Bad Habit

eighteen

"I'm the designated driver, so don't even try to get me drunk," Finny laughed, pulling his beat up car into a small parking spot. Moss leaned forward to look out the window and scope out his surroundings. The parking lot was packed to the brim and group of two to four men could be seen walking either towards or from the ominous building that Moss still couldn't see clearly. Interrupting his gazing, Finny opened his own car door and stepped out, shoving his lanyard into his back pocket. Moss gulped and undid his seat belt before standing out of the car and into the hot, evening air. Instantly, he could hear music coming from the building, and he developed an extremely big pit in his stomach. 

"Finny," he began, looking at the boy over the top of the car. "Is this a club?" Finny shrugged with a devious smile. 

"A bit of a club, 'suppose," he laughed, running over to Moss' side before taking hold of his right forearm. "Come on, lighten up. We're at a bar, we have fake ID's, and you're newly out of the closet, so how could this night get any better?"

Newly out of the closet? thought Moss to himself. And then it hit him. "This is a gay bar, isn't it?"

"Exactly!" Finny exclaimed. "Can you believe it? It's like your little online forum but in real life! Imagine, guys will be swooning and drooling over you, and you get to actually witness it, not just read their pervy comments. I'm doing you a solid here, Mosser." Moss stopped walking towards the entrance and turned around, ready to head back to the car, to which Finny began yelling. 

"No," Moss replied, "absolutely fucking not."

"Moss," Finny whined in his childish voice, "come on. No one will judge you for being in there, okay? Everyone's gay, literally everyone—"

"That's— you think that's why I don't want to go in?" Moss replied, rolling his eyes. "I don't want to go in because that's not my thing. Hooking up with random people might be yours, but it's not mine. Going in there is completely out of my comfort zone and I have genuinely no desire to, so take me home right now." Finny groaned outwardly and bent his knees to kneel a bit as if he was in great despair. He composed himself slightly before speaking again. 

"Sorry, but I drove our asses all the way out here because I wanted to have a good time with you and open your eyes a bit to the gay scene you've never had the chance to experience," Finny cried as if to guilt trip his friend. "So if you want to be a little bitch and go home, fine, just find a ride. I'm going in whether you're next to me or not."

Moss was absolutely torn. He really truly didn't want to go in, mostly because he was scared of what he might see, though he still really wanted to spend the night with Finny. He thought that maybe being in such an environment would allow him to be more hands on with the boy he had strong feelings for, and that was almost enough to convince him to go in. "Finny," Moss called to the boy who was feet ahead. Finny stopped and spun around, ready to listen. "When I get uncomfortable, will you leave with me?" Finny smiled honestly at Moss and nodded.

"If you're overwhelmed and want to leave, I will leave with you right away," Finny said matter of fact-ly. "But I'm not letting you leave until you see what it's all about." Moss sighed and began to jog until he was next to Finny, getting closer and closer to the unknown territory with each stride. Moss found himself growing more and more anxious with each step, with each breath, and regretted agreeing to come along.  When they finally reached the front doors, there was a bouncer waiting outside on either side. Moss gulped and pulled his fake ID from his front pocket, ready to hand it over.

He watched as Finny eased the situation, sweet talking the bouncer for a second before handing him his ID. Once the bouncer allowed him in, Moss followed, offering a timid and nervous smile. The big man frowned at him after giving a full look, up and down, then examined his ID. After handing it back with a grunt, he nodded his head towards the club, signaling Moss to head in. He did, and joined Finny who was waiting for him with happiness bubbling over. Moss was rather the opposite: stoic and nervous. "Loosen up," Finny whispered, interlocking there arms momentarily. They walked down a long corridor that likely led to the club, passing by seemingly drunk guys who could not control their laughter. "I'm right here by your side, okay?" Moss shivered.