and then i met you

Alone and yet surrounded by too many, a slender boy, no older than eighteen sits in front of a bar counter. The beer glass in front of him was full to the brim. Through his hazel brown eyes, he looks around and watches wild people throw their bodies all over to the loud, ear-deafening beat. He takes out his phone and looks at the time. Sighing, he turns back to the bar and rests his chin on his hand, shutting his eyes and doing his best to drown out the noise. "Hey," a girl with rosy cheeks, blonde hair and pink dye streaks grabs the boy by his arm," now is not the time to look mopey, c'mon, dance with me." "Jen... I-" the boy looks at her and gets his arm back," I'm not in the mood." "You're so boring, Wright," Jen rolls her eyes as her body sways left and right, as she bops her head to the beat of a Calvin Harris remix and yells," I bring you here to enjoy yourself and this is how you repay me?... f**k you!!!" Wright, without a care, stares at the middle finger directed at him. From behind Jen, an athletic black boy holds her waist and kisses her neck. She grins at Wright, who scratches the back of his neck and carelessly turns away, setting his sights and back at the bar. A glass of beer is put in front of him by the lady bartender. "Umm..." Wright stares at the bartender, " I didn't order this." "I know," she acknowledges, her eyes search over the counter and into the distance," the gentleman in the leather jacket, shaven black hair and a bit of hair on his chin has you covered." Wright traces the bartender's description of the stranger. When he catches sight of the man, he receives a flirtatious wink. Wright shows a semi-smile but quickly looks away. He glares at the glass of beer, grasping it. "If you were smart, you wouldn't drink that," the bartender bluntly states, as she pours another person's drink. " It's not really free. He wants something from you." "He isn't getting anything from me," Wright gently pushes the glass aside," I don't even drink." "I figured," the bartender smiles at him," smart kid." She takes notice of Jen, who dances erotically with the boy she doesn't even know. The bartender chuffs to herself. "Interesting choice of friends," she snorts, while shaking her head," very interesting." The stool next to Wright's is occupied by a tall figure. Wright has a quick side eye. "Hey," the man with the leather jacket, looks at Wright. He folds his arms and leans against the counter. "Did you get your drink?" "I don't drink," Wright only for a second looked at him, thereafter immediately canceling eye contact with him. "I got you a drink...bought it for you and you don't want it?" The man's face began to turn red. He bites his tongue and softly hits his fist on the counter, repeatedly. "All the pretty ones play hard to get." "I-" Wright was speechless. "Hey babe," a stranger swoops in, out of God knows where. He puts his arm around Wright, and gives him a kiss on the forehead, then smiles at the man. "Who the hell are you?" The man curiously asks. "Yea," Wright questionably looks at the mystery boy," who are... you?" "Come on, babe" he nudges Wright's shoulder," I'm your boyfriend, silly. The apple of your eyes, the one who makes your heart beat." "Oh," Wright slowly lets every word sink in, nodding his head slowly, " my boy... friend." "So, I bought you a drink for nothing?" The man chuckles," you better pay me back." "I didn't ask you to buy it for me," Wright gulps and clears his throat," and I don't have money on me right now." "Perhaps your-" the man stares at Wright's so-called boyfriend coldy," maybe he can pay me back." "I got a better idea," the boy takes the bottle, has a little sip and smiles at the man," cheers." Next, beer flies straight out of the glass, into the air and all over the man's face. Wright's eyes widen, his hand covers his mouth as he holds back a laugh. The drenched man growls,staring at the mystery boy, who seems very proud of his actions. Suddenly two other men join the man's side, eyeballing both Wright and the boy. "That's my cue," the boy is quick to leave the scene, when faced by three men twice his age and a few feet taller than him. Wright smirks with the side of his mouth, watching the wacky boy run for his life. Sensing the three men staring at him, it dawns on him that he's been left alone against all the odds and being their prime target. "Umm," Wright calmly says, slowly easing off the chair," I don't really know him... are we good?". They had no reply for him when coming in closer, until a hand grabs Wright by his skinny long arms and pulls him away dragging him as if he were a trailer. Braylon, tall with black hair, light bronze skin, fit build, brown eyes and a dazzling personality, so he believed, held the soft hand of the boy he rescued from the three menacing men. Running, he leads the way out of the crazy party and to the entrance, just by the city streets. Braylon is certain this boy will be more than thankful once- "What are you doing?" Wright pulls his hand back and out of Braylon's grasp, getting a good look at him. " I don't even know you. Really man , you can't go around holding people's hands or stating they are your boyfriends or kissing them on their foreheads... it's... it's just weird." "Do you plan on continuing?"Braylon