Intoxication, Paranoia & A lot of Fame

Well That's the City for Ya

My eyes slowly flutter open to muffled speaking and the feeling of someone shaking me as their words start to become more clear.

"Come on man, get off of me," the stranger groaned.

Realizing that I had been sleeping on his shoulder I quickly sit up, blinking a few times to clear my vision.

"Sorry," I mumble still half asleep.

"Yeah, right. We'll be landing in about an hour. An hour that I would like to spend sleeping, so if you wouldn't mind, don't fall asleep on me again like a fag," the stranger growled.

I dropped my jaw at his words with a huff. What the the hell did I do to this guy to deserve such attitude?!

"I'm sorry but-" was all I got to say before the stranger cut me off again.

"Stop apologizing, you're a faggot, it's not like you can help it," he says with fake sympathy as he faces forward in his seat and puts his headphones in.

I glare at him before turning around in my seat, mentally face palming for not thinking of a good comeback. After a few minutes of staring off into the clouds, I decided I had plenty to say to this guy. I quickly turn back around to face the stranger and give him a piece of my mind.

His eyes are closed, as he peacefully listens to music and I can't help but stare at his beautifully tanned face with his mouth slightly agape. I suddenly lost track of everything I was planning on saying as I take in his presence.

Before long, his eyes flutter open and I avert my eyes to the isle and face forward in my seat trying to play it off like I wasn't just drooling over the attractive Mexican in the seat next to me. Dammit, why does he have to be so attractive?

***

After an agonizing hour sitting next to the cranky Sexican, oh I mean Mexican, we finally land in sunny SanDiego, California and I couldn't be more relieved. As everyone rushes off the plane, I find myself stuck in place with him sleeping on my shoulder. How ironic. I carefully reach to move his head, but he grabs my arm and pushes it away.

"What do you think your doing faggot?" he mumbles as he gets up from his seat and grabs his bag from the overhead compartment.

Without speaking to him, I roll my eyes and get up after the homophobe to grab my bag as well. As I reach for it, he slams the compartment shut with a smirk before turning around and exiting the plane. What. A. Dick.

***

As I exit the plane, reality strikes at full force as I realize that I'm finally here and ready to start my new life, and I couldn't help the grin that formed on my face right then. Without much difficulty I find my way out of the airport and out of the air conditioning into the fresh, warm air of SanDiego. I spot a bus across the street and jog my way over there before it can leave. There are a million things going through my head, as I enter the bus, like where will I sleep? How will I make money? How long is an 18 year old like me going to last in a place like this?

My gaze out the window is almost hypnotizing as the view turns from palm trees to gigantic buildings and crowds of people roaming the city streets. This place was so different from my little town in Michigan and from my seat on the bus, it seemed more welcoming and exciting than any place I had ever been to. My thoughts were interrupted when the bus driver announced my stop over the speaker. Eagerly, I sling my duffle bag over my shoulder hurry off the bus.

Immediately, the warm sunlight hits me and I am surrounded by crowds of people rushing about in every which direction. I barely had enough time to take it all in before I was being pushed along with the crowd. Wide eyed and mesmerized with the city around me, I let the crowd guide me and before long, I found myself in front of a small coffee shop on the street corner.

"Welcome to Café Meridian how may I help you?" a blonde haired guy behind the counter asked in an overly excited tone.

"Actually, I'm kind of lost," I admitted, still adjusting to the crazy environment. "Is it always this hectic?"

Realizing that I wasn't going to buy anything, the guy dropped his work persona.

"That's the city for ya," he chuckled. He ran his fingers through his silky hair and introduced himself. "The names Justin," he said cooly.

"Kellin Bostwick," I replied back.

"Nice to meet ya Kellin," he said excitedly.

***

I spent the rest of the day in Café Meridian getting to know Justin. I learned that he only works weekends here and is at college the rest of the week. His other roommates, however, are working all the time. Periodically, a couple customers would come in and Justin would have to get back to work, but right now the place was empty.

"So, what about you kellin? Where'd you come from?" He asked.

"I came here from Michigan looking to start over, you know?"

He looked as if he was contemplating something before he asked "Are you planning on staying in the city by any chance?"

"I am," I said suspiciously. "Why do you ask?"

"This might be weird to ask, seeing as I just met you today, but a few buddies and I rent an apartment and we could really use the extra help of another roomie," he said.

"What are you saying?" I asked knowingly.

"I'm saying that it it would be cool if you came and stayed with us. You'd have someplace to stay and we'd have some help paying rent. It's a win-win situation!" he beamed.

I didn't even have to think twice about an offer like this.

"Deal."

...

Before I knew it, closing time came around and Justin was finishing the cleaning and locking up.

"You ready?" He asked me as he turned off the lights and headed toward the front door where I stood.

I glanced down at myself with my duffle bag in hand.
"I guess so!" I said, still surprised he offered me a place to stay, even if it was for rent.

He smiled as we both stepped outside of the café. "Come on, I live a couple blocks down," he said kindly as he motioned for me to follow.

I nodded as I thought to myself how well my first day in the city was going. But if I feel so lucky, why is it that I can't help but also feel like this is all too good to be true?

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