Searching For Victory

SEARCHING FOR VICTORY

By: Annie James

Copyright Annie James 2012

Smashwords Edition

Dedication

To John for always making me laugh;

To my motley crew of friends for the same;

And to big-headed Andy from Manchester for the story

you told me one December night in a Tunisian bar.

Chapter 1

It's not every day that your best friend gets sent a biological sample in a Tupperware container from his ex-girlfriend, but it is a good day. Archie had been seeing this girl, Tania for a few months when he'd lost interest. So, just a few days before her birthday, so that he wouldn't have to buy her a present, and in the most un-gallant fashion, he broke up with her. He thought he was being practical, she thought he was being cruel. Shortly thereafter, the Tupperware package arrived in the mail, with no sender's name on it, just the foul contents inside. There was no proof that Tania sent the package, other than something a DNA test could resolve, but she did seem a likely suspect.

Things happened to Archie that didn't seem to happen to other people and it was fun being a spectator. Tania had also taken to stalking him: sending him numerous daily emails asking why did he break up with her, showing up unexpectedly at his front door, going to his regular coffeehouse to ambush him. She was desperate to get him back, but each time she made a move, her chances became more and more remote. Vicki couldn't understand Tania's obsession with Archie, a sentiment she shared with him frequently.

I don't get it she'd say, "It's you."

She was meeting Archie after work in a pub downtown to discuss his next course of action. She walked in the long, narrow pub and could see him sitting at a table near the back, drinking a beer, smiling and reading a paper. As she approached, he looked up and said Hey, listen to his, He was reading an advice column from one of those alternative newspapers.

"Dear Olivia, My boyfriend enjoys watching porn and has noticed that the actresses have bleached their anuses and he's decided that he'd like me to do this to mine and has asked several times. I don't feel entirely comfortable with the thought of bleaching my anus though. Is it safe? Should I do this for him?"

He paused to take a breath: Dear Stella, Generally speaking, it's not a good idea to fuck with the health of your anus. If your boyfriend doesn't like you the way you are, dump him. He slammed his palm down on the table and threw his head back, lost in laughter.

Words to live by: Don't fuck with the health of your anus!

Vicki had to agree. It was moments like this that kept her revolving around Archie's orbit. She just never knew what was going to come out of his mouth next, but it was usually pretty good. Archie fit Vicki's friendship criteria perfectly. No need to be kind or thoughtful, but you do have to be funny or interesting and Archie ticked both those boxes.

Maybe this is what kept Tania, and several other women, coming back for more. Physically, he wasn't Vicki's type. Fortunately, he felt the exact same way about her. This made their friendship open to almost any topic. There were no ulterior motives, and they spoke frankly. He did have a way with most women though and when she asked him how he did it, he said Throw a large enough net, and you're bound to catch some fish. I'm shameless. I'll ask anyone out. Low standards also help. It was low standards that got him into this mess.

So, I've had a bit of a rough day today, he said. Got five emails from her today.

I know Vicki interrupted, you forwarded them all to me. This is beginning to get really sad. You need to implement a better screening process, my friend.

Yeah, I know, but what do I do about Tania? he asked.

It's time you got brutal with her, and told her to leave you the hell alone Seriously, while Vicki had been finding this whole episode extremely entertaining, it was getting a bit ridiculous.

I don't know if I can be that mean

Fine, leave it then, I'm getting a bit tired of all the 'Tania' dramas.

Oh, as if! You love watching my dramas! His nostrils started to flare.

You love starring in them! Vicki defended myself. It was true. Archie always provided some kind of story or distraction for her. He made life interesting and she enjoyed the part he played, but this conversation was starting to head in a direction Vicki did not like. He leaned back from the table and straightened his posture. He started breathing through his nose, and his eyes stopped blinking. Vicki knew this look. Angry Archie was coming out and when Archie got angry, he got nasty, and personal. Not something she liked experiencing.

You know, if you stepped outside of your own little cocoon once in a while, maybe you'd have a few dramas of your own, and you wouldn't be so interested in mine. You just turn off and disengage. No wonder you haven't had a date in over a year.

Ouch. Vicki had definitely woken the Hulk.

Hey, just because you don't know about it, doesn't mean I haven't had a date in over a year. I don't tell you everything.

