Double Twenty

CHAPTER 9 - Everyday Is a Winding Road (Sheryl Crow)

"The problem is that we look for someone to grow old with, while the secret is to find someone to stay young with." – Bukowski

After three beers for Omer and only one for Matthieu, he feels strangely calm despite the uncomfortable situation he finds himself in. Normally, he would never let his friend get so far ahead, but he needs all his lucidity, striving to untangle the twisted threads of his failing memory. The university cafeteria, much like the rest of the building, is depressing. It resembles more a mess hall with tired neon lights, dubiously white walls, sticky floors, tables for two or four arranged haphazardly or bolted together. To give the illusion of distraction or simply because it's there and no one knows what to do with it, an 80s pinball machine patched up with duct tape lies abandoned in a corner, next to a "Pulp Fiction" poster on the wall.

Viviane the graceful, as she is nicknamed (thanks to Omer for the reminder), is more or less sprawled over her counter, in total symbiosis with her environment. A radio that has also seen better days is tuned to Ouï FM, the Paris rock station, broadcasting "Knocking on Heaven's Door" by Guns N' Roses, followed by "You Learn" by Alanis Morissette. Matthieu listens for a moment, then moves on. Watching the students bustling around, no one seems to mind the mediocrity of the place. Age or habit, probably. Matthieu still savors the price of the drinks: 5 francs for a beer, 2 francs for a Coke, 50 centimes for a coffee. For food, there are varied (and potentially spoiled) sandwiches - 10 francs, and hot dogs with mutant red sausages, yet to be banned for toxic colorants and preservatives, at 8 francs with greasy fries. Matthieu doesn't find it hard to convert to euros, thinking the price is about the same or slightly higher, he muses bitterly. Nevertheless, he isn't ready for a temporal gastro and decides to skip the rising hunger.

Meanwhile, Omer soliloquizes about his troubles. Parents, a pain. Fights with everyone, especially a Manu who owes him 200 francs. Horrible studies. However, Matthieu has gotten the gist of their quarrel's origin. Omer burned a hole in his living room carpet with a poorly lit joint. Apparently, it was the lighter's fault, and Matthieu scolded him, which he didn't appreciate since it wasn't his fault. And on top of that, he lost at "GoldenEye" and fell asleep in front of "Candyman". Matthieu suppresses a laugh while worrying about his carpet's state, especially if his stay extends. No more parasites at home, he thinks. And the whining continues. The complaints department is full until they finally get back on track.

"That robbery story was so cool! You could've included me in the loop, I wouldn't have hung up on you if you'd told me that! How do you plan to get out of this?" "We'll see, it came spontaneously." "And about Victoria, because I've never seen her like this, man!" "Exactly, I'd like to get your analysis on that?"

Omer feels flattered and surprised. Matthieu is more accustomed to saying "shut up, poor fool" and other niceties than formally and politely asking for his opinion. Omer orders a fourth beer to launch into his theory.

"She's not a tease, but I think she's just a good friend. She always laughs when we mess around, but she never comes to our parties, it's not the same world either. And at the same time, she's hot, but you, you have your qualities, but it's kind of like, I don't know, don't you have an example?"

Matthieu looks puzzled, "No, not right now..." "Two things that are similar but different, you see OM, you see PSG, though it's not a good example because PSG won one match this season, but basically, do you get what I mean?"

Omer has hope in his eyes, and Matthieu, who has always respected the rule of a good friend, that is, always helping a friend in need no matter the circumstances, is no longer necessarily in tune with his increasingly incoherent partner's speech. He's dying to throw out the prediction of the day:

