A Lot Can Change in an Hour

Ten minutes later I am loving life.

The guys were the guys. All the old jokes, all the same tactics, and all the same old tells. The x-factor was Arthur. He clearly knew the rules and the parlance but his inexperience in holding real cards around an actual table with live flesh and blood opponents staring back at him was plain to see.

He faltered and stuttered and kept shifting in his seat as he nervously tried to fit into the flow of the game. I tried to pick up some of his ticks and body language but he was so fidgety and tense that it was impossible to get a bead on what was a tell and what was simply social awkwardness.

I wasn't too worried though, I was already 50 dollars up and on cruise control.

***

Twenty minutes later and concern had begun to set in.

"Ha!" Trevon snaps his knee. "Three hands in a row."

"Beginners luck." Arthur grins meekly as he pulls his winnings in.

"I'll say!" I add tersely. "Just a fluke."

While outwardly I attributed it to luck I had to begrudgingly admit that the nerd knew what he what he was doing. With each card he only briefly looked at his hand and made his decision without hesitation. He folded early when he didn't like what he was seeing and bet carefully. He never got caught up in the moment or let his emotions influence him. There was no humming and hawing or dramatic pauses with Arthur. Simply look at card, make decision, and he was done. I notice those darting grey eyes of his were picking up on things about the boys that it took me months to notice.

I was starting to realize that I had my hands full here.

***

Thirty minutes later concern is growing into worry. Ethan was already out and most of his money now sat in neat piles in front of Arthur. Being the first one to lose meant he was now the full time dealer, a house rule of ours. Arthur was building a lead and he had gotten there way too easily.

What bothered me more than the money though was the other guys shifting opinion. Money came and money went, but respect had to be earned and I I could feel the respect I had built up over years begin to erode around me. Suddenly they were looking at this fucking nerd like he was the cock of the walk. What? Just because I had one off night at the table...just because because I was a third string quarterback in a third rate team...just because Briana had gained a couple pounds and their girlfriends were looking even hotter than back in high school...I didn't deserve their respect anymore? Fucking assholes. I focus on the game like I never had before, I'd show them. I wasn't about to lose to a fucking nerd.

Their little quips and comments did nothing to brighten my rapidly souring mood.

"Hot damn, I think Travis has met his match."

"You're out Ethan." I snap. "Shut the fuck up."

"Woah! Yes sir Captain Tryhard." He reaches across the table and pats my shoulder. "Calm down dude."

"Go sit with the gals if you want chat."

He smirks and shakes his head. "I'm good." He settles back into his chair and to watch the action.

I bark at the girls who were a bottle in and clucking louder than a coop full of hens. "Could you keep it down out there? Jesus!"

"Oh shush! Play your games and leave us be." Jasmine shoots back to a round of uproarious giggles.

I grit my teeth and stew in my anger. My red hot gaze locks on Arthur.

***

Forty five minutes later and the game had not been nearly as fun as I thought it would be. Trevon had bust two hands ago and he and Ethan were still sitting at the table enraptured by the most exciting and gripping poker game we'd ever had. I knew they were thinking they were watching the champ go down. While they stayed quiet their watching eyes were a hell of a distraction. All table chatter had died down as we played the game with quiet uncomfortable intensity.

Arthur was undoubtedly in the ascendance. Based on a quick look around the table it was plain to see that he had about 600 bucks, Mikey roughly 100, and me with the remaining 300. I still had a path to victory but damned if I could see where it was.

I couldn't believe I was losing to the biggest loser of our graduating class, I couldn't believe he came into MY group and was showing me up like this. If this was a few years ago I'd just pull him out of his chair and slap that smug look off his fucking face.

I swear the geek had to be counting cards or some shit. How you did that in five card draw I had no clue but there was no way he was doing this legitimately. I knew my poker face was flawless and my instincts on point yet the pencil neck little fuck was always a step ahead. He called every bluff and folded fast each time I got a good hand. He was far more relaxed now and really seemed to be enjoying himself, which irked me to no end, yet still I couldn't read him. Just when I thought I had something it proved false.

"Fold." I toss my cards onto the table.

He giggles and scoops in his winnings.

**** times called for **** measures. It was time to rattle his cage.

"So...Arthur, your Mommy said you should get out of the house huh?"

He blushes a little and nods. "Uh huh."

"She was probably getting sick of all the girls you were bringing over." I take a swig of beer. "Or do you prefer guys?"

