It was a hot and humid summer and the club was packed on a Saturday night which was great for business and of course, a chance for the late night fun that might find its way to me. No such luck as the hot shirtless guys was sweating and dancing, downing shots or sipping their cocktails and beers. I went outside because I felt the heat inside a small dark cramped club and the music wasn't hitting my nerves.
When I got outside, it was so free and felt a welcome relief. Despite the humidity, the fresh air was a lot better than the confined air. Cars bustled about and people walked, stumbled, or leaning on their friends for support. It was amusing and a few of them were cute too. There was one guy though that got my attention and he kept pacing back and forth.
He appeared to be about early to mid-twenties but I pegged him for 22 or so. I watched the way he walked and studied his facial expressions. It was evident that he did have a few drinks as any healthy male on a Saturday night would yet he didn't appear to be plastered like the previous guys I saw minutes earlier. I knew I had to ask if he needed help as he was staring at something in his hand and looking around.
"Hey, are you alright?" I asked.
The blond guy looked towards me and had blue eyes, soft white complexion and a slim build. He must've been about six feet tall.
"Yeah, I was out partying with my buddies and I can't find the hotel we checked into."
Then he showed me what he was looking at in his hand. It was a hotel key which looked more like a credit card with a metallic strip on the back. There was a name of the hotel called the Ohana Resorts. The only issue was that this was a local chain and that there were a few of them in Waikiki. I grew up in Waikiki and knew where each of them were.
"Are your friends at the hotel?"
"No, they are out at another club. I don't think they're going back anytime soon either." he shrugged.
Looking at my watch, it was close to 2am and by then; the smaller bars were closing and the patrons were gathering to the 4am clubs.
"Do you remember what your hotel looks like? I mean the entrance, did it face the street or was it a side street." I asked.
He was trying to figure it out too and looked at the key again.
"I think it faced the main strip and there were steps to get up there."
I kind of had an idea which hotel he was referring to but at the same time, he was very handsome and seemed very nice and I was enjoying the verbal exchange. I also wasn't sure if he was straight or gay. If he was gay, I hadn't seen him at the club I was working at and he might have come from one of the 2am bars. Regardless, I still didn't want to see him staggering about lost and at night.
"I grew up here so I might have a general idea of where you are staying." I offered.
"Oh yeah? You a local?" he asked.
"Lived here all my life."
"Oh that's cool, man."
This time, we stopped and were sitting on the side of the plants that held a small palm tree. He seemed a bit worn out from the walking and taking a breather appealed to him.
"The beer kicked my ass at 'Moose's' so I kinda left but forgot to ask for directions to my hotel.
"Ah, military. That's cool."
He smiled.
"Guess the bar gave it away."
"Yeah, it did."
Moose's was a bar that was often frequented by military guys and a place to get a good beer.
"How about you? Did you party out too?"
I don't drink but still like to hang out after working.
"Yeah, I work around the corner. A gay club."
He smiled.
"Oh cool. Yeah I figured it was since there was a lot of guys going up the steps."
I couldn't believe how non-chalant I was about revealing my own sexuality to a complete stranger. But I felt a feeling that he seemed cool with me being gay and didn't flinch when I mentioned the word.
"Yeah, we have some gay bars in San Diego where a few of my friends hang out at but they gotta be careful."
This was still during the days of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era and it was refreshing that he seemed concerned about them. I looked over and saw his short sleeve gray button shirt was a little higher around his right arm facing me. Then I saw the USMC tattoo on his upper arm and I felt I was going to be home free.
"Devil dog huh?" I laughed, pointing to his tattoo.
"Oh you know it?" he asked, if almost innocent.
He lifted it up to reveal the entire tattoo that consisted of the symbol of the military branch as well as a bulldog in a dog leash and spiked chain color.
"Yeah, one of my best friends is stationed at K-Bay".
"Oh cool."
Then I realized that I was taking some of his time from him to find out his hotel.
"I think we should get back to finding your hotel." I suggested.
Then I went to look at the key in his hand. I didn't feel any hesitation to grab it after our friendly chat.
"There is a telephone number on it. It's in the 'tiny print'."
We both laughed.
"It's a toll-free number." I looked carefully to make sure it was a 1-800 number.
"You got a cell on you?" I asked.
"Yeah, right here." he reached to the side of his pocket.
This was the days of when Motorola was still the top of the line. It was black and he held it to me.
"I'll read you the numbers and you can call them."
"Ok thanks man."
He started to enter the numbers after I was making out each number. It was not easy to read it clearly given it was nighttime and the only light was from the outside of a boutique behind us.
"I got someone on the line." he asked.
They talked for a bit but he seemed to be confused by what the other person was saying so he told the person to hang on and handed me the phone.
"Hey, can you talk to her, please? I think you can figure out where she is describing."
