Only Rivals?

5.

<So how about a game?> Hangman asks with a mocking smile

<Ah> Noah shakes his hands <I don't know how to play so I'll sit here and cheer> she says holding her beer

<Same> says Bob sitting down next to her

I look at Phoenix and she looks at me and with a single glance she immediately understands my intention <Ok> I answer <Phoenix and I make team>

<Obviously> she smiles <So, which of you will be the first to challenge us> asks grabbing the triangle and starting to arrange the balls

<Coyote?> Hang looks over his shoulder at his friend

<Ok I'm there> the latter smiles, approaching the table and grabbing a cue <Who breaks?> Asks

<I break> I approach Hangman and quickly remove the cue from his hands, then I lean forward on the table and charging the blow I hit him "accidentally" in the abdomen with the back of the stick.

I smile at hearing him moan as he bends over in pain and notice that Noah, Rooster and Bob are giggling as Payback and Fanboy make a mixed grimace of satisfaction and pain.

Phoenix looks at me amused <I already love this girl>

I turn around and return the cue to Hangman <Your turn>

He looks me straight in the eye and I can't tell if he's angry or amused, maybe both but I don't care, he'll get the lesson he deserves eventually.

...

We won, but of course it was a sweaty game. Now I'm with Noah, Bob and Phoenix as we chat animatedly to each other, then Payback and Fanboy decide to join the chat.

<Nurse> starts Payback <Have you been informed that you are my new navigator?> he says smiling

I turn to look at him confused <No, there must be a mistake> I laugh <Noah is my navigator> I say seriously

Payback looks at me <No> he seems confused too <From what they told me; my new navigator is called Noah "Nurse" Olsen> he points to my friend <Is that you right? Nurse>

She nods and looks at me equally shocked

<Wait, if she's flying with you, who am I flying with?> Ok, I'm confused, very confused. Why would I have to share Noah? We always worked very well together and above all we have been flying together since the first year of the Academy.

He shrugs. <Shouldn't they have sent you some information before they sent you two down here?>

I shake my head and try to remember...nothing, great.

<They just made us sick with all of the recommendations, but no updates of this kind> Noah says in a pensive and rather surprised tone of voice

<It seems strange that they didn't tell you anything, but tomorrow we will have our first lesson, maybe they will clarify these things> he shrugs

<I need another beer> I sigh and order another bottle, maybe they'll give me a new navigator, or they'll put me in single as a wingman... maybe it won't be so bad right? I sigh and the rule bell rings again. I'm desperately looking for my phone, hoping to not have put it back on the counter again but it isn't there, instead in my uniform pocket.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that Rooster is approaching the piano while the music of the entire club is cut off, he starts playing a few notes.

<Guys> says Phoenix smiling and approaching the piano followed by Payback, Fanboy and Bob.

The whole bar starts shouting "Overboard" repeatedly in chorus.