I hadn't seen my friend Jake in months. We had met at Uni where we took an anatomy class together. We both had aspirations to become doctors but the studying was too much for Jake who decided physio might be a better fit for him. Jake was a good looking guy he had that rugby player physique. Around 6"4 with broad shoulders he got plenty of action with the ladies. Probably one of the reasons he struggled to study.
"How have you been man?" I said as I took a seat next to him at the local pub. "Its been far too long"
"Stevie my man, I have been good brother" Jake replied. Tapping my glass with his. "cheers"
"cheers" I said.
The next few hours flew by as we caught up and talked about our studies, our love lives, our sports teams and all the other nonsense blokes chat after 5 pints and a few rum and cokes. It was almost time to call it a night when Jake leant forward with a serious look and said "Can I tell you something Steve"
"Of course man, anything, are you ok?" I enquired matching the seriousness in his voice.
"I'm struggling dude" he said looking at me with a defeated yet half drunk look in his eye.
"what? You seem so happy though. you cant be suicidal" I responded by placing my hand on his arm. "Man I am always here for you"
"errr suicide. What you talking about. I just mean with my uni work" he said leaning back a bit.
"Oh thank fuck." I laughed as I pulled my hand away. My drunk ass went to worst case scenario.
"It's not funny man. I cant remember any of these goddamn muscles for my massage unit and I only have one attempt left in this semester before I need to resit the whole thing next year."
"Ok" I pondered. I knew Jake I know how he learns best he is a doing kinda person. Books and things aren't enough he needs to actually do the things he is learning.
"I can see your brain working Steve" Jake was looking at me. He knows i can help. He knows I know anatomy. I am the only reason he passed that unit in his first year.
"I have an idea, what if tomorrow or sunday I swing by yours and we can practice the massage on me as you move over the muscles we can discuss what it is and thing's" I looked up at him.
"That could work" he replied.
"All right man. Call me tomorrow morning and we can set up a time" I stood up and stumbled out the door.
The next morning I groggily woke up around 9am. I gulped down a glass of water. Mourning the fact that I can no longer drink the way I could when I was 19 i checked my phone to see 4 missed calls from Jake. I called him straight back. He answered right away. "Hey Steve. thanks for calling me back. You having a busy morning"
"No dude I just woke up" I mumbled as i tried to sit up without passing out.
"oh shit sorry man. I have already been out for a run and a coffee" He laughed.
"Of course you have" I was a bit short over the phone "whats up?"
"Are we still on for this massage study" Jake enquired.
"The what?" I replied. No idea what he was talking about. Jake proceeded to tell me how he had told me about his study trouble and how I had offered to help.
"Ahh shit man. I don't remember that at all" I said sheepishly feeling the anxiety wave crash over me.
"oh dont worry about it then" Jake said. This time he was being short with me.
"no no, I will be there does 2pm work? I just need to rearrange some bits." God damnit last thing I want to do is go study muscles with a hangover.
"2pm is perfect. Steve your the best man. Thank you thank you" he sounded so grateful I couldnt let him down.
2pm rolled around and I made my way down to Steves. "Hey brother, how are you?" he shouted from his window as I walked down the street. "Hit number 6 and ill buzz you in." The walk had freshened me up and I was feeling a bit more positive than the morning. I stepped into Jakes place and he welcomed me with a hug. I wasnt a small guy. I have a runners body pretty lean with a bit of muscle yet Jake always made me feel small. He was wearing linen pants and a white Tshirt. Typical masseuse outfit I thought.
"Alright man, lets get into this shall we" I said hoping to be all wrapped up in an hour or so. I took off my jumper, underneath I had our old uni singlet and a pair of shorts on. "Where you want me?" Jake led me through to a small study. In the middle of the room was a proper massage table.
"Oh shit your taking this seriously" I said as I jumped onto the table face down.
"I am trying" he nudged me in the leg not appreciating my gentle mocking. "Plus the ladies love it"
"HEY" I shouted as i lifted myself up off the table.
"I am kidding" he laughed "or am I"
"Shut up you idiot lets get this over with. Explain to me again your issue?"
Jake proceeded to again explain how he was struggling to name the muscle groups in the theory parts of his assessments.
"Ok. so what I want you to do is work your way down my body. Tell me what muscles your now working on and I will let you know if thats right or wrong. ok?"