Flavia saw Giuseppe squeeze through the packed pub. That Saturday night was one of those when, to weave between the tables, one often had to ask for permission between two chairs. And, for sure, all that muscle mass that he had recently put on his legs did not make his maneuvers easier.

He had reasons to be happy about both things, and Flavia was sure that he would have basked and enjoyed those results more if it had not been for the heat. The air inside the pub had become heavy, but people were having fun and seemed not to mind.

Despite the sleeveless shirt that Giuseppe was wearing, despite his reddish hair being almost shaved, the sultriness had beaded his forehead. But he smiled cheerfully as he balanced the tray loaded with full glasses, showing off the geometric tattoos on his left forearm that he had been able to afford not long ago.

They had something to celebrate that night, in addition to the first anniversary of the opening of the venue: Giuseppe had also confided to her that he had just finished paying off all his debts.

Arriving at the table crowded by Flavia's classmates, Giuseppe set down the tray and began to distribute the drinks.

«Etiquette says that I have to serve you first out of respect for your age, lieutenant...»

«Cut it out, I'm younger than you!» Cristina teased him back.

«The month or so of age difference you have with me is irrelevant, it's with your tablemates that you have to deal with...»

«Are you that young, Cristina?» asked one of Flavia's now former schoolmates.

«Look what you've done, Peppe! Soon they'll start calling me auntie here...»

«No, I didn't mean that» the high school student apologized, «it's just that, for having graduated, I thought you were older.»

«She started primary school a year earlier» Flavia explained.

Giuseppe took the last glass for himself and sat down with the others. «So congratulations to auntie Cri for her graduation and promotion to lieutenant» he said raising his glass, «and to Flavia, Michela and Gianluca for their high school diploma!»

After the chorus of congratulations and wishes and after everyone had taken a sip, Giuseppe turned to the four celebrants.

«I brought you tonight's special beer, We're considering adding it to our permanent menu.. What do you think?»

«Excellent!» Cristina approved convinced.

«Not bad» Gianluca commented.

Flavia wrinkled her nose and then smoothed her grimace into a grin.

«I hate it...» she said.

«Wow... thank you, that's my top-notch PR. Michela?»

Michela was curled up on Gianluca's arm and held his hand intertwining and playing with his fingers.

«I second whatever my sweetheart says» she opted out.

«Yes... enjoy him, these months» Cristina laughed. «When you start university you'll have much less time to spend together.»

«What's that thing you studied called?» Gianluca asked her.

«Psycho-Social Strategic Sciences...» Cristina answered somewhat uncomfortably.

Gianluca raised his eyebrows.

«I had never heard of it...» he confessed.

«Me neither...» Flavia joined immersed in her reflections.

«Hold on a second, I did already mention that to you when I started!» Cristina chided back.

«I meant, before you told me about it...»

What gave Flavia something to think about was that even though she had lived in the future, she had never heard anything about it, yet she must have been around it a lot at the time when she was chasing Boccaccio and Nasoni.

«Well, it's an experimental course, I think I'm the only one in the world. My father insisted that I enter a special program that allows faster promotions than the normal rules of the army» Cristina explained. «Have you guys already decided what you want to do?»

«Modern Languages and Literatures!» Michela revealed enthusiastically.

«Which languages?»

«French...» Flavia and Gianluca chimed in unison.

«She got top marks in French, both on her report card and in the exam,» Flavia praised her.

Gianluca chuckled, absorbed in his memories. «I still can't believe it...»

«Hey!» Michela reproached him.

«You two as well?» Giuseppe asked.

«No, no!» Gianluca declared. «I'd like to take something in computer science. Or something with art, maybe architecture.»

«Incredible...» Flavia sighed taking her head in her hands. She felt nostalgic of when, five years earlier, she was about to graduate. Even more than being nostalgic, in all that time she had never stopped thinking about it. Not for a moment, ever. «I still have a lot of years left before I graduate...»

In fact, she knew that she would need at least two more years, if she managed to reclaim her previous life and if everything went as she hoped.

«In the meanwhile, it's about time you decide, you've never told me anything yet» Cristina pointed out.

«I don't know... architecture I think, me too» Flavia mumbled.

«Don't worry!» Giuseppe encouraged her. «One day it will be your turn too and we'll have a party here. I'll even let you choose the beer you want!»

«I'm not picky, just remember that I like them dark and intense.»

«For some reason, I already had a feeling you weren't into blondes...» Gianluca hinted, but immediately widened his eyes and petrified his face as he took the kick that Flavia had thrown at his shins from under the table. While his silence exuded expiatory suffering, Flavia forced a boisterous laugh.

