Beer, Babes, and Bewilderment

Raj cracked open a can of cherry cola and leaned back against the counter like he owned the kitchen. Which he didn't. But it was a party, and at parties, you could pretend things. Like pretending you weren't completely out of your league with the girl currently giggling in the living room because you said something kinda funny once three days ago.

Nick bumped into him, two plastic cups of mystery punch sloshing like danger in his hands.

Raj raised his can in mock toast. "To our impending public humiliation."

Nick smirked, setting one cup down. "You mean our glorious rise to social relevance?"

"Oh, right. That. Yeah. Definitely what this is."

They clinked plastic and aluminum like two kids playing grown-up.

"Dude," Raj said, glancing over his shoulder like someone might overhear them, "Isla laughed at one of my jokes."

"She touched my arm," Nick whispered.

Raj looked at him, solemn. "I saw. She did the linger touch. That wasn't accidental."

Nick nodded. "Taylor asked me if I lift."

Raj blinked. "You don't."

"I told her I do now."

They both dissolved into quiet laughter, eyes wide with the terror of their own success.

"This is like—this is like we found the cheat codes," Raj said. "Like, suddenly we're main characters in someone else's anime."

"No, no," Nick corrected, pointing with his cup, "We're side characters who stumbled into a crossover episode. Joey's the main character. We're just… background comedy relief."

"Speak for yourself. I've got a B plot brewing." Raj took a victory sip.

Nick looked serious for a second. "Do you think this is because of Joey?"

"I mean," Raj said, shrugging, "He is the nexus of all this hot girl weirdness. But also—I've been on fire tonight. Isla laughed at my Star Trek joke, dude. Star Trek."

Nick leaned in. "Taylor asked me to dance. Dance. I thought my moves were banned under the Geneva Convention."

"I’ve seen your moves. They are."

They bumped fists, both giddy and deeply, deeply confused.

"I don't know how long this spell is gonna last," Raj said, "but if this is a glitch in the Matrix, I'm riding it till Keanu shows up."

Nick lifted his cup. "To Joey."

Raj raised his can. "To whatever the hell is happening."

They drank, trying not to look like guys who knew it would probably all fall apart by morning.

But tonight?

Tonight was perfect.