• “I don’t understand how you can’t have had a relationship yet, Arri”

    “What does it matter? It’s not killing me that I don’t.”

    “But sweetie, you’re 22. You only have so much longer to blame some bad ******** on your hormones. You’re losing a great opportunity to screw anyone and get away with it!”

    That’s my Kelly alright. I’ve known her since I was 14, and she hasn’t changed a bit. Brutally honest and funny to boot, I’m surprised I haven’t gone after her at all.

    “Then again, it’s hard to use the hormone card on your mom when she sees you in bed in someone whose genitals match yours, so it’s really a give and take.”

    Right, that’s why, while I might be bisexual, she’s possibly one of the biggest lesbians I’ve ever known. Still, that doesn’t change the fact she’s my best friend, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

    “Arri, dear, listen to me, get laid now, or risk a life of bad relationships you might actually remember.”

    “While I appreciate the sentiment, maybe the reason I’m not going after every a** that walks by is because I don’t want a bad relationship.”

    “Whatever gets you through the night, I mean, aside from your porn.”

    “Kelly!”

    “Sorry, dear, I forgot your knickers are constantly in a knot, although some of the stuff you have is really top notch!”

    I feel my face turn a deep maroon as I slam my money on the table, grab Kelly by the wrist, and make for the exit. What began as a hurried pace down the block, I slowly calm down, ease our pace, and we start talking again.

    “Kelly, you can’t talk like that in public; or at least that loudly. Its crap like that that got us thrown out of the nightclub last year.”

    “Hey, I was drunk off my a**, get off of me.”

    “How many times have you said that before?”

    “******** you,” Kelly laughed as she punched me in the arm. I keep forgetting how strong she is.

    We continue walking until we get to the Sun Park, our old stomping grounds. We used to spend hours laying on the grass or on a bench talking about everything. I look to a tree where I came out to her, and to another where I held her when she came out to her family. There was the bench where we got high and I jumped off the seat, landed on a trash can, and dislocated my shoulder, in retrospect it was hilarious. I stretch my arms above my head, causing my shoulder to pop and remind Kelly of the incident.

    “Good God, will you stop that!” She moaned, “I get it, you were hurt, boo-mother ********, you were high, it was your own goddamn fault.”

    “But we didn’t get to the hospital for another hour because you couldn’t stop laughing,” I remind her with a grin.

    “Touché,” Kelly said.

    The sun started to set; my God, it’s still beautiful. We collapse onto the grass, staring listlessly into the orange sky.

    “I do admit,” I say to Kelly, “There are times where I wonder what’d be like if I were in a relationship with someone.”

    “Don’t you worry about it, love,” Kelly assured as she hugged me, “You still have a lot of time. I mean, its not like you haven’t kissed someone at least.”

    There was a long silence as I turned deep red again.

    “No…way,” said Kelly, “I knew I kissed you when I was high once.”

    “That was my sister,” I say.

    “If that’s the case,” Kelly announced, rising from the grass, “We’re getting you laid, tonight!”

    She grabbed my elbow and dragged me to her car. I’ll admit I threw a bit of a tantrum in her car.

    “I DON’T WANT TO GO!” I shouted, although she played her music so loudly, I doubt she heard. I didn’t want a relationship, and I made that perfectly clear to her.

    “I didn’t say I’m getting you a relationship, I said I’m getting you laid, they’re different.”

    The car stayed silent for a while, aside from the music. I spent the rest of the car ride trying to wrap my head around that sentence when we finally pulled in front of Azure.

    “The best gay bar in the city!” Kelly exclaimed.

    “I don’t want to be here, I mean, what if someone slips me something?”

    “Trust me, I’ll be the only one slipping you something, and that’s only if you sit at the bar like a lump on a log.”

    “Threats, oh yes, that’s the way to get me in that place.”

    “C’mon Steve,” Kelly pouts, “For me?”

    God damn her and her pouty face. She could get me to kill someone with that face.

    “Fine,” I say, “But you owe me big. There’s a book signing in a week, and you’re coming with me to stand in line.”

    “Totally worth it if it means my little Arri’s going to get some tonight.” We step out of the car, “C’mon you pansy, it’s only one night, I’m sure you’ll survive, just don’t forget a condom, okay?”

    Only one night, it sounded like a good idea. We walk in the club and I feel the bass pound into my chest. Everyone in the club is dancing or drinking. I make a bee line for the latter. I’m only 22, but I can hold my liquor well.

