Del sat back on his chair. He forgot all his troubles at work and on his marriage. He wanted to do jump for joy and do a fun dance which consisted of him strutting like a peacock and saying to himself - who's the man? On his laptop, the General stood before him. He had never seen this NPC character before.

The four star General said, "Great job soldier. You're promoted to Colonel Zonig5 and you get the gold star. You are now the top elite status of the game you will have extra perks for you. You will be contacted later on by somebody and will talk to you about an extra gaming perks."

John said, "Did you see that?"

"Yes, I see that on my screen," he said.

He had never heard of top elite status before. This must be an upgrade to the game he was not aware of. Del's wariness suddenly came over him. He usually after a big battle recheck his stats and upgraded his character and weapons, but his mind was too foggy and incoherent.

"Do you want to play another round?" John said.

"I don't know," Del said. "I'm tired and I feel a little thirsty. How about a few drinks to celebrate?"

John said, "I thought you had a still have a hangover."

"I'm fine. Let's get some libations the Battle god. What do you say? If you're willing. I'm buying."

"I'll be there," John said.

Del said, "I'll text you where to go."

He took a shower and clean himself up and felt a little better. It has been a rough couple of days. But now he wanted to go out and have fun. Maybe, he could meet a new woman. Somebody better than his stuffy wife. He's single now and he should celebrate. He sat on his unmade bed and texted John back. He texted John to meet him at a bar* in Huntington Beach on Main Street. He was going to meet him there since he was far away than John was because his friend lived closer to the beach.

***

Del walked out of the HB parking lot and walked along the pavement toward Main Street. People milled around him. Del was a little tipsy and smiled as he moved. He finished his pint of rum before he left and he didn't care about his pending divorce or his suspension from work. It was summer time and all the women and men were walking up and down mostly teenagers and college students. Dell felt a little old and was not sure if this was a good way of celebrating tonight maybe he should had went to a different bar. Yet, John knew a few girls at this bar and texted him that he would meet the girls there.

*Before he arrived at Huntington Beach, his stomach convulsed a little bit and he knew he was hungry. He went through a drive-through at a of a Jack-in-the-Box and got himself hamburger and Diet Coke. He ate it before he parked his car.*

He felt alive and strong while he walked down the street. He debated if he should call his daughter but he knew his ex-wife would stop him if he called and nagged him to sign the divorce paperwork. He was not ready for that yet. Unfortunately, when he scanned the paperwork she got the house and cars. She also got custody of his daughter and he had to pay alimony. It was not fair he thought. His ex-wife was a lawyer, a smart lawyer, who probably got one of her crony lawyer friends to help her with the divorce. She probably got a discount. He should get a divorce lawyer so they could look over the paperwork and make sure he didn't get screwed but he was not going to pay divorce lawyer to do that. John told him he should've got a lawyer because he wanted to protect his own assets. Also, his ex-wife excluded him from getting any visitation rights to see his daughter which made him mad, but he didn't want to think about this tonight. He almost threw the divorce paperwork across the hotel room.

He walked up to the bar called* with the best burgers in town. Del showed us ID at the door and was ushered through the corridor. He saw pictures of locals who came here and a few celebrities. It was crowded with wall-to-wall people. There was several pool tables with lights over them. A long bar with several chairs and tables was at the far corner. Most of the crowd of people were at the bar trying to get their drinks.

He didn't see his friend John among the people in the front but there was an upstairs area. Del took out his cell phone and saw a text message. One was from John who was running late and told to grab a beer and a table if he could.

Dell didn't like being by himself in a bar but he waited. He found a table near the corner area away from the pool tables and the crowd. A cute pixie looking brunette waitress came up to him. She wore skintight clothes and a V neck T-shirt that accentuated her cleavage.

"Do you want something to drink sir?" The waitress said.

"Sure give me a beer whatever is on tap. I don't care and also a shot of tequila," Del said.

The lady walked away and shook her behind seductively. Del smiled. She's nice looking he thought. He wondered why he married early in his twenties. He should've went out on more dates. Del shook his head he learned the hard way about doing things before it was time. Then he thought about his daughter who was only seven years old. She wondered if she cried when he left. Del missed her.

He also wondered if his soon to be ex wife had a boyfriend. She must have been seeing somebody the last few months. She was acting odd before they separated.

The waitress came with his drinks. He paid her and she stalk off talking to the other customers next to him. He took the tequila shot in one large gulp. He was feeling much better. The alcohol burnt his throat. He sipped his beer but really wanted to down it. He needed to wait. He didn't want to be to drunk. Del scanned the bar and wondered how long it would take for John to get here. The crowd of people all looked well to do with money to spend.

Del waited close to an hour before John came to through the entrance. John saddled close to him and sat down. Del was a little mad but didn't care. He was about to say something when the waitress came back and asked for him for drinks. They ordered another round.

John said, "Hey buddy, it was awesome what we did tonight. Wee should team up more often."

