First a performance

Marianne was outside making calls when Doug and Jenn returned.

“Did your friend leave?” Doug asked Scott.

“She’s making a phone call, besides, she’s Jenn’s friend.”

“Oh no, we just played volleyball together, something you’d know if you had come to more than one of our games.”

“Jenn, I know you are upset about the lack of communication, but it seems like there is more than that going on here. If you are upset about something, can we talk about it? I’d like to have fun tonight but it feels like there’s a big gray cloud over everything.”

Jenn screwed her lips into a half-frown, half-pout.

“Honestly, I’m happy to see you, I’m happy we’re all together again, I’ll try to relax. I want to have fun with you guys too.”

“Good, because karaoke is about to start.”

“No. Scott Williams I am not doing karaoke with you.” Scott smiled, of course Jenn would end up doing karaoke, she just would take a bit of coaxing.

Doug downed his drink, “Let’s go Scott.”

“We doing it?”

“Guys, no, you can’t.” Jenn was already embarrassed.

“Oh we are doing it, you think you can still hit the high notes Scott?”

“Only one way to find out.”

“Oh, no.” Jenn cried and hid her face in her hands as Scott and Doug walked up to the karaoke machine.

They had to wait a few songs, the crowd was bigger and younger than it used to be, but soon Doug and Scott were standing with their heads down, resting on their closed fist dramatically.

“Ladies and gentlemen, performing their signature song, Doug Carter and, returning from his 4-year stint with the US Army, Scott Williams.

They got a very good round of applause, with several ladies wolf-whistling.

The speakers blared out a simple and haunting, one note piano melody.

Doug raised his head, “Turn around” he sang as softly and dramatically as he could.

There were a few patrons that remembered the days when they would be subjected to this duet every week, but everyone cheered for them at the end, and a good number of people wanted to shake Scott’s hand, to welcome him back or thank his for serving.

It took a bit for them to get back to the table.

Jenn was waiting for them with a fresh round of drinks.

“Jenn, for us? Was it that good?”

“Oh no, I just needed something to help me get through it, thought you guys could use something to wash the shame away.”

“Well, I thought it was great. Very dramatic and sexy.” Marianne had returned.

“Any luck?” Scott asked.

She nodded and smiled. “She should be here any minute now, too bad she missed that show.”

“What’s going on?” Doug asked.

“Nothing, she was just seeing if her friend was going to make it.”

A number of other songs were performed before Doug went back up to perform another song.

Scott leaned over to Jenn, “What song are we going to do Jenn?”

“Never.”

“I don’t know if they have that song.”

“Oh, that’s too bad, guess I’ll have to sit this one out then.”

“Come on, Doug’s on his second song, you can’t lose that badly to him.” Jenn needed a few drinks and a lot of coaxing to get on stage, but once she did, she was a lot of fun.

“Doug went to theater camp Scott, I’m not going to compete at Karaoke with drama nerds.”

“Wait, Doug went to theater camp?” Marianne practically spit out her drink.

“Yeah Marianne, he was in every play and musical in High School.”

“Oh no, he and Marissa might actually hit it off.”

“Marissa?” Jenn eyed Marianne suspiciously.

“My roommate, she did theater in college, and I think she’s doing some local theater stuff.”

“Scott, are you trying to set Doug up?”

“Come on Jenn, we both know if it’s left up to Doug he’ll end up dating someone off a romance app when he’s 42.”

“Really?” Marianne asked, “He’s a good singer, he’s got a bit of a fan club over there, you can’t tell me he doesn't get any action.”

Jenn laughed. “He’s fine on stage, it’s off the stage when he stammers and runs away that ruins it.”

“That bad?”

“Yeah, but if your friend can pull it off, it will be legendary.” Scott smiled and winked at Marianne.

“She owes me, big, she’ll get it done."

Before Doug got back from performing his song, Marianne was heading to the parking lot to meet her friend.

“Scott, what’s going on?” Jenn asked.

“I told Marianne that I was Doug’s wingman, so she called a friend of hers to talk to him.”

Jenn scowled. “It was supposed to be the three of us tonight.”