In Close Quarters

Chapter 1: Calm Before the Storm

"Can I get a gin and tonic, please?" I shouted to the bartender on the other end of the counter. She smiled, nodded, and went to work making my drink. I handed her my card and told her to open a tab as she handed me my drink with a flirty smile. "Thanks!"

"No problem," the bartender winked and twirled her hair. I smiled politely before turning back to my friends.

"A gin and tonic? Nate, what are you, fifty?" My best friend Alex teased as he sipped his beer.

"Whatever man, you're drinking Yuengling! You can't talk," I laughed.

"Only because it's the cheapest!"

"Whatever, talk to me when your beer consumption isn't supporting Trump's re-election."

"Dude, can we not have a social justice talk right now? I really just want to have a good time tonight."

"I'm just teasing you, relax!"

"Sorry, I'm just hella stressed out with work lately, I've got a big project deadline coming. I just want to have fun tonight." I smirked at Alex and watched confusion grow in his bright blue eyes.

"One night of fun coming right up," I grabbed his hand and dragged him into the crowd surrounding the stage. We were at Webster Hall seeing one of our favorite bands, The Wonder Years. No, not the TV show, nothing like the TV show. In our ripe old age of twenty-seven we were very much in mosh-pit retirement. But my best friend wanted a fun night and God damnit I was going to give him one. I was going to regret it in the morning for sure, but I think we could both use a night reliving our youth. We got to the middle of the crowd just as the band took the stage. We both downed our drink as they played the opening chords of their song "Washington Square Park," which was from their first album and definitely a shocking throwback to open with. The crowd lost their mind and Alex and I started jumping and dancing around in the pit. We shouted the words to the song as we were shoved around by the crowd. It felt like I was seventeen at a show again, singing along to these songs for the first time. I looked at Alex and saw the sparkle in his eye and knew he was having the fun night he had wanted. I smiled to myself at the thought that I was the one who put that sparkle in his eye.

"We've been The Wonder Years, and we 'Came Out Swinging.'" Dan, their lead vocalist, introduced their final song of the night. I knew this was Alex's favorite song and looked over to confirm that he was freaking out.

"Want to crowd surf?" I asked him.

"Are you crazy? I'm too old, man!"

"We're already gonna need to break out the Icy Hot when we get home, might as well go all out," I laughed. "I'll give you a boost!" I crouched down, holding my hands out for Alex to use as foothold. He reluctantly did so, and I was easily able to lift his thin frame up and hoist him into the crowd. The band was closing out the song and the crowd was a sea of bodies floating towards the stage. I watched as Alex went from apprehensive to having the time of his life, screaming the lyrics as he made his way toward the front of the crowd. As he got closer, he made eye contact with Dan, who held the microphone out for him shout the words into as security caught him on the other side of the barricade. I smiled wide as I made my way out of the crowd so that I could meet up with Alex. The song was nearly over so we headed to coat check to get out things before leaving the venue.

"Dude, that was so much fun! I haven't crowd surfed since we were like 21. Thank you for talking me into it."

"I'm glad you had fun, I think we both deserved to relive our glory days for a night."

"That was such a sick set too, so many old songs I couldn't believe it!"

"Oh my god, I know! I lost my shit when they played 'Living Room Song!'"