FRICTION

Ch. 19: Inhibitions

-Eric-

For how quaint the bar seemed during the day, it was rather remarkable just the sheer amount of people capable of occupying the space as the night progressed. After a few more drinks, I was wearing a light buzz like a soft blanket, my body comfortably warm and my thoughts a lot farther away than they'd been just a few hours prior.

Mason still hadn't replied, but fuck if I cared.

I'd even told Wyatt as much... a few times, at that. And then we'd ordered another round of drinks because why not.

A few of his friends had stopped by our table here and there, though they seemed to come and go with the flow of the night. Wyatt knew most of the regulars, but we did eventually settle for chatting with who he proudly introduced as some of his favorite besties.

The taller of the two, Rose, echoed the familiar sentiment regarding Wyatt not stopping by as often. They were wearing a neon pink crop top, washed, light blue jeans, and bright, pastel eye makeup that contrasted so perfectly against their dark brown skin, an assortment of colors shimmering against rich, glistening skin. They also had colorful beads laced along their braided silver hair, which shimmered every so often against the reflection of the dim, overhead light.

"You've had enough, y'know?" Rose informed Wyatt while taking his drink, giggling when Wyatt pouted in response. They affectionately caressed Wyatt's hair as he rested his head on their shoulder, sipping on the drink themselves.

"But I'm having fun," Wyatt explained, pouting up at Rose before turning towards another of his friends. "Huh?"

"Where's Dale?" the other friend, Thalia, asked a bit louder, chuckling when Wyatt just rolled his eyes in annoyance. As for Thalia, she was rather dressed down, wearing a red hoodie with our university logo and some grey sweatpants, her hair tied back into a tight ponytail, as if she'd just made her way over from class.

Honestly, she probably had.

"You think I'd bring him here? Hell no," Wyatt replied before seemingly realizing I was still here, peering over at me in amusement. "How are you holding up, Eric? And how the hell are you not wasted?"

I shrugged while continuing to nurse on my beer, swinging it back and chugging the rest to prove a point before hastily setting the bottle down. "Me? Oh, I'm fucked up," I confessed quite ironically, forcing a small smile as they all burst out laughing.

It was pleasant, though, just sitting there and listening to them animatedly talk about all their plans and exciting new endeavors. Rose was a drag queen, so they had a gig coming up at a bar on the other side of town this upcoming weekend. I was invited, apparently, though I was almost certain that I had some stupid class assignment to work on that day.

Thalia, much like me, just seemed happy to be there, smiling to herself while scrolling on her phone, enjoying listening in despite not verbally contributing much to the conversation aside from a quip here and there.

I was pulled back into the conversation by a shake of my shoulders, Rose's wide grin piercing right through me as they asked the question a second time. "Did he fool around with Sam?" they asked before narrowing their eyes mischievously. "He did, didn't he?"

Wyatt groaned in embarrassment while biting into one of the few remaining wings, furiously blushing as I nodded in agreement. "What a snitch," he muttered out under his breath, though he didn't seem all that bothered by it. "What's wrong with it, huh?"

"You're the one that said you were looking for something more serious!" Thalia interjected, looking up from her phone for long enough to pat his free shoulder comfortingly. "Remember?"