All in my Head

Chapter 14

Jonah's POV

So Cluster 1 didn't do so hot at Quizzo. But I can't say I blame them necessarily. The questions are pretty hard and if it wasn't for my years of practice here, I don't think I would've known the answer to a single one. Our table ends up tying for first place with another team closer to the front. I recognize the members and know for a fact that they're here almost every week playing and take their trivia pretty seriously. But they still defer the gift card prize and insist that cluster 2 takes it instead, saying that they're "only in it for the love of the game" and that "that trivia high" is enough of a prize for them. I don't argue with that, mostly because I wouldn't even begin to know how to with a straight face. Jul, Evan, and Nick all agree to give me the gift card, voting me unofficial VIP. I try to refuse, but they insist, probably turned off by my description of the crummy food this bar has to offer.

"Alright everyone, if you're over 21, you're welcome to stay here, but if you're underage you've gotta go!" Leslie says. I'm 21, but I know Ava isn't, so I quickly sidle up next to her so I can maybe extend our intern outing for a little longer.

"Yo, J-man you aren't staying?" Evan shouts from back at our table.

"Nah, not tonight man, some other time," I assure him. I keep my excuse vague enough that I can still tag along on whatever activity Ava and Jul are up to next.

"Early night tonight?" Ava asks with a raised eyebrow. Her eyelashes are so damn long.

"Eh, we'll see. I'm just not sure I feel like spending more time in this bar. I've given it enough of my life already," I say. Shoot, did that make me sound like an alcoholic? I quickly backtrack. "Not drinking, I mean. Just for Quizzo nights and random afternoons with my uncle."

Ava laughs. "Don't worry I didn't think you were an alcoholic, Jonah. So just how much of your life did you dedicate to this lovely establishment?" she asks as we stand in the lobby and wait for Jul, who made a quick pit stop in the bathroom.

"Far, far too many," I respond, not wanting to share the exact number, which is edged close to 10 hours a week at some points in my life.

"Wow, your brother must have really loved trivia," she says.

"Actually..." I rub the back of my neck self-consciously, glancing around the lobby to make sure Jul wasn't walking towards us yet. "... can you keep a secret?" I ask, leaning in just slightly closer.

"Oh man," she says, evidently taken aback. "Are you actually an alcoholic?" she whispers, eyes wide, jaw hanging slightly ajar.

"Oh my god, no," I say, as I gain a little distance from her to allow a loud laugh to escape from my lips. "I actually lied before," I speak more quietly, gaining my composure again. Her golden brown eyes are still wide. "I said it was my brother who was obsessed with trivia, but I'm actually the one with a trivia obsession." Ava only has time to smile softly before Jul rejoins us.

"Ready guys? Where are yall heading right now? Want to maybe grab dinner somewhere?" she asks glancing at her phone for the time.

"Ugh, I would love to Jul, but I actually have to catch a train home. My brother's fiance is coming over for dinner for the first time since they've gotten engaged so I've gotta be back before 8," Ava responds glumly.

"Oh I totally forgot you told me that earlier," Jul says. "Ok well then another time," she says. We're standing on the sidewalk now out front of the bar. "Welp, I'm this way, which way are you guys going?"

"Train station is that way," Ava says, pointing the opposite way. I'm suddenly so grateful to live uptown.

"Cool, I'm heading that way too, we can walk together" I say coolly.