Which was a lie. She did tell Archie everything and he knew it. Vicki was free falling into a black hole, and she braced herself for what she knew was coming next:

Who? Give me a name he challenged. He wasn't jealous. He just knew she was lying, and he loved being right. All this, and Vicki had yet to procure herself a drink. What started off as a promising anal-topiced evening, was quickly going down the toilet.

I don't have to give you a name Think of a name, think of a name, any name, she thought to herself. Blank, nothing, no name whatsoever came to mind. Mike? Steve? Jim? Will? Nope, they all escaped her.

Yeah, that's what I thought he said triumphantly.

Okay, moving on. Vicki needed to shift the topic and get herself a beer. Where's our waiter? She said looking around furiously as though the very action would make him magically appear.

"So, what are you going to do about Tania?"

I'm thinking of changing my hair colour and becoming an advice columnist. ..it doesn't seem that hard, as he glanced down at his newspaper. Crisis averted, as Archie started to breath through his mouth and blink again.

Listen, it's my birthday coming up soon. It's next Friday he said.

Yeah, I know. Any plans?

I thought a group of us could go out for dinner and drinks. Can you make it?

Yeah, 'course I can. Who's invited?

Archie proceeded to list off a few of his friends who Vicki met a few times, and then he added, Oh, and there's this girl I met, who I'd like to invite. Unbelievable. His bounce back ability was impressive.

Okay, who's this girl?

Well, we've been out a few times, and she's pretty nice. I met her online.

What's her name?

Arcadia.

What?

Arcadia.

Good Lord, you know how to pick 'em. What kind of name is Arcadia?

It's her name. She's really nice

If she were that nice, she wouldn't be dating you.

"I never said she was bright. Besides, should we be making fun of other people's names, Victory?"

She opened the door....he walked through it. Her own fault. Archie never missed an opportunity to make fun of her own first name. Not that she went by the name Victory. Most people knew her as Vicki, but some people knew the truth, and Archie was one of them.

She confided in him, one drunken night, that her parents had a difficult time conceiving. They had all sorts of procedures done to get pregnant, and when it finally worked, her father raised his arms towards the ceiling, fists clenched, and yelled Victory!

It was pretty much decided, right then and there, boy or girl, that their baby would be named Victory. And much to Vicki's horror, this story was often repeated every year on her birthday. You know why we called her Victory, of course, don't you? Vicki's dad Richard would ask her amused friends. Always vigilant and on the lookout, Vicki would try her damnedest to interrupt the conversation and steer it in a different direction. Sometimes she was successful, sometimes not.

It was a hard name to live up to. Always having to win. So, in retaliation for being given such a ridiculous name, Vicki rarely chose to win, opting for mediocrity instead. With a degree in history, Vicki chose to work as a customer service rep at a bank. What else do you do with a degree in history, she reasoned. Teaching seemed like too much hard work. Besides, she wasn't a big fan of kids. Archie once accused her of choosing to study history so that she wouldn't have to have a real career. So that she could justify skimming along in life.

He was right, of course, but Vicki didn't know why. The name thing was just an excuse. Most of her friends had settled into serious careers and were doing quite well. Her university roommate and good friend Mia was climbing the ranks of her company, reaching the role of Sales Director at the tender age of 27. Not bad. Archie, although a few years older, was a successful IT specialist. So why Vicki settled for a job where most of her co-workers weren't as educated as she was, remained a mystery to her. Admittedly, not one that she took the time to investigate.

Archie took another sip of his beer, challenging her to answer his question.

Okay, okay, Vicki backed off, Arcadia it is. Does she ever shorten it?

Yeah, sometimes she goes by Dia

Dia???

Really? We've come full circle that quickly? You're like a goldfish swimming around a bowl, and each time it does a circuit, it forgets it's been there before. Archie laughed.

Archie's smile was short-lived and Vicki felt a presence standing behind her. Judging by the look on Archie's face, it wasn't the waiter. Slowly, Vicki turned her head to see the furious figure of Tania standing there, arms crossed, looking pretty pissed off.

Hey, Tania..... Vicki said hesitantly. Tania was about to blow and Vicki was glad to have a front row seat.

Vicki Tania said, curtly. Archie, can I speak to you in private?

I really don't think that's a good idea, Tania. Archie said tentatively. He wasn't going to be dragged outside by this lunatic.

