But then as soon as it had happened- it was gone and the dance commenced once again.
2
Dark Roast.
“He’s just so- I don’t know. He’s out of my league for sure but there’s something there.” Jacob sighed. His trivia group huddled around the table as they all waited for the next batch of questions. The group was fairly tight knit for a randomly assigned bar trivia team, but together they were almost unstoppable- as long as there were no questions about sports.
The bar was cheap but smelled familiar. A smattering of arcade machines and pool tables sprinkled around the back as dozens of teams were huddled around tall bar tables. The walls were dingy and grey but covered in various band posters and beer advertisements. A few rainbow flags hung on the walls to ensure that they were willing to take anyone’s money- and they frequently did.
Wandering through the space was the bartender who hosted the night. A lithe Scottish man in his early forties who thought himself a comedian, because he frequently was. The spirit was competitive, yet jovial- and this was the closest thing Jacob had to a solid schedule. His teammates were the kind of close you establish with someone after knowing them for years. It was a kind of family- not that he was related to any of them but in the sense that he often had a desire to kill them. If that isn’t family, nothing is.
“True love is overrated. Hook ups are the future.” his friend Tic responded with a devious smirk. Of his friends he was always the most mischievous. A diminutive, thin Filipino man with enough attitude for everyone at the table. He was friendly (as long as you stayed on his good side) and had a fashion sense that reflected his job as a hairstylist impeccably.
Jacob takes a sip of the beer. It’s light and tastes like socks, but it’s cheap so it’s the obvious choice. With a swallow it’s gone and the rest of the table eyes him suspiciously. He was also the only other queer person on the team. As such, they have of course hooked up in the past, but it quickly became apparent they were more likely to be boy friends than boyfriends.
“What do they put in this beer? It’s not very good.” Jacob clapped his tongue on the top of his mouth to clear out the taste of fermented pennies.
“You got a draft beer. Of course it’s not very good.” Tic rolled his eyes.
“It’s not draft beer. It’s house beer. It’s different.” Jacob tried to defend his terrible choice, but failed.
“Just pay attention.” Thomas huffs. He always took these trivia nights more seriously than everyone else. He and Jacob hadbeen friends for many years despite their many differences. When Thomas had gone through his messy divorce, Jacob had been the one to help how he could. Thomas was a bit of a history buff, and was easily the biggest brain on the team. Jacob admired that in his friend, even if he was perhaps a bit too critical in his line of thinking. Physically he was strong and thick, with a mop of brown hair and thick black glasses.
“We’re paying attention.” Tic chuckled as he waved Thomas’ concerns away.
“Alright everyone, it’s time for the music round! I’ll play the songs, and you get it wrong, okay?” The host announced in his thick accent. In a few moments, the song came on, and within moments, Jacob knew it.
“It’s Donna Summer.” he responded.
“It’s not Donna Summer.” Jeff replies. He seems huffy. He thinks just because he was alive when she was a thing that he knows who is who, but he often does not. Of the four men on the team, Jeff was certainly the most rigid. He was a very influential business man who had spent the better part of his life working for the military of some kind. Jacob never got many details on his past, but despite his more tight laced approach to life, he was always eager to buy them all another round of whatever terrible drink they might want next. He was friendly enough, but certainly the most stubborn of the bunch. He was brilliant in many aspects, but not when it came to music.
“It is. Trust me. It’s Donna Summer.” Jacob took another sip and choked it down. The beer is warm now so it tastes even more unpleasant by the gulp.
The next song plays. Jeff responds with Crosby, Stills and Mash.
“It’s Fleetwood Mac.” Jacob responded and scribbled the words down before Jeff could snatch away the pen. The music round was the one place he flourished. In a few notes he could figure out most of the answers without issue.
“Oh yeah. That’s definitely Fleetwood Mac.” Thomas agrees. Jeff frowns, but relents, and the music round continues.
Before long, they are given time to confirm their answers, and the real conversations begin. The time between rounds is short but full of gossip, and is often the best part of the evening. For instance, Jeff is back in the dating scene after his wife mounted a broom and flew into the sun (according to him). Tic has reduced his regular lovers down to one hand (a big step for him) and Thomas had been seeing someone who seemed real.
“How’s the new girlfriend Thomas?” Jacob asked, but Thomas shifted uncomfortably.
“She…Well she wanted some time to-” Jacob instantly regretted asking.
“Oh. Shit. I’m sorry I didn’t-” Jacob backpedaled, but too late.
“It’s okay. I wasn’t going to talk about it I just-” Thomas shrugged and took a drink of his beer.
“Just wasn’t the one I guess.” Jeff responded.
“You straight people confuse me.” Jacob chuckled.
“Speak for yourself stupid.” Tic chuckled to himself. “They’re actually quite easy to understand. It’s usually just conversations about sports and women. But the best part is they don’t understand women, so it’s mostly just sports.”
“I can’t even spell sports.” Jacob chuckled.
“I’m not surprised there.” Jeff chortled, poking Jacob’s slightly softer tummy under the table. For his age he was remarkably in shape- a fact that he often lorded over the rest of them.
