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The Ducks always took their time off very seriously. If they said it was taken “seriously”, that meant they would do everything they could to have the most fun time off that was ever possible. They were currently not required for any games or any practice, so Charlie decided that they could spend the evening over at his house, and get up to some good fun. Some of them couldn’t make it, but anyone who was free said they would be there.
Once everybody had arrived, they headed into Charlie’s living room and began to plan their evening.
”Does anyone have an idea?” Charlie asked. Nearly everyone shook their heads.
”I didn’t even bring anything with me,” Averman complained. “Sorry dudes.”
”I don’t think TV would be any fun..” Julie said. “That way we won’t really be talking to eachother.”
Goldberg was smirking away while everyone was stuck. He reached inside his jacket pocket and said “Wanna know something?”.
Everyone turned around to see him reaching into his jacket pocket.
”I brought something for us to try out…” The gang all peered over Goldberg’s shoulder. “The One. Chip. Challenge.” Everyone gasped.
”But.. it’s impossible man!” Averman protested.
”And that’s why we’re going to try it!” He exclaimed.
”Oh jeez, that’s meant to be real painful, Goldberg.. are you sure we should do it?” Connie asked, and Goldberg nodded.
”Sure! Why not? Gives us something to do!” Goldberg smiled.
”Here goes…”
Goldberg opened the packet of chips and placed them in the middle of the floor as the rest of them made a circle.
”Okay.. who wants to go first?” Guy asked.
Silence.
”I’ll do it.” Fulton offered. Everyone started clapping and cheering him on almost immediately. Fulton took a chip and stared it down for what felt like hours.
”I can smell the spice coming off of it,” he laughed. “It’s literally going up my nose.”
With slight hesitation, Fulton ate the chip and smirked as everyone cheered again.
”I don’t think it’s too bad.” he said. His eyes widened as he took back that sentence as soon as he’d said it.
”Holy shit! What’s in this thing?!” he yelled. “Oh fuck- That can’t be legal!!!”
The gang continued to laugh, mainly out of pity, as Fulton said more slurs than anyone they’d ever met, until eventually he swallowed the chip.
“Goldberg, you’re going to jail.” He muttered, no harm meant.
Goldberg chuckled. “Well man, at least you went first.”
There was silence again as no one offered to be the next contestant.
”Umm.. should we spin a bottle?” Portman asked.
”Yeah! I’ll surely have a Pepsi bottle in my kitchen somewhere, I’ll go find one.” Charlie replied, dashing towards the kitchen.
”Man, this is really tough, what if I’m next?!” Averman asked.
”I’ll be glad if you’re next.” Fulton snickered. Averman elbowed him in the arm.
”Got one!” Charlie said, returning to his seat next to Julie and Adam, holding an empty glass bottle and passing it to Fulton, who had done the challenge first.
Fulton spun the bottle and everyone sat watching it spin, the fear running through their bodies. Suddenly, it landed on Goldberg.
”What?! No.. Fulton spin it again!” He cried. “I don’t wanna do it!”
”Bottle’s pointing at you, Goldberg! Pick that chip up.” Fulton laughed.
Slowly, Goldberg reached into the packet for another chip. He brought it up to his nose to smell it.
”Jesus!” He gasped, turning his head away to sneeze. “That really must be illegal!”
”Come on, Goldberg…” Guy teased.
Goldberg thought about his life choices in that moment. Should he eat it? Should he not? If he did, he wouldn’t know how bad it would feel. But if he didn’t, it meant he’d be the first one to chicken out. It was a really hard decision. He wanted to try it, but at the same time he knew it was a genuine hazard.
”I can’t do it guys.” He made his decision suddenly. “It just looks so bad! I don’t wanna do it.”
Everyone looked at eachother as Charlie said “Okay, it’s fine. You don’t have to do it.”
”Thanks man.. I look like a total chicken.” He sulked.
”It’s really fine, dude. I can see why you wouldn’t wanna try it, even I hated it.” Fulton added.
Goldberg sighed. “Okay, but really I’m not that chicken.” Everyone laughed.
”Wanna spin the bottle?” Charlie offered. Goldberg accepted and taking the bottle, he spun it as fast as he could. Tension filled the air again as the bottle began to slow, until it landed on Adam and all eyes were on him.
”Oh man..” he sighed.
”Do you wanna do it?” Charlie asked.
“I mean, I guess so.” Adam continued as he slowly reached for a chip.
”Here goes, Banksie!!” Portman exclaimed. “Show ‘em how it’s done.”
Everybody cheered once again as Adam ate the chip and swallowed it as quick as he could. Adam looked down at his lap and once he looked back up, there were tears down his face.
“Are you good, bro?!” Guy almost shouted.
”Dang..” Fulton trailed off.
Charlie moved around to get a good look at him. “Oh man, what’s wrong?” he asked.
