Dinner with the rest of the team

After showering off and getting into a fresh change of clothes, you meet up with the rest of the team to head off for dinner. The restaurant for tonight is about a fifteen minute walk away. It’s just the right length to stretch out your tired legs after the match.

Luckily for your rumbling stomach, it doesn’t take long for your party of six to get seated. The place is no-nonsense, no shits given, and when the waitress comes by a minute later, everybody fires off their orders. From the way the waitress yells at the kitchen, you suspect that food will get served either very soon, or in a really long time.

“How’s freshman year going?” Jason asks, turning to you, Val, and Mars.

“Exhausting,” Val says. “But in the best way possible. It’s been non-stop action since we arrived. I feel like a whole year’s gone by, but we’re barely a month in!”

“Ah, I remember that feeling,” Charlie says, looking oddly wistful. “College seems to be speeding by me these days. You’ve got to enjoy your time here while you’ve got it. It doesn’t last forever.”

“You haven’t graduated yet, dude,” Jason laughs. “Stop lecturing like you’re some grizzled old veteran. Smart money says you fail a class and have to take a fifth year.”

“I mean, if it weren’t for the price tag… I’d consider doing it on purpose,” Charlie laughs.

“You’re not excited to get on with the rest of your life?” Mars asks. “I remember by the end of senior spring, I was dying to get out of high school.”

“Yeah, but that’s different,” Charlie says. “College is fun. Real work is a slog. They’re not even close. Come on, where else can you get crowned two-time king of the beer pong championships?”

“I wasn’t aware I was in the presence of a master,” you say, raising an eyebrow.

“You have much to learn, young padawan. The champion is in the house,” Charlie smiles, clearly enjoying the chance to flex his title.

Just then, the waitress returns with all of your meals balanced high on her arms. It’s hot, greasy food, just the way you want it. Everyone else must be in agreement, because everyone digs in with gusto, ready to fuel up again after the game today.

The conversation continues through dinner, lighthearted banter about college life, and before long, the plates have been cleared off the table, and a bill lands on your table.

“So, what’s the plan now?” Valentine asks the upperclassmen.

“There’s a dive bar around here that we went to last year,” Jason says. “We could go back.”

“Hey, I remember it. Real solid place. Cheap citywides, and they don’t card,” Keegan nods.

“Let’s head over afterwards,” Charlie says, and just like that, it’s agreed.

Your gang arrives at the bar a few minutes later, quickly occupying one of the open tables. As you scan the offerings, Mars nudges you, pointing at an item on the drink list.

“What’s a citywide?” she asks.

“Beats me,” you say, looking to the others around the table for assistance.

“Ah, you’ve missed out on a Philly classic,” Charlie says. “The citywide’s a beer and a shot. Simple. No frills. Classic.”

“You’ve got to try it,” Jason says. “It’s an experience.”

With that decided, everybody at the table orders one to kick off the night. The bartender gives the lot of you a knowing smile, and everybody toasts, downing the shot and beer to get the night going. You feel the beginnings of a pleasant buzz within the minute, the heat of the (not-so-high-quality) shot somehow leaving you craving another. But it also reminds you—it’s been a minute since you’ve relieved yourself. You excuse yourself from the table to do your business.

As you get back from the bathroom, you find that the boys are having a raucous time, laughing and discussing something loudly, while Mars and Val chat quietly with one another. That leaves you with a simple choice: which conversation do you want to join?

Mars +5
Valentine +5
Jason +5
Charlie +5
Keegan +5