“I think you like him,” Ethan said.
“I like him as a friend.”
“’Friend,’” Henry said back with air quotes.
“I enjoy his company. What’s so wrong with that? It’s not going anywhere.” Cameron was the one going somewhere. “You guys are just in comfortable, boring relationships and thus want to live vicariously through my life. Too bad my life can’t be all drama and sex all the time.”
“That means you’re doing it wrong,” Henry said.
“Okay, who’s ready for some answers?” The MC called out to wild cheers and a light round of opera applause from Brain Trust.
He read through the list of answers. Cameron and his friends reverted to their nervous anticipation poses. Ethan rubbed his temples and looked down at the table. Henry pretended to pray. Cameron looked at his teammates with a touch of pre-nostalgia kicking in.
His team remained calm as they managed to get the first five questions correct. They knew they were right.
“And now the final question. Number six,” The MC said. “And this one was apparently a doozy. Only one team got it right.”
Cameron side-eyed Brain Trust. They smiled and patted each other on the back.
“And the person who was nominated for directing two films in the year 2000 is…not Steven Spielberg.”
Brain Trust leapt up then shot back down just as quickly. From victory to defeat in zero-to-sixty. Such was life.
“Sorry Brain Trust,” The MC said with a knowing smile. “The correct answer is…Steven Soderbergh.TrafficandErin Brockovich. That means our winner is Taints Misbehaving!”
Cameron and his table jumped up and screamed so loud they could’ve shattered windows. Taints Misbehaving ascended to the stage while “We Are the Champions” played to accept their trophy and thirty-five dollar bar tab. This was as good as life got, Cameron thought.
They didn’t waste a moment using that bar tab, which bought them each two more beers. Cameron actually felt a small lump expanding in his throat, and the emotion was written all over his friends’ faces.
“You guys, this is one of our last pub trivias,” Ethan said. “It’s bittersweet.”
“We’ll still be friends,” Cameron said.
“Yeah, but we won’t all be together like this. We won’t all be able to just hang out and drink on a weekday night at the drop of a hat.”
“You still have two more years.”
“But you don’t.”
“It doesn’t mean life is ending. Just time for the next chapter.”
“Excuse the sentimentality, Cameron.” Henry glared at his shredded beer labels on the table. “Not all of us are ready to turn the page.”
Silence descended over Taints Misbehaving. Cameron wouldn’t let their night end on this note. Endings didn’t have to be these depressing events. They were new beginnings.
“We still have a few more months. It’s too soon to get mushy.” Cameron raised his glass. “Let’s live it up!”
He downed the rest of his beer. “Who wants shots?”
Φ
Three rounds of shots later, Taints Misbehaving was ready to call it a night. The alcohol had washed away the awkwardness from before. Sometimes, Cameron didn’t understand his friends. Henry and Ethan slipped on their jackets, which proved more challenging after exhausting their tab.
“I’m going to go to Nolan’s,” Henry said.
“And you’re going to Greg’s?” Cameron asked. Ethan nodded.
“Good idea. You guys don’t want to waste your drunkenness.”
