The day of the trivia night arrived, bringing with it a palpable buzz of excitement. The common room had been rearranged to accommodate the event, with rows of chairs and tables set up facing a small stage. A whiteboard stood prominently at the front, where scores would be tallied.
David and his friends arrived early, staking out a spot near the middle of the room. Ethan carried a notebook filled with random trivia facts he'd been cramming for the past few days, while Ollie looked uncharacteristically serious.
"Alright," Ollie said, leaning over the table.
"The strategy is simple: don't overthink, but don't rush. We've got this."
Ethan nodded, flipping through his notes. "I've been memorizing everything from capital cities to obscure movie quotes. If they ask about 1980s sci-fi films, we're golden."
David smirked, his nerves only slightly overshadowed by the team's infectious energy. "Let's just hope Jake doesn't try to pull any of his usual tricks."
The room gradually filled with students, the hum of chatter and laughter creating a lively atmosphere. Emily and her friends arrived shortly after, taking seats toward the back. David couldn't help but glance her way, catching her eye briefly before looking away, his heart skipping a beat.
"Focus, mate," Liam whispered, nudging him. "Plenty of time for that after we win."
Before David could respond, the hostel master, Mr. Carter, stepped onto the stage. A tall man with a salt-and-pepper beard and a booming voice, he commanded attention effortlessly.
"Good evening, everyone!" he began, clapping his hands together. "Welcome to our annual trivia night! As always, the rules are simple: no phones, no cheating, and most importantly, have fun!"
The room erupted In cheers and applause, the competitive spirit palpable.
The first round kicked off with general knowledge questions, and the atmosphere shifted into one of intense focus.
"What is the capital of Brazil?" Mr. Carter asked, his voice echoing in the room.
David scribbled furiously on the answer sheet. "Brasília," he whispered, sliding the paper to Ollie, who nodded in approval.
Jake's table, positioned toward the front, looked equally confident, their smug expressions suggesting they had also nailed the answer.
The questions grew progressively harder, ranging from history to pop culture. Ethan shone in the music category, correctly identifying a Beatles song from just the opening lyrics.
"Nice one!" Ollie whispered, clapping Ethan on the back.
By the end of the second round, the competition was neck and neck between David's team and Jake's. The tension In the room was thick, with whispered debates and the sound of pens scratching on paper dominating the atmosphere.
During a brief intermission, David made his way to the refreshment table, where Emily was pouring herself a cup of lemonade.
"Hey," she said, smiling warmly as she noticed him. "How's it going?"
"Pretty good, actually," David replied, his tone casual despite the flutter in his chest. "We're holding our own."
Emily nodded, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I noticed. Jake doesn't look too happy about that."
David chuckled, glancing toward Jake's table, where the senior was animatedly discussing strategy with his teammates. "Yeah, he's not used to being challenged."
"Well, you've got this," Emily said, her encouragement genuine. "Don't let him get in your head."
"Thanks," David said, feeling a surge of confidence.
As they returned to their respective tables, Ollie gave David a knowing look. "You're grinning like an idiot. Did you talk to her?"
"Maybe," David replied, trying to downplay it, though the redness in his ears gave him away.
The final round was a rapid-fire session, with questions worth double points. Mr. Carter's voice rang out, each question met with frantic scribbling and whispered debates.
"What year did the Berlin Wall fall?"
"1989," Ethan whispered confidently, jotting it down.
"What is the chemical symbol for gold?"
"Au," David answered, his voice steady.
The tension reached its peak as the last question was announced: "Which novel begins with the line, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'?"
David's mind raced, the familiar words sparking recognition. "A Tale of Two Cities!" he whispered urgently, and Ollie quickly wrote it down.
As the scores were tallied, the room buzzed with anticipation. Mr. Carter stepped up to the whiteboard, a dramatic pause preceding his announcement.
"In third place, with 36 points… the Brains and Brawn team!"
Applause erupted as the team cheered, though their smiles were tinged with disappointment.
"In second place, with 42 points… Jake and the Titans!"
David's table erupted in cheers, the realization sinking in that they had done it.
"And in first place, with an impressive 45 points… David and the Dreamers!"
The room erupted in applause as David's team stood, grinning from ear to ear. Jake's expression was a mixture of disbelief and grudging respect as he approached David.
"Good game," Jake said, his tone grudging but civil.
"You too," David replied, offering a firm handshake.
As the night wound down, the atmosphere in the common room was one of camaraderie and celebration. For David, the victory wasn't just about trivia it was a reminder of the power of teamwork, determination, and a little bit of luck.