Locken

Chapter One-Broken City

I changed into my jeans and a simple black t-shirt as soon as I reached home. I was tired, but there have been worse days. I worked at Nando's, Target, and as a part time waiter at a restaurant just so I could pay my rent. I lived alone; I had never seen my parents. My older sister was the one who took care of me, and when she got married six years ago, I decided to move to another city and live on my own. It was more difficult than I had expected it to be, though.

I was just back from working my shift at the restaurant, and wasn't too tried, so I decided to head on over to the club a couple of blocks away, get some drinks to relax and take my mind off things. After getting changed, I grabbed my jacket and headed downstairs to the street.

It was the middle of January, of course it was freezing. I was glad to have the jacket covering my body, but it did nothing for my face. I wished that I'd had taken my hoodie, but it wasn't thick enough for this kind of weather. Anyways when I'd get to the club I'd be okay, so I stopped worrying.

I walked in darkness on the sidewalk, with only a few streetlights actually working. That's how it was like on this side of the city; when something was broken, no one would bother trying to fix it. Instead, it would just stay that way for at least another four months, and that's when people would first start to notice.

I could make out the sign of the club, even in the dark; my eyes had become used to it. It used to glow about three years ago, but it stopped working and no one tended to it (as expected).

I braced myself and went inside, avoiding the dance floor and the booths, but heading straight to the drinks counter where I plopped myself onto the nearest stool and leaned forward, eager for the drinks that would make my headache go away. Lucky for me, a bartender came almost straight away. He had pale skin, dark eyes and short curly hair to match his eyes; he looked quite like me.

"One vodka, please? Extra soda." I looked around the bar as I waited for my drink to arrive.

There was a guy to my right who I thought kept looking at me. I wasn't sure though, so I kept looking at him. It turns out he wasn't looking at me, but when he noticed me he smiles at me, making me feel very awkward. I just smiled back.

"Here's your drink sir." I was so glad for the distraction.

I mixed my drink and drank it, feeling the effects immediately.

"Hey." I heard a voice coming from the right, and looked towards it to see the who smiled at me now right next to me, leaning on the counter slightly. I could see him better now; he had deep brown eyes, and chocolate coloured hair that was straight, and fell on his face as a fringe. His lips were formed into a smile that was friendly yet sexy. That, and he had an amazing physique.

I stopped checking him out and replied with another "hey" back. He just grinned wider.

"What's your name?" He asked, now sipping his own drink, which looked like a cocktail of some sort.

"Erik," I said, and this time properly looked at him. "Yours?"

"Carl," he said, and I nodded. The conversation went flat after that, and we both started looking at the people dancing while sipping our drinks. After a while, he put his empty glass on the counter and smiled at me.

"Find anyone hot out there?" He said, and grinned really wide. I just shook my head. Anyways, even if I did I wouldn't really tell him. He'd judge me. Most probably. Because...I'm gay. And most people in this stupid city are downright homophobes, and I refrain from talking to them. Maybe that's why I have hardly any friends.

"Why? Do you?" I asked him, interrupting my own thoughts. He laughed for a while, then looked at me.

"Well, I hope it isn't shameful for me to say that I'm looking at a real hottie right now!" He chuckled, and the ordered another drink.