Paul had had enough of Jake's tease. They were in Jake's Cadillac Escalade driving to Santa Ana that morning and Paul just stared at Jake threateningly, warning him with his eyes to dare not laugh again. Jake could hardly breathe because he struggled to not burst into another round of humiliating laughter.

Paul observed the contour of his face. He could see Jake's struggle, and even he had to admit that what happened earlier that morning, even though very embarrassing was hilarious. After the event of the day before, after Jake had left his room after he had said those words that racked him with guilt, they had spent the rest of the day quiet and avoiding each other, until this morning, when Paul had, out of curiosity and denial got his body stuck under his bed. It was very early in the morning and he was half-awake when he heard flappings and was sure that a bird flew into his room, from the backyard gardens through his window. He was sure that he was not dreaming, but when he sat up and looked around for it, he could not find it. Curious and determined to prove to himself that he was not gaga, he began to look for it and finally slid smoothly under his bed, looked, using his phone's light and could not find it till he gave up. But as soon as he wanted to slide back out, he realized that he couldn't. For about twelve minutes that felt like forever, he struggled and wondered if he somehow inflated in the few seconds he spent under there. He spent another five minutes propounding theories to explain to himself how he must be stuck. His pajamas must be stuck to the bed somehow, he thought. He tried to lift the bed but it was too heavy and he couldn't even find a good balance. Later he began to consider his options and at the end he discovered that Jake was his only cheap and quick option. His vigor left him. He was still feeling guilty for the things he said to Jake and if he was awkward before about mingling with Jake, this situation intensified that awkwardness to a six digits exponential. He decided that plan-B was better: he would just stay there, starve, loose weight in the process and finally slide back out like a deflated tyre.

After a few more minutes, he decided to call Jake. He googled him, found his Facebook account and called him. Jake who lay in his bed playing a game on his phone was surprised to see the call. He considered the name over and over again, had no doubt that it was Paul's name but seriously doubted that he was awake and not dreaming. For some reasons he felt nervous when he picked the call. "Hello?" He said and listened but for a couple of moments, he didn't get any reply. "Paul?" He asked doubtfully.

"Yes." Paul answered and Jake was taken aback. "I'm stuck." He said in a whisper.

"Huh?"

Paul sighed frustratedly. "Under my bed . . . I'm stuck. I need your help."

"Oh - Okay!" Jake said and cut the call. He sat there on his bed for a second and considered what he just heard, then he bursted into a very loud round of laughter. The laughter was so loud that Paul heard it from where he was and wished to disappear into the floor his cheek squeaked against. Jake could not help himself. He laughed to his satisfaction before he went over there, helped Paul out, laughed some more, at the situation and at Paul's embarrassed face, and later thought to ask him again, if he was still interested in the skating lessons.
-
Jake tried to focus his thoughts on driving and Paul could not help but find his face contortion very funny. He looks constipated, Paul thought and snickered. Jake noticed, looked at him and found that he had giving up the straight face that he was struggling to hold, and he too, began to laugh.

Soon after the atmosphere was calm and the humor disappeared, Paul realized that awkwardness was creeping in again, even though a nice unfamiliar song played through the radio. Paul looked around, trying to figure out a topic to bring up. "Your SUV is nice." He said finally."

Jake smiled proudly. "Yes! Thank you. I bought it myself with an award money I won three years ago."

"Award?"

Jake nodded and even felt more proud. "Yes. I lead my team to victory in an intrastate soccer tournament as the captain and sort of assistant coach."

Paul was impressed. "Wow! That's nice." He said.

Jake nodded. "So to answer your question . . . about what I do with my life. I was a professional soccer player that had a promising career until I had a terrible injury that got me addicted to all sort of pain killers and other numbing drugs, which were of course, initially on prescription. I had surgeries and therapies and at the end, I was fine but wasn't as before. I didn't get anymore contract and . . . so I ended up having . . . nothing for a while. But . . . I've been working on this ambition to coach little leagues. I intend to present a location and equipments that give young talents a place and opportunity to be the best they can. I would train them also, and when they get bigger opportunities I would get a percentage of their worth." Jake's smile shone in wishful thoughts. "I know it's far fetched and I would not start earning from it quite soon, but . . . it's my dream." He said with an expressive shrug.

Paul just stared at him admiringly and felt so guilty about the day before. He did not know what to say. Sorry? He thought. No. It doesn't quite cut it.

"There is this kid, Geoffrey." Jake continued. "He's thirteen and quite promising. I've got some videos of him showing off skills."

Paul didn't know what to do. To ask to see the video? Surely it was in his laptop and after yesterday, he wasn't sure that Jake's laptop was something he should ever consider touching. He cleared his throat audibly and decided to ask, no matter how uncomfortable. "Can I um..."

"...see the video?" Jake finished fast for him. "Sure. It's in my laptop." He said comfortably and Paul wondered if he had already forgotten the events of past day?

Paul swallowed, reached and took Jake's laptop. He opened it, and sighed, bracing himself. Within him, he promised not to flip out; but when he opened Jake's videos folder, he was shocked to find it as clean as a monk's. He scrolled through and realized that Jake had taken time to delete all of those pornographic films. A unique chill ran through his body and he felt goose bumps. He turned to and just stared at Jake.