”I’m fine,” Adam sniffled. “It just hurts a little.”
”Do you want a glass of water?” Charlie offered, and he nodded.
So once again, Charlie dashed into the kitchen.
”Low spice tolerance, huh?” Averman said. “I get how you feel, man. One time I went to this place and-
“Averman.” Fulton rolled his eyes.
”What?! Have I told this story?” he protested.
”A million times, brother.”
”The one where you went to Plaza of Spice and you thought you were dying.” Adam laughed a little.
”But I really was! And at least you laughed, right?” Averman snickered himself.
Just then, Charlie returned from the kitchen and handed Adam the glass and a tissue, who thanked him quietly. Charlie patted Adam’s shoulder in return and sat back down.
”Averman, I feel like I’ve heard this story so many times before that I remember the date.”
”Okay, Conway, I’ll challenge you. Tell me the date, and what time in the day it happened.” Averman teased.
”What do you mean by time?”
”Oh shoot, not like exact timing, just like morning or afternoon.”
”Okay… Let me think. It was during the late afternoon, on April 17th.” Charlie guessed. Averman was shocked.
”How.” he muttered as the gang laughed. Charlie shrugged.
”Okay,” Charlie changed the subject. “Since Adam was the last to do the challenge, he can spin the bottle.” he passed the bottle to Adam who placed it on the ground and spun it.
The bottle slowed down, and as it stopped, pointed at Portman. Everyone looked at him as he began to smile.
”Just watch, and learn.” he explained.
Taking a chip out the packet, he ate it without hesitation and swallowed quickly, folding his arms in triumph.
”No reaction.” he breathed. The whole gangs mouths were open in confusion.
”But- but how?! The thing’s crazy!” Goldberg yelled.
”There is absolutely no way.” Fulton muttered in surprise.
”I totally tricked you guys!” Portman laughed. “I do this challenge with my family all the time, I just got used to it over time.”
”This is unreal!” Charlie exclaimed. “I don’t think any of us are capable of that!”
Portman just kept smirking. “Well, take it from the pro. The more you try it, the more you get used to it.”
”Or you just have a high spice tolerance,” Averman suggested. “How long ago did you try it for the first time??”
”Dang, I don’t know… Maybe like 3 years ago? I’ve never really thought they were too bad.”
”WHAT?!” Averman yelled.
”You know man, one day I’d kill to see you try a Carolina Reaper.” Fulton mentioned.
”You’ll see it someday, Reed. Okay, let’s see this bottle!” Portman took the bottle and spun it with all his might. It spun for a while before eventually landing on Connie.
”Absolutely not.” she stated.
”Come on, Connie! It doesn’t look too bad!” Guy piped in, trying to get her spirits up.
”Okay…” she hesitantly took the chip and ate it.
“See? It isn’t too bad, right?” Guy said again as Connie swallowed the chip.
”I’m gonna call 911.” Connie exaggerated as she laughed a little and looked towards Charlie.
”Charlie, where on earth is your kitchen?!”
Charlie laughed. “Come on, I’ll give you a glass.”
They both left as Averman fiddled with his shoelace. “Dude, I’m sure hoping it isn’t me next. This doesn’t look too good.” he muttered.
”Just because you said that, I’m gonna pray that you’re next.” Portman chuckled.
”That hate is unreal! Adam, do something!” Averman complained.
Adam laughed. “Maybe you will be next.”
Averman looked terrified. “Over my dead body!”
“Hey Charlie,” Guy said as him and Connie came back. “Is there any way to make Averman next?” Averman shot him a glare.
”Only if he volunteers.” Charlie stated. “We can’t physically force someone to go next, it’s either spin the bottle or volunteer.”
”Well,” Averman replied. “As a matter of fact, I will only volunteer to go last.”
”That can’t be a rule!” Adam protested, smiling.
Charlie snickered. “True, it isn’t exactly a rule, but there is a chance the bottle won’t land on you if we spin it.”
They spun the bottle. It landed on Averman.
”This can’t be happening.” he groaned. Fulton peered over to look at him and side eyed the chips.
”I’m not doing this man. I fully chicken out.” he announced. “Call me a chicken all you like, but nothing will EVER make me touch spicy food again.”
”The way you worded that doesn’t sound pleasing.” Fulton teased.
”Oh come on, Fulton! You know I’m talking about Plaza of Spice.” Averman sighed. “But really, I’m chickening out of this.”
”Okay man, it’s fine! You can spin!” Charlie tossed the bottle to Averman who was sitting on the opposite side of the circle from him.
”Enter the chamber of fire and death.” Averman teased as he spun the bottle. The next person to face the chip was Guy.
”Wait.. what?! I wasn’t ready! I haven’t braced myself!” he argued nervously.
“Well, just get ready. It’s real hot.” Fulton smirked.
