Back on a friday night with an all night shift, I had to pull for someone called in sick. I bet they are going to party out of town.
Sin: Could be worse, we can check out some people here and well, get some numbers.
Sol: I am not going to acknowledge you just said that.
Sin: Quit it already, you are as pent up as I am and you know it. Stop looking into faces, check the goods.
I try to focus on the drinks to make and where to take them. The barkeeper comes with a crooked smile: “You look like someone punched you. Need help?” I hate when he does that. But I let go of my pride and simply nod. He keeps on chatting: “It’s nice of you to cover for Henry. Poor bastard got hit by the tram. Such a daydreaming idiot. Could have died.” “Luckily he didn’t”, I state bluntly. “You are funny, you need to talk more”, Luca, the bartender replies.
Sin: He totally checks you out. He is into you. Go with it.
Sol: Gotta work.
Sin: Gotta work him, hit him, while he got the hots for you.
Luca crosses his arms a bit too high in front of his chest. I can’t read body language too well, but I can see what Sin is into. Luca is quite attractive. Somehow at least. I gotta deliver, maybe we will finish that conversation later. It is more than just crowded, but I manage with the help of Luca and my other colleagues. As the masses disperse, we get some downtimes. Finally a warm meal before the kitchen closes up. Luca sits next to me to which I just look up. “ dis seat taken?”, he asks almost sheepishly. I shake my head. “Nice”, he replies and drops himself. He got himself a burger. Vegan, we offer this now too. They aren’t half as bad as they could be. Convenience food is pricey but easy, so it sells well with alcohol. He scoots closer to me and digs in. I don’t mind but Sin is going up the walls inside my head.
Sin: Quit the act. I will get laid tonight, he will get laid tonight, we don’t care if you play along.
I sigh. Luca smiles, he looks like a brain dead panda bear. Cute and adorable but also… dumb. We may all do it when eating after feeling starved for hours. “What are you up to?”, he asks, liking his fingers clean. I sigh again and ask right back: “After work?” “Aye”, he continues his burger. I nibble on my fries.
Sin: Should I play this? He is ready, he is eager. And what I see, he’s not too meager.
I choke on my fries and try not to be too disgracefully spitting it out. Luca chuckles and gently starts to slap me on the back until I breathe normally again. “Too fast forward? I just wanted to invite you to party with us. We are headed to a club. We could dance. I promise, I will take my time.” His crooked smile again.
“I thought about going to bed”, I admit. “I figured”, Luca shoots instantly, “we could… later, if my moves catch your drift.” My face must give away what I am thinking. It always does. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell. I am a real gentleman.” “You had the whole crew, didn’t you?”, I ask bluntly and curse myself for speaking and not thinking. I wish I could blame Sin but they are way ahead of me. “Maybe. Nobody’s complaining, aye?”, he chuckles, “Listen, I am really hitting on you now, but we can party and part ways if you’re not into it. No hard feelings. I just wanna see your moves. Desperately”, he faintly whispers. Or there is no blood left in my head and ears respectively. Luca tries to clean his mouth with a paper tissue and leans back in his chair. “Gotta finish this shift… first drink is on me tonight, think about it.” He gets up and goes back to work.
Sin: Do you think, he’ll do us, or he’ll let us do him?
Unfortunately this question lingers in my mind too. Unsettling, at least from my experience, both options are quite possible. And they are valid. Just because he is taller and more muscular than me doesn’t mean anything.
Nil: Snap out of it. Finish your meal.
Sin: We can do this without your orders.
Nil: But you don’t, you literally chew on your cheek. Get a hold of yourself.
I always lose track of our goal. I get up and follow Luca. Sin is the past, Nil is the future. One doesn’t live without the other.
Nil: But it only realizes in the present.
Sin: There is no thing quite like it.
Sol: Did we hook up with Luca in the past?
Sin: No mister high and mighty and yourself are always too good for poor little Luca.
Sol: A change?
Nil: A chance.
Sin: Come on, little shade. We do this.
That’s as friendly as Sin gets. It takes another hour until we close down, and go to a club, I have never been before. Luca is smiling all the way. He came to work prepared for partying afterwards. I did not, but I am decent anyway. I look strict and controlled but that is just a facade. I am afraid to lose control. Of Sin, of myself. We order once we are in and I go for a beer as does Luca. We have more female coworkers than male.
The two boys from the kitchen who only heat up stuff mostly when not cutting stuff for salads, Henry with his left arm in a sling, a small kid named Rick and myself. Donna, Rhea, Lizbeth, Jen and Heather. I am not that good with names. But these are the women that went with us anyway. The rest bailed. But now Luca takes me by the hand and leads me to the dance floor. I only had a sip of my beer after thanking him for the invite and properly clinked the bottles.
“Sorry, to rush this, but this is one of my favorites”, he exclaims excitedly, mostly to surpass the music. He puts on quite a show. I can hardly match his moves, nor can I do anything like him. All I can do is try to keep up. The next song is more to my taste and now it’s my time to shine. Can’t remember the last time I went out or even danced at all. I feel some kind of relief and peace of mind as I let go. And all I need is to see Luca’s smile. He is impressed. Or that’s what I read into this. After a few songs I am too exhausted to continue. We return to the others and our group has grown.
“Didn’t expect you to be quite the dancer”, Vanessa admits with a broad smile. “Was a bet”, Luca quickly replies, “Anders lives up to his word.” I smile shyly. Anders is the name of this person, I am. I can’t warm up to it, but I got used to it. It is very exhausting. I get my beer handed to me by Rick: “Really impressive. Not as much as the maestro himself, but I can’t keep up like you. Don’t like to lose?” I nod. “Mind to show me some moves?”, he asks childishly excitedly. Luca sits down and I follow suit. “Young boys are so eager”, he laughs. Rick pouts instantly: “You’re only 5 Years older.” “7”, I correct automatically. I am grateful Sin keeps count. “After I finish my beer and maybe another, I’ll show you some simple steps”, I offer to Rick. “Quite the drinker, are we?”, Vanessa jokes. “After the third someone’s gonna take care of me”, I declare. “Will do, no strings attached”, Luca proclaims smoothly.
Sin: Damn, he knows his game.
“I’m in”, escapes my lips. Vanessa laughs again. Rick doesn’t seem to follow. Another beer and I am back on the dance floor. This time to show Rick my easiest moves. He is a fast learner.
Nil: You are a good teacher. You seem to be not that hopeless after all.
Sin: Nobody’s insulting Sol but me! Rick is a fast learner. I like how he moves his hips. Do you think Luca would mind a threesome?
Rick smiles happily as I confirm his progress. “How long did it take to learn this yourself?” he asks out of breath. “Some days of practice”, I try to remember but it escapes my grasp. We grab our next beer and he steadies me with his arm around my shoulder as we proclaim: “Cheers!”
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