"Found it?" Jake said casually. "You can type in search..." He stopped when he noticed Paul's blank face staring back at him. It was uncomfortable that his expression was usually blank when he stared at him and he could not tell if he was upset or thrilled. "What?" Jake asked, mildly annoyed.

"You deleted the films?" Paul asked.

Jake frowned, because Paul didn't sound or look happy about that. "Yea . . . I did. What's the problem?"

"No! No problem." Paul said and shook his head. He faced the road and then Jake again. "It's just . . . so nice of you to do that, even though unnecessary. I didn't..."

Paul was interrupted when Jake's phone began to ring. He stopped and waited awkwardly for Jake to pick the call, "Are you not going to take your call?" He asked but then Jake reached out and turned the phone silent. After that, he went on to turn off the car radio.

He turned to Paul again. "Sorry about that. You were saying?"

Paul's mouth went open and then shut. He considered Jake's action and then smiled. "You just want to hear me say it, don't you?"

"Say what?" Jake feigned ignorance.

"You know what!"

Jake smiled. "I don't know what you're talking about." The phone began to ring again and Jake turned it silent quickly again. "Let me catch a break." He muttered to the phone and dropped it.

Paul chuckled and shook his head. He had to admit that Jake was not so bad as a person. "I'm sorry." Paul said to him kindly and admittedly.

Jake sighed and a greedy grin appeared on his face. "Sorry, I didn't quite get that." He said and smirked.

"I said, I'm sorry." Paul repeated. "I feel bad for the way I acted yesterday."

"Hmm..." Jake feigned confusion. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I don't remember what you're talking about." He said in a friendly manner. "As far as my memory goes . . . we have always been good friends. Okay?"

Paul felt warmth in his heart. A sense of admiration overcame him. "Okay!" He agreed and nodded and noticed Jake's fist held out for a fist bump. He complied and their fate together as friends was sealed.

Jake turned to focus on driving again. He turned up the radio and sang Believer, by Imagine Dragons, along with the radio, cheerily. His pitch was unreasonably high and Paul could see his struggle to match the song's notes. He was slightly amused and was beginning to feel like maybe he actually really likes Jake, but then Jake began to laugh uncontrollably again. He was laughing so hard that the car swerved. Paul's heart skipped a little for he never conclusively trusted anyone behind any steering, including himself. "What's so funny?" He asked Jake, slightly irritated by the unpredictability and uncontrollability of his laughing fits.

Jake laughed some more. "I'm sorry, but . . . you really should have seen your face when you finally came out from under that bed. Your face, the sweat, the perspiration . . . oh boy..." He laughed again and Paul was simply lost at words. "I should have got my camera. Tell me something, bro. How does a physicist get under a bed, all by himself, and end up needing help to come out?"

"Well I have a couple of theories. I think..."

"Blah blah blah . . . save your theories for when my dad comes back." Jake said and laughed again. "We both know you really have no idea how you got stuck in there. Or am I wrong?"

"Isi Ewu!" Paul commented with a tone and smile of mischief.

Jake stopped laughing for a moment. His face grew curious and he suspected foul play. "What's that?"

"Are we there yet?" Paul asked.

"Yeah almost." Jake answered, but was unsatisfied. "That wasn't what you said, was it?" He looked concerned. "You said something else. You called me something right? Something offensive."

"Yeah. A goat." Paul said with a shrug and Jake feigned exaggerated heartbreak. Paul continued; "And not like the animal. More like a person who acts like the animal."

Jake wasn't sure if he should take offense. "Whoa! Why?"

Paul stuck out his tongue victoriously. "To wipe the smug of your face. That's why. What? Thought we were having fun at each others expense."

"But that's not fair." Jake said. "It is my turn to make fun of you . . . you got stuck under your bed. I retain the right to laugh at your expense for the week or until you have something on me."

"I don't remember signing that contract." Paul replied with a smug.

"Fine!" Jake exclaimed and frowned and Paul worried, wondering if he was out of line. "Okay." Jake said. "Let's change the topic."

"Okay!"

"Tell me something interesting about physics." Jake said calmly. "Be sure to tone it down for me."

Paul was taken aback. He found Jake's request quite odd. As a matter of fact, people who said that to him were usually girls, back in the university, who wanted to get his attention and his willingness to help them with school work. He was happy that for the first time, someone was genuinely interested. "Okay." He said and wondered what would actually interest Jake. At an idea, his face beamed with excitement. "Are you familiar with the Twin Paradox. A case where it was observed that two twins, say Sam and..."

Paul was cut off when Jake reached out swiftly and turned up the volume of the car radio, intently to the maximum with his tongue sticking out in a mischievous grin. His eyebrow moved in a mocking dance when he turned to Paul. "Oh sorry. I almost forgot." He shouted over the loud music. "I really don't care." He laughed victoriously.

Paul's excitement died as quick as a candle light thrown into sea. He realized then that it was only part of the game. He shook his head. "I hate this game." He said, wounded.

Jake smirked. "Well . . . welcome to the United States Of America, baby."

So far, so good, which character or event arouses your interest more?

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