oh God!  The Kasperasaurus found us and it is after our liquor!"  Alex laughed at his own joke before properly greeting Kasper with the last hug he was obligated to give out for the day.  As he gave his toast, Alex couldn't help but smile for being called out in the toast.  While their friendship had started out roughly all those years ago, the two eventually found that their places in their school's social group hierarchy was best served for humor.  Since then, the bond of friendship between them couldn't have been stronger.  One of the things he loved most about this group was all the nostalgia that came with it.<br/><br/>"Hear hear!"  Alex cheered before kicking back yet another shot, finally starting to feel the faint effects of the alcohol on a mostly empty stomach as his mind began to feel a little light.  "Whew, it's going to be a short day if I don't get something solid in my stomach.  What's for dinner and is there anything I can do to help expedite the process?"