We stay close to the bