Addicted

2

It was Tuesday.  The black haired boy was still in college and had loads of work to do, but that didn't stop him from shouldering his way to the bar again that night.  Priorities, he told himself.   The bartender never noticed him.  Maybe to other people, that would bother them.  But that didn't matter to him. No, he knew who he was and that was enough.  He was Nico Di Angelo.  He had no siblings and no friends.  He was an orphan who got into college on a scholarship but neglected his duties as a student.  He was Nico Di Angelo, and he was in love with a bartender. 
The bartender fiddled with his name tag.  William Solace, it read. He wished it just read Will. William was so uncomfortably formal, and this job made him feel the opposite of formal.  He didn't even ask the boy what he wanted today. He simply placed the glass in front of him and sighed. How repetitive. The hooded stranger would no doubt just drink it and leave like every other night.  Leaning on the counter, he rested his head in his hand and closed his eyes for a moment. 
Someone snorted behind him.  "I was gonna ask for water today, but okay." He peeked open one eye and almost shot up.  The stranger had a much younger voice than he had assumed.  Maybe a young college student?  Will smiled slightly, sleepily knocking the glass off the counter and replacing it with a water.  "Uhh.." the boy wordlessly asked about the broken glass.  He shrugged.  "I'll just clean it up later."

At the sound of Wills voice, Nicos heart fluttered.  He bit his lip. It was smooth as honey, but had a husky, sleepy sound.  He took a breath and pulled his hood lower to cover the hot blush he knew was spreading across his face.  This was the reason he didn't regret leaving the clear sky and the smell of mint.  This boy.   "Ah, okay." He stuttered. 
Will gazed longingly at the door, imagining the crisp, clean night in contrast to the stuffy hot air of Sparks Nightclub.  Nico watched him from under his hood, taking note of the blue that gleamed in his eyes.  Blue eyes.  Such a refreshing contrast from the dull brown in his own eyes.  He almost smiled. 
"Ahem." Someone coughed, but nobody noticed.  Then a shot glass hit Wills shoulder, making him flinch. He turned around, wincing, and clutched his arm.  "Whaddwe gotta do to get some service 'ere?!" The same guy who had coughed earlier bellowed, another shot glass in hand.  Immediately, Nicos instincts screamed protect the bartender, and protect him he did. 
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing? If you thought you weren't getting service before, you sure as hell aren't getting it now, so shove off, loser, and remember this the next time someone throws something at you! Because with that attitude, no doubt someone will soon." He snapped, shoving the guy back and snarling.  Less than a minute later, he was lost in the crowd.  Will looked up at Nico, still rubbing his hurt arm.  "Oh, wow, um- thanks," he chuckled, then sucked his breath in.  "That's gonna leave a bruise."  Nico walked around the bar and joined him on the other side.  He dipped his hand in the icebox and pulled out a handful, then wrapped it in paper towels and tucked it into a plastic bag without a word.  Then he pressed it into the blue eyed boys hands. "Ice it." He said, then pulled his hood even lower over his eyes and left. 

Nico was mentally screaming at himself.  What had been thinking?!  Even though he was alone in his dorm room, he hid his hot face in his hands, ashamed.  "I can't believe I talked to him and all I said was 'ice it'."  He spoke aloud, his voice muffled.  Fwap.  His face hit his pillow, falling onto his twin sized bed.  It was small, but so was he.  Only 5' 6", the 19 year old grumbled to himself, the image of his loves blue eyes engraved in his mind.  He sighed.