"I like fighting as a team as well as playing solo."

"What do you think about that message we after we finished the game?" John asked.

"I don't know. We'll have to find out," he said, "Where's the girls you told me about?"

John scanned the crowd. "Yes, they're not here yet. They will be here later. I'll buy this round of drinks and you'll buy the next round."

"Yes that sounds great. Are these girls pretty?"

"Sure there's a cute skinny short girl skinny who's just your type," Johns said.

Del was actually thinking about his soon to be ex-wife. Marion was a short pixie-looking shorthair skinny woman. She was everything he was looking for. He took another drink of his beer and finished it in a couple of gulps. The waitress came around and ordered another round of drinks.

Del was feeling good, ecstatic even. A group of girls walked toward John. It was a blond and two brunettes. Del saw three of them was good looking. They had the air of vibrance and youthfulness. Del wondered how John knew these really pretty women. He had never told him about them before.

John introduced the girls to him. Sandra was the blond and the shorter brunette was named Cheryl and the other girl was named Rosa. It was loud in the bar and all he heard was music and laughter and the girls talking amongst each other. John was talking to Sandra. Cheryl and Rosa talked to each other and looked around the bar at the other men there, the younger men. Del could tell Sandra was interested in John.

Del thought about his ex-wife, Marion, and how on their first date they went to Newport Beach and walked around the beach. They had their first kiss along the railing on the pier while they stared at the full moon reflecting off the cold ocean waves. Del thought how perfect that night was. He shook his head and scanned the bar. He didn't want to be single again. He wanted his marriage back.

Cheryl said, "How do you know John?"

Del heard some of what she said. A song was playing loud over the bar's speakers.

Del explained to her how he met John college in the poly-sci class and how they started talking even after the class ended.

Del said, "He has been my best friend since then."

Cheryl smiled at him and nodding to him. She still looked at the other men around them but also looked at him. Del wondered if he had a chance with her. But then he thought about his ex-wife Marion. Cheryl had the same looked of Marion with same haircut and body type. John bought a round of drinks for them. Tonight was going good.

John nudged him. "I think she likes you."

Cheryl was talking to Rosa. The dim of the music was noisy and she didn't hear John's comment. Del nodded and realized he was drunk almost smashed. He looked at the table and saw several shot glasses and empty glass cups.

Del said, "John, I need to take a leak. I'll be back."

John looked at him and said, "Don't call Marion."

"Nah," he said and stumbled off his chair. He moved through the crowd of people towards the restrooms on the second floor. His body kept on hitting the walls as he walked up the steps. People moved away from him. Del knew he swayed to the side but couldn't help it.

The music was not so loud on the second floor. It was mostly pool tables there and then in a smaller bar. He went to the restroom and did his business. He barely glanced at himself in the mirror when he was washing his hands. He moved to a balcony and walked out into the night's air. It was warm and he thought he heard the sound of the ocean from hear but he most had been mistaken. The HB pier was too far away from the bar. A few couples talked quietly along the railing.

Del staggered toward an empty chair and sat down. restroom is business email. He scanned the night's sky and looked at the stars. He clumsily took his phone and dial his ex-wife's number. He knew it but heart even he took it out of his contacts.

"Del, is that you?" Marion's said.

"Yes, it's me," he said.

"Did you get the divorce paper?"

Del wanted to tell that he still loved and that they should be together. Except he said, "So, Who are you seeing? I know there is somebody else."

"No, there is nobody. It's your drinking. You're an alcoholic. You even drunk right now."

"No, I'm not. I'm just out with my friend John. I did get the papers and get my lawyer look over it. I'll call you later."

Del hung up the phone before she could reply. His face was flushed and the ground seem to spin. His face was also flushed. He was mad and knew that he should stop drinking but right now he wanted another shot of rum or tequila.

Del walked down the steps. He took an extra longer time to get to the bottom floor. He saw John and the girls dancing on a small dance floor near the back. John was dancing close to Sandra. Dell went back to his table. He noticed his glass was empty. The waitress was busy with the other customers.

Del didn't like admit that he is drunk but he was really wanted another drink.

He shook his head and walked toward the bar. He moved through the crowd of people. Standing in line, he saw somebody who looked odd this casual dressed crowd. He was dressed in his navy blue three-piece suit like he was a business executive going to a business meeting. He was staring at him.

Before Del could move away from this dude, the man said, "My name is Lodi. You have reached the elite status on the game. I'm a representative of the game company. I want to invite you and your friend to a special gaming night. We have this new prototype game that I think you guys would like to enjoy."

The guy, Lodi, took out a business suit a business card and handed it to him. Del laughed and grabbed the card. It was made out of plastic and it shined in the light. There was a hologram the surface of a futuristic gun. It was hard to tell in the light. Underneath, the gun was an address.

Lodi said, "Tell your friend here here's another card for your friend. You both invited."

He handed Del another card and it was dark blue color. Del pocketed both cards. He looked up and Lodi was gone.