What do you mean you won't be available? You can't not be available for your own birthday!
Marc, stop getting mad over nothing like that. I'm just telling you that I won't be able to celebrate our birthday that weekend. Not that we're not going to celebrate it at all.
But we've always celebrated our birthdays together, all three of us. We can't start doing it without you.
Well, this year, yes. I'm sorry. Stephane is taking me on a surprise weekend. I'm not going to cancel that just because you decided that this weekend, we absolutely had to celebrate our birthdays like we've done every year for the last 20 years.
Oh look, here's Peter. Let's ask him what he thinks.
There's nothing to think about, it's just how it is. I won't be here this year, that's all. We're not going to vote on whether I'm allowed to go away for the weekend with my boyfriend, this is insane…
What's going on with you two again? It sounds tense…
Catherine has something to tell you.
Oh great, you stir everything up and now it's on me to explain everything…
Alright, is someone going to spit it out or not? What's your problem? You're so annoying when you keep arguing like this all the time!
Stephane got me a surprise weekend for my birthday, so I won't be here on the famous birthday weekend for our usual party, the three of us. That's it. Marc is making a huge deal out of it, like it's a matter of state, and now he wants your opinion. So go on, your turn, enjoy.
Well, that's pretty nice of him, isn't it? Are you happy about that gift?
Of course, I'm over the moon. I can't wait.
And what are you going to do?
That's the point of a surprise, I don't know. He'll just give me the list of things I need to bring a few days before. It's super exciting, don't you think?
Yeah, totally. That's an idea to keep in mind if I ever manage to get a girlfriend one day…
Ah, thank you. At least you're not yelling at me, that's a nice change.
So, where's the problem then, Marc? I don't get it. Why don't you want her to go away for the weekend?
That's not the problem! Are you doing this on purpose too, or what? It's the weekend we're supposed to celebrate our birthday together, all three of us, remember? Feels like I'm the only one who cares about it.
Of course we care too, but we can totally do it the weekend after. It won't change much. We'll still be 20… plus one week, that's all.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. The voice of reason has spoken. Thanks, Peter. At least you find solutions instead of staying stuck on your position like Marc. Alright, it's settled. I'm going away for the weekend with Stephane, and the following Saturday we celebrate our birthdays. That works for you? We do it like that? Now I'm off, I've got work to do. See you later, guys.
**********************
Alright, you gonna spit it out now that she's gone?
I don't get what you mean?
Marc, stop it, don't play dumb with me, please. We've known each other for 20 years, I know when something's wrong. Making a big scene over a birthday—you, who doesn't usually give a damn about a calendar—something's off. What's bothering you?
Nothing. It just pisses me off that she ditched us like that without even asking. It hurt my feelings, yeah.
Okay, but it's a surprise, so you can't accuse her of doing it on purpose. Stephane chose the date.
Well, she could've asked him to move it.
Oh oh oh… wait a second. Are you throwing a little tantrum or what?
That's bullshit. I care about this tradition, that's all. It hurt me. But I'll get over it, since you both made it pretty clear that I'm ridiculous.
Ridiculous, no, we didn't say that. But you have to admit your reaction is a bit over the top. It's kind of disproportionate. Moving it by a week isn't a big deal and it won't bother anyone. So, where's the real problem?
There is no problem. I got it. I'll shut up.
Hey… that really sounds like jealousy.
Jealous? Me? Of a surprise weekend? I'm not 12 anymore.
Not the surprise weekend. The fact that Catherine's spending a lot of time with that guy.
What are you getting at?
Since we were kids, we've been the three musketeers. We were inseparable. And for a while now, yeah, Catherine's been spending a lot of time with Stephane. So maybe you feel like you've been pushed into the background.
Cut the crap, we're not kids anymore. That's life.
Yeah, exactly. We grow up, and life pulls us apart a bit.
You're depressing me.
Marc, I'm serious. Our studies are different now, we can't see each other every day anymore. We meet new people, we get into different things. Yeah, we drift apart a little, but that doesn't mean our trio is going to fall apart. We just have to find a new balance.
You read that in a self-help book or what?
Stop sulking. I can see this whole thing with Stephane is messing with you. Whether it's jealousy or nostalgia, I don't care. I just don't want it to create tension between you two.
What I see is that this guy is a jerk. And yeah, it hurts seeing Catherine ditch us for him.
You barely even know him.
Come on, we've already spent several evenings with them. You find some common ground with him maybe?
No. He'll never be a friend. But Catherine is in love. She's happy with him. So, if you don't want to lose her, you have to accept it. Otherwise, she'll drop you. Not him.
Well, it'd be nice if he disappeared fast.
Marc, don't do anything that could screw up their relationship. You'd lose her forever. This is jealousy, it's obvious.
Oh shit, stop with that. I'm dropping it. She does what she wants, and we'll celebrate our birthdays later. But that guy is still an idiot and I don't trust him.