"Travis." Mikey says in a tone that told me to leave the poor guy alone.

"What? I don't know. I'm not judging. We never saw him date anyone back in the day. Maybe he likes his fudge packed. Maybe he thinks cock is delicious. Nothing wrong with it." I nudge Trevon with my shoulder. "Hey, remember he was voted most likely to be a 40 year old virgin?"

The blush intensifies. "No...no....uh...I like girls." He mutters softly obviously wishing he had a rock to crawl under.

"Oh?" I press. "Do you get lots of girls then Arthur? Lots of college hotties?"

"Uhhh." He face was now a rosy shade of pink.

"Nah, you're still a virgin. Aren't ya? Ya fuckin loser." My eyes locked on his I dare him do so something.

"Jesus Christ dude." Mikey says.

The word virgin seemed to have cut through the din as even the girls fall quiet and turn their attention to the table.

Arthur looks around at us all then slumps down small in his seat. "Uh...Mom says I just need to meet a nice girl and...uh...ummm..."

"Oh my God!" I guffaw and point. "He IS a virgin! Holy shit! I was just joking." I throw my head back and laugh. "Ha ha ha ha ha!" Trevon and Ethan chuckle a bit but not with any real mirth.

The girls on the other hand lay into me. "Leave him alone!" Jasmine berates me. "Bully!"

"There's nothing wrong with being a virgin." Alexis chimes in. "I think it's cute."

"You asshole." Camila adds before addressing Arthur. "You ignore him. You'll find the right girl. Don't you worry."

I roll my eyes and shake my head at their soft hearted silliness though I can't help but notice Briana trying to hide a smile, her eyes twinkling with cruel delight at Arthur's embarrassment. She was an even worse bully than I was back at school. I shoot her a wink and she blows me a kiss. Birds of a feather she and I, it was nice to know she had my back.

I gather the cards feeling a hell of a lot better about things and shuffle with a big smile on my face as my eyes drill into the flustered and cringing loser. You're mine now you little shit.

***

An hour later and the advantage I gained from bullying Arthur had lasted all of two hands. Once he recovered he was back to his old frustratingly quick ways. Get cards, look, bet, etc all with clockwork precision. He was a poker playing machine. Try as I might I couldn't rattle him anymore. He ignored everything I said outside of the game. A lifetime of being mocked and ridiculed had given the geek a thick skin.

"So, five dollar ante now, yeah?" Arthur asks with false innocence, knowing damn well it was. "It's 11 o'clock."

"Yep." Mikey confirms as he slides his last fiver into the center of the table. A single one dollar bill was all he had to bet with now. "This might be it for me boys."

"Ya never know." Trevon says.

A few minutes later Mikey goes out too. I take the hand but the pot is a meager 18 bucks.

It was now down to just Arthur and I. The star jock and the lowliest geek mano a mano.

Mikey rubs his hands together, not seeming at all bothered about going out. "Whoooeee, now we're in the championship rounds. I woulda paid just to watch this."

"I think you're finally going down Travis." Ethan says.

"We'll see." I say with unfounded confidence. I take stock of what I had to work with. Roughly 230 dollars versus his 770. Things looked dire, but as an athlete I knew that you never give up until the final whistle.

***

Five minutes later and I staring at a straight flush, 7 through Jack of spades. Using every bit of trickery and guile I had at last kept the nerd hanging with me through the betting. Over two hundred dollars sat in a pile between us. He was getting cocky. I knew he must have a peach of hand but the chances of it being better than mine were astronomically low.

The guys were on the edge of their seats, their attention locked on the ever growing pot. Even the girls could feel the tension emanating out from the kitchen and started to pay attention.

I had the fish on the hook, I just needed to reel him in.

"All in." I announce as I push what was left of my cash into the heap.

"Oh shit!" Mikey gasps.

The gals get up from their spots and approach the table to watch.

For once Arthur stops. That ruthless efficiency at last shattered by my bold move and the pressure of having every eye in the house on him. He stares at his cards and then up at me. I could see the wheels turning. He nods and begins counting out the equal amount of money.

I nod at his stack. "What say we make this interesting. Go all in."

This perplexes him. "Why...?"

"You can't bring in more money after Travis, it's against the rules." Trevon says.

"I'm not talking money." I smile, it was time for my Hail Mary. "For a virgin like him, I'm talking about something far more valuable."