Captive By Captivation - VegasPete

Chapter 4 - Preoccupied

The pungent smell of stale liquor that surrounded the space, filled Porsches nostrils as he picked up another glass and began polishing it attentively.

It was a busy night, probably the busiest of the year so far. Despite the fact that the place itself was relatively small, it was filled to the brim with people.

But in spite of the upbeat chatter and laughter that filled the room, Porsche felt down. His attention was fully on the woeful man, slumped over the far side of the wooden bar.

It was Pete's day off, but he was at the bar nonetheless, hunched over the cold wood, lost in thought. Porsche had felt that something was off since he and Porschay had gotten back from their trip. Pete seemed preoccupied, distant even, he had never seen Pete like this the entire time they knew each other, and he hated seeing his friend so disheartened.

He picked up two of the freshly polished glasses and grabbed a bottle of white wine as he made his way over to the man.

"You look like you could use a drink my friend." he said patting Pete on the shoulder who's only response was to look up at his friend with a kind of subtle melancholy that in compassed his whole face.

Porsche poured himself and Pete a drink before they both presently clinked their glasses and began drinking. Porsche took a small sip as he watched Pete down the whole glass instantly.

"Woah there man, take it easy."
He chuckled under his breath trying to hide his genuine concern for his friend.

Porsche then averted his gaze around the room to try and help his friend feel more at ease but then, Pete finally spoke up "I met him." Porsche redirected his attention back to Pete. "Who?" he queried the man.

"The man I met that night." Pete continued pouring himself another full glass.

Porsche has almost forgotten about the man. That night he had watched him and Pete talk for hours and could definitely see the spark between them. But after they both left for a smoke together, he noticed Pete come back alone, looking disoriented. He remembered it specifically because of how strange it seemed at the time.

He also recognised that, in the beginning, Pete would come to the bar looking for the man and even asking after him a few times. But he hadn't shown up since that night, if he had, Porsche would have probably punched him for leaving Pete hurt and alone like that.

"He didn't even explain why he left." Pete exclaimed taking another long gulp of alcohol.

Porsche knew Pete didn't want a response, he just wanted to say it, he just wanted Porsche to listen. A response would make the dream real and after it became real, he would inevitably have to deal with it.

So instead Porsche decided to continue with his work, leaving Pete the rest of the bottle. It seemed like he really needed the liquor to forget, even just slightly. He needed to forget the man who came into his life only to break down the barriers he placed around himself and his heart, with such ease. He needed to forget the man who could see right through all his defences and completely disarm him. He needed to forget the man who had occupied his mind for so long. He needed to forget him.

He poured another drink and soon one glass turned into two and two into three until he had finished the entire bottle.

After that he said goodbye to Porsche who proceeded to go out back for a smoke break. But as he was leaving the bar drunkenly, he crashed into another table before reaching the door, causing the drinks to spill over the customers.

He started to apologise when the man sitting at the table stood up and began yelling at Pete, clearly drunk himself0. His shouts burned Pete's ears as he suddenly had flashbacks to his father and his childhood. He cupped his ears and shut his eyes as he felt himself sink into the floor. All he wanted in that moment was to disappear and never emerge from the darkness again.

Pete's disregard for the man's words as he tried to block out the noise only angered him more. So much that he swung a fist towards Pete. But it was stopped before reaching the target, who was still grasping at this ears, eyes pressed tightly together.

After a few minutes, Pete felt himself being lead out of the bar and into the quiet street outside. He calmed himself, regaining his senses as he slowly released his ears and opened his eyes. "Pors-" he turned to look at the man who had saved him and instantly sobered up. His expression instantly turned from gratitude to bewilderment.

"What are you doing here?" Pete asked, swallowing the saliva in his already dry mouth.

"I said we would meet again." said a deep voice as the man's lips turned upwards into a slightly wicked smirk.