Anyone could see the flashing rainbow lights from the sidewalk. They just had to look up. The lights jutted out of a third story window like laser beams, and they swayed like tree branches in a calm breeze. As one got closer to the window, the bass increased. It sounded muffled from the outside, but once inside the music was blaring loud. Voices fought to be heard over the loud dance music that people jumped to like kangaroos. Almost everyone was holding a red solo cup. Some managed to keep their cups, foaming to the top with beer, from spilling over on themselves while their bodies jumped uncontrollably.

Welcome to O2, an apartment style living suite at The Catholic University of America (CUA) that was just stripped of its title as the newest dorm on campus with the recent opening of O3. However, the residents of O2 will proudly pronounce that they have what O3 lacks, a history of good parties, good people, and good memories...at least as far back as a few years—before the people with those memories set off to make new memories of their own.

Walking down the long corridor to suite 311 were three suitemates who gawked at every inch of the building as if they had just stepped into Buckingham Palace on an official state visit.

One of them, a large fella who was built like the foundations of a skyscraper to bear the height and weight it will have to hold up for years, pressed his face against the window of a door, "Bro check it out! Each floor has its own lounge with a pool table, foosball, table tennis, and...is that air hockey! Oh, we gotta play that before we leave."

"But Alex, you'll be too drunk to beat anyone anyway," spoke his suitemate Gio. Gio was the physical opposite of Alex. Gio had color on his skin; Alex was pale with red scorch marks across his face—still cherry red from the outside cold air. Gio could hide behind a grain of rice; Alex couldn't hide behind a small truck. Gio relied on his brains to get through life; Alex relied on his strength and baby face to soar through his.

"Can't we just play before the party?" A third voice mumbled from behind the both of them. The other two laughed.

Alex slapped his friend's back and almost dislodged his lung, "Ah Luke, you're a noob to this so I'll cut you some slack alright. The party has already started."

"But you said it didn't start till ten and it's 9:55."

"Well," Gio cut in. "The invite was for eight, but no one shows up on time for a party. This isn't class or an interview. Most people arrive about an hour or two late. Listen...you hear that?"

Luke tuned his ear to the dance music muffled down the hall, the roaring voices, and the clanging of glass bottles, "I hear it."

"That means the party has started, and we better get in, unless Alex here will be left with the light beer."

"And you know how crappy light beer is," Alex said. "Now that tastes like piss."

"It all tastes like piss to me," Luke said. "Should we even drink? You know, we're only Freshmen."

"Oh no," Alex grabbed Luke by the collar. "You're drinking with us. Forget the air hockey, we need to get you buzzed."

"I can't imagine how Luke will be like when he's buzzed," Gio said. "Loud and obnoxious? Flirty?" Gio danced like an exotic dancer behind Luke's back. Luke elbowed himself free and Gio flinched back. "Oof, maybe he's a rager."

"I'm not getting drunk," Luke asserted.

"Yes you are," Alex towered over him. "Otherwise you'll make us look bad. I had to pull some strings to get into this party. Seniors don't invite freshers to parties just like that."

"Look Luke, just have a couple of drinks. It'll be fun," Gio gestured towards the door as the music grew louder. "I was just like you before my first party in September. You need to just let loose a little. You're only gonna be in college once, and you won't remember those two-page papers you did for philosophy on Aristotle's primary causes, but you will remember your first party."

Alex opened the door and was greeted by a huzzah from the partygoers.

"It's the Tank!" One guy shouted from the crowd. He came up to Alex and locked arms to give each other a bro-hug, "Get my boy Tank here some Stellas. Oh, and hook up his friends here too."

Alex turned towards Gio and Luke. Gio was already inside the apartment and Alex gestured with his head for Luke to follow. Luke moved into the dark room lit by flashing lights. The first thought that came to his mind was, I'm going to get epilepsy. Next thing he noticed was that there were too many bodies to fit in such a small living room. The room had some couches, and a small kitchen covered in orange coolers filled with jungle juice. Luke fought his way behind Gio who stopped in his path and passed Luke a beer.

"Drink up."

They clinked bottles and drank. No sooner than the beer went down Luke's throat he wanted to vacuum it back out. His lips curled like spoiled milk and his eyes squinted, "Yuk!"

Gio shook his head and grabbed his drink and finished it for him. Then he handed Luke back the bottle, "I recommend you start with a cider. I'll ask and see if they have any. If Alex asks, say you drank that."

Luke wanted to kiss Gio for saving him from having to drink that piss. Gio went towards the coolers that were aligned by the windows in the living room. The people there were stuffing their hands into the coolers in pairs, while their faces made all sorts of contortions. Finally, someone would cave and yank their hand free and the last one in would pull out theirs in excitement. The first to pull out grabbed a solo cup and drained a whole cup of beer.

Alex took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves. He called out to Luke, "Luke let's go."

Luke really wanted to hide, but both him and Gio stuck out like Yankee fans at Fenway Park. Only in this environment could Alex stand a chance at blending in.

Luke grunted as he made his way towards the coolers. Gio stopped besides the two of them, while Alex motioned for Luke to stand beside him.

