Take Two

Chapter Six

Micah

I crossed the small room to the bar and flagged down the bartender. I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing, but I knew every ounce of me needed a drink that wasn't some gross beer. It was the only way my anxiety wouldn't kill me for being out with Renaldo Morales. I just needed to make sure I didn't drink too much. That was a side of me I hoped to never show him.

I asked the bartender for three shots of vodka. Maybe it was a little ambitious, but it wasn't unreasonable. I could take them to get the alcohol in my system and be good for the rest of the night. It would be fine.

Once I got back to the table, I set the shots down carefully. "You sure you don't want one?" I asked Renaldo as I sat. If I only ended drinking two of them tonight, that would be okay. Probably better, anyway.

He laughed lightly. "No, gracias. So the vodka is your drink of choice, yeah?"

"Yeah," I said with a nod, staring at the shots in front of me. Then I snapped my gaze to his. "I'm not an alcoholic, though. I swear!" Oh, god, what was I saying? "This is going to be it, probably. I'm not looking to get absolutely hammered tonight."

He smiled. "I will not judge you if you do," he said. "I am the one who interrupted your night. Do not let me stop you from enjoying yourself."

He absolutely was stopping me, but I would never admit that out loud. Although, at the same time, I think I'd rather be out getting to know him rather than getting drunk and hooking up with a stranger. I just wished I dressed appropriately for this instead of having to hide my very obviously gay outfit I wore.

The jacket was too warm, but I couldn't take it off. Not when it would reveal everything I've spent my whole life trying to hide, especially revealing it to Renaldo Morales, of all people.

I downed my first shot, needing it to calm my growing anxiety. Tonight was going to be fine. It was just one evening. I could survive it. No matter how many off-handed compliments he threw my way.

Before I knew it, all three shots glasses were empty and I was feeling great. I couldn't stop smiling at everything Renaldo said, even when I could barely understand him. Between the music, his accent, and my foggy brain, it was hard to hear him sometimes.

"It's getting warm in here, isn't it?" I asked, rolling up my sleeves.

"Si. You are not going to take off the jacket?"

I shrugged, making the jacket slip off my shoulder a bit. I didn't bother fixing it. "Nah. Don't want to lose it, you know?"

He nodded slowly. "Okay, that is your choice." He then picked up his glass and finished off the last sip of his drink.

I used that as the excuse to get up. "Do you want another one? I'm getting more, so I can get you another one. Yeah?"

With a light laugh, he nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Micah."

The way he said my name did things to me. So many things. I hurried across the room to find the bartender before he could pick up on anything I might unintentially be giving away.

The bartender looked me up and down when I walked over. She was short, nearly a foot shorter than me, at least, and she wore a full face of makeup, but that didn't hide the fact that she must have only recently turned twenty-one.

"Dude, you still have that jacket on?" she asked. "Aren't you hot?"

"I'm fine," I snapped automatically before I realized how mean I sounded. "I'm so sorry. Can I just get two more shots and another of whatever my friend over there was drinking?"

"On your tab?" She glanced over my shoulder, most likely at Renaldo, before looking back at me. "You know that's a top shelf bottle, right?"

It was like my heart sunk into my stomach. Top shelf? I couldn't afford that! But I'd already offered to buy him a drink. I couldn't back out because of the price.

I inhaled sharply and turned around. I thought I would just take a glance at him sitting there to remind myself that I was going to do this for him and all his perfection. Instead, I was shocked to find him standing directly behind me, wallet already in his hand.

"Wait, are you Renaldo Morales?" the bartender asked.

I turned to face her again. "No!"

But, at the same time I shouted my unneccesary lie, Renaldo just had to go ahead and tell the truth. "Sí, senorita. It is a pleasure to meet you."

I couldn't help but let out a soft groan as the woman gushed over Renaldo. Is this really how he lived every day? How could he stand it? It's like he wasn't even bothered!

I leaned my elbow on the bar, my hand under my chin, as I waited for Renaldo and the bartender to finish whatever it was they were doing. I wasn't even paying attention to what they were saying. I did notice, however, that the other people in the bar were looking over at us. At them.

The next thing I knew, we were surrounded. Everyone wanted an autograph or a picture with Renaldo if they happened to have a camera on them. It was too much. Too overwhelming.

I slipped away from the group, retreating back to the table in the corner. So much for getting more shots. I guess that wasn't going to happen now. At least not for a while.

Eventually, Renaldo came back over to the table. No one followed him, but they still kept glancing over. Were they going to do that the rest of the time we're here?

"Are you alright?" he asked, sliding into his seat across the table from me. He didn't have any drinks with him, so the bartender must have forgotten my order. I guess I didn't need the extra shots anyway.

I shrugged in response to his question. I honestly didn't know if I was alright. That whole thing was a lot more than I ever expected to be caught up in.

"Does that happen often?"

"Usually. Although it is why I try to find quiet places, to avoid the crowds. This was not too bad today."

"How can you stand it?" I asked. "I mean, the people fawning over you all the time. I would go insane with that much attention."

He laughed. "It took an adjustment at first. By now, I am used to it." He paused for a second before continuing. "It is people like you I am not accustomed to anymore."

I sat up straighter, shocker. "Me?  Why?"

"We may have only had a few interactions recently, but never once have I gotten the impression that you were in any way influenced by my fame or my wealth. Or my looks. It is refreashing to be treated like a normal person."

"Just because I do happen to find you incredibly attractive doesn't mean we don't also work together. Professionalism has to come first."

When Renaldo froze, I realized what had casually slipped out of my mouth. There was no way I said that out loud! I just lost everything.

I quickly stood, stumbling a little as my foot almost got stuck around the table leg. "I have to go. Oh my god. I never said that, okay? I'm just... I'm drunk. That's it."

Never in my life did I flee somewhere as fast as I did just then. My life was over. He was going to tell Mr. Gorman or Anthony that I was gay and that I freaked him out for being attracted to him. They'd fire me immediately and I'd never be able to use them as a reference to get another job in the film industry.

Maybe my family was right after all.

_____________

gracias - thank you

si - yes

sí, senorita -  yes, miss