"Hey Leon!" Jack called out, smiling. I was at the booth near the window, where I left my stuff during lunch. I felt safer putting it here than leaving it in the backroom where I can't see it.
"What's up Jack?" I slipped on my jacket, the red fur trim brushing against my skin.
"The guys and I were wondering if you wanted to hang out tonight, have a few drinks? We were gonna head back to Keshawn's place and have a few rounds of pool." I slid the milky scarf on, contemplating it. Usually all I would do after work is walk around till late hours before heading home and crashing. Maybe a change would be nice...
"Sure, why not?" I pushed my glasses up my nose, giving a lopsided smile as he pumped a fist in the air.
"Great! Just meet us up by Central Park, and we'll all head over! See you then, man." He punched my shoulder and jogged out, the guys in his group clapping him on the back as they all made their way to wherever.
I slid my messenger bag over my shoulder and tugged on the strap before locking the bar up, looking at the sky.
In Japan, the sky was flooded with different colour lights, while it was only dull warm colours over this part of the New York.
~
Turning the corner, I found Jack and his group laughing before the gate at something Robert had said. He had always been the clown out of them all. Keshawn saw me coming and gave a grin.
"Look who showed up! We thought you were going to ditch and leave us hanging, bro." Brandon gave a chuckle and slapped my back in a friendly manner, although I still stumbled.
"Yeah, shorty. Glad you could make it." Robert smirked as I looked up. I was used to being a foot higher, since the floor was raised above the bar for a better view of the customer's actions. I hadn't really thought about our height difference, but it was there. They all towered at least half a foot over me!
"I'm not short, in Japan, this was considered tall!" I lied, giving a wry smirk.
"Welcome to America, bro!" Jack beamed, pulling us along. "Let's get going, those drinks won't drink themselves!" The others laughed and whooped in agreement, all of us flowing towards the poorer part of the city. Did Keshawn really live there?
~
"Check it out, new murder!" Brandon shouted, everyone turning to the TV.
"Chick's hot, who'd murder a bod like that?" I gave a dry laugh at this; plenty would, gangs, serial killers, rapists, etcetera.
The girl looked familiar, but it was hard to tell with the blood caking her face and the fact that whoever had killed her had given her a crap haircut as well. What remained of her auburn hair was dirty and decorated with different plants and soil, her once emerald green eyes dull and lifeless.
"Isn't that the girl from the bar? What was her name..." Jack stared to the side for a moment, leaning on his pool stick.
"Angela. She was working to go to college." I felt my stomach twist with disgust as I said this. Humans killing each other, it's really screwed stuff up.
~
"I win!" Jack did a victory dance, Robert pretending to sneak up and use his pole to strangle him. I sat on the couch, reading the card over and over again. I would call it when I got home, if I wasn't too tired...
"Leon! Play me!" Jack pointed the pole to me as if it were a sword, a playful grin dancing on his lips.
"Ah, no thanks. I don't know how, and I probably suck at it..." he gave a dismissive laugh and threw a short pole to me.
"No problem, I'll teach you! Super simple, it'll take you no time at all." I caught the pole and made my way to the table, Robert giving fake crowd cheers and dancing about like a mascot.
"Go Leon! Go Leon!" He cheered before mimicking a roaring crowd, jumping from foot to foot. Seeing the man at my bar everyday, I knew he was drunk already. Jack went first, before helping me stand correctly. There were a few laughs and whistles from the others, but I ignored them, focusing entirely on the instructions the blonde gave me.
~
"You beat me?! No way!" He stared at hole I had put the eight ball in, eyes wide with shock.
"Ha! Jack is no longer the champion!" Robert gave a roaring woot before slapping me on the back, a sharp pain singeing my muscles. Damned drunk always seems to have inhuman strength for some reason...
"Maybe I had a good teacher, or maybe you all just suck balls at this."
"Ha, I refuse to suck balls at pool, so Jack must be a good teacher." Keshawn chuckled from his spot on the couch, downing the rest of his beer. I looked to my watch before sighing.