"You're right, enjoy your college years because the future will be less kind. Especially for your liver and your teeth that will start falling out in your thirties, and as for your family life, I'll save that for the next screw-up on my carpet or couch. And I won't talk about upcoming PSG-OM games, it'll be a surprise. Idiot!" "Yes, I see what you mean," says Matthieu with all the patience he can muster at the moment. Omer feels better, ready to resume the interrupted list of grievances he is the unfortunate victim of. Matthieu now understands that his friend is simply trying to protect him from probable disappointment, without malice or jealousy, just a bit clumsy. Anyway, it doesn't make any sense. She's 20, he's from the future and still doesn't have the keys to get out of this mess. Impossible to stay in college or do nothing all day as before. On the other hand, Matthieu can't abandon friends and family and take off on a road trip to L.A. He can't book a return flight to 2024 either. He can't just settle for this situation, but if he does, who could blame him? He knows his future self and knows he has nothing to expect from anyone. Julien? Some best friend, he's not even here. With such a Cartesian mind, Matthieu begins to doubt his hypothetical presence in 97. Impossible he teleported! No, the best thing is to act and not regret anything. He stares at his glass with contained rage.

Victoria arrives like the sweetest bee on a dwarf dahlia with purple leaves, ready to pollinate. "I was sure I'd find you here! What are you drinking Matthieu? A beer, already? Are you okay? You don't look well. Especially after what happened to you?" Victoria leans against him. "What are you going to do tonight?" he looks at her puzzled. What has he gotten himself into... all these questions are a nightmare. Fortunately, Benoit arrives at the same moment. "Ben will take me to my mother's, that's probably the best thing to do, plus she must have already reported to the police," Victoria looks him straight in the eyes, "Oh no, that's out of the question, you're coming to sleep at my place. My parents are in Switzerland. My little sister is at a friend's because they have a project to do, and even if she wasn't, Apollonia adores you." She quickly turns to Benoit, "Ben, you don't mind if I take care of Matthieu?" he shakes his head, his face pleading for an explanation from his whimsical friend that he may never get.

Omer, on his fifth beer, his voice increasingly hesitant but at the height of hilarity, "I'll take him to my place, if you want Vic, you don't want him to have a heart attack on top of everything, it's too much for our little Matthieu." "Thank you Omer, but I think I can manage on my own." Matthieu responds icily. "After all, it's just material, nothing serious. Let's not make a big deal out of it." He plunges his nose back into his empty glass. Victoria dismisses his argument with an elegant wave of her hand. "I'm happy to be with you. Besides, you never know, if they come to rob me, I'll be all alone." Matthieu feels that another protest would be counterproductive. "Alright, I'll sleep on the couch." She gives him a smile that could melt icebergs, even before global warming. "Well, I have class and so do you, remember, see you later," and she leaves, leaving the three boys stunned.

A dam in his brain has just broken. The reference to Apollonia helps him remember. At the beginning of the college year, Victoria, lost in the hallways, asked Matthieu for directions, and he managed to guide her as best he could. This was followed by a cordial relationship, punctuated by chance meetings at parties, nightclubs, among mutual friends, then increasingly friendly. Matthieu, having missed classes for a while due to health problems, she took over, giving him her notes and helping him with some assignments. Gradually, their relationship became closer and stronger, but Matthieu kept his feelings to himself. Victoria dated older, richer, more handsome, or cooler guys. Then one day, at the beginning of the following year, he declared himself out of the blue, clumsily, without any valid reason or sign that might have encouraged him, a sort of emotional suicide, just to give a name to his malaise, when they were no longer very friendly, let alone friends. She gently but firmly rebuffed him. They never had contact again after that snub.

Matt had hoped for a moment that something would happen between them, mainly because Apollonia, Victoria's 12-year-old little sister, who found him super funny and kind especially when he came over to drink coffee, pick up notes, or stay to watch a movie or an episode of a series ("Friends") in the afternoon, had encouraged him several times to declare himself. She knew it was possible because she spent her time with her ear glued to her sister's bedroom door, eavesdropping on her conversations as soon as Victoria locked herself in to phone with her personal landline, and she had heard her say several times to her friends that Matthieu was cute, kind, funny, original, etc. Mini Cupid's info could only be reliable, but he chickened out each time. On one hand, going home would allow him to rest and think about his immediate future, but spending a night tête-à-tête at Victoria's? Before imagining anything more voluptuous, his main goal was to gather as much info about himself as possible. He smiles, satisfied. Overall, he appreciates his first steps in 97. Sometimes a little thing can change a destiny. Omer's shrill laugh makes a few students turn around. Some things never change.