Four

“Linda was right. You are a horny devil!” she said with a laugh. He smiled and shrugged.
“Why don’t we go for a walk?” He asked, changing the subject. “We could probably both use some air and a chance to walk off the alcohol.”
“Sounds good,” she replied. Lucy took him to a bar just outside the campus. The walk helped clear both of thier heads.
The bar was a sports bar. There were lots of televisions and games. There was even a pool table and a foosball table. Lucy wanted to play pool. He tried to bow out gracefully since he was a poor pool player, but she insisted and he finally agreed. He wasn’t surprised to find out that she was very good. They were laughing as she beat him for the third time straight. Suddenly, Lucy fell silent.
Mike looked up at the direction she focused her attention to see a guy walking in with a hot blond. Another couple followed them. The first guy noticed Lucy and smirked until he saw Mike with her. He frowned and started working his way toward them. The others followed along.
“I need a huge favor,” Lucy said nervously as she looked up at Mike and he frowned.
“Lucy, sorry, but I don’t think so,” He replied. She looked confused.
“I haven’t even asked you yet,” she said.
“The guy coming this way with the ditzy blond is Sylvester. You want me to act as your new boyfriend,” He said.
“No, that’s not what I wabtws to ask you,” Lucy replied with a frown. “I mean, you’re right about knowing he is Sylvester, but not the favor. I’m not into petty games.”
“Good for you!” He said with a smile, and then asked, “In that case, what do you want me to do?”
“Sylvester can be a jerk. I need you to ignore whatever he does. I don’t want to create unnecessary scene here,” Lucy sighed.
“No problem,” He replied far too easily for Lucy satisfaction.
“No, you don’t understand. He will say nasty things and if that doesn’t work, he’ll try and start a fight with you. If he succeeds, Donald will join in,” she added.
“Charming. Don’t worry, I’m a lover not a fighter,” He joked.
“Well, will you promise me?” she asked nervously. He sighed.
“I can’t promise that nothing will happen, but I will promise to do my very best not to cause a scene,” He replied.
“I guess that will have to do. I just hope…” she began, but then shrugged as Sylvester and his friends neared. Mike went back to the pool game. He shot and missed.
“It’s your turn Lucy,” He said turning around.
“Mike, this is Sylvester, Donald and Cindy,” she said in introduction. Sylvester didn’t look happy. Neither did Donald for that matter. Cindy on the other hand was all but laughing.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know your name?” Lucy asked the ditzy blond politely.
“Tiffany,” the girl answered. He almost laughed out loud. Not only did she look like a ditz, but she sounded like one as well.
“Who’s he?” Sylvester asked gruffly, ignoring his offered hand. Donald did likewise, but his girlfriend Cindy clasped his hand warmly.
“Nice to meet you,” she said with a smile. He smiled back.
“You too,” He replied.
“This is Mike. He’s Becky’s cousin. He’s up for the the weekend,” Lucy replied.
“So where’s Becky?” Sylvester asked.
“Oh, you know her. She’s involved with the sorority. She had a mandatory function. Mike and I have been hanging out,” Lucy replied.
“Leave,” He said looking at Mike. He would have laughed, but he was actually serious.
“Okay. Lucy let’s go,” He replied with a forced smile.
“She stays,” Sylvester said and Mike sighed.
“That’s a very big problem. I doubt I could find my way back to the room without her,” He said.
“You’re staying in their room?” He asked, his face turning dark in anger. He groaned to himself.
“Yep, I brought my sleeping bag. There’s a nice comfortable spot right in front of the fridge,” He said, trying to keep things light. It was a waist of time with a guy like Sylvester.
“No you’re not,” Sylvester said. Everything was getting ridiculous.
“What the big deal? Why can’t he stay in Lucy’s room?” Tiffany asked.
“Sylvester, she’s right. We are not going out anymore, but even if we were, this shouldn’t matter. He’s Becky’s cousin and he’s sleeping on the floor,” Lucy said. Sylvester hesitated.
“Anyone care for a game of pool?” He asked, trying to change the subject and lighten the mood once again. He quickly realized that this was a mistake. He wasn’t sure why, but Sylvester and Donald were smiling and Lucy looked unhappy.
“Pool’s a wimpy sport. Let’s play foosball instead,” Sylvester said.
“Okay,” He replied.
“Sylvester don’t do this,” Lucy said. Mike was somehow confused, but he figured he had understand soon enough.
“What’s the big deal? He wants to play,” Sylvester said with a grin. Lucy sighed.
Mike went to the table to wait for him. Sylvester made a big deal about taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves.
“The rules are that each goal is a chug,” He said simply.
“That’s a little harsh,” He said.
“Hey, what are you a wimp? Can’t hold your beer?” He taunted.
“Oh, I can hold my beer, but a chug a goal would hurt even the best drinker,” He replied.
