counter challenge - watch each card you play and play it slow - ota
The match began at 10:00 am, and Lasandra shows up at 9:30 am wearing a coal colored layered dress, black jewelry, black flats, and a black comb holding her hair back. The only touches of color were a red scarf and her full lips painted red. Sorcha shows up in purple.
They sat in one of the challenge parlor's, the decor subtle, the audience limited in number.
At 12:10, Sandy's thumb rubs over her scarf tassel as she studies the hand given to her. She's lost track the number of rounds and is only aware of the points that have been exchanged. They began with 500 points and currently, with five minutes remaining of the two hour long challenge, Lasandra has 480 and Sorcha has 520.
Sandy's face aches. There are five minute breaks at every half hour to allow for the restroom or water. Sandy's face has only broken when in a bathroom stall where she tries to do breathing exercises. She's still stressed, the Magic of Friendship can't overcome everything with only a week. Oh, but her friends helped more than enough to get to this day. There was laughter and tears...
And she's fairly sure she gained five pounds from the chocolate, baklava, and pizza because of the Poker Academy Nights. But she can deal with that.
Her Poker Face slides easily on when she leaves the restroom. The only emotion that might dance across her face is boredom, but then so has Sorcha's, even if Sorcha's winning.
Five minutes left. Sandy gets the Five of Diamonds, Queen of Spades, Jack of Spades, Two of Hearts, Two of Spades. On a whim? She drops the diamond and queen. Why not hope for double pairs? And she gets? Queen of Clubs, Eight of Spades. She inwardly huffs. Bets a 10 chip. Sorcha does too. Sorcha wins with a three of a kind. All fives.
Fucking game. 460, 540. Four minutes.
450, 550. Three minutes. Sandy’s stomach is churning and no one knows.
440, 560. Two minutes. Godfuckingdamnit. She flicks her gaze to friends, then to her card game.
430, 570. One minute left. She is going to be sick and no one knows.
Sandy's eyes are dead when she gets cards and puts down three. Sorcha pauses. Hesitates. It only takes a half second. Maybe a quarter second. But Sandy sees it, recognizes it as Sorcha tosses down a single card, puts down a 100 point chip. Sorcha's sure she'll win with a bang.
Sorcha has three of a kind. So Sandy drops down 71 points. A long shot. A last attempt to win.
The redhead doesn't hide the smirk and puts down two Threes and two Fives. Sandy fell for the bluff.
She puts down her cards and then covers her face with her hands and begins to cry. Her spread? The Seven of Hearts and Diamonds, the Queen of Hearts and Diamonds, and the Six of Diamonds.
601, 399. Zero minutes.
The new Seven continues to sob in relief as her victory is announced.