...an exit to eternal summer slacking.

[All*StaRs! are sitting on a backyard deck in a horseshoe shape around a small fire with the opening facing a set of stairs that lead up to the back porch]
Nick Murphiez: "...and what better night to start drowning my sorrows than this beautiful summer night...AND in the company of these...my true family, right?" (raises his Sprite)
All*StaRs (toasting in unison): "family!"
Mike Standards: "Just let go man. Listen...closely...as the silence is drowned out by the warm summer air gently whispering sweet nothings into your ears."
(rest of All*StaRs! collectively groan)
Mike Standards: "What?...Hey fuck you if I'm not John fucking Mayer."
Scotty Starr: (laughs flamboyantly)"Not John Mayer? No thank you!"
(a few seconds of silence pass as they all drink)
Colton Aledridge: "It's intoxicating (points to can) really...(laughs sarcastically) See what I did there?"
Nick Marshalls (cutting in just as Colt says "there?"): "...it almost seems as if there's nothing better to do than to slowly drink away your thoughts, your emotions...these feelings."
Murphiez (slowly raises can as if unsure and then slowly lifting his shoulders and hands in questioning fashion): "To...being ...numb?"
All*Stars (look around, think for a few seconds look at each other, nod as if agreeing then collectively toast): "Numbness!"
(A few seconds of silence pass)
Nick Murphiez (snickering): "What the fuck have I missed?..."
Alisson Cheynes (quietly walking down the stairs onto the deck during the conversation): "Everything, my dear hero...Everything."
(All*StaRs! all look up and then stare in disbelief)

--------------------------------------------
From Chapter 26 - 'Subtracting the Addition of These Addictions'