takes a soothing breather ," because your admirer and his leather crew are coming this way." Wright drifts his attention to the men, pointing them out and sprinting their way. "I don't know about you," Braylon speedily said," but I want to live." He ran the sidewalk immediately, pushing people out the way, so desperate to survive. Wright chose to follow right behind him, speedily. They run through other pedestrians, dodging stop signs and crossing the busy road. Wright just dodged being hit by a vehicle. Panting and sweating, he keeps running, feeling his hair go all over the place. His heart races and his leg aches, but he's still going, until- A hand grabs him by the collar, pulling him into a creepy, dark alley and pinning him against a wall. His mouth is covered by sweaty hands. Breathing loudly, a tall figure stood in front of him, keeping his hands over Wright's mouth. Looking left to right. Wright attempts moving, but Braylon shook his head. Near to where they are, footsteps and agonizing breathing pass their way but disappear shortly. "Alright," Braylon steps away from Wright and crouches," damn, that really took it out of me. Don't make me do that again." "Me?" Wright rubs his hand through his sweaty hair," if it weren't for you tossing that drink in his face-" "Aye," Braylon raised his voice," I basically saved you back there. Ultimately, it's your fault for looking adorable." "How's it my-" Wright immediately pauses," ... wait adorable... don't say that to me, ok, it's...weird." "Whatever you say," Braylon stuffs his hands in his pockets," so where do you stay, I can walk you home." "I can manage fine on my own," Wright started, walking out the alley," thanks all the same." "Really, I insist," Braylon walks by Wright's side," these streets are dangerous." "Fine... whatever." Wright watches the ground as they walk," just don't-" "What?" Braylon curiously wondered. "Never mind," Wright takes out his phone, briefly staring at the screen, noting the almost dead battery, before putting it back in his pocket, "my friend lives near here." "I could tell you don't live around here," Braylon swings around a poll, then continues to walk by Wright's side," I am going to guess you're here for the last day of summer fest?" "I never go to those," Wright remarks, clenching his jaws and scratching his arm. "Why not?" Braylon questions, as a clear smile appears on his face," I loved it when my mother took me there. We'd set up a pizza stand and damn... she makes the best pizza." "So, your mom is a baker?" Wright nods his head, pressing his lips together, "that sounds fun, spending time with your mom like that." "I could take you," Braylon suggests, while walking backwards," it's tomorrow at-" "I'm sorry, but I don't even know your name," Wright looked up at him. "Braylon," he offers out his hand, when standing in front of Wright," nice to meet you." "Wright," he slowly extends his hand and shakes Braylon's hand, showing a barely seeable smile," nice to meet you... I guess." "C'mon," Braylon lets go," allow us to get you home, well your friends home." Ten minutes of knocking and no reply. Wright sits on the front doorsteps. Seconds away from sending a message, but just like that his phone screen goes black. He groans, walking back to the door and banging his fist against it. Finally surrendering, he rests his head against the door. "Hey," Braylon carefully thought his next sentence through," do you want to stay with me tonight?" "Why should I be a burden to you?" Wright sighs, sitting back down," I'm sure they'll answer." "I can't have you wait out here all night," Braylon went in closer to Wright," from what I hear, there are a lot of John Gacy's in this area." "John Gacy," Wright takes that to mind," who the hells John Gacy?" "Do you want to find out?" Braylon offers out his hand, "come on Wright, I'm not a creep or anything along those lines." Wright flicks some of his hair out from his eye, puts his hand out and is pulled up by Braylon. They gaze into each other's eyes, just standing in the moment,without any words. "Well," Braylon quickly backs away from Wright," follow my lead, I presume." Shrugging his shoulders, with no other choice, Wright puts his dead phone away in his pocket and joins Braylon's side as they walk to his apartment. Moments Later; Wright watches Braylon as he wrestles to open the door to his college dorm. Wright slowly moves back, swiftly looking left and right, when standing in the hallway...awkwardly. "This is your room...correct?" Wright comes in closer and whispers," you go to this college." "Oh yeah," Braylon replies with a confident grin, then bashes his broad shoulder into the door, "this happens all the time, luckily for us, I'm quite the handy man." The door flings open with the second shoulder shove. Braylon pouts and blows off some steam. Wright, still uncertain, enters the dorm. Braylon hits the wall and turns on a lights. "Umm..." Wright scans the chip wrappers lying on the floor, scrunched up pieces of paper, ruffled clothing seemingly everywhere and not to mention a half-eaten chocolate on a nearby counter. Wright strains a smile, cratching his neck aggressively," so..." "It's not much," Braylon didn't know what to think of Wright's impression," but it's home...sorta."