«Ah! What are you saying, dummy!»

Giuseppe stood up and spread his arms to draw attention to himself. «Anyway» he raised his voice, «besides your graduations, I invited you to celebrate also the anniversary of the venue. The business is already going great and with my brother...» Giuseppe turned to the counter and let out a yell over the heads of the customers, abruptly cutting off their conversations. «Paolo! Are you coming or not?!»

Busy with the cash register, taps and waitresses, Giuseppe's brother gestured for him not to shout.

«Please forgive him...» Giuseppe continued, turning to the table, «on his behalf too we wanted to thank you for the support you gave us, especially Flavia, who did an exceptional PR job to fill the place since the first day of opening.»

Flavia collected with satisfaction the small applause of her friends and then swallowed a few more sips of her blonde to honor the toast started by Giuseppe.

«Peppe, I always wanted to ask you...» Gianluca chuckled, «why did you name the pub "Drunk Teddy Pair"?»

«It just... came out like that somewhat by chance» Giuseppe dodged while casually hiding his mouth behind the tankard.

«Well, if you want I can explain...» Flavia threatened him with a grin.

«What kind of perverted alcoholic can think of a name like that?» Michela laughed.

«Don't look at me!» Giuseppe tried to get out of it. «The idea was from your friend here next to me. I lost a bet with her.»

«I actually said "Drunk Teddy Pear"» Flavia specified, «then you didn't honor the bet all the way and settled for "Pair"...»

«Why, is there a story behind it?» Cristina got curious.

«Of course there is!» Flavia smiled at her.

«It's not true!» Giuseppe complained.

«Ah!» Michela exclaimed. «Teddy Pear... I get it!»

«You remember, huh?» Flavia winked at her. «What do you say, shall we gossip a bit?»

Giuseppe took Flavia by the shoulders and pulled her to him.

«Forget about gossiping and drink your beer, it's in moments like this that you have to bring out the man that you have inside.»

Flavia widened her eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by surprise, then recomposed herself in understanding that it was just a joke.

«Shut up... I don't have any man inside me!»

«For the time being...» Gianluca insinuated, playing the caricature of a womanizer.

Cristina was about to chuckle when she noticed her friend's embarrassed expression.

«Hey, you, remember that you're my boyfriend...» Michela scolded him.

Gianluca tried, with little success, to make a serious face « For the time being...» he repeated..

Flavia looked at her wristwatch and widened her eyes. «Damn!» she exclaimed as she hurried to pull out her mobile.

«What's wrong?» Cristina asked worriedly.

«Nothing...» she said composing a text message, «I forgot to cancel an appointment.»

She put her phone back in her purse and stood up, dragging Gianluca by an arm. «Michi, can I steal your boyfriend? I need a driver to take me to the Reflections.»

Michela grabbed Flavia's hand and gently tugged it.

«Do you really have to go?» she asked in a whimsical voice, then softened her gaze and assumed a mature expression that even Cristina couldn't match. «You should start relaxing more.»

«I'm only doing half a night, if you're still here after midnight, we'll see each other when I'm done.»

«Do I have to stay sober until midnight?» Gianluca offered.

«There's no need, when I get out of there I can stop by home to get my car.»

«You can't wander alone like that in that area...» Giuseppe worried. «Tell me what time, and I'll come pick you up.»

«Thanks Peppe, but you guys have fun.»

«No way, I'm coming with you, I'll drop you off» he insisted kindly.

«You have to stay here and play host» Cristina intervened, «let her go.»

Giuseppe tried to protest but, before he could speak again, Cristina imposed herself with martial elegance. «Incredible how you guys can be hysterical sometimes... she can handle herself better than you, I assure you.»

Giuseppe spread his arms and snorted. «All right lieutenant» he gave in, then turned back to Flavia. «Be careful.»

Leaving behind the half-full glass, Flavia slipped out of the corner of the table with Gianluca. «Thanks for the beer» she said to the host, «it was excellent.»

«You're such a liar...» Giuseppe smiled at her.

Flavia kissed him on the cheek and gave him a series of quick pats on the shoulder. «That's what you call a top-notch PR.»

«As for me...» Cristina declared facing them, «I fancy a fine blonde.»

Flavia met her fixed gaze as she smiled dreamily. A vigorous palpitation kept her stuck for a moment during which she tried to open her mouth without knowing what to say.

«Thank you...» Giuseppe anticipated without batting an eyelid. «At least you appreciate it. You can have as much as you want tonight, no worries.»