In Another Universe...

Happy Birthday

Alone at the bar, Cooper was reading something on his phone, whatever it was, making him turn it over and clench his jaw, getting lost in his thoughts. He was so immersed he didn't even notice the people around him, let alone the bartender who slid him another drink. It wasn't until he tapped the bar that he finally looked up, confused, noticing the drink he didn't order; and the man who was now pouring someone else a drink, pointing at a guy sitting a few stools down. Cooper looked over and was surprised to see a young guy on his phone but still thanked him for the drink, "Uh, thanks." It came out in a confusing yet honest tone.

The guy looked up from his phone and looked at him, giving a curt nod before taking a sip of his own drink, "You going through a midlife crisis?"

Cooper pursed his lips to the side, touching the glass, and continued looking down at the bar, "Just about." He really wasn't in the mood to talk.

It wasn't like Cooper expected him to actually talk to him, though, but was in the mood for questions, apparently, "Let me guess, your girlfriend broke up with you?"

"Nope." Cooper was single, happily single.

"You're losing your hair?"

"No," he said, smiling for the first time. The guy was cute; he had to have been a little older, was tall, and looked like he could be Superman with his brown hair, blue eyes, and a nice lean build. Deep down, Cooper changed his mind and hoped he'd keep talking to him.

The guy took another sip and set his drink down, meeting the other boy's eyes, "You've never gotten laid?" He ate a Cherry from the shot glass in front of him; he must like them enough to order separately.

Cooper drank to that and wanted to laugh, "Pft, definitely not that."

"Then what?" He asked, genuinely curious, now fully turned to him with an elbow on the bar.

Suddenly remembering why he was there, his smile faltered a bit, and he looked at his drink again, "It's...my birthday."

"You're not a birthday guy." The cute guy said as if he finally understood. He must've just gotten off of work by the way he looked in grey slacks and a light blue button-up shirt that was tucked in and rolled at the sleeves. "How old are you?"

Cooper paused for a second, the corner of his lips showing the tiniest smile, and took another sip, this time of the drink he didn't buy, "Thirty."

In response, the handsome boy looked taken aback, "Shut up," he said, eating another cherry, not believing him.

"I'm for real." He then told him the year he was born and watched as the guy's face never changed.

He looked at Cooper differently now, like he was an alien. "If you're thirty, then I must be fifty."

"You look good for fifty."

"You look great for thirty." It was quiet for a few seconds, the two of them not saying anything. Cooper's reason was simple; he didn't know how to keep it going. He didn't know the other guy's reason, though. Luckily enough, the silence didn't go on for long. "You're really thirty?" Cooper laughed and nodded, "Nah, I know you're not." He said, shaking his head and turning his body back to the bar.

"Yes, I am," Cooper said in defense, laughing.

The guy shook his head and ate yet another cherry. Cooper wanted to kiss him and taste them on his tongue. "No, and you want to know how I know?" Cooper raised his brows as if telling him to go on. "Because I used to see you at Dawson's." Cooper tilted his head confused. "The cafe."

"What?" Cooper said, now being the one not to believe the other, "You're lying."

"Nope, I think you just graduated too because you stopped showing up."