    “Vodka mixed with any red liquid,” I order as I take my seat. I take a minute to scan across the room. Everyone’s dancing to the music; I can almost see the wall of hormones and sweat between the bar and the dance floor. I have no idea what’s blaring on the speakers. I can see Kelly far across the room, I can’t believe it, we’ve only been here ten minutes and she’s already flirting with someone.

    My eyes pass over the whole bar until I look directly across from me. He looks uncomfortable, his thin frame looking down into his drink. He has nice blonde hair, just long enough so that I can’t get a good look at his face. I notice he has a drink that looks similar to mine, but mine is vodka and red stuff, so I have no idea what his could be. Now he looks bored, he’s probably in the same boat I’m in. He finishes his drink and heads for the door. For some reason, I feel compelled to follow him; I slam my alcohol down my throat, throw money to the bartender, and hurry to the door.

    “Hold it!” I hear Kelly shout. “If I don’t see you back in five minutes, I’m leaving without you!”

    I roll my eyes as I head out the door. The door shuts; the music now becomes a dull thumping. I look to my right, and there he is, smoking a long, thin cigarette. He’s leaning on the wall and his hair falls behind him. I finally get a good look at him and…good God he’s gorgeous. His long bangs covered a cute nose, thin, smooth lips, and soft, lightly-tanned skin. He rolled up the sleeves of his button down shirt, which loosely gripped his slender physique.

    “Can’t stand the volume either?” I ask, pulling out half a cigarette from my shirt pocket.

    “I don’t mind the music, it’s just that damn bass makes my chest hurt. I’m here as a designated drive so I can’t even get hammered, need a light?” That’s when I saw them, his deep-green eyes made my jaw drop. They were absolutely beautiful, giving me the same feeling of looking at a sunset.

    “Um…” I mumbled, “Sure, thanks.”

    “I’m Steve.”

    “A-Arri.”

    “So why are you here if you don’t like the music either?”

    “Oh, same reason, I’ve got to wait on a friend who’s probably going to either be sick in her own car, or make out with whoever she meets in the back seat.”

    He chuckled. We talk for a while. Steve’s 23, and despite his modesty, he sounds like a great guy. He plays video games, makes a lot of money, watches cartoons, oversees international mergers, reads manga, and works in one of the most powerful companies in the world. I’m surprised I caught all of that, as I spent most of the time staring.

    “I’m sorry,” Steve said, blushing, “I’ve been talking this whole time, I’m surprised you haven’t passes out, what do you do?”

    My heart stopped.

    “Well,” I began, “I’m in a bit of a rut I guess, I started writing a while ago, and I’ve been trying to get a book published. Unfortunately, no one’s taking, so I’ve been waiting tables to pay the rent.” As I say this, I hope he doesn’t notice my crushing failure or my embarrassment.

    “That’s amazing, I really like artists, they’re always such free spirits.”

    “Sure, until the bills come in the mail.”

    He laughed again, and oh, how I love that laugh. We kept talking for a while, I think we were going on about a TV show when Kelly came bursting out the door, half-drunk and making out with the girl I saw her flirt with earlier.

    “Hey there Arri, baby!” she shouted, “This is…I can’t for the life of me remember, but I do know that I need a ride home.”

    She threw me her keys, signaling an end to my talk with Steve. I’ve never had any self confidence, and I always backed away from everything, afraid of being hurt. But it feels different with Steve. I feel like I don’t have to worry about things like that with him. I took a deep breath, pulled a pen out of my pocket, and dove in.

    “I’m sorry, Steve, I have to take the lovebirds to their nest. Here, call me sometime, alright?”

    “Sure,” he said with a smirk. He turned to head back inside, and God help me I couldn’t move for a minute after seeing that a**.

    “C’mon, you p***y!” Kelly yelled, breaking my train of thought, “Let’s ******** roll, I’m losing my buzz!”

    As I walked to the car, I put my hand to my chest, trying to stop my heart from thumping past my ribs. I can’t believe I just gave that guy my number so easily. Am I insane? What if he thinks I’m creepy or a loser, or even worse—

    “For the love of God, if you’re not in this car in ten seconds, I’m going to take that pretty little a** of yours and make you wear it like a hat!”

    I’ll think about it later, I have to take the harpy and her mate home first.