So I was at the nuclear, right? Lights bright and music blaring, whatever song’s popular at the time. I’m wearing my signature battle vest, pins and shit on display. Black jeans and a pair of busted up Doc Martens, or whatever you’d call the knock offs, with a similarly colored black tank top. I’m sure you know the rest.
Sitting at the bar top, chugging Shirley Temples like it was nothing. Just finished having a rabbit with my mates when a boy walks up to me. He looks around my age and looks like he wants to talk, right? Y’know how I am, so I give em the ol’ once over.
The lights of the bar caught onto his skin, glistening against the warm undertones. Dark coils twisting and turning in an endless pattern, resting gently atop his head. Nice hairline, cute face! His expression was unreadable, but when he opened his mouth to speak…
“Rough night?”
His voice was heaven on my ears, I nearly spit out my drink.
“Oh yeah,” I say sarcastically. “Just drinkin’ my sorrows away.” Holding up my drink in his direction, he let out a dry laugh.
“I get that.”
An awkward silence ensues, but it wasn’t unwelcoming. We exchanged quiet glances between ourselves. His eyes lingered just a little longer than they should’ve, I met his gaze with eyes of my own.
As though I pulled ‘em out my pocket, come off it.
I plunged into the sea of his light brown eyes and held contact with them. He looked away, face reddening ever so slightly. I could feel my face begin to warm up as well, but it wasn’t as prominent a blush as his.
Did ya really think someone of my complexion was gonna turn beet red? Really?
I digress.
“You look flustered, see somethin’ ya like?” I said, but he looked at me with a confused expression.
“I can’t hear you.”
“Right,” I got up from my seat and put my arm around his neck, fingers resting comfortably on his shoulder. “You seem flustered, hon’. Could it be that something’s caught your attention.” His breathing hitched for a second, I could’ve sworn I broke him.
But he quickly matched my energy instead.
“Yeah, you could say that. You’ve captivated me with your essence.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” The world seemed to fade away for a moment, our impossible closeness drowning out everything else. The only sounds we could truly make out was the sound of our hearts.
Beating.
United.
As one.
He pulled me down a bit, right? So that his mouth was lined up with my ear. His voice was smooth, like a thick caramel. My eyes fluttered shut as I listened to the words coming out of his mouth.
“It’s hard to not stare when a guy like you is staring right back at me.”
“I wasn’t staring, I was looking. See, there’s a difference. ‘Sides, don’t you think staring’s a bit rude?” I could feel a sly smile tug against the corners of my mouth.
“Not when it’s you.”
God.
I shuddered at the statement, backing away to catch my breath. He expressed a genuine concern, eyes widening at my sudden movement.
“You okay?” He asked, body turning to face me completely.
“Yeah, ‘m fine. Just got a little worked up, was all.”
“Sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable, I can leave you alone if you’d like.”
I really didn’t want him to.
“No, it’s alright. You’re fine here.”
He nodded before turning back to the bar, hands resting tentatively on his lap. I placed my hand on my forehead in exasperation. What was a guy to do.
Then an idea popped into my mind, ‘was bloody genius.
“Why don’t we start from the top, ah? Names and allat?” I said, hands smacking against the bar top. It seems that this piqued his interest, judging by the way he looked at me.
“From the top? Should I get up and walk over here again?”
“No, you’re perfect right where you are.”
I turned around and took two steps forward, making sure he had his eyes on me. I turned back around and walked up to the bar, throwing the line he used on me right back at him.
“Rough night, eh?”
He looked gobsmacked. “Plagiarism isn’t a good look on you.”
“Yeah, but you know what is?”
“What?”
“Your hands.”
I grabbed his hands and lead them to my waist, pulling him up so I could get a proper look at his reactions. Lifting his face up by the chin, I forced him to look directly at me. I’m sure if he looked hard enough he’d see that I was just as flustered as he was.
“What d’ya think? pretty, innit?”
“I guess, but I’d rather have them here.”
He took a moment to wrap his arms around my neck, I followed suit and placed my hands on his hips.
“How about now?”
“Perfect.” He said, eyes closed.
I couldn’t help but examine his features once more, the way my hand sat perfectly against his hips. We were like two puzzle pieces, jagged at the edges but fitting together oh so perfectly. I hummed gently, before opening my mouth to speak again.
“I’m Hobie, by the way. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“That’s a great name for you, Hobie. I’m Miles.”
Miles.
Miles.
Like, if I said it three times he’d will himself into my presence again.
I closed my eyes, swaying to the beat of the music as it came back into focus again. It was a slow, romantic song. It’s a bit of an oldie, Un Beso by Aventura. I had to look that one up on my way here, didn’t even realize it was in spanish. I like that song.
He looked up me, gentle smile on his face.
“I know we’re already dancing,” he said, eyes glistening “but might I have this dance?”
I chuckle at his question, my head falling to rest against his.
“You may. I’d love to dance with you, Miles.”
Miles.
Miles.
I want to see him again.