Between Two Eternities || Travis Hamonic

(27) War Without Weapons

"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance."

-John Lennon

"Who decided on bowling?" I ask as my friend Chase hands me a pair of size seven rental shoes with a distinct smell of bubblegum and something similar to the inside of hockey skates.

He pats my back and steers me to the lane where the rest of our friends are waiting. "It'll be fun!" He assures me.

I give a skeptical look and Chase throws his arm around my shoulders as we walk to our lane. When we almost reach the rest of the group he drops his arm quickly; Lena can get crazy jealous. Yes, even jealous of me.

I raise my eyebrows until he finally gives in. "It was Xavier's idea."

I nod understandingly. Of course it was. Xavier always was the one to shy away from parties and large social gatherings. It must've been why we became such fast friends.

Xavier was my first friend at University of Wyoming. It took me a while to warm up to anyone, but going to the mall and movies seemed like a good start.

The rest of the group is a little more wild. Xavier serves as the token responsible one. Chase and Lena are the crazy hormonal couple who are not shy about fighting in public. Steph experiments ... a lot, with anything. She's had her fair share of hospital visits that scare everyone every few weeks.

Gavin is the final member of the group. He's the unofficial leader, too cool for anyone and anything really. He and Lena's past relationship provides the healthy amount of tension that every friend group needs in order function.

I met them all through Xavier, and believe it or not I've surpassed Xavier and have became almost just as crazy as the rest of them. I'm the one who gets Xavier to come to all the campus parties that I would have shyed away from in New York.

I had never expected the parties in Wyoming to compare to those in the city that never sleeps, but they're even wilder.

More booze, more drugs, more sex.

Gavin says it's because the only things people in Wyoming can do for fun is stuff that's illegal. Whatever that means.

"Hey you finally decided to join the party!" Steph exclaims and pulls me down to the seat in between her and Lena.

The guys were seated across from us, each group chatting among themselves. It's April, and there's a huge party going on as one final blowout before exam month starts. I've been hearing about it all over campus. Knowing Steph and Gavin, we'll be stopping by once our game of bowling is ended.

"Alright guys verse girls," Chase says, coming over to our side of the lane.

Lena scoffs and crosses her arms, "What are we in the fifth grade?"

Chase rolls his eyes. They must be due for one of their fights. Me and Steph glance at each other. The last time they fought in public, all of us were asked to leave.

Before it could turn into anything, Gavin gets the two to separate corners. We start the game, but honestly it became more of a social hour.

I've never been good at bowling, and Xavier serves as my personal teacher. I'm clearly the worst one, but I'm used to it. Good thing no one is paying much attention.

The thing I'm learning about friends is that they don't care how bad or awkward I am at things. It's still nice to know that they aren't watching me, too busy trying to make Steph laugh or scold Chase for drinking too much "soda." It's actually beer.