A pub they all frequented on special occasions would be the usual choice for anyone in the Zoom team to celebrate birthdays, but who knew why Luca thought of a change of scenery that day. As it was his event, everyone complied with the plan despite having their doubts, at least until they arrived at the place.Joy and Adrien weren’t the first to be there: Courtney, Indi and Theo were already there drinking beers in the private room Luca had booked for the group. It was perfectly nice for the dozen people that would gather there.“I didn’t know there were karaoke bars like these nowadays.” Theo said. “If it’s like this, the rest of the world won’t have to suffer Nora’s singing.”“Or yours.” Adrien pointed out.“Adrien, Joy, come over here.”“Did you two come together?”The mentioned people glanced at each other, then Joy went to sit by Courtney’s side.“We’re just punctual, coming right on time.”After leaving her parents’ house, they went for ice cream to Glace, which left them with just enough time to head for a shower and a change of clothes before coming to the karaoke bar. However, no one needed to know that.“Where’s Luca?” Joy asked, changing the conversation topic.“He and Nora went to buy order snacks for us, they’ll come back at any moment.”Just as Indi said, Luca entered the room.“Hey, Joy! Great that you are here.” He picked another can of beer and told the others “This girl here sings pretty well, the other day I heard her when the elevator was out of service and we had to come down the stairs.”“You scared the hell out of me that time. I had my headphones and didn’t hear you coming behind me.”“I already apologized for that.”It didn’t take long for the room to be full with the rest of the team, and once they had all drank and eaten enough, people were in the mood for some karaoke singing. Luca, the birthday guy, was the one choosing songs for everyone, while Nora seemed determined to record all presentations (specially the embarrassing ones)Nora’s determination only lasted until the moment it was her turn, and Luca chose a Shakira song for her.“Let me register this in history for you, Nora.” Adrien teased her, as he took out his phone to start recording.Then, of course, it was Joy’s turn.Luca was probably trying to laugh at her, too, so he purposefuly chose a song with some rapped verses in between. Although she was terrible at it, Joy managed to sing other parts of the song decently.‘When the table is set for two and there’s nobody with you...’The lyrics even stuck with her for a while after it was over and Beth took the microphone in her place.‘We could be homies and once you get to know me… I could make you unlonely...’Someone offered a glass of beer for the third time, and she felt obliged to accept, which was of course a bad idea, because she had never learned to handle her alcohol at all. Ten minutes later, her head was spinning around.******What he didn’t understand was why she accepted the alcohol if she would be like this just half an hour later, barely able to walk on her own. However, it was all the same for Adrien, who wasn’t willing to go through the humiliation of singing just anything Luca chose for him. When Joy asked if they should share an uber, the timing was perfect.“You two are leaving together?” Courtney asked, raising an eyebrow.“We kind of live in the same neighborhood,” Adrien explained.“Great, then make sure she arrives home safely.” Nora spoke in a ‘mother’ tone. “I’ll call later just to check on you.”Just like that, they were in front of the bar, waiting for their uber to pick them up. Adrien didn’t drink that much either, but he’d have to leave his car in the parking lot and come back the next day.“It’s the white Mercedes, right? That one.”“Yep, that is. Let’s go.” He grabbed her elbow to help her walk straight, and they both got in the back seats of the car without saying more words.The driver offered a mint, but Adrien declined and focused his eyes on the phone, until a minute later there was a loud sigh and a weight falling on his left shoulder.“You know, when I was in school I really liked music classes, Emi and I were in the cover music club. But my mother and my father wanted me to study something ‘serious’ of course, so I had to quit. There were so many things I wanted to do...”She spoke in a low voice, and Adrien wasn’t sure if she was talking to him or to herself. He was only able to hear her words because she rested her head on him, too close to his ear.“Do you resent them?”Joy shook her head.“They were only doing what they thought was best for me.” There was a reason why she obediently followed their wishes for so long. “I only wish they would talk to me without using my brother as an intermediary now.”His lips curved into a bittersweet smile.It looked like no matter what, relationships between parents and children would be difficult for most people. For a long time he’d liked to imagine what his life would have been like if his parents were together, or if his mother hadn’t passed away. He would have given anything to have a bit of his father’s attention and care growing up, even if it meant having them clash over their views and life-choices as Joy and her family did.However, one only wished to be in the other person’s shoes until the moment the wish became true and life taught you that everyone dealt with their own unspoken difficulties in the way they could.“Adrien, what about you? Do you get along well with your family?”Closing his eyes, the look in his father’s face the last time they saw each other face to face still weighed on his mind.“I get along well with my younger sister. She’s around your age.” He chose to say.“That’s good. Siblings should stick together. Jamie and I have not been close for years, but I know if either of us is in need of help, we’ll have each other’s backs.”“I don’t get along with my father, though. We haven’t been close since I was seven. And about my mother, I wouldn’t know. She passed away when I was young.”Joy turned her head and the dark brown eyes stared at him.“I’m sorry.”There was a numbness on his shoulder when she moved, and he had to roll his neck from side to side, but perhaps it was also an effort to avoid her gaze. It wasn’t something he meant to tell her, yet he did, as a give and take.“You probably wouldn’t fight with your mother. You are too nice for that.”He chuckled.“If you say so.”“It’s true.” Her back straightened and she looked sober again “You’ve been kind to be from the very beginning. It’s made all my troubles feel lighter.”Was it so?Adrien was well aware that these weeks he’d acted better than he’d do with any other stranger. In doing so, Joy didn’t feel like a stranger anymore.“These days have certainly been… not bad having you around.”It was like having a friend. He didn’t lack friends, of course, but it was different. How long had it been since he felt close to someone who wasn’t already in his life from before? Even Nora, who was probably the closest friend he had now, was there before he gave up traveling and before his marriage was over.“Thank you.”Joy’s eyes were barely open, so it was a good thing they arrived at their building. It was with much effort that they made their way to the door of the apartment.