The Cute Boy & The Normal Girl

Chapter 16: Stranger?

Kenneth POV

As I entered ManGo Heir, I instantly knew I shouldn't be here. But I'm already here and I'm not a pussy. I was still angry with my mom, myself and life, so it seemed like the best choice. But why am I really doing this? I don't want to, but I feel like i'm not doing it for me.

Music was booming through the speakers and as any other club, people were grinding and dancing against each other on the dance floor. I was already feeling like I didn't belong here, but I just got here, I can't leave.

I walked over to the bar and after taking a girl's order, the bartender came over toward me.

"What you wan'?" The bartender asked. He had a Jersey accent so i'm guessing he's not from down here. My dad's from Jersey, but him and his parents moved down here when he was 15, as he told me. But he was born in Jersey so I wouldn't be surprised or anything if he still had his accent.

"Um...i'll take Vodka on ice." I answered. Yes, I know it's one of the strongest drinks, but if it'll take my mind off of reality, I need it.

"You sure boi? It's really strong." He asked.

"Yeah. I'm sure." I told him, looking around the club.

"You's seem like you're havin' a hard time with life." He leaned over the counter. I looked at him as he looked around the club.

I ran a hand through my hair. "Yeah....life.."

"Ya' know, drinkin' won't help ya'." He said, meeting my eyes.

"Yeah...I know." I was becoming slightly annoyed with him. All I asked for was a drink, not a whole pep talk.

"So why's you here? You's could be at home, watching....TV or somethin', not out here's looking for a drink."

I sighed. He was right. Why am I here? This isn't my place. "I know...I've just been going through...some things lately. I thought this would..kinda help.....you know like in the movies."

"But this ain't no's movie. This is life! You's can either make's it good or bad." He got up from the counter and went back to work. He placed a clear liquid in a cup on the counter and added ice.

"Here," he slid it toward me, "drink this. It's life itself." He said.

"What is it?" I sniffed it. It didn't smell like anything.

"It's water boi! You's think i'd give you's a drink after what I just told you?"

"Oh...umm...thanks." I said and sipped it as the bartender stared at me scratching his beard.

"Ya' know, I have a son who's probably 18 by now. He hates me. I don't knows what I did to 'em! I was there for him's since he was a baby's. His mother shooed me off of him's when he's was two. She says she didn't want me there if we's weren't getting married. I didn't wanna get married at 19 or be tied down with a kid. I was to's young for all of dat. So, I's tried to be's all tough and walked away. Two weeks later, I's came crawling back, only to find out she's moved. I shrugged it off, but inside I was hurt. I loved her and's dat baby, and now I's can't do anything bout it."He told me.

He looked down and fumbled with something in his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and showed me a picture of a baby boy. He had blue eyes and brown hair like the bartender, except the bartender had green eyes, so I guess he got his blue eyes from his mom.

"He looks like you's a bit." He said. "What's ya name kid?"

"Um..Kenneth. You?" I told him. He looked amazed as I said my name.

"Jonathan. But everybody's around here's calls me Jonny." He shook my hand. "Nice to meet you's kid."

"Yeah, you too." I looked at the my watch on my wrist and sighed. The short gold hand was on the 4 and the long hand was in between the 11 and 12. It was 4:57 in the morning.

"I should get going, it's really late." I said, getting up from the bar stool.

"Yeah, I should get back to's work. See ya around kid." He said. I waved and headed toward the exit.

Once I got outside, I went to my car and started it up. I drove toward my house and arrived 10 minutes later. It was now 5:27 in the morning and I quietly unlocked the door to my house. The kitchen light was still on, but my mom was in bed.

As I walked into the living room, I walked pass a bookshelf that held all of our family photos. I walked over to them and slid my finger across the frame that held a picture of my little sister when she was 5. I smiled as I remembered her walking around in a pink tutu and tiara at her princess themed birthday party.

If only she still were an angel. I thought. But I kinda did make her the way she is now. After all she was just following after me, her big brother. 

I saw a picture of me when I was a baby. I squinted at it. I had seen that picture before, but I can't remember how.

I had probably just had seen it when I was walking pass it like usual. But it seemed familiar. The baby had blue eyes and brown hair. Like the picture the bartender, Jonny had showed me. I gasped.

I just talked to my dad and didn't even know it.