Ollie approached Parlor Park, which confusingly wasn't a park, but an ornate strip mall. Leaning against palm trees were vintage signs and curios; the whole place seemed to be themed on mid-century aesthetics.
“What’s up?” Cyrus said with a smile when Ollie approached the Wheel Coffee House, and Trisha got up to give him a hug.
“Ollie, this is Adam and Lena, we go to school together,” she said.
“Nice to meet you.”
Adam apparently found something on his phone. “Guys,” he said, gesturing for the group to look. It was news of a politician’s death. Ollie didn’t know the guy. What really confused him was what it elicited - an excited, “ohhh,” and one small giggle from Trisha.
I guess he’s Maga, Ollie thought.
“Don’t laugh, Trish!” Adam teased.
“Oh, come on, I don’t think Ollie is the ‘Kirk’ type,” she replied.
He really wanted to understand, but Ollie was just blank at all these names.
“You don’t follow politics, do you Ollie?” Trisha asked rhetorically.
Adam looked at the image on the phone again. “One less closet case never hurt anyone.”
“Okay, changing the topic,” Cyrus said. “Ollie said he’s here for a gymnastics meet.”
The room lit up. “Do you do the balance thing?” Lena asked.
“The beam,” Ollie gently corrected. “Yeah, I’m doing beam and bars.”
“Cool! Can you do a handstand?” Lena gushed.
“Haha, yeah.”
“Show us!” she said. “Lenaaaa?!” Trisha interrupted, embarrassed, but Ollie was already standing up and heading to a clear spot in the dining hall. Easily, he lofted himself upside down, and with a sly grin, proclaimed, “there you go.”
“Oh shit,” Cyrus said. “Let’s gooo, MY GUY.” The group hooted and hollered a bit too much for a restaurant.
“You’re gonna get us in trouble,” Trisha said.
“So you’re strong AND flexible,” Lena said with a lilt. “I wonder how flexible…”
“Well there it is,” Cyrus said, laughing. “Doesn’t take much to get you all started.”
“Cyrus is playing it cool,” Adam said, “but even the straight guy wants to know…” He looked around and got a little closer to lower his voice. “Can you do a Marilyn Manson?”
Ollie looked blank again.
“Jesus, how old are you Adam?” Trisha said. “Ollie, they’re a bunch of perverts, but I’m the only one who will say it.”
“Can you suck your own…” She didn’t need to say the last bit.
Ollie went redder than an apple and looked at the corner of the room. “OH,” he stuttered, “I’ve never tried…” He chuckled. “I… I actually figure I COULD though.”
And again, there was a devious erupting in laughter, and applause from Trisha. This time had a different color to it for Ollie though, and he wanted an out.
Cyrus could tell it was too much on the topic. “You guys are degenerates,” he said. “ After all this torture, I think Ollie’s earned the right to pick the movie for tonight.”
“Fair,” Adam said. “We were trying to decide between Pause and Three Realms.”
Ollie thought a bit. “You want me to choose?” The group was all nods, and Lena egged him on. “PLEASE.”
“Well,” Ollie said, “I’d go with Pause. You can never go wrong with horror, right?”
Apparently this was the right answer, and Trisha elbowed Cyrus, and made eyes at him. An approving gesture toward their new friend, Ollie could tell, but Ollie couldn’t quite put words to the facial expression.