“So?” Sylvester asked.
“Look, Sylvester, I’m pretty good at this game. Why don’t we just stop this right now,” He said calmly. Sylvester snorted and Donald laughed.
“Sylvester’s been the bar champ since his first day on campus. His father was the champ when he came here. He taught Sylvester how to play foosball almost at the same time he showed him how to ride a bike,” Donald said with a grin. Mike was wondering if he could talk before this. These were the first words he had said all night.
“Well, that’s impressive. I’ve only been playing for a year and a half now. My father never went to college. He was doing boring war type stuff in the rangers. Maybe I should quit before we start,” Mike said.
“I knew you were a wimp,” Sylvester said snidely.
“Mike, let’s go,” Lucy said nervously. Mike took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Okay,” He sighed and turned away from Sylvester. Sylvester grabbed his arm and spun him back. Mike was tempted. He was sorely tempted, but he kept control.
“You wuss! You let a woman tell you what to do!” Sylvester growlesd and Mike shrugged his hand off his shoulder.
“Sylvester, we don’t know each other,” Mike began with a cool voice. “And I’m not all that impressed so far, but I’ve got to assume that you’re just having a bad night since Lucy dated you. If all of this is because you still care for Lucy, then why don’t you sleep it off and talk to her tomorrow?”
“I’m done with her!” Sylvester growled.
“That’s your decision,” He replied with a shrug. “Now, if you will excuse me, I think my cousin may be back from her sorority function.”
“Your not excused!” Sylvester snapped. “I don’t want you going anywhere with her!”
“Why?” Mike asked. “What does it matter if you no longer care for her?” Sylvester looked confused.
“How would you like to step outside?” He asked. Mike fought hard not to roll his eyes.
“Why don’t we settle this at the foosball table?” Mike offered and Sylvester grinned.
“Okay,” Sylvester replied, smiling victoriously. They took opposing sides of the table and he dropped the ball into play.
Sylvester was good, very good. The first goal was his and Donald brought over a pint-sized glass.
“That’s a little large, isn’t it?” Mike asked. Donald just shrugged. Mike sighed and drank it down.
“By the way, what’s this game go until?” He asked.
“Ten,” Sylvester said with a smile.
He put the ball into play. Sylvester made a beautiful shot. It would have gone in if Mike was a little slower.
“Nice shot,” Mike said. Sylvester looked up angrily. By the time he looked down the ball was already in the goal. There was silence around the bar. Everyone was looking at them.
‘Oh well, I wondered whether Lucy considered this a scene,’ he asked himself.
Sylvester drank his beer quickly. He spilled half of it, but Mike said nothing. Mike knew he was going to be drinking a lot more before the night was over.
“Lucy, did Becky tell you he joined a fraternity at his school?” He asked as Sylvester put the ball in play. Sylvester shot and Mike blocked, but he got the ball back.
“Yeah, being a pledge was real tough,” He added. Once again he shot. This time he caught the ball.
“The toughest part was the foosball contests,” Mike said as he made an easy pass to his front line.
“Angle shot’s open, Sylvester,” He said.
“Bullshit,” He replied.
“We played everyday. Of course the penalties were a little lighter there, but we still drank a lot of beer,” Mike said.
“Shut up and play,” Sylvester growled.
“Angle’s still open,” He replied.
“Fuck you!” Sylvester yelled. Mike shrugged and put the ball in the corner of his goal.
“I told you the angle was open,” He said. Sylvester drank his beer and put the next ball in play. He was a mad man. He tried every trick shot he had ever seen and one he hadn’t. It almost made it in. Mike had the ball with his goalie.
“You know, I’ve always though that bank shot were the hardest,” Mike said.
“No way! It’s not open,” Sylvester snapped. He looked carefully.
“You’re right, but the double bank is,” Mike said as he shot with his goalie. Sylvester was a little slower in drinking this beer.
“Why don’t we call it a draw and go our separate ways?” He asked. Sylvester wiped his mouth and burped loudly.
“Play and don’t talk,” He snarled.
“Okay,” He said with a shrug. This time he remained silent as he score quickly twice. Sylvester chugged his beers, nearly choking on the last. He drank five pint-sized beers in five minutes.
“That’s it. Game’s over,” Mike said.
“No way!” Sylvester growled.
“Sylvester, this is silly. I have no intention of making you drink ten pints. You’d be lucky to last another one without puking. I know you and Lucy have a past, but let it go for now. I’m no threat to that. I’m here for a few days to visit my cousin, that’s it,” He said. He should have expected it, but he was somehow surprised when he punched him. Mike gave him a short jab to the solar plexus and he fell to the floor gasping for air.
“Donald, take your friend back top his room,” Mke said with a sigh. Donald hesitated, looking at him in fear.