It Started with Limes

Two Limes

It was a cold fall night, a brisk breeze chilled the air making it 'just' nippy enough for a few layers. Despite the substandard weather the Offbeat Hideaway bar was bustling with excitement, then again it was a Friday night and it was definitely one of the hot spots for locals. Especially because Friday was live music night, which always seemed to attract more of a young crowd. Mostly college students from the nearby university, that night was not different. A dark haired man tended the bar in the lounge room, his name was Hector and he had been working there for at least 2 years now. He knew most of the regulars and was known to be one of the more personable barkeeps in the joint. He swayed back and forth to the music as he went about his duties kind of in his own head, the band for the night was actually students from the college who formed a band. The Restless Souls was the bands name, they had a unique but catchy sound. Like a mixture between jazz and pop, Hector had actually gotten to know them pretty well as they often did shows there.

Suddenly a couple of women came up to the bar, their tipsy cackling brought him out of his musical trance. "How's it going girls? Needing another 3 Vodka Gimlets and... was it two Rositas?" He asked warmly as he spun around to face them, still moving to the music a bit as he grabbed their dirty glasses, putting them in a bin under the counter.

"Fuck yes bartender dude! Oh my god Jessica! you weren't kidding he really is the best!" The redheaded one said with a laugh, she seemed to be approaching her drink limit for the night. "And kinda cute too, say- you got a number Lector, er Victor? Yeah Victor!" She finished leaning on the bar. The one they called Jessica soon spoke up.

"He doesn't do number giving girl- I already asked. He's one of the gay ones actually!"

"Ah shit, all the good ones are it seems!"

"Sorry girls, gotta keep my workplace professional and all." Hector joked, sending a small wink at the redhead before grabbing the necessary glasses for the drinks. Jessica raised her hand waving off the glass he was about to set in front of her. "Unfortunately I've gotta be done for the night, I do not want to feel it too heavily tomorrow."

"Alrighty, so that makes 2 of each of them now right?" He said putting her glass back in the cupboard, looking between the remaining ladies whom all seemed to nod in unison. "Excellent! So, are you guys celebrating something or just having a fun night out?" He asked, simply wanting to make small talk as he began making their drinks as if it was as easy as walking.

"Actually that's why I can't be hung over tomorrow, I'm moving into a new apartment in the morning which means no more sneaking my hookups into my parents basement! Like seriously come on I'm 21, sophomore in college juggling 2 part time jobs. I don't need my parents dumb fucking religious bullshit getting in the way of my life anymore! Like- who even waits til marriage anymore? Its like a totally unrealistic and outdated-"

As Hector half listened to the girls ranting tirade he caught sight of someone he knew out of the corner of his eye. A regular that came in almost every weekend, his name was Griffin but he called him Griff for short. He was another college student, 25 years old but only a freshman at the university because he waited a few years to start. He usually had someone hanging on his arm, woman or man. But today he was alone and looked, well honestly pretty rough. He was usually wearing some kind of cute outfit on with his curly brown hair all perfectly fluffed up and curling around his ears. But today it looked like he just rolled out of bed, his eyeliner a bit smudged and a big navy blue sweatshirt draping over his rather lean small body.

Hector had always thought he was cute, but he wasn't in a good place in life to have a relationship so he didn't see his attraction going anywhere. But looking wasn't going to hurt anybody. Suddenly he realized he had frozen in place for a moment, holding the bottle of vodka up to the last drink that needed to be made. He scrunched his nose up as he smiled wider and quickly looked back at Jessica who was still going on about her shitty parents and how they wanted her to go to church more often or something.