Chapter 9: A Typical Day, Part 3

"No way could Wonder Woman beat Batman in a fight."

"Of course she could! She has superhuman agility, speed, and she can fly."

Nick and I were deep into a who-could-beat-who debate.

"Batman has billions of dollars to spend on developing technology on anything he wants"

I interrupted Nick. "Exactly! Batman is just a psychotic billionaire who's emotionally stunted from never getting past his childhood"

"so if he wanted to invent nanobots to inject in his blood to give himself superpowers, he could do that," Nick continued, ignoring my interruption.

"whereas Wonder Woman is a demi-goddess who could easily knock Batman out with one punch! Batman is mortal; Wonder Woman is supernatural. Besides," I added. "Batman would have to spend years developing that technology, so in a fight right now, Wonder Woman would win."

"Batman could just use the invisible Batmobile and run her over."

"Wonder Woman has an invisible jet! Big Spoon, help me out here, who would win, Batman or Wonder Woman?"

"Batman, of course. Could someone please tell me when I'm supposed to turn?" said Nolan.

"How can you say that?!" I said. "Wonder Woman has actual powers, not technology that can break. Oh, and right now, turn right!"

Nolan turned sharply to the right and we all smashed together in the backseat. We were on our way to a karaoke bar, to belt our hearts out and forget about work and bills and responsibility for a couple of hours. There were five of us, Nick, Nolan, and I, plus two more friends, Mike and his girlfriend Ashley. Mike was a fellow nerd from high school, and Ashley his girlfriend from the University of North Texas. Mike was a shorter, brown-headed half-Italian who swore his family had ties to the mafia, and Ashley was his introverted counterpart. She was studying veterinary science at UNT and was incredibly sweet.

We pulled up to a nondescript building and walked inside. The greeter showed us to our own private room, with plush couches and a small table. As Nick scrolled through songs, I helped Nolan unpack the Coronas and Heineken.

"These are all from the 90s," said Nick.

"So we'll know all the words!" I said, snatching the remote away from him. I hit enter on the screen.

The hook that defined a decade blasted through the speakers.

"Oh baby, baby!" I sang along with Britney. "Ashley, come on, we're up first!"

I passed Ashley a microphone and lifted mine to my lips. "…Baby One More Time" pumped through the air and into my bloodstream.

"How was I supposed to know…" I pointed to Ashley. "Ashley, take it!"

"That something wasn't right," Ashley whispered. She started blushing. "I can't do this without alcohol!"

"Baby, it's just us," said Mike, popping open a Heineken.

She gave the microphone to Nick like it was a lizard she couldn't stand touching anymore.

"You go!" She joined Mike on the couch.

Nick and I belted out a powerful duet that was equal parts off-key and ear-splitting. When Nick got to "I must confess I still believe (still believe!)," he launched into his infamous falsetto, which made Mike spit beer and Nolan laugh so much that he had to wipe away tears.

We took turns choosing cheesy songs and drinking. Nick and Nolan sang "Promiscuous Girl" by Nelly that had all of us laughing so hard that our sides ached. I tried not to feel the tiny ache in my heart.

"I knew it!" shouted Mike. "I knew that Nolan and Nick would end up together."

"Yeah, Ariel, be careful, or else I'll steal your man," said Nick.

"Not my Big Spoon!" I leapt from the couch and gave Nolan a peck on the lips. "I love you, Spoon."

"I love you, Sloth," he replied.

"You guys have the weirdest pet names," said Mike.

"First of all, sloths are adorable. And second of all, you have beer on your shirt," I said.

"Really? Where?"

"There!" I popped the bottom of Mike's bottle and beer splashed his face.

"Hey!"

"That's ok, Ashley can lick it off later," said Nick.

"Oh my god," said Ashley turning a shade of crimson and burying her face in her hands.

For the rest of the night, we drank and sang in equal amounts. I cuddled and laughed with Nolan, never knowing that this would be my favorite memory of us, carefree and at-ease, never knowing that destruction was right around the corner.