FRICTION

Ch. 18: Wrath Ave

-Eric-

I was taken aback by the relative calmness.

It was busy, yet a large majority of the patrons seemed to be on the older side, content with either lounging around the bar or crowding around the few pool tables set up near the back. There was bright music playing in the background, yet it was set rather low, leaving room for the droning of voices to settle over it as the regulars casually chatted.

I didn't know exactly what I'd been expecting, but it wasn't the laid-back atmosphere that seemed to permeate from the very pores of the dimly lit establishment.

"I thought you said—"

"Later," Wyatt whispered while pressing a finger against my lips, smirking up at me when I flashed an unimpressed look. "Why... were you interested in seeing what happens?"

I grumbled softly at that, shrugging in response as he tugged me deeper into the bar. Not that I was or wasn't, but the way he'd described it earlier had certainly piqued my interest. If only a little bit.

Even now, I could tell Wyatt was right. There were traces of a more chaotic underlying nature sprinkled here and there, with the most obvious one being the sheer number of speakers set up across the upper walls of the bar. There was also the fact that there was a giant glass bowl of what should've likely been candy, but was instead very clearly condoms, just sitting at the edge of the bar. The attached sign above it read, "Catch something in my bar and you'll catch these hands too. Be safe. XOXO."

"Two orders of wings, Samuel," Wyatt called out while leaning over the counter, grinning widely.

My eyes widened as Wyatt casually reached over and kissed the bartender, yet the dude seemed all too willing, licking into Wyatt's mouth just as eagerly. He chuckled when Wyatt finally pulled away with a satisfied sigh, playfully patting his cheek.

"Where have you been?" the tall redhead called out while putting the order in, peering over at me curiously. Our eyes locked, even as he continued conversing with Wyatt. "It's been a few weeks since you stopped by."

"Oh, you know. Just here and there," Wyatt replied before turning back towards me, likely noticing the utter confusion in my face. He snorted under his breath before introducing us, "Samuel, Eric. Eric, Samuel."

Samuel feigned disappointment, though the glint of a developing smirk was painfully apparent. "You got a new boyfriend and can't hang out anymore? Is that what it is?"

"Wait—"

"And what about it?" Wyatt scoffed while dragging me along, not giving me any room to reply. "Get that order in. We're not sticking around for too long!"

"Aw, c'mon. You just got here! It's not even nighttime!"

Wyatt giggled at that, a light and airy sound that made my stomach twist into knots. What the hell had I gotten myself into?

I awkwardly darted my eyes between them, raising my hand to wave at Samuel right before being dragged further into the bar, maneuvering past the other patrons, and heading towards one of the few empty tables by the corner.

"You. Sit," Wyatt ordered.

I nodded my head and plopped down onto the seat, peering up as he suddenly crowded between my legs. I grew still as he lifted my head up by the chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. There was a wide grin cockily plastered across his face as he leaned closer, as if he knew something that I didn't. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere, alright?"