You clean house

After the brief conversation about your crush on your roommate ends, there is a loud knock at the door. Scott hides the roach he is smoking, as Dirk answers the door. From his greeting to the person knocking, you can tell that poker night is about to get a little more crowded. Two guys that look and smell like they share in Scott and Dirk’s marijuana fixation come walking in and grab a seat at the table.

“Ok Dudes, this is Jack. Jack, these are the Dudes!” Dirk says. The Dudes are an odd pair that you see down in the first floor rec room from time to time. One is further introduced as Rastafarian Dude, the other as Surfer Dude. You shake you head at this odd introduction, then realize that Dirk has no idea what their names are. You offer a hand to Rastafarian Dude who sits closest to you while Surfer Dude sits between Dirk and Scott.

“Felix. Nice to meet you Mon!” Rastafarian Dude says with a fake Islands accent as he shakes your hand.

“Shark Bait.” Surfer Dude introduces himself.

“Shark Bait? I gotta hear this one.” You say. Shark Bait quickly removes his shirt to reveal several bite marks on his torso.

“I got nabbed by a seven-foot Tiger Shark while hitting the waves off Baja a few years ago. Sucker nearly put an end to me. Got these scars and a few teeth to show for it.” He says almost with pride.

“If he had been a bit older, he would have put an end to you Dude. But that’s the price you pay for swimming in his waters bro!” Dirk says as he starts dealing.

After a few hands, your stack of chips is down to about half of what you started with. Then, you hit a string of good hands, putting Scott out of the game in about fifteen minutes. About an hour in, Felix goes bust on a superb bluff played by Shark Bait. Dirk and Shark Bait trade chips for about another half hour before you whittle them both down a bit. Then, you get the hand you had been waiting for.

Holding two Queens, you watch as the flop comes up Jack, Jack, Nine. You check your bet, Shark Bait follows suit, and Dirk goes all in with about sixty dollars, and shows his hand, a Jack and a Nine. You and Shark Bait call. The turn card comes up a Queen. You check and Shark Bait goes all in, showing a Jack and a Ten. You debate for a moment and then count out enough chips to cover the side bet between you and Shark Bait. Your heart skips a beat as the fourth Queen comes up as the river card. The only Four of a Kind you have ever gotten makes you the winner for the night. As Scott lights up a joint, you collect your winnings, and excuse yourself to see if your roommate is feeling better.

“Wow, I should join in poker night more often!” You say as you cross the hall and step inside your apartment.