Max closed his locker door with a metallic thud and dropped his gym bag with a resounding crash on one of the benches. This time he had really pushed himself to the limit with the dumbbells, and his arms and shoulders hurt like hell. He'd look for some Voltaren gel when he'd get home.
"Max, my man! Why the sorry face, dude?"
Max looked up, seeing Louis. He smiled; Louis always made him smile. Louis was one of those eternally happy chaps, invariably wearing some sort of grin all the time. He was never upset and always made you feel good.
"I'm just a bit tired, that's all." answered Max as he fist bumped Louis, the pain in his muscles subsiding.
Louis opened his own locker, taking out a fresh T-shirt. He wore it and said, "Hey, want to catch a quick drink at 'Robert's` with me?"
Max said, "No, thanks. I'm going out with Sally tonight."
Louis's grin got bigger. "Oooh, big date! What is it? No. 10? 12? You're getting serious."
"It's just a date, Louis," answered Max, hoping he wasn't blushing. "I really like her. She's smart and funny. He then added, "and of course she's hot."
Louis snapped his fingers. "Got something for you, dude." He opened his own gym bag and took out a small nylon packet sealed with a sort of a zip-lock. He handed it to Max, who took the packet with his thumb and index finger, eyeing it like an ugly bug. Louis really liked pills: pills to pump your muscles, pills to help your memory, pills to help you stay awake. He didn't do or deal drugs, but he was into all that biohacking stuff and sometimes tried to drag Max with him.
Max said, "What the hell is this?" raising the packet to the fluorescent light. The packet contained two brown pills, about half a centimeter long each.
Louis lowered his voice and said, "This would really impress her. It will give you stamina all night long."
Max threw the packet on the bench between their bags. "I don't need a boner pill!" he cried. He couldn't believe Louis thought he needed "reinforcements". Suddenly he understood he had raised his voice. He looked around. Luckily, there was no one near them.
Louis bumped his fist against Max's shoulder. "Relax, dude. This ain't no regular boner pill. This is some new Chinese shit; all natural ingredients. It will make her addicted to you." Louis noted Max's skeptical gaze, so he spread his arms and said, "Look, the world's a jungle. You need an advantage. You're not the only guy in town. If Sally's so hot, don't you think men hit on her all the time? Why should she stay with your skinny ass when she has such a wide selection?" Louis put the packet on Max's bag. "Trust me. You won't regret it." With that said, he picked up his bag and left. Max looked at the packet. It seemed like a worm on his bag. After a few seconds he mumbled, "What the hell" and put the packet in the bag's side pocket.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Max stepped out of the shower and entered his room, drying his hair with a towel. He tried to whistle a tune he had heard on TV but failed miserably. He put on his underwear and a T-shirt, and walked to his bed to take his pants when he noticed his gym bag on the bed. Freezing in mid stride, he gazed at the bag. There was a possibility he would get lucky tonight. He and Sally were getting closer. They've already kissed and necked around. Who knows? Tonight might be the night. Max twisted his mouth as he thought about the pill. It was probably not FDA approved. Most of Louis's crap wasn't. On the other hand, he was sure Louis won't give him anything toxic, and he did want to impress Sally. Max sighed. He could think about it for hours and still stay undecided. He reached for the bag, opened the side pocket and took out the packet. Max opened the zip lock and slid a pill into his open palm. He noticed the letters SM-30 engraved on the pill. The pill rested on his open palm looking innocent enough. Max sighed. He hoped he wouldn't regret this. Max tilted his head, raised his palm and let the pill slip into his mouth. He was just about to wear his pants when his cell phone rang. Max dropped his pants and grabbed the phone.
"Hello?" he said.
"Hi, Max, how's it going?" Max heard Sally's voice from the phone. It always reminded him of chiming bells.
"Sal!" said Max, moving hair from his forehead, "How are you?"
"I'm great, but I'm positive for the COVID virus."
Max's face turned grim. "Oh, are you alright? Are you running a fever? Do you need anything?"
Sally chuckled. "No, my sister was infected so my entire family got tested, and I was positive. I don't feel a thing, but I'm quarantined for a week. I guess I'll have to take a raincheck on our date tonight."
Max was stunned for a few seconds. The news of Sally's quarantine made him forget all about their date. "It's alright, Sally, your health is the important thing. Call me if I can help."