May Heat

Chapter Three

It was already 5pm when he woke up from his nap.

'4 hours...when did I fall asleep?'

He rubbed his groggy eyes, getting up to take a look outside.

The view from his window was the beach, the sun was setting and it reflected on the surface of the water. It painted the sky with fiery red hues as if the sky was on fire...like the world was going to end.

The phrase made him feel reminiscent of those summer nights in high school. How he'd bike down the winding roads at full speed, yelling at the top of his lungs, "It's the end of the world!"

With...

He turned away, looking at the dark room and his elongated shadow. Maybe he should go clear his head. A short walk on the beach doesn't sound too bad right now.

×××

The hot sand was numbing to his feet, catching on the rolled cuffs of his slacks. He squinted at the setting sun, the sky was bursting with vibrant hues. Couples chose this time of day to stroll hand-in-hand, tossing aside the beach towels and fun for a more romantic setting.

The ocean crept up the warm shore, brushing the tips of his toes. The wind threw his hair astrew, his clothes rippled with the strong wind.

Is this what youth feels like? He thought jokingly to himself. He kicked up the wet sand into the waves, making enough room to stick his feet under the surface.

The wind began to pick up and the crowd thinned from the beach, favoring the dimly lit bars over the darkening night.

Sasuke was in favor of that as well, heading up shore to catch a cab to the nightlife of town.

As he moved away from the beach, closer to the center of town, the music grew louder, the bass vibrating loud in his chest. People exited the clubs and bars, stumbling and laughing, but  not alone.

Drunk youths threw their bodies against each other in the dark alleys and the lonesome salary men sat in the bars, drinking their sorrows before engaging in regrettable mistakes.

Sasuke was about to walk through the party district when he heard the familiar ring of his phone, stopping him in the middle of the sidewalk.

"Hello?"

"Sasuke? Where are you? It's so loud over there?"

"I'm outside of a club."

"Ohhhhh~ You and clubs in the same sentence is a anomaly. Are you going to pick up some girls while you're there, handsome?"

He rolled his eyes, walking into the club, being bumped by people exiting. The bouncer first stopped him at the entrance before he flashed his VIP room key.

"Oh man, it's REALLY LOUD IN HERE,, I'LL CALL YOU BACK."

"Wait, hold on, do-" Click.

He hung up the phone, shoving it back in his pocket. The darkness was penetrated by the streams of light effects and sweaty dancing people. He went straight for the bar. It was segmented away from the club, the noise being muffled by the glass doors. The back wall was lined with decorative bottles of liquor. The countertops were a glossy black that reflected like a mirror. He settled himself in an open space between the standing occupation of sequined girls and sweaty men.

He stuck his hand in the air to grab the bartender's attention. The bartender bent over the counter to be able to hear over the loud conversation.

"Could you get me a Sazerac?" He nodded, turning away.

Sasuke stayed by the bar, feeling the reverberating bass and watching through the door, the crowd on the dance floor become one living mass. They were indistinguishable as individual people, grinding and swaying against one another.

The bartender tapped on his shoulder to get his attention, handing him a Sazerac and a shot glass.

"This is on-the-house, looks like you could really use something to loosen up."

He looked warily at it.

"It's not drugged."

He was still wary but at least he knew what it was. He took it in his hand and knocked it back in one take. It burned his nose but travelled smoothly down his throat like molasses. Tequila, his least favorite.

He sipped his drink, watching the people around him.

Glancing up, Sasuke noticed a man standing in front of seemingly another man, whispering closely in his ear. He watched as he slid his hand down and grab the other's butt with a forceful grip. He couldn't take his eyes off the situation, it was uncommon to see a gay couple at a non-specialized club.

Instinctively, he could feel eyes staring at him from a distance. He spotted the culprit, sauntering towards him. The woman wore a dress that barely grazed her fingertips, her assets out for all to see.

"Hey there, handsome. Here alone?" She set her drink down on the counter behind him, leaning close enough for him to smell her floral perfume and glimpse at her breasts.

"More importantly, shouldn't the question be "Am I leaving alone?" Sasuke passed his hand around her, slowing letting it fall to the small of her back.

"Wow, you're fast to act, but I don't mind only spending a night with you."  She smiled, reaching up to rest her hand around his neck. He wasn't one to agree to a stranger's advances, but he's been so preoccupied with his writings that his "needs" haven't been met in a while.

His eyes still wandered to the two men at the table even though he should be focusing on the pretty girl in his arm, something drew him to the situation.

The man who was hidden behind the other man began to walk, taking the other man with him by the tie.

His eyes widened as he saw his face, the familiar smirk and blue eyes gave it away as to who it was.

"Naruto?!"