Match

5: Bold Buzz

Jonah sits on the passenger seat in Ryder's car. He stares out the window as they drive down a neighbourhood dotted in fluorescent lighting. Every streetlight that passes by creates a blur of light that moves in a rhythmic pattern. The speakers in the car hum classical rock tunes at a low volume.

"Nice car you have, by the way," Jonah says.

Ryder smiles. "Yeah, me and my bro bought the original model from a neighbour. Custom made some stuff. Like chrome spoke wheels, white leather seats and a new paint job."

"Your brother's an auto mechanic, yeah?"

"Hell yeah."

"Well, no wonder."

Ryder taps on the steering wheel with his fingers to the beat of the song playing. "It was both his and my first time working on an older model, though. Managed to spruce it up pretty well."

"Are you gonna be an auto mechanic, too?"

He shrugs. "I dunno. I like it more as a hobby. Wherever the wind takes me I guess."

He pulls into a long driveway and puts the car in park then shuts off the engine. Several other cars are parked in front.

"You've been to Graham's house before, right Jone?"

"Yeah man. Him and Alex were on our team last year."

Ryder laughs. "Oh yeah. That's where he got the nickname Graham 'cause there were two Alex's."

Jonah grabs his case of beer and shuts the car door. "Yeah. 'Alexander Graham Bell'."

Ryder locks his car, the loud horn echoing throughout the neighbourhood. The house up ahead is decorated in neon lighting and balloons. It's a pure white two-storey rectangular shape. Fake palm trees tower over the garden and a running waterfall flows in front. The door is brown, glazed and carved wood, adding more emphasis to the expensive mortgage that hangs over the house in its entirety. Music blares on the other side. Seeing as Jonah has his hands full, Ryder knocks on the door. A slim, tall guy answers with a crowd of eyes behind.

"Yo Graham!" Ryder says.

"Welcome guys!" Graham says as he pats both of them on the shoulders firm. "Come in, party's just getting started."

They step inside and greet everyone else.

"Shit, we've got a lot of beer tonight." Graham says as he takes the case from Jonah's grasp and plops it beside the others.

"I'm not drinking tonight, though," Ryder says. "Gonna be the DD."

"Ah. In that case, there's pop in the kitchen, too."

"Don't mind if I do."

Ryder walks to the kitchen, while Jonah takes a can of beer and opens it in a satisfying crackle. He suddenly feels a tap on his shoulder and turns to see a man with a woman accompanying him.

"Yoooo Jonah, you made it!"

He shakes his hand and shoulder-bumps him. "What's up, Jay?"

"This is my girlfriend, Sofie." He gestures to the woman, who flashes a smile. "Babe, this is Jonah."

"Nice to meet you." Jonah holds out an offering hand to shake, to which she obliges.

"You too, Jonah."

"How long have you been together?"

The couple exchange looks to ponder. "We dated at the start of this year, so, almost five months?" Jay asks for confirmation, to which Sofie nods.