The trivia host steps onto the stage and takes the microphone. He’s wearing a polyester vest and bow tie, and rambles on for far too long about the ‘no cheating’ policy.
There are six or seven tables with groups like ours sat at them. It’s easy to distinguish the trivia crowd from the regular weekend bar goers. It’s like an invisible line has been drawn down the center of the place, with an empty block in the middle by the bar.
Anaise returns with a tray, some sheets of paper beneath her arm, and a pen in her mouth. She puts the paper and pen in the middle of the table, and says, “I’m gonna need you to behave," to Tek as she places a can of Red Bull in front of him.
“I’m always an angel,” he deadpans.
After making sure Austin and I have our beers, Anaise takes a seat and starts pouring herself a glass of wine from a new, full bottle. “I’m serious. They know you’re here.”
I lean forward. “I’m gonna need to know what’s going on.”
“Nothing’s going on,” Tek says.
“Doesn’t sound like it.” I look at Austin. “Is he banned, or something?”
“I don’t come here.” Tek takes a swig of the Red Bull.
“He’s lying,” Austin tells me. “We used to come here with Eden, but the pair of them kept getting kicked out.”
“Of the bar?”
“Of the trivia comp.”
“It’s been a couple years, but the last time they got into a fist fight with Quiz-team-a Aguilera,” Anaise adds. “They’re here too, by the way.” She points to the far corner.
Tek pushes away his can, folds his arms on the table, and rests his head on them. “They cheated. They deserved it.”
Anaise rolls her eyes. “They did not.”
“They know the host.” Tek sulks.
“It’s Broadrock. Everyone knows everyone.”
“They still got the tiebreaker wrong,” Tek says, turning his head to the other side.
“What was the question?” I ask.
“What European country has the largest population?”
“Russia,” I reply.
Tek sits up suddenly and smacks the table with both hands. “Thank you!”
“Uh-uh-uh.” Anaise waggles her finger. “The correct answer is Germany.”
“No it’s not,” Tek and I say at the same time.
Austin sighs, “Not again… Look, the quiz guy argued that Russia isn’t fully in Europe, so the answer is Germany.”
“But was it specified,What country—that's one-hundred percent fully in Europe—has the largest population?”I ask.
He sighs again. “No. But it was implied.”
“How?” I argue. “Moscow and St Petersburg are European cities, are they not?”
“Yes, but—I thought we squashed this shit years ago?”
With my beer in hand, I use the bottle to point towards the quiz master. “If he pulls any shit like that tonight, I’ll go down fighting.”
