inspired by St Elmo's Fire
"How's that meaning of life coming along Kev?"
Everyone chuckles except for Kevin who just exhales his lung cancer at a howling Alec.
When the whole gang was in the bar together it was the best feeling ever with tons of laughter, sweat, dancing when you didn't even know you were moving, saying things you never meant to say, lots of drinking and just forgetting about the responsibilities that we'd all have to face by morning.
"Alec, when are you gonna get a new car? One that truly expresses your lifestyle as the perfect couple."
Billy faced me, his silver little earring glistening under the hard light every time he laughed at one of Alec's jokes or when someone got up for drinks and fell to their ass. Although the crowded bar was not really the most romantic setting, it was these moments with Billy that I appreciated most. I liked going on dates but dates with friends were even better.
"As soon as you settle down Jules."
Tonight though, he didn't talk to me much, ignored most of the things that I had to say to him and used any excuse he could to shrug or hum instead of talk. The rest picked up on it even with starry eyes and deafened ears by the music.
The music was so loud that I could feel it in my chest, right beside the undeniable hurt that I was sensing.
"Excuse us, ladies, gentlemen, we're just taking a trip to the little boys' room," Alec announced to the table, an arm around Billy that was guiding him towards the far side of the bar where many people gathered to not do things you would typically do in a bathroom.
I saw him gesture to the girls with his noisy face to comfort me or some crap. The man never knew the meaning of subtlety.
"He's probably just asking him about the job Y/N. Don't sweat it," Jules rubbed my arms beside me and I leaned into her embrace, eyes still glued to what was on the other side of that door.
"I don't know Jules, I don't know."
---
Billy was in comfortable silence with Alec as they both leaned into urinals the opposite sides of the room.
"How're things Billy, haven't seen you in a while now," Alec asked from his side, knowing how false he sounded but luckily Billy was too far gone to notice.
The kid couldn't even hold himself up to piss.
"You saw me yesterday," Billy chuckled, zipping up and washing his hands.
Alec sighed, finishing and washing.
"A lot can change in a day, my friend."
Billy poked his arm like a little kid, putting creases in his still crisp suit despite the evening being full of different events all with different names.
"That's right, that's right. I don't know how you do it, Alec," Billy shakes his head, getting a little dizzy from even that, his friend's face was starting to blur in his vision and grow in size.
"Do what?"
Alec was washing his hands, staring at his swaying buddy in the reflection of the mirror in front of him although Billy was right beside him. He was a little worried about what was gonna come up about the job. He really wanted to know but your disappointed face at the end of that table was far more important than any lousy title to him.
"The shady business life."
Alec was intrigued.
"Check it out. Now, don't get pissy, I know how many strings you had to pull to get me that job but I think the circumstances of my demise were pretty great," Billy's story begins and Alec's ears flame as his old pal lean against the wall casually, telling him about how he fucked up his life..again.
"I was in my armour, suit and tie crisp as yours. I walks into the office supplies store you guys use with the company credit card, in Senator Pomerantz's name. I'm just about to grab some paper and more envelopes when two hot chicks working there check out the card, believing that I was the Senator. I knew he was away for the weekend and I had listened to hours of his wife talking to me about their new tub and their holiday. So I took them there, one was under the water and one was straddling me, my lips were raw they kissed so many times. We're in our third round of mind-blowing fucking right and who walks in? Husband and wife of the office and I get fired on the spot," Billy laughs, slapping his leg and his best friend's arm who was laughing with him.
Alec slaps him all over playfully while chuckling. He slaps his arm. Slaps his head. Suddenly, he drops his smile grabbing his head and forcing him into the nearest stall. He doesn't even struggle and BIlly screams underneath him. LIke teenagers again, he forces Billy's protesting face into the toilet drowning him with his friend's limbs slapping his from behind.
"You're a fucking asshole. When are you gonna grow up," he grits one more time realising how breathless the brunette beneath him his getting and releasing him.
Billy takes a breathless breath and runs his hand through his hair.
"Like this was real mature, Al?" he squirts water out of his nose and droplets run down his face, he was too drunk to be disgusted but Alec was seeing clearly.
"It's just a job Alec, I'm really sorry and all but working for Senator Pomerantz was not for me," Billy protests, still dripping somehow in places that didn't even go into the toilet.
Alec charges towards him again, ready to repeat but Billy holds him back this time.
"This is not about the fucking job you heartless piece of shit! What about that poor girl sitting on the end of the table waiting for you, not knowing that you fucked someone else and is laughing about it to me, expecting me to what- feel sorry for you? Laugh with you? Think you're tough shit? Well, you're wrong."
Billy turns white, thinking about your laughter and the feelings that bundle inside of him that doesn't bundle with other women. He didn't understand, Alec did it many times. Why was it okay for him to stand and shout?
"You're a hypocrite, what about Leslie?"
"You don't know the guilt I feel about Leslie being with a non-committal asshole like me but I'm scared, Billy. I'm scared of growing up just like you are. Trust me, no matter how many girls you fuck that feeling ain't going away until you face yourself and marry the one. Y/N could be the one but I hope not. I hope she doesn't waste her life worshipping someone as worthless as you Billy."
Silence.
"I want you to go back out there, take your stuff, say there's a problem and get out. For good. She will never see you again until you decide to explain or apologise. Got it, amigo?"
Billy nods to the tiles, too afraid to see that disappointment again in Alec's eyes.
---
Billy slumps out of the bathroom guilty like a little kid.
What happened in there?
He dripped from head to toe, more than he normally would while performing with his sax in here. I was about to ask him what was ogin on and the girls were ready to scream questions at him. The guys gave a look to Alec who followed Billy so tightly that he was treading on the back of his heels.
"I'm sorry Y/N I have to go, there's been a problem. I-I love you," he utters with a tiny tear in his eye that could also have been whatever he was drenched in.
My brows were furrowed and in sync, every confused face turned to Alec for answers as usual.
What the hell was going on here?
"Just had to do some business in the bathroom," he takes a sip of his drink and leaves with his finance, who stumbled just as confused as I did.