Slowly, Guy ate the chip he picked out and, although he found it difficult, eventually swallowed it down. He hung his head low after his success.
“Good on you, man!” Portman patted his shoulder, stopping halfway as Guy didn’t say anything back.
”Are you okay?” Julie asked.
”I’m gonna throw up.” Guy mumbled almost silently.
There were a number of voices saying “What?” or “Sorry? I didn’t hear you”. Adam began to move back as he was the only one who heard.
Guy didn’t have time to repeat himself as he suddenly held a hand to his mouth, everyone immediately knew what was gonna happen. Half of them immediately moved like Adam had, many voices were yelling all at the same time but what was heard was somebody yelling “Oh SHIT!” and Charlie stood quickly to lead his friend to the bathroom.
”Just go that way,” he ordered. “I’ll get my mom.”
The gang were all silent as Charlie ran off to grab his mom and Connie made her way out of the room to make sure Guy was alright.
Soon enough, Charlie and his mom made their way back through.
”You guys can keep your game going if you like,” Casey explained softly. “Your friend will be just fine.”
”Sorry if I did this to him, maam..” Goldberg sulked. “I brought the chips, so if anything gets bad, it’s on me.”
”Goldberg, it isn’t your fault.” She said. “It isn’t anything bad, some people just can’t handle the same things as others.”
Casey ruffled Charlie’s hair as she walked towards the bathroom and Charlie came back into the living room.
“You guys wanna roll again? There’s only me and Julie left.” Charlie broke the silence as he sat back down.
Everyone said yes and Julie shifted so she was sitting opposite Charlie. Guy wasn’t there to spin the bottle so Fulton did it instead.
”Ooooh…” Julie trailed off in a mixture of fear and excitement as the bottle landed on her.
She took a chip from the bag and ate it without second thoughts. Everyone cheered for her as she swallowed it down.
”Oh man- my eyes are watering!! How do people do this?!” she shouted.
”At least you didn’t hesitate! Take it that way.” Goldberg congratulated her.
”Who got- Julie it was you!!” Connie squealed as she came back to her spot on the floor.
”I literally cannot see you! My eyes are filled with tears.” She laughed as a couple fell and Charlie passed her a tissue.
“That means there’s only one person left.” Averman announced.
Fulton looked at Charlie. “You’re up, Conway.” he said as everyone started to cheer him on.
Charlie took a chip and carefully ate it.
”I don’t think it’s that bad.” He thought out loud.
”Oh, just you wait.” Connie teased.
She was right. The chip was hot as hell.
Charlie swore and swallowed the chip.
”That chip is a criminal offence.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
”Dang! At least we overcame it, right?” Goldberg said.
”All of us except you and Averman.” Adam added, meaning no harm.
”This is bullying! I’m sorry I don’t want to eat anything spicy ever again! See the next challenge we do? I’ll go first! I mean it!” Averman yelled.
”So you’re up first for the Carolina Reaper? Okay, I’ll pencil that down, cannot wait!” Portman exclaimed. Averman slowly turned to look at him.
”WHAT?!” he shouted. Everyone burst into laughter again.
”Hey guys.” Came a voice from the door, it was Guy.
”Oh, hey dude.” Charlie replied sympathetically. “Are you alright?”
”Yeah, I’m okay. I’m gonna go home though.” he explained.
”Good idea. You still look real white.” Fulton added.
Guy sighed. “Well… I’m sorry if I ruined your fun.”
”You didn’t ruin anything!” Connie protested.
”Yeah, it was still fun.” said Adam.
”I’m sorry about the chips man!” Goldberg cried.
“Haha, it’s okay Goldberg.” Guy laughed. “It isn’t your fault, I’m just not great with spicy stuff.”
”Oh boy, do I understand you.” Averman started. “Did I tell you about-
“Averman!!!” Everyone yelled in unison.
”Okay! I’m sorry!” he laughed. “I do get it, though.”
”Yeah, I know.” Guy agreed. There was a bit of silence. “I better head home. Charlie’s mom called my parents and they’re gonna be here soon.”
”Oh, well I hope you get better, Guy.” Julie said sadly. Everybody agreed.
”Thanks guys. I’ll see you round.” And he left.
The gang watched as Guy’s parents pulled up outside and he got into the car, driving off.
”I’ve had a real good time tonight.” Averman stated.
”Thanks for inviting us over Charlie.” Adam smiled.
”It’s no problem guys! You can come over whenever, my mom will let us make plans any time!” Charlie exclaimed.
“That’s so cool!” Fulton replied. “We should definitely wait until Guy’s better though, and until the whole lot of us are free!”
”Totally!”
There were a couple of sighs and everyone relaxed a little.
”So… Carolina Reaper challenge next?” Portman suggested.
”WHAT?! NO!!!”