Bad Habits

Realisation Upon Recognition

TW// alcohol consumption

Dakota walks to the local bar that Parker works at, just down the road from his apartment. He feels bad leaving Parker again, but he's in desperate need of a drink after their conversation at the diner.

As he walks into the bar, he is greeted by the bartender, a middle-aged man named Randy. Dakota knows him well because he often works the nightshift with Parker.

"Big D! You haven't been in since last week, everything all good?"

Dakota laughs and takes a seat at one of the bar stools, nodding when Randy asks, "the usual?"

"I've been busy," Dakota replies. "Turned 23, nothing major."

"Mate," Randy half-yells, "23 is major! Congrats on making it this far, man."

Dakota laughs again and takes the glass Randy is sliding across the bar towards him. It's his go-to drink; whiskey on the rocks.

"Thanks, man. How've you been anyway?" Dakota asks as he takes a sip from the glass, pursing his lips at the strong liquor.

"Yeah, good," Randy replies as he starts mixing up some other drinks. "Busy, as per. A guy came in yesterday looking all depressed and I asked him if he was all good; turns out he's secretly gay and has no friends. He was so off-his-face the words were just spilling out of his mouth. Told me his whole life story."

Dakota smirks. "Was he cute?"

"Cute, yes, but he didn't look like someone you'd go for, Big D. Someone will come along for you though, I'm sure."

"Nah," Dakota shakes his head, looking down into his drink. "I'm not looking for anyone anyway."

"If you say so, boss." Randy turns his focus to whoever had just walked into the bar behind Dakota as he says, "look what the cat dragged in."

Dakota turns to find five of his college friends tumbling through the door, tripping over each other in a drunken state.

"Big D!" The voice belongs to Benji, who is accompanied by Mitch, Hudson, Finn and Otis; the boy he met at a party in high school.

"Ben," Dakota says as the boys approach him. "What's good?"

"You know us, Big D, we're still celebrating your birthday," Hudson replies for Benji, embracing Dakota in a manly handshake-turned-hug.

"Good to see you, Hudson," Dakota says, smiling. "Mitch, Otis, Tiny." He greets each boy as they hug.

Finn adopted the nickname 'Tiny' because of how muscular he is. He's a gym junkie, lifting weights whenever he can, and the boys make fun of how serious he takes it. So, they started calling him Tiny. He hated it at first, but soon realised they were only joking and started to play along.

"What are you doing out tonight?" Otis asks Dakota. "Thought you'd be hungover?"

"You know, Otis," Dakota pauses as he gulps down the last of his drink, "the best cure for a hangover, is another a drink." He winks and the boys cheer in agreement.

As Dakota finishes his drink, he is passed another by Randy, who had it already prepared. Dakota gives Randy a nod and then walks with his friends to the back of the bar, sitting at a table they always sit at. It's perfect; away from everyone else and in perfect view of the tv, where Mitch, Benji, Hudson and Tiny like to watch the football.

Dakota and Otis had become close over the past five years and they have more interests in common than any of the other boys. They often spend time together when the others are busy.