The Fool

By some miracle Aidan recovered from his broken collarbone in two months. During these months he had completely devoted himself to study, he still had contact with Steve and the other members of the team, but he hadn’t met them in person during these months. He had thought about Mylene and what her kissing him meant, was she in love with him? Or was it just some prank? He couldn´t figure her out at all.

One day when he was sitting at the dinner table studying for his upcoming exams the doorbell rang. Getting up he wondered who it could be. He hadn’t seen Mylene either in these months, his last memory of her being where she kissed him right in front of everyone. But it wasn’t Mylene who had rung the doorbell, it was Steve.
“Yo Aidan, how’s it going?”
“Steve? I haven’t heard from you in days. How’s it going being the team captain and all?”
“Well, we have won all our games so far I guess I’m able to step in your footsteps and never let the team down. Some of the new players who enlisted are very good so we’ll manage somehow. But that wasn’t the reason I came here today.”
“Really, then what did you come here for Steve? I don’t think it was because you wanted to keep me company?”
“Yep, you’re right about that. But I did come to ask if you had any plans for tonight?”
“Nah, I was thinking of taking the evening of and just relax. Since I´ve learned all that I need to learn for my exam”
“Great! Then could you please come over to my place at 6 PM? The team has planed a little party and we’re going to have it at my house. So what do you say? Do you want to come?”
“I don’t know. I’m not much of a party animal so… and since it’s the team that has planned this, I’m not a member anymore so.”
“What the hell are you saying? Many of the current team members are still saying you’re the only captain. Even if you aren’t a member you’re always welcome to spend time with us. I was asked to bring you along since we all were so good friends when you were in the team. I can’t disappoint my fellow teammates can I?”
“Alright, if that’s the way you want it so ok; I guess I could come by. I don’t know how long I’ll stay tough. Good enough for you?”
“Sure, as long as you come by it’s ok you leave anytime you want”
“Ok, 6PM at your house was it? I’ll be there. Do you want me to bring something?”
“Nope, we have everything we need.”
“I’ll be there. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I haven’t eaten all day so. I need some energy for tonight.”
“Sure Aidan. But I’ll see you tonight then. You’re welcome. Have a nice day”
“See ya later”

Shutting the door and locking it, Aidan turns around and goes into his kitchen. “Man, I haven’t been to a single party in my whole life. The few times I have been asked I have declined the offer. Maybe it’s because I want to get some change of scenery instead of just studying all day long.”

Making himself some fries and meat, Aidan eats and thinks on what he should wear tonight.

Later, at 5.50 PM Aidan walks towards Steve´s house wearing a jacket, a sleeveless t-shirt and pants, all in black. He doesn’t know what to expect since this is his first time going to a party.
As he arrives at Steve’s house his head almost breaks open because of the loud music coming from the house. Upon ringing the doorbell he can hear footsteps coming towards the door and when the door opens he can see Steve standing there with his long black hair tied back into a pony-tail, Aidan has never seen Steve this way.
“Yo Aidan, took you long enough. Come on in.”
“Steve, what happened to your hair?” Aidan asks upon entering.
“Nothing much, some girls wanted to give me a make-over and the other guys dared me to do it so. Here I am. The only thing they did was to put my hair into a ponytail so. They thought of braiding it first but I said NO and they listened.”
“Ok, I’m a little shocked since it’s the first time I’ve seen you like this.”
“No wonder, I almost screamed when I looked in the mirror after they were finished. But let’s not talk about this anymore, come on. Let’s go and meet the other guests.”

Steve walks in front of Aidan and goes straight into the living room. There all of his old team mates are gathered drinking along with their girlfriends if they have any.
“Yo guys, look who finally came” Steve says.
“It’s Captain!!” Everyone screams. Rising up they rush towards Aidan and start bombarding him with questions
“How are you? Are you feeling alright?”
“When will you come back to the team? We miss you”
For answers, Aidan gives what he thinks is best
“I’m ok. Somehow I managed to heal this broken bone faster than expected.”
“I won’t be coming back to the team anytime soon. I need to study for the final exams and then find someplace to work.”

