try // shyland

attempt #2

"Shane!" I heard Garrett yell for the millionth time. I sighed and fixed my shirt before heading downstairs.
"I'm trying to not look disgusting." I said shaking my head at Garrett who rolled his eyes. "Also Ryland and Lily aren't here yet."
"That doesn't mean take ten years to get dressed." Garrett said in a sing song way rolling his eyes. Before I could retort, I heard a knock on my door before it opened.
"We've arrived you're welcome." I heard Drew say as he walked in followed by Ryland and Lily. I tried to stand up straighter and look presentable. I showered,shaved, and even wore new clothes. We were going to a nice restraunt with a bar next door that seemed to have a dress code. It made no sense to me but i rolled with it and really hoped Ryland thought i looked good. But staring at him took my breath away. He was wearing a tight dark purple long sleeve collar shirt with tighter black jeans, both fitting and flattering his body beautifully. His hair was styled more than usual and he too shaved. I suddenly felt inadequate to my beautiful boyfriend in my navy blue short sleeved collared shirt, leather jacket and black pants.
Ryland's eyes finally met mine and I smiled largely at him. And also at the fact that he was blushing. Did I do that?
"Wow, showered have we?" Ryland asked approaching me. I shrugged feeling a little loss for words at his presence. Never am I speechless. Ryland took my small smile as answer enough and before we knew it we were heading out to dinner. I made Garrett drive since he insisted on not drinking tonight anyway and giving Drew a sober friend. Ryland and I hadn't really said much to each other but it felt okay. Like i didnt have to. Content even.
The restraunt was more packed than expected but we were escorted to our seats quickly. It was a booth and I was grateful for that detail because Ryland was practically sitting on me. I didnt mind and he seemed to know what he was doing. I watched him all through dinner. As he conversed with everyone and laughed at the small jokes passed around and even the dumb ones from Garrett. I couldn't remember the last time someone had all my attention the moment they walked in the room. Ryland made me feel...different. It always seemed I was searching for ways to describe him but coming up short. So i stayed silent and thankful for the bar in which we began heading. It was also pretty packed and i felt Ryland slip his hand into mine as he followed Lily to wherever she was going. I smiled even though he didn't look back. The bar was less crowded and minus Drew and Garrett we all ordered drinks that Lily payed for.
Liquor filled my veins quickly and the number of drinks were hard to track. I remember paying for a good amount but now I had no idea who was dishing out the cash for them and I couldnt care. Especially when Ryland began dancing in his seat next to me. I didn't recognize the song and Ryland's slurred lyrics didn't help to decipher. We were the only ones left at our table. Lily was at the bar making friends of the male variety, probably who was buying the drinks, Drew and Garrett were also chatting up men at another near by table who were clearly drunk. Ryland's drunken singing wasn't loud, i could barely hear it but his dancing was loud, visually. He threw his hands up above his head and began shaking his hips to the beat. He even threw his head back and singing the nonsense a little louder. I am not a quiet drunk but watching him felt sobering and he left me in awe. He suddenly snapped his head to look at me with a very serious look and i became worried.
"What's wrong?" I asked and he climbed over me to exit the booth. I started laughing really hard and smacked his butt before he fully left the booth.
"I gotta pee." He said waving his hand back before disappearing in the crowd. I smiled in his direction before I saw Garrett sit down.
"Hey." I said elongating the 'y' in the word. Garrett smiled.
"I actually just came to see if you're alright, you've been a little quiet." He said leaning in from across the table. I smiled tilting my head back.
"I'm...okay." I said trying to reassure him. I truthfully knew I wasn't and didn't like how sober i felt.
"Try again." He said raising his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes at him. I hated that I couldn't get much around people especially Garrett these days. It was almost like his sixth sense to detect when I'm being slightly deceitful.
"Its..Ryland." I replied limitedly. Garrett looked at me confused.
"What happened? You guys seem fine."
"We are and that's the issue." I answered rubbing my face.
"I'm lost on what the issue is supposed to be." Garrett trailed off. I groaned looking at him. I trusted Garrett completely but I didn't want to say how I felt outloud or to anybody because it made it real. But he kept looking at me so I caved.
"The thing with Ryland is.."
"What's the thing with me?" I was cut off by Ryland's voice as he stood by the table. I stared at him only moving to allow him a place to sit. He did so but continued looking at me questioningly. "Shane?" He asked again. I nodded looking away for a second considering a few things such as; was i really about to do this at a bar when he's wasted and my best friend is sitting being nosey across the table? I know I didn't want to. But I looked back at him and it all came up. How alive he made me feel, how he smiles, how he laughs, how he sees the world and the positive changes he's made in my life in the short 3 months he's been my lover.
As I truly felt like I was going to spill my feelings like vomit in this bar booth, someone else spilled something first. Apparently as my feelings came up, so did the bile in Ryland's stomach. I opened my mouth to tell him, and a privacy invading Garrett, when he opened his and vomited all on my lap. I jumped back in shock and disgust as Drew and Lily came running over to us. We all looked at Ryland in shock. His eyes were focused on my lap as he began breathing normally again. His heavy eyes looked up at mine and he whispered few words.
"I think it's time to go."
And so we did.