"Okay, let's play some arctic plunge," Alex rubbed his hands together fast.

"Arctic plunge?" Luke asked.

"It's a drinking game," Gio said. "You both thrust one of your hands inside the ice cooler and whoever is the first to pull out has to take a drink."

"So whoever doesn't want to get frostbite loses is what I'm hearing?" Luke said.

"Oh don't be such a pussy Luke. It's fun. Plus, I bet you won't beat me. This is a sure-fire way to make sure you drink."

Luke held up the empty beer bottle. Alex laughed, "Where did you find that, in the recycling bin? We haven't been here for more than five minutes and you expect me to believe you drained that?"

Luke's eyes began to drift away from Alex's. Alex smiled, "Alright now, let's begin. No one beats the Tank at this game."

Gio whispered into Luke's ear, "That's cause his blubber keeps him warm."

"That's not what I see whenever we're outside. He turns blood red," Luke said.

"Hey daisies, what you two snickering about? No cheating," Alex heckled.

"I won't cheat," Luke said. "Let's just get this done and over with."

"That's the spirit," Gio smiled. "Good luck." Gio cracked open another bottle with an apple engraved in the glass. "In case you lose, this should taste better."

"Thanks." Luke smiled.

"Alright," Alex called out loud. A couple of people stopped to watch. "On three!" More people began to gather and mumble to each other. "One, two, three!" Alex and Luke thrusted their hands into the icy water. Gio turned to his watch and pressed a button as he kept looking up from the cooler to his watch.

Ten seconds had gone by and Luke felt fine. I can do this. This isn't that hard.

Twenty seconds passed, and Luke felt a layer of ice coat his hand. Okay, getting a bit cold now.

Thirty seconds had passed, and Luke's hand started to feel numb. See not so bad, I already got frostbite, so I don't feel a thing.

Forty seconds had passed, and the coldness was traveling up his arm. Okay, this is starting to feel a lot like torture. "How you hanging there?" Alex called out. "Ready to give up yet and take a drink?"

Luke shook his head and the crowd that had gathered hooted like a group of owls. Alex's face began to turn red, "Alright then, don't say I didn't warn ya."

Fifty seconds had passed, and Luke's teeth were starting to chisel against one another. I won't let Alex force me to drink. I'll win this stupid game and show him who's the pussy now.

One minute had passed, and Luke was losing feeling in his wrist now. He looked up at Alex and saw his face light up like Rudolph's nose. A large crowd had gathered now. Luke heard some of them mumbling against the music.

"Most people clock out at thirty seconds."

"No one has beaten the Tank before."

"This is the longest I've seen him go."

"This kid could actually win."

One minute and ten seconds had passed, and Alex was tapping his feet frantically while Luke bit his lip. Alex spoke, "Gonna give up soon—uh Luke?" Alex's taunt had no weight since it was broken up by his shivering.

Luke shook his head. Alex snorted, "Punk won't give up. I didn't know he'd go this far to avoid a drink."

One minute and twenty seconds had passed and Gio stopped looking at his watch. "Guys, this is getting a bit ridiculous. You both might actually get frostbite inside a heated building."

Both Alex and Luke shouted, "Shut up Gio!"

Gio stepped back and put up his hands, "Okay, okay, geez just looking out for my friends that's all."

One minute and forty seconds had passed. Neither of them were willing to give up. Finally, upon the two minute mark, Alex caved in and yanked his hand out of the ice water spraying those near him with cold water. Luke took his out afterwards to a sound of cheers and claps. Luke dried his hands on his jeans and started to rub his hands together to generate warmth.

Gio wrapped his arm around Luke, "You actually beat Alex. You're king of the arctic plunge! How does it feel?"

"Numb," Luke said. "Where's the bathroom?"

"Down the hallway and to the left. Don't run your hands under hot water, it'll only make it worse."

Luke nodded as his body started to shiver. "Let's just hope I don't pee ice. It'll be like passing kidney stones."

Alex slapped him on the back, and Luke felt like he lost his other lung, "I gotta hand it to ya man, you got game." He chugged a solo cup filled with beer down in seconds and belched like a hippo. "I underestimated the elasticity of that pussy to avoid drinking alcohol."

"Yeah, yeah," Luke said. "I gotta piss."

Luke shook his way free and tried maneuvering through the crowd. Alex shouted his name, "Hey Luke, whatever you do, don't grab your dick with your right hand! It's like the anti-viagra."

The people around him laughed. Luke shouted back, "Thanks for the tip."

"Anytime!" Alex saluted Luke as he reached the bathroom door. While inside Luke began to take off his sweater and wrap it around his entire arm. When that didn't help, he continued to rub his hands together furiously. His hands boiled blood red.

Luke heard a click, like a spark had just been ignited. He separated his hands and in the palm of his right hand kindled a small flame.

At first Luke thought he was seeing things. He tried shaking his hand to extinguish the vision of the flame, but the flame grew and started to overtake his hand. He looked around for some way to quench the flame. There were no sinks in the bathroom. Two sinks were located outside the bathroom in a cove along the suite's hallway. If I leave, he thought, with a flame in my hand, they'll think I was trying to burn the place down. I'll be expelled. I'll never be able to find a job or get accepted into another college in my life with "arsonist" on my resume.

