The end of the week floats in a blur and arrives fast.

  The clock shows eight-thirty pm and I’m already in pajamas, laying on my bed, hand behind my head when I receive a call from Jesse, obviously already under the influence of alcohol. Or pot. Or both. Unlike me, he didn’t stop smoking four years ago. Despite explaining how pot, or any other substances ingested by smoke, are deeply dangerous for human bodies.

  “Alexeeeeeeej, how are you?”

  My fingers pinch the bridge of my nose, but my smile still stretches uncontrollably. “Hey, idiot. I’m fine. What’s going on, you’re drunk?”

  “Drunk? Come on. I had like… four glasses of champagne.” He slurs and hearing him on the phone doesn’t help for the understanding.

  My brows reach each other. “Champagne? You have something to celebrate?”

  “Hum, other than the beauty of life?”

  “Cut the crap,” A snort on the other line. He giggles in a way that tells me he’s totally drunk. I hear the muffle of the phone against some fabric and voices speaking but I can’t make any of the words.

  “I’m with Tania. Remember? At her bar.” He seems distracted.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s quiz night,” his mouth is definitely torn in a grin when he says it. Like it was his weapon from the start. I can imagine him telling the people he’s with that this would be the ultimate reason for me to come. As if I was so into quizzes I just couldn’t refuse.

  I do like them. I’m fond of learning and remembering stuff that usually nobody cares about. And, it is pretty fun seeing impressed faces turning to me whenever I give the right answer. We went a couple of times with Jesse, when the locals would propose such nights. At first, I thought he genuinely wanted to share one of my passions with me but I quickly understood it was just a ploy to flirt with girls. We would always be the winning team, and some women fancy intelligent fellows. I ended up accompanying a few of them to their houses and stayed the night. But it never resulted in serious relationships. I was, and still am, too focused on my work and my objectives to really invest myself in demanding creatures. Either men or women. It's been a looong time now.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “And?” I tell him, because I want to see him squirm. Plus, I’m already in bed. I’ve been working a lot on my article these past few days and my head is about to explode. Some renewed kindle flame resurged after what happened at work.

  He gasps and I can almost picture his wide eyes and open mouth. “And? Well, you have to come! I swear, it’s not like the ones we did before. There’s real competition right now. Your time to shine, baby.”

  “Like I’m always rushing on an occasion to be under the spotlight, you know me so well.”

  “Oh, please. It’s basically opening night! First party organized. Everyone is here.” He emphasizes on .

  “Like, all of Medford? Fifty-seven-thousand people?”

  “You’re such a pain,” he laughs. I look at my loose pants and comfy socks, a sigh escapes my mouth. “How are you going to find the love of your life if you always stay inside?”

  “When did I say I was searching?” I immediately respond. But I’m already up. I watch my computer and the file, still open, save it and close the laptop. With my thumb I press the speaker button and start changing.

  “You need it! You need a night out. I can tell. You can trust me.”

  “I trust you,” I admit while I finish buttoning my plaid shirt and black jeans. He laughs with his mouth wide open by the sound of it.

  “Got him, guys.”

  “Who is there, exactly?” I grab the phone and walk to my entrance, sliding my feet inside my boots and putting my coat on. He takes a second to answer.

  “The usual. Just a few people. Don’t start panicking.”

  “I’m not.”

  I am. A little. I don’t really like it when there’s too many strangers with whom I have to socialize, pretending I’m someone else. They don’t really need me to be different but that’s just my way of coping. I have to create a character that would avoid me being too scathing, reserved, unpleasant. With Jesse, I can be myself. But we are friends for a reason. He understands me. And he likes every aspect of me. When I tell him no, he doesn’t force me into something I don’t want to experience. He sees whenever I’m not in the mood or having way too much energy. I don’t have a battery with him. Which is refreshing. And relaxing.

  “I’m giving your name for the teams.” He said and I hear him get up. Car keys in hand, I unlock it and get behind the wheel. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell them to write Alex.”

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  “See you in a minute!”