The Secret

Ch.5 | Tap Fest

•Brianne•

I met a guy that lives upstairs from me in my complex. Ryan. He moved in less than a year ago. I've seen him around in the apartment gym. It was a Wednesday when I wanted to get my little workout in before I made dinner. When I got off the elliptical, he came up to me after lifting weights. He asked me if I knew about the craft beer festival happening this comming weekend. Our apartment managers had fliers posted on our complex bulletin board about it for the last few weeks. Our complex owners, have family that run a brewery down the street from the complex. It's the go to brewery that my friends and I love hanging out at on some weekends. Alium Brewery. We love their rustic hipster vibe like most breweries around the area. Every year the other breweries on the block love getting together for a small brew fest that is always such a good turnout of people. It's never a competition between the neighboring breweries. They sell and support eachothers businesses. This block fest is happening on Friday and Ryan asked if I wanted to go with him. I explained to him that I'd be going with my group of friends and he is more than welcomed to join us. I made it clear it's not a date and he was completely okay with that. In fact, he laughed way too hard in my face and almost choked on the piece of gum he was chewing before he told me that he was Gay. He doesn't really know many people here since he's moved from Seattle, just his coworkers. I think he'd be a good fit in our group.

The day of the festival, Skyelar was the first to show up at my apartment at late afternoon to meet with the rest of the group. Mason five minutes later. Fabian ten minutes later. Jenn and Sarai fifteen minutes after. Ryan showed up and I introduced him to the group who I knew would take him in with open arms just as I thought.

"Where's Travers?" Sarai asked while she touched up her makeup. "Here, let me text him." Fabian pulled out his phone and started texting. It looked like he sent Travis a few texts in. Probably telling him about Ryan, I'm assuming. There was a reply and Fabian's face looked perplexed with a lowered brow and a slight scowl. He raised his brow and sighed brushing whatever the reply was by shaking his head a little and putting his phone back in his pocket.

"He'll be here. We can head down to the festival. He'll catch up." Fabian's easy going mood was ready for a craft beer at that point. When we walked outside and stood streetside, Fabian turned around like he was leading the group like we were on a kindergarten field trip. He raised his hands up like he was about to preach at Sunday church. "We don't hit up Alium without Travis!" He put his hands down. "That is all!" He turned around and kept walking. We all laughed. I pulled out my phone to text Travis. I know my brother already text him, but I don't give a shit. I'm gonna bug him anyway just because it's me and I can.

Me: So where are you at anyway?

I saw the three text dots fluttering up and down and then I saw them disappear.

Travis: With a social worker right now. Filling out some stuff for my fostering license. Talk later when I see you and when we're alone.

Me: Good luck.

I saw the three dots going again and then disappear and reappear and disappear again.

I wonder if he was surprised by my good luck reply just as much as I was. Travis knows exactly how I feel about him trying to get his fostering license and what he has to do to be approved for it. Which includes not being a man-whore.

We made our first stop at Cannary Brewery. I got a flight to share with Sarai and Jenn when I felt my little canvas purse vibrate. I took my phone back out. Travis.

Travis: Who's this Ryan guy?

There it is. Travis Shinoda, do not get jealous. I laughed. Get your ass here and you'll meet him.