Should I go stand over there? Vicki offered. Archie shot her a look that said don't you dare move.

Yes please Tania said, followed immediately by Nope from Archie.

Fine, we'll do this here Tania announced. How come, when I passed you in the hallway today at work, you ignored me completely. I smiled a perfectly friendly smile, and you just pretended you didn't even see me. Do you even know how that makes me feel????

Oh, Jesus Archie sighed. Do you really want to know? Because you may not like what I have to say.

I asked the question didn't I? Tania replied.

"Okay, but I warned you. It's because whenever I show you even the smallest amount of very basic human courtesy, such as acknowledging a co-worker when you pass them in the hall, you read too much into it. You take it as some kind of sign that I want to get back together with you, which I definitely do not!"

Ka-Pow! Thought Vicki. She was kinda proud of Archie.

You flood me with emails telling me how great it was to see me. How you think we still have that special spark. How you think it's worth giving it another try. Then you send me cutesy emails with hearts and unicorn pictures. You remind me of the last time we made love and how great it was, Vicki thought she might be sick....If I give you any attention, you won't leave me alone. If I ignore you, you track me down and won't leave me alone. What do I have to do for you to LEAVE ME ALONE???

Tears welled up in Tania's eyes as she whispered You bastard before turning around and running out of the pub.

Wow said Vicki, not really knowing what else to say.

I feel awful Archie replied.

After what seemed like an appropriate moment of silence, Vicki asked Did she really use the phrase made love"?

Yep, not only that, but when we did have sex, she used to grab my head between her hands and forced me to look directly at her. I'd be so preoccupied with shaking my head free that I couldn't concentrate on anything else.

Vicki threw her head back and howled in laughter. Tania's tears seemed to fade into the background.

Once again, Archie proved his worth. Not that Vicki enjoyed watching Tania cry, but the confrontation was fantastic. Nothing so exciting ever happened to Vicki.

Does Arcadia know about Tania? Vicki curiously asked, hoping the answer would be juicy.

No, I don't think it's a good idea to tell my new girlfriend about my crazy my ex-girlfriend. She might side with Tania and I'd come out looking like a jerk. She can find that out on her own, without my help.....or yours! He added suddenly, with a finger pointed in Vicki's face. Translation: Do not tell New Girlfriend any stories, whatsoever, about Archie, without his pre-approval.

Fair enough. I'll let her find out what a jerk you are by herself.

That's all I ask.

Finally, a waiter showed up to take their order.

Where the hell have you been? Archie jokingly asked.

Watching the floor show the waiter wittily replied.

Chapter 2

As the cold February wind continued to howl outside, Vicki hurriedly stepped inside the restaurant, wishing she had not worn a skirt. Who wears a skirt in February in Toronto, she wondered.

The maitre d' approached her and she gave him Archie's name. As she was lead to the table, she saw all the usual suspects already gathered there, talking animatedly. Shauna and Ian, Archie's friends from high school, Tony his old roommate, Mia, who was slightly tanned due to a recent trip to Thailand, and a woman with straight long black hair, sitting next to Archie, laughing at everything he said.

That must be Arcadia, Vicki surmised. She looked nothing like Vicki expected her to look like. She looked exotic, and yet somehow.....normal.

Mia was in the middle of telling the group about her recent trip. Vicki sat and Archie introduced her to Arcadia.

Vicki, Dia. Dia, Vicki.

Mia, who was sitting in between Tony and Ian, continued her story. So, I went in for this special Thai message. Has anyone ever had a Thai message? No, was the general answer. Everyone clearly being polite, yet slightly bored with the story.

Okay, well, I'm lying face down, getting the most amazing message I've ever had in my life. When the masseuse suddenly flips over.

Drinks suddenly thudded against the table. Confused, Vicki looked around to figure out what was happening. Shauna and Arcadia were also looking around. Archie, Ian and Tony suddenly started to stare intently at Mia.

You were......topless, right? asked Tony.

Yeah, I was she casually confirmed, So I thought it was really weird that she turned me over like this, but when in Rome, right? So, I was turned over and the masseuse got on the table and straddled me.

Tony and Ian were now leaning in closer to hear every word. Eyes intent. Transfixed. Not going to miss anything. Archie, across the table, equally possessed