They were driving for a good half an hour now and the oppressive heat inside the car wasn't helping Francis to enjoy the trip. He hated the situation. Why would Veronica feel the need to interfere in his life, which, contrary to what she was thinking, was thrilling? The young man couldn't struggle longer against this unbearable condition.
''Why are we doing this non-sense again?'' he asked to his abductor, which didn't seem saddened by the melancholic expression looming on his face.
She immediately replied without any form of tact. ''Because you are the most antisocial guy It was given me to meet. We need to make a real man out of you. So, I'm taking you to a great little bar where you'll taste the joys of life.''
Despite her arguments were quite convincing, Francis couldn't imagine himself sitting on a stool boozing enough to fall down like a dead guy and wake up the next day with the biggest headache of the universe, pretending that it was the best day of his life. this disgust for alcohol dated from his boyhood; he couldn't sustain that particular smell, so drinking appeared the worst thing to do, after purchasing a house in Venice and smoking. But it amplified during his studies at the University: All the alcohol-related harms were parts of the first year exams. Pictures of these horrible side effects and other health graphic came back to him, giving him goosebumps about the mishaps that would soon happen to him. His friend interjected just in time to prevent him to empty the contents of his stomach on the back seat.
"There we are!" She was much more pleased than Francis, for sure. she stepped out of the car in order to open the door for the irreducible teacher, who decided to spend the evening in the vehicle. "Come on Sissy, the faster we get in, the faster we get out.''
He looked at her with the most convincing and serious look he could do while hiding the deeper into his jacket. ''I... But... You know...'' Passers gazed them, confused. Facing a real dilemma, he chose the simplest and most 'Judicious' solution. ''Okay, but don't call me Sissy ever again, you know that I hate that nickname...'' He walked to the front door and looked again to Veronica with pleading eyes. ''Pleeeaase... Don't make me do this....''
She folded her arms, rolled her eyes and shook her head from right to left. ''Go. In. Am I making myself clear?'' She pushed him inside.
The interior was much warmer than outside, either the temperature or the general atmosphere. The restaurant wasn't especially full, but enough for the background noise and discussions to be inseparable. Everything looked as expected ... But a detail caught his eyes:
Nobody was drinking alcohol except for wine. Something fishy was going on.
''Nicky? Are you sure it's the right place?'' she had a very good sense of direction, so it was almost inconceivable for her to mistaken the itinerary. He turned back to face his friend and found a huge smile and two blue eyes enlightened of joy. ''Are you alright?'' he inquired, seeking for any indication that everything was indeed alright in Veronica's mind.
''Surprise!'' She announced, stretching her arms in the air. It was unnecessary because Francis was two heads taller than the young lady.
''Wait, what?'' He was dismayed. ''Why do you...''
''Happy birthday!'' That last sentence had the effect of a cannonball: he completely zapped his birthday! Since the death of his parents and his move to the USA six years earlier, he hadn't any kind of celebration. But how could she know? He never mentioned it. As curious as suspicious, he asked for an explanation. ''Well, you remember when you told me to keep your jacket when you ran after that dog last week?''
That wasn't making much sense. He nodded, more confused that the passers five minutes before. ''I checked your ID card and...''
Francis' blood ran cold. ''YOU DID WHAT?!'' Again, he called the attention of everyone. ''You know that it's illegal? Don't you?''
She didn't care about her friend's dismay. ''And so what? Now you're going to eat what you want for free! What a great lesson about life, isn't it?''
Francis didn't know what annoyed him most: that her best friend had scouted into his pockets, or that he was going to forgive her, because it was the best gift he ever got. ''Huuugh.... You won this time...'' His pout quickly gave way to a smile worthy of the greatest meme. ''You said free? Don't you?''
She was visibly nonplussed. ''Yes, it's what a gift is supposed to be. Why such a question... And such a face?''
''You did the biggest mistake here Nicky. I do NOT feel hunger.'' He tossed a quick peek at the buffet as a predator awaits its prey. ''I hope that your wallet is ready to be flushed!''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The meal was ending, all that remained on the table was a pile of empty plates and a slice of pizza that Francis hurriedly grabbed and swallowed illico presto. Veronica was motionless, paralyzed as the result of what she saw: her saving disappearing at the pace of the buffet. ''How did you.... It's impossible... I... You... What?''
The young teacher was thrilled. He gave a little nudge to his friend while caressing his belly. ''I told you.'' He smiled to finally burst into laughter. ''Well, I think it's time to get back home now, what do you think Nicky?''
She turned slowly, dumbfounded. ''Yes.... Let's go.''
Neon signs were turned off long ago as shops were closed. They left the bar, restaurant or whatever it was. The night was filled with stars, shining like giant candles. The young man raised his head to contemplate that wonderful show. High in the sky, a shadow, or rather a silhouette was flying among the few clouds. The shape looked like an airplane, but there wasn't any rudder, and propellers emit a distinctive sound that can be heard from far away. ''Hey, do you see that?'' He asked, pointing in the air. His friend was way too tired to take an interest. ''Nevermind...'' He raised again his eyes to the sky. But something gently landed on his nose. It was a purple feather, unusually large for a bird. Could that thing came from the pseudo-plane? He wanted to check if it flapped its wings, but it was gone.
''Come on Francis, get in. You don't want me to fall asleep while driving, do you?'' He took the feather and put it in his wallet, in memory of this magic moment.