The Middle

*Brian’s P.O.V.*

“You can count on that” I answered in excitement after a long break.

I was thinking about that blonde girl from that bar. She was sexy and didn’t complain as Sarah used to do recently. But I couldn’t be selfish in that case. I saw Zacky’s sparkling eyes when I described her to him. So I could use that little new drinking game as a chance to end his time of being single maybe. Since his girlfriend cheated on him he hasn’t been in touch with any girls. Glad that his best friend was there to help him.

“I already thought you were afraid to see that sexy girl again” he winked at me from the couch.

“Me? Afraid of girls?” I burst out in laughter almost falling from the other couch “I’m up for it. If you really want to get drunk again though I don’t think how you really want to top that. I really don’t want to be you tomorrow” I chuckled.

“By that time I’m already used to that amount of alcohol. Thanks to my drinking partner, Mr. Gates” he used his sarcastic voice.

“You challenge me all the time but have to face at the end that you can’t beat me” I shrugged and tried not to burst out in laughter again.

I really didn’t know if he just tried to win that competition as well since he must know that he really had no chance. Zacky has been good in other things and he had to accept that. Though I really liked his drinking challenges. I used that as some excuse to drink more than usual. As if alcohol is no answer to anything. It was definitely my answer to my problems. Otherwise I would go insane by thinking of Sarah all the time. She still didn’t send me any messages yet. I actually thought she might regret of what she did. There was a chance that I could go to the police of what she did to me. But I didn’t have the heart to do something like this. We couldn’t switch from a loving couple to someone so cold.
I couldn’t stop loving her but things had changed. The nose still hurt like hell and I was afraid that it might be broken. Zacky might have noticed it but gladly didn’t ask anymore questions after my short statement. That’s why he was my best friend. We didn’t bother the other one with annoying questions. If we wanted to share something, we did.

“What do you think of me ordering Pizza and you just rest here, juicer” I patted his shoulder while passing him and going straight to the kitchen again.

“Take a big one” I heard him yelling from the couch, his hand resting on his head.

“With extra cheese I know” I completed his sentence.

I knew Zacky too well. He loved his big pizzas with some extra cheese while I preferred it with a pizza crust that wasn’t too big. Everyone had its own preferences.
Zacky’s collection of flyers were huge. He probably had a flyer of every restaurant in town – lazy guy that couldn’t enjoy a good meal at some good restaurant. I never understood some of his decisions but I really didn’t had to. I just dialled the number of the same pizza delivery we used to order: Little Caesars. They have had a wide range of pizzas – no matter you were a veggie or liked it spicy. They satisfied all the tastes of their costumers and if not you could order your own custom pizza. That’s why they were one of my favourite delivery services in Huntington Beach.
I ordered twice the ‘3 Meat Treat’, gave them Zacky’s address and now only had to wait until they would bring it over – juicy and hot.

I actually felt a bit sorry for Zacky. Though he just had six whiskey shots he already suffered from all the alcohol. Usually it was taking it a bit longer until the alcohol had its effect on him but today he was a bit different. I couldn’t figure out what it was exactly but he was probably still a little bit upset that I was lying to him last night.

~*~

I was leading Zacky to the bar that I have been last night. Well for a Monday night many people, almost men that looked like they belonged to a biker gang or something like that, have found their way here.
I couldn’t help myself than looking for that blonde chick. And there she was. She even just looked prettier than last night but I wasn’t here to start an affair or something, I still wore my engagement ring anyway, I was here to have fun with Zacky.

“There she is” I whispered into his ear and pointed at that blonde chick that was wearing a black top that gave you a good chance now to spot her tattoos on her arms and breast bone.

She wasn’t really plastered with meaningless tattoos. I guess they were telling her story and more about the person that was wearing them. He clicked with his tongue and without adding any other comments he went to the bar. But before he arrived the counter I grabbed his arm and pulled him back to me.

“What are you doing?” I raised my left eyebrow.

“Where do you want to order your drinks?” he chuckled.

Silly me. Where do you want to order your drinks if not at the bar?! I let him go to order the first drinks while I was looking for a table.

I was happy that Mike gave me that week off just to settle down again and refresh my energy before we were really busy in touring through the states. I still didn’t ask him the question, but tonight it was a good opportunity. Fingers crossed that his answer will be positive.
Looking to my right I noticed that he was just coming back with the girl by his side.

“Her name is Roxy by the way. So you can stop calling her sexy blonde” he said out loud, so that she could hear it.

That means revenge, Mr. Vengeance. You better sleep tonight with eyes open.
I tried to smile about his stupid joke and helped Roxy with all the beers in her hands until she disappeared smiling behind the counter.

“Did you buy beer for everyone here?” I looked at almost 14 bottles of beer.

“Nope. It is just for our little drinking game. That’s all” he pulled out some cards of his pocket.

“We are going to play a very simple game. So I hopefully can beat you this time. It is called Red or Black. One is holding the cards and the other is guessing the colour, red or black. If the guesser is right then the person who holds the card drinks and so on. I have a 50% chance that I can win here.”

I only nodded and was just waiting for all his complaining about me winning just another drinking game. He started to guess while I was just holding the cards.
We arranged that everyone had to guess 3 times until we would switch the position for so long until all 14 beers were gone. Zacky started and as I was saw it coming he was drinking his three beers in no time. So it was now my time. I stretched myself a little bit until I tried to look concentrated. Actually it was just a way to confuse him a little bit first until I only guessed one thing wrong.

“The first round was just to make you look good. Wait for vengeance” he made that terrible devil sound.

I shook my head laughing and took the cards again. So it was going back and forth. I waited for his vengeance a really long time but 14 bottles of beer were empty and he had been drinking 9 beers while I just had 5. One point for me again.

“Finally give up to challenge me here” I patted his head that was lying on the table.

He gestured that I should finally shut up which I did then. The next second he was storming out of the bar without saying anything. Was he just angry that I won again?! Zacky wasn’t really someone that loved to lose the games, but this wasn’t meant to be serious. He had suggested it and even could choose the game. Should I just follow him to wrap his arms around him, telling him that everything is good or just stay here all alone again?

Notes