Glory Be

Chapter Twenty-Six

Sydney watched as Harvey sunk the 8 ball into the pocket, finishing off the game with a perfect shot.

"Yes!" Harvey shouted. He threw a finger in Sydney's direction, "You suck!"

"Goddammit," Sydney groaned, "I'm thinking we need to check how level this table," He pressed a finger down on the empty green.

"Oh, come on, don't be a sore loser," Harvey scoffed as he rounded the table.

"I'm jokin' man," Sydney sat his cue stick down, and held out a hand, "Good game."

The two shook on that and left in opposite directions. Sydney spotted Isaiah by the far wall. He had been watching the game, but now his eyes were locked onto a far wall. He approached his plus-one and stood there for a moment. Isaiah didn't stir his gaze.

"Hey," Sydney said, breaking the silence between them.

"Oh, Syd," Isaiah's head swiveled around. His newly cut curls bouncing around his face. Sydney met his brown eyes, as if they'd disappear if he looked away, "Hey, how'd it go?"

"I lost," Sydney chuckled, brushing his bands to the side, "Badly."

"Me too," Isaiah sighed with a laugh.

Sydney sat down next to him and brought up his left leg to rest on the bench.

"You enjoying the night so far?" Sydney asked, leaning over slightly. He wasn't drunk, but he had enough of a buzz to stop worrying so much.

"Yeah, thanks for bringing me again," Isaiah said. His smile was genuine and sweet. Sydney saw his reflection in it.

"Yeah, I'm glad you came," Sydney returned the relaxed expression, before the sound of roundy young adults encroached. Sydney furrowed his brow, and looked over to his left, "The guys are getting a bit wild this time of night," Sydney observed, as Jack and Manuel were mid-piggyback ride.

"Everyone's drunk," Isaiah commented with a small giggle.

"Yeah, and it's so loud," Sydney muttered, the sound invading through his ears and into his stomach. He barely debated the question, before looking over at Isaiah with a smile, "Wanna get out of here?"

"Yeah," Isaiah agreed with a grin.

. . .

The boys laughed as they ran down the empty dark streets. Isaiah kept up with Sydney's speed as they jumped around a corner. Now cast in even more darkness. Isaiah could barely even see Sydney's silhouette as they stumbled to catch their balance.

"Where are we going?" Sydney chuckled through the breathlessness.

"Let's go listen to some music," Isaiah said, his eyes sparkling.

"Really?" Sydney asked, "At the Saloon? You want to?"

"Sure, let's do it," Isaiah grinned. His hands excitedly turning into fists, and bobbing up and down, "I'm in a disguise, right?"

"Hm yeah," Sydney stepped back and took in Isaiah's look, "Are you sure, I don't want,"

"I'm sure," Isaiah said, "You said you like music, yeah?"

"I do," Sydney smiled, although a bit shyer now.

"Let's go," Isaiah almost jumped up as he turned. He beckoned Sydney with a hand, then tugged on his sleeve.