"I should go... have to get up early tomorrow, you know?"
"Yeh, see ya tomorrow Leon." Brandon slurred from the armchair, waving to me.
"Hey, why don't I walk you home?" Jack was suddenly beside me, running a hand through his hair.
"Ah, no thanks. You make it sound like you're talking to your girlfriend." I gave a chuckle as hoots sounded from Keshawn. These guys were so primal in voicing themselves, I sometimes wondered if they were directly related to apes.
"Ha ha...! No, it's just, with all the murders lately, it seems safer to hang with another bud. You know, safety in numbers!"
"So if you get hungry, you can eat the other." I gave a chuckle as I slid into my jacket and scarf, slinging my bag over a shoulder. I could have sworn I heard Jack mumble something, but I ignored it and started to the front door.
~
"Wow... you live here?" We stood before a large apartment complex, one of the more expensive ones.
"Yehp... low maintenance place, seemed best." His gaze was locked onto the top floor, which happened to be mine. "Wanna... come in?" I sighed, looking back. He obviously lived in the slums judging from his reaction.
"Sure..!" He hurried after me as I quickly typed in a code on the keypad, the door giving a buzz before popping open. I trudged to the elevator and held it for him, heading towards the top floor.
~
I stepped in and hung my scarf, bag, and jacket, offering to take his as well. I made him and I tea as he roamed about, observing the details of my place.
"Who are these two with you?" He pointed to a photo that sat on the side table in the hallway. I looked closer to find a photo of me with a young girl, a man behind me with his arms around my waist. The girl clung to my waist as well while the man had his chin resting right at the crook of my neck.
"Um... old friend and his child." Jack just gave a grunt in response, picking it up. My heart raced in fear as he did so, and I watched every step he took as he walked to the couch with it.
"You guys must have been really close. I thought you were considered tall in Japan?" He rose an eyebrow towards me, his lips curled in a mischievous grin. Setting the cup down before I gave a chuckle.
"Maybe I was, and that guy was freaky tall! You never know!~" Jack was frowning at the photo now.
"Uh, Leon, who's Shizuo?" Ba-bump.
"S-Shizuo? Why do you ask?" Ba-bump, ba-bump.
"Someone wrote 'heart shape Shizuo' in the corner of the photo." I could hear my heart in my head, all sounds amplified.
"I-It was the blond's wife, she had... given me the photo before we moved!" I cracked a smile and observed his reaction. Why had I offered to let him come in?!
"...okay." Jack sighed, gently setting the photo down and sipping from the tea. His eyes lit up slightly as he took another sip. "What is this?"
"Ginseng tea with milk and honey." I smiled into my mug as he took deprived sips. It was like an addiction he couldn't ease, his eyes bright with delight. "You look like you haven't seen an actual drink other than beer in days." Jack's cheeks were now dusted with a light pink as he took slower drinks, an embarrassed smile dancing on his lips.
"It's just really good...!" He gave a laugh and wiped his face on his sleeve. "I am tempted to live with you just to taste this everyday, bro." I laughed at this and stirred the spoon about.
"Meh, maybe you could just swing by now and again. I'll make it for you whenever you like! Maybe I could start serving it in the mornings at the bar. 'Café by day, bar by night!' Ah, I can see it now... neon lights! Papparazi! Chicks and body guards!" I flinched at my own words, dropping my hands and cupping them around the mug once again.
"It sounds nice... I'm sure you would make tons with this, and the guys and I would be willing to help! After all, that's what friends are for...!" He twisted his cup in his hands, giving a small smile. It was as if he were sad, or ... nervous? He seemed more nervous somehow.
~
"Uh... I have to go, I have to get up early for work, um... bye, Leon!" Jack gave a smile and stood up, sliding his coat on. I stood up with him and walked with the tall blonde to the door. "Um, thanks for letting me stay!" I felt something warm on my cheek before I saw him rush out the door.
Did he... kiss my cheek? I turned back and locked the door before picking up the mugs. What had just happened?
