Sitting In Traffic

Chapter 49- May 14th 2024

Riley called Arthur earlier in the day to make sure he was going to be on time once more. He again, confirmed it. Riley had no worries that we wasn't going to come around. Arthur said he would, and she believed him.

Arthur was intending on coming, but he thought Riley had been hooking up with Nicolas. They grew to be close friends and he knew that. He also knew they had a lot in common, Riley's told him there was something about him that reminded her of Miami. It was all the wrong puzzle pieces falling into place. He was on his way to the recital, he was going to be early. He was going to show up. But he needed to mentally prepare himself to see Riley and Nicolas together.

He made a pit stop at Jimmy'z, just for one shot, it was a decision he made halfway to Riley. Just one shot. In and out. He parked his car in the lot, and skipped the line without Riley pulling on his arm to stand in the back. The bouncer just let him walk in, he knew Arthur by now.

There was a point where the bouncer used to card Riley every time she tried entering, and then stopped. He assumed Riley would just start cutting the line at that point, everyone normally did. But he appreciated when she got everyone to wait with her, he thought she was keeping them grounded when they were living life on a cloud.

Arthur made his way through the club, squeezing through the crowds of loud people around him. He stood at the bar, tapping his hand on the countertop impatiently because he knew he had to go. Arthur motioned a hand to the bartender, needing him to come quickly.

In and out. That's how this was supposed to be.

"Just one shot of whiskey" Arthur said, passing him his card. "That's it"

The bartender took his card to run through a machine, charging him for the shot. A small glass was placed in-front of him and got filled with whiskey immediately. Arthur took the shot, feeling a hand snake along his back when someone stood next to him.

"Can you get me one too?" Julia asked Arthur quietly, "Just one"

Arthur looked at her, then back down the bar, then towards the exit. He had to leave. He knew that. So why didn't he? It was something Riley wouldn't comprehend.

"Only one" Arthur said, motioning for the bartender another time. "What do you want?"

"Surprise me" Julia said quietly, feeling Arthur move her hand off of him. Julia took a small step to the side, putting space between them that wouldn't last long. "I'll have what you have"

"I'm not having anything else" Arthur told her, getting his card back out when the bartender came over. "Whatever she wants"

If Riley knew what was happening, whether or not she was with Max it would crush her ego. Heartbreak was one thing, her ego's another. She was waiting close to the building's entrance for Arthur to show up, Nicolas was doing some quick sound checks before everyone showed up in a few minutes. She grew more nervous as time passed by, Riley handed off a large folder that had all of her sheet music to Nicolas, growing antsy as 5 minutes turned to 10, and 10 minutes turned to 20.

"Julia I really have to go" Arthur told her, stumbling over his words more when the alcohol kicked in. His hand was in hers when he leaned in slowly, only to feels Julia's lips crash against his eagerly.

"Stay" She mumbled, pulling him into her by the back of his neck. One thing they weren't thinking about, was everyone in Jimmy'z recognized Arthur. Everyone knew the rumors about Arthur, there was no proof, but now there was. Someone got this on video, Julia carefully being pressed against the bar top.

"I have to go" Arthur pulled away from her before pressing his lips to her neck. He nipped at her skin, earning a small gasp that he wasn't paying attention to.