Rules of Attraction

15th Feb- Charlie

I liked it when the bar was calm. The tips were shit, but that meant I had more time to sneak in some homework between pouring beers for the regulars that were glued to the same old bar stools every night.

The Tavern on Main was a grungy old dive right off of Main Street, but it's been my second home since I could remember.

When my mom left and my pop had to get a second job to support us, I was right here, doing homework in the back office. After I had originally left for school, my pop didn't need the extra income, but when he hurt his back and I moved back home the owner, Robbie, had no hesitation in giving me a job to pull some cash in after classes.

"Charlie, can you fill me up, sweetheart?"

"Anything for my favorite old drunk, Chuckie. How's Denise's new baby?"

"She's good, does nothing but sleep, eat and shit."

"So basically you're saying she just like her Grandpa?"

"The spitting image," he grinned as he raised his glass to me before taking a swig.

"Hey honey, I'm gonna drop this deposit off and head home for the night, can you lock up?"

"Sure thing Rob, have a good night."

Robbie, or Roberta, was like the mother that I wish I had. The one that didn't ditch me and Pop for...I don't even know what she left for, but Robbie never left us, she's always been there.

As Robbie started heading out the door, she turned around narrowed her eyes at me.

"There is a very attractive young man making his way towards here, be nice, got it?"

"Yes, m'am," I saluted before returning to the drinks I was making for two of the regulars.

I knew who he was the minute he walked in. I didn't live under a rock, but One Direction wasn't necessarily on my playlist. If I was being honest though, his solo music was good, great even. And Robbie wasn't lying when she said he was attractive. Even in a pair of sweatpants and an old Fleetwood Mac shirt he looked relaxed, and extremely attractive.

"Hey, what can I get for you?"

"Guinness and a menu? The food any good here?"

"Well, Delores is working, which means it's not gonna be burnt like when Mary works, so I think you're safe. You're not like a hipster vegan or whatever, right?" I asked setting the pint in front of him.

"No, not a hipster, or a vegan."

"You like seafood?"

"Sushi?"

"No, rockstar, not sushi. Delores makes some killer fish or shrimp tacos, or so they tell me. Not a big seafood fan myself."

"Those sound awesome. I'll try the shrimp."

"Good choice, I'll go put your order in," I smiled before heading back into the kitchen.

"Delolo, I need some shrimp tacos."

"For the cute guy out front?"

"Yes, for the cute guy out front," I chuckled as I rang it up on the computer system.

"Alright, oh let me know if you're going home with him tonight, cause if you don't, I might," she grinned as she threw some shrimp on the large grill.

"Neither of us are going home with him tonight," I rolled my eyes as I made my way back to the front.

"So, Mr. Horan, what brings you to a little ole dive like this?" I asked grabbing my rag and wiping down the counter.

"It was in between the studio and my house...it looked...simple. Like the pubs back home. Nice to be able to hide and nobody really know you. Well, almost nobody, I guess," he smiled at me.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna post a grainy picture, or leak this spot on Twitter."

I watched him sigh in relief as he drained the last of his beer.

"Cute guys' order is up!" Delores called from the back.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the plate from the counter. I sat the plate in front of him and watched as he took the first bite of his taco.

"This...is really fucking good."

"I told you. She knows her way around a kitchen. Eat up," I said getting him another beer, "let me know if you need anything."

****

"I mean, of course I like The Eagles, everybody likes The Eagles. I'm just saying, if it were up to me, I'd rather have gone to a Queen show back in the day. I mean, could you imagine being able to see Mercury in his prime, prancing about the stage."

The bar had been empty for nearly an hour, Delores had cleaned the kitchen and gone home, giving me a smirk and a wink as she flipped over the sign on the door to closed. Niall and I were currently in the middle of a heated discussion about which band would have been the best to see in their prime.

I'm not gonna lie, I was shocked that we had clicked. Our conversation had mainly consisted of music, but that's all it really took for me to be drawn to a person. Even if I usually tried to fight it.

"Now I hate to ruin the night, but I need to close up," I sighed, hopping off the stool and heading back to the office. I grabbed my bag and keys before making my way back to the front.

"Ya know, this doesn't have to be the end of the night," Niall said as I locked up the door.

"And what to you have in mind?" I asked, leaning against the side of the building, fiddling with my car keys.

Niall's lips were on mine in a second. It was a flurry of lips, teeth, and tongue.

"My truck is around the corner," he said while we caught our breath.

The sexual tension was thick on our way to his house. We barely made it into his house before clothes were being peeled off and we were stumbling towards a bedroom.

When it was over and he was sleeping I watched him for a minute. It was probably the best sex I had in my life, but it nothing good ever really lasts.

I pulled on his Fleetwood shirt and grabbed my shorts on the way out the door and waited for my Uber out on the curb. I looked back at the house as he pulled away and for a split second, I wondered what would happen if I chose to stay.