Then he looked at the toilet. The bowl was streaked with brown and yellow stains, but the water appeared to be free of filth. Luke gagged a bit. Do I really need to do this? I don't even feel my hand burning. Then again, maybe it's because I'm numb.

The flame started to engulf his entire hand and Luke knew that sooner or later his whole body and then the suite would be covered in flames. He decided to take one for the team and plunged his right hand in the water. The water came to an instant boil. Steam fumed against Luke's face as he coughed. He yanked his hand out and was able to see his right hand again—a little red, but without third degree burns. He breathed a sigh of relief.

That's when a piercing screech burrowed its way through both of Luke's ears and collided at the center of his brain. A siren went off, and it sounded worse than a heavy suicide death metal band playing a concert in the acoustic test chambers of a NASA facility. Luke heard the music shut off and people shuffling out of the dorm. Then he heard some cursing and some screams. He opened the door and couldn't help but notice how fast the suite, filled to the brim with people, had spilled out into the corridor. Luke followed after them and opened the door to the hallway which was filled with a dark gray smoke. Luke covered his nose with his shirt and waved his hands in front of him trying to disperse the poison air away from him.

He stumbled down the hallway thinking, Did I do this? He reached the stairs and made his way down one floor and almost tripped over something. He glanced back and noticed that it was a person—a girl with red hair, wearing jeans, and a t-shirt. Luke stopped himself. He wanted to keep on going. He saw sirens through the staircase windows that lead out onto the street. Let the fire department save her. But at the rate the smoke was filling the air, he knew the fire department wouldn't reach her in time.

I can't just leave her here to die. He stooped down and picked her up. Luke wasn't as skinny as Gio was, but he certainly wasn't a 300-pound bench presser like Alex was either. Sure, he could've gone to the gym more often, but he wasn't fat, so he thought he was fine.

But as he struggled to lift someone who was pretty light, he regretted not going to the Kane more often, the local gym at CUA. Gosh I'm out of shape, he thought as he lifted her over his shoulder and stumbled down the stairs. He almost tripped just one floor away from freedom. 

I gotta be careful. If I fall, we're both dead. The smoke that filled Luke's lungs didn't make navigating down the stairs any easier. He couldn't cover his nose with his shirt because he needed both of his hands to make sure he didn't drop the girl. He pushed on, and finally emerged through the door into the lobby. He trudged forward straight out of the building and stumbled onto the walkway. He tumbled towards the grass besides it. Luckily, a firefighter was there to catch both him and the girl. He pushed Luke up with one arm and caught the girl with the other.

"You alright son?" The firefighter spoke. "Don't worry, I got her."

Luke pulled himself together as the firefighter helped lay the girl down on a stretcher. It was then that Luke caught a glance of her face for the first time. She had blood trickling down from a gash on her forehead that she most likely sustained from falling down the stairs. Besides that one bruise, her face was beautiful. He smiled as they placed an oxygen mask on her. Her eyes started to flutter open briefly as they pulled her stretcher into the ambulance.

Luke coughed, "She'll be okay, right?"

The female paramedic closed one of the doors to the back, "She'll be fine. She's your girlfriend?"

"No, I don't know her."

"Well then, guess she's lucky to have an angel like you in her life," she said as she closed the other door. The paramedic swung around to the passenger's seat and opened the door. Immediately as she jumped in, the ambulance took off.

Luke found himself waving sluggishly at the ambulance. Then he thought to himself, Gio and Alex! Did they make it out okay? He turned around to investigate and was hit with a coughing fit. All that smoke he had breathed in was coming back to bite him now. His mind started to feel hazy. His eyelids fluttered like the wings of a butterfly and he found himself lying down on a field of grass as another paramedic hovered above him.

*________________________________________________*

Author's Note

Okay, so I'm a big cider guy. I know Angry Orchard is the staple cider in the United States, but I prefer Strongbow (as seen in this chapter: Gio cracked open another bottle with an apple engraved in the glass. "In case you lose, this should taste better."). I like sweet ciders over dry ciders, and that's why Strongbow is my favorite: 

I'm also willing to try other ciders, so any suggestions (at least from any readers legal to drink)? 

For my readers who hate cider or are not able to drink yet, the idea of "Arctic Plunge" actually came about from a visit to an aquarium in Auckland, New Zealand (that little country next to Australia). While there, I visited an exhibit where they allowed visitors to dunk their hands in a cylinder filled with shaved ice that was supposed to simulate the harsh conditions of Antarctica on the skin and demonstrate how protective gear really helps keep people warm. For example, keeping one's hands submerged in the Antarctic waters for 30 seconds can result in numbness. The exhibit gave me the idea for "Arctic Plunge." Of course a cooler full of ice cold water may not simulate Antarctic freezing water, but it's worth a shot. How long do you think you can survive in the "Arctic Plunge" (FYI, I lasted 30 seconds in the exhibit before pulling my hand out a bit numb)?

Enjoy the next chapter.

- L. A. Rivera