When I moved to this city I had given my own word that I would not get attached to anyone. I told myself over and over that if I needed to just pack up and go, I would. This time there would not be anything holding me back for months longer than if I had simply been on my own. Things were going to go my way and I was going to be in control.
The first person I met when I moved was a wonderful woman named Kendra. What initially drew me to her was the combination of her pale blue eyes and smile. Her eyes contrasted with her raven black hair. I was soon addicted to the sound of her laugh. And she always seemed to be feeding my addiction when we were together. Making her laugh was easy and I strived to do it often.
After we got to know each other a little- she had come to the city for an education, I merely to escape the pressures of my family- we started going out together. Coffee shops, parks, day trips to anywhere nearby. Often times she would flirt with me, making it innocent enough to begin with. As time passed though, her insinuations grew stronger. She would compliment me on my hair, always worn in spikes as it was just the right length, or on my eyes. I could never figure out her infatuation with dark green eyes but it suited me just fine.
We were sitting on the couch one day, watching some daytime soap or another, they all really blur together in my mind, when she commented on one of the male actors. It was simple enough, she mentioned that he had the perfect build, strong yet lanky, and I simply agreed. Maybe I just never gave Kendra enough credit in the department of intelligence. That or I was really that obvious in my day to day tasks.
It was not as if I had never been called on it before, I just like to think that I don't act so stereotypical that everyone's gaydar is set off whenever I walk past them. Usually the first thing someone will notice about me is my rambunctious nature. Call it living a second childhood if you will. Past that they'd probably only see some kid who was just dying to get laid at any chance possible. Few ever questioned who I would go to in order to get laid.
"I have a friend that looks just like that you know. Only his hair is a little longer and he has tattoos. You really should meet him sometime, I think you two would get along well." she offered with a slight smile.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I mean, I would understand if you were suggesting that if I were trying to cast someone in a soap opera that needed to look like that but aside from that..." the words trailed as I felt her eyes staring at me, dropping my focus to the smirk she wore I knew I had been caught. "Well Hell. How'd you know?"
"Kenneth! I've hung off of you for at least a month now, giving you every opportunity in the world to have me, and yet you look at me like I am some innocent being. How could I not know?" she laughed lightly at this.
"If you're so smart, why'd you waste your time?" was my reply, both of us laughing now even though I thought it was slightly awkward. I was not sure if I really wanted to meet any friend of hers, especially not one who might take a liking to me. That would be going against my word.
****
"So out of the blue, just like that, after everything you two had been through, she dumped you? That makes no fucking sense man." I shook my head and raised the glass to my lips. The silk of the drink washed over my tongue but burned as it slid down my throat. I never did understand the opposite sex- probably why I avoided relationships with them all my life.
"Yep. Just like that." he replied with a sort of distant look, picking his glass up and shaking it lightly before setting it back down on the counter. "Just like that."
I don't know why I agreed to let Kendra introduce us but I'm not sorry, not really. Jack and I get along better than I ever thought we would. We hadn't been friends very long but the bond was instantaneous. For the first while he knew me he kept pushing that I was in fact gay, even though Kendra swore up and down she never said anything about it. He would often corner me whenever we were out together and whisper things to try to turn me on, going so far as planting a kiss on my mouth once when I was least expecting it. I kindly pushed him away and went on with my business. He, on the other hand, was never really satisfied.
"How many is that now Jack?" I joked as I pointed to his half empty glass. "Four? Five? I lost count a while back."
"Doesn't matter. I hold my alcohol well. Don't even feel different!" he laughed again, spinning slightly on his bar stool to face me. "Thanks for coming out with me mate."
I just nodded and shrugged it off, offering him a rather boyish smile as I tipped the glass up to finish off my drink. Setting it back down on the counter I felt that moment of hesitation as I glanced over to catch him eyeing me once more, like I've seen him do before.
"Come home with me tonight. I've got better stuff than this at my place." he said as he stood, tossing a few bills on the bar to cover both our drinks and a fair tip. "What's your experience with wine?"
"I guess I don't have one?" I shrugged lightly, never having really been offered wine before and certainly never having opted for it in lieu of any other alcohol.
"I've got a bottle of wine that's like...you wouldn't believe." his eyes lit up as he said this, for whatever reason, and I found myself smiling.
Not wanting to let my friend down I stood and stretched. "Lead the way, Captain Jack." What an amusing inside joke that was. As flamboyant in his every day life and as attractive as Captain Jack Sparrow, he was able to attract just about anyone he wanted no matter their gender.
Once we arrived at his apartment I went to sprawl across his couch as I normally do, he taking to the kitchen like a good host would. I watched as he took out two glasses from the cupboard, retrieved the said bottle of wine, and laughed when it was uncorked. He brought both glasses to the couch and I made room for him as well, raising my glass and lowering my head a little. "To new beginnings!"
He smiled slyly and raised his glass, repeating my words and then drinking from it slowly. Off in my happy, slightly intoxicated world, I did not even notice the look he was giving me as I leaned over and away from him to set my glass on the end table. It was a stretch that forced me to turn away from him but I made it without spilling. My thought process not having advanced far enough even consider sliding over the length of the couch first and in the process I ended up giving him quite an eyeful.