Aidan is brought to the sofa where he is forced to sit down and is asked if he wants something to drink, alcohol, beer, cider or just some coke. Aidan politely refuses anything with alcohol in it and goes for coke.
He never thought his team-mates would mix vodka in with the coke they gave him. He didn’t notice the bitter aftertaste either since he is used to drinking a lot of coke.
So after a couple of these drinks Aidan is starting to feel hot and can’t walk straight.
“Steve, what did the guys do to me?”
“I don’t know, it looks like they mixed some vodka in with the coke they gave you. So how does it feel Aidan? Being drunk for the very first time?”
“Right now I want to take a run outside to cool down, but I can’t say I’ve felt this good before.”
“That’s good, some people puke their first time, but it seems you’ve got a good resistance to alcohol.”
“Yeah, my parents told me they used to drink a lot when they were younger, maybe I inherited their resistance to alcohol.”
“Maybe, but what do you say? Do you want some more vodka and coke?”
“Sure, it doesn’t taste bad and I feel great.”
“That’s the spirit captain”
“Steve, I’ve told you again and again not to call me captain.”
“Old habit, anyway, let’s get you that drink shall we?”

Time flies when you’re having fun and after five hours with drinking two glasses of coke mixed with vodka every hour Aidan could barely stand up. So instead of trying to stand up he sat down in Steve´s sofa and listened to the music, drumming along to the rhythm.
“Alright everyone, it’s time to leave for the pub” Steve said as he turned the music of.
Everyone started to get up and headed towards the hall to put their shoes on. Aidan still couldn’t get up from the sofa; he tried multiple times to stand up, only to fall back down to the sofa. He started to feel sick and bent his head forward and put his hands up to support his head. He understood why Mylene had tripped the last time he saw her, if she had been this drunk then it´s amazing she could sing that well.
“Yo Aidan, how are you feeling?”
“Weird, I can’t stand up and I feel sick. Like I need to puke”
“That’s actually good news. The other guys were afraid you couldn’t get drunk by the way you drank those drinks. But for your first time of drinking I think you’re doing great.”
“Just help me get up would you? Don’t praise me.”
Steve reached his hand out for Aidan to grab, helping him to stand up on his legs and then supporting him as they started to walk towards the hall. Steve had put on his shoes earlier so all he had to do was to help Aidan get his shoes on. Then after exiting the door and locking it. They started their walk towards the pub. Since Aidan couldn´t walk by himself Steve grabbed him around the waist to support him.

After a while Aidan spoke: “Steve, stop. I think I’m really going to throw up this time”
“Ok, we have some bushes over there so let’s go to them”
When they arrive, Aidan stumbles away from Steve and falls on his knees and starts to violently throw up. After doing so Aidan felt much better. He could still feel himself being drunk, but compared to how he felt before it was way better than before.
“Aidan, are you feeling better now? “
“Yes, in fact I am feeling a lot better now. Thanks for asking”
“So, I’m heading of to this pub called ‘the Garden’, they’re having a karaoke night and I somewhat want to sing my lungs out. All of the other guys should already be there. Want to join?”
“Sure. I’ve done a lot of stuff I’ve never done before tonight. Why not finish it with going to a pub and sing my lungs out?”
“Then it’s settled. And boy are we going to have a great time tonight. I heard a rumor some pretty girls were going to show up so maybe we’ll find a cute girl for you as well? Or if we´re even more lucky you might even run into Mylene again, you haven´t seen her since the hotel right?”
“Yeah, I wonder what´s she´s been up to this time. It wouldn´t hurt her if she called would it?”
“Does she even know your number Aidan? And after what she gave you at the hotel maybe she didn´t want to see you, you know, sort out her feelings and so”
“That´s why I told her she didn´t have to give me anything. I´m not ready for a relationship right now”
“Boy, you got a long way to go if you don´t accept a girl´s feelings. Hopefully we´ll find someone for you tonight so you can learn how to be a man”
“Nah, I´ll settle for singing and being drunk for tonight, maybe some other time I´ll have time for girls”

When they talked they didn´t notice but they were right infront of the pub Garden, from the inside loud music could be heard and Aidan´s ear started to ache. But nonetheless he stood in line together with Steve and when after paying the entrance fee he walked in…

End Chapter 9