Suddenly the sound of passing ambulance vehicle woke Nick up from the daydreaming. Unconsciously he had managed to roll his wheelchair to the western gate.

‘Sigh, seven years have gone by in a blink of an eye. The rising star turned out to be a falling star.’ Nick thought to himself while looking at the blue sky with a sad smile, ‘20 years old already and having a date on the Valentine’s day with the big lump. Ye, I am really ‘lucky’!’

He looked across the street and saw a lottery booth covered in a thick layer of advertisements which were promising bright future for everyone.

‘Should I really buy a ticket?’ While pondering Nick rolled his wheelchair over the street ‘Nah. It is not like I ‘need’ to win something anyway.’

He decided to wait for Richard at the lottery booth, took out his I-Phone and quickly typed a message, then put it back in the front pocket. Then turned the wheelchair so he can face the sun, closed his eyes and started to visually write an essay in Arabic while sunbathing. He was so engrossed he did not notice the incoming messages or calls and the fact that the sun had set behind the rooftops.

“Why are you still here?” Richard’s voice startled him for the second time today.

“Didn’t I message you I am waiting for you here?” Nick looked at him like he was retarded.

“Come on! I replied already! I told you I’ll be late and you should … ah … never mind. Let’s go.” Richard took a step to go behind the wheelchair.

“Don’t.” Nick stopped him. “Let me ‘spin the wheels’ myself. I am thinking of this as a form of training”.

“Sure. Shall we then … Oh wait, how much did you win?” Richard asked.

“Let’s put it this way – I did not loose.” Nick retorted, “You know, when I was still a kid, my father taught me there is only one way to win in gambling and that is to own a casino. In this case – this lottery booth”.

“Your father was a smart man. But today is your lucky day – go buy one and then we have to hurry. Our pizza is getting cold”.

Richard, was loud and a bit annoying, but he did have a good heart. So just to calm him down, Nick bought the cheapest ticket, scratched off the silvery foil and then tossed in his front pocket.

“Let’s go.”

“How was it?” Richard was still restless.

“What do you think? Just let it be. Which place are we going to?” Nick looked a bit annoyed.

“Ok. Let me show you.” Richard suddenly jumped behind the wheelchair, grabbed handles and then roared so loud that people on the whole street got turned their heads over to look, “I still need more training today!”

And then charged down the street pushing Nick at unbelievable speed while happily laughing.

“Big lump.” Nick mumbled, but then relaxed, smiled, comfortably laid back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Having a semi-professional football player as your slave surely had some unique advantages. A short run for 15 minutes while pushing Nick’s wheelchair did not make Richard loose his breath. He did not even sweat.

“We have arrived, your majesty!” Richard stopped and theatrically bowed towards Nick.

“F*ck you!” Nick replied to such courtesy by majestically raising his middle finger. “Wait! “Madera”? Seriously? How are we going to get in without a reservation on Valentine’s day? And do they even have pizza?”

“Well, I kind of have a reservation.” While trying to look important Richard pushed the wheelchair to the door.

“I have reservation, my name is Richard.” He said to the waiter at the door.

“Yes, a table for two at the window, please let me show you the way.”

With waiter leading the way, Nick turned his questioning gaze towards Richard, “What’s happening?”

“Well,” Richard straightened up pretending to look very serious, ”You know I’m the captain now, I am famous and everyone knows me. Don’t worry, with me around – nothing can go wrong!”

“Sigh, just push the chair. Hearing you talk will make my ears bleed.” Nick facepalmed.

The restaurant was full. Full with waiters, full with guests … and full with Valentine’s day romance. With roses and candles everywhere and romantic music playing, the current and former football team captains were uncomfortably staring at each other.

“Ok.” Nick chose to break the silence, ”Now tell me. Who stood you up?”

“Why would you think someone stood me up? With my reputation I can get us in anywhere.” Richard blushed. It was very strange to see how this 300 pound giant’s face could suddenly turn in the same color as roses on the table.

“Richard!”

“Ok, ok. It’s Kristin Cavalli.”

“From the physics department?” Nick was truly surprised, but nodded in understanding. “Actually, a very good choice.”

“It is not a good choice – it is an amazing choice! But that choice yesterday told me she is afraid that I might be too big for her! Too big! Which woman would think that a man can be too big for her?!” Richard was obviously upset and shouted the last part so laud that probably even the cook in the kitchen heard his pain.

All the heads in the restaurant suddenly turned towards them. Nick started praying to all known deities for earth to open up and to swallow him. It did not help. The he covered his face with both palms. It did not help either. The shame was unbearable.

“Richard, have you been on a date with her before?” Nick asked few minutes later when the restaurant recovered its previous atmosphere.

“No, this would have been our first.”

“Then how do you know if she meant that you are too big or ‘this’ is too big? With ‘this’ being the first date in a fancy restaurant on a Valentine’s day.” Nick continued.

“You mean – she did not reject me?” Richards face started to recover its normal color.

“Oh no. She definitely rejected you – look who sits in front of you! What I mean is – you still have a chance. Just work on this project slowly. Although I am not the one who can teach anyone anything about dating. Anyway – not everything is lost”.

“Thanks Nick! I think I have an idea what to do next.”

“Just don’t shout again, you can tell me later if you want to.” Nick waved him off, “Now, tell me what’s going on with the team.”

“Madeira” was full, orders were taken slowly. Both youths were not in a hurry and had a lot to talk about. Nick’s suspicions turned out to be right – there was no pizza.

They ordered some random stuff as well as full table of desserts right after. Nick was a health freak since childhood and Richard had upcoming games, so there was no alcohol. Both just drank grape juice from vine glasses to look ‘fancy’ for their own amusement. While they were talking, two different guys already managed to secure successful proposal to their lady counterparts. And, of course, every time whole restaurant was applauding and champagne was brought out.

Richard did the most talking while Nick listened with a sad smile. It was great and depressing at the same time to hear about the world he was once part of.

“Are you planning to go ‘pro’?” Nick asked.

“No way.” Richard shook his head, “This might be the only thing we have in common, but I am doing sports only for fun.”

“Good choice, health should be your priority … right after miss Cavalli.”

Nick tried to take a jab at Richard, but the latter was frozen looking at the far side of the restaurant where the entrance was located.

“What is it?” Nick tried to wake him up.

“Uhmm … you know there is this thing called karma. This time it’s instant mega-karma.” Richard laughed loudly, picked up little dessert fork that looked like a toothpick in his hand and poked towards the restaurant door.

Then elegantly chose one of his many desserts, picked up the plate and showed the whole thing in his mouth in one go. Then looked back at Nick with triumphant look and with full mouth said: “ ‘Cindy the whore’ … with a gentleman”.

“Sigh. Restaurant is full. I doubt they will notice us.” Nick shook his head after noticing her in the distance, “Let’s just pack up and go.”

Life can be full of surprises, but this time there were no such things. Cindy and her date were sat just two tables away from them.

Nick looked at her. She had not changed at all – same long blond hair, beautiful face and long legs ... very, very long legs. Only the cherry red dress and the handsome date were different compared to the last year.

Cindy also noticed him, said something to her date, then got up and with a furious expression walked over. The world ‘walk’ is not really proper way to describe the process of making her way through the packed restaurant, slowly swinging her tights. Multiple heads followed her movement, some guys even choked on their drinks or food. Well – tonight they probably will go home solo after failing this unexpected ‘exam’.

“Nicolas Berglund! How dare you to stalk me! You have to understand – we are not together anymore!” Nick had to give her credit – ‘Cindy the whore’ could get the ‘Oscar’ one day.

He did not say anything, jut took out something from his front pocket and gave her.

Cindy looked at the strip of paper in Nick’s hand with a frown, reluctantly took it … and then suddenly a smile bloomed on her face, “You mean – you want me to be your ‘plus one’?”

“Oh, no!” Nick shook his head, “You misunderstood – I am just showing you that I am taken and you don’t have to worry.”

“What?” Cindy got confused.

“You see ... Richard and me …“ Nick also did his best to get Oscar nomination, “We are having Valentine’s day dinner. Today is our anniversary. We are in love and will get married in the summer – what you saw there will be our honeymoon trip.”

“Pfffffff!” Richard spat out the grape juice he just drank. It went out from his moth, nose and probably even eyes. The whole table was covered in juice and snot and some of it landed on Nick’s face and shirt. The latter stoically picked a napkin and started to clean himself up.

Richard was looking at Nick with teary eyes trying to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth, only few snot bubbles from his nose. Cindy, on the other hand, unconsciously dropped the paper strip Nick gave her, took few steps back and bumped into waiter who was carrying large tray with food and drinks on it. They both fell with a loud bang and instantly erased the romantic atmosphere in the restaurant for the second time this evening.

One must give credit to the personnel in “Madera”. The mess was cleaned up in a couple of minutes and most people were back to their romance. Except for few. Cindy with a lifeless look on her face had already staggered out the door with her new boyfriend following, apparently trying to her comfort in his clumsy ‘athlete’ way.

“That’s the new San Jose ice hockey team captain.” After few minutes Richard finally broke the silence, “Last addition to her ‘Captain collection’.”

“Doesn’t matter, let’s go.” Nick also was not in the mood to stay any longer, and, even if he had the craving for another dessert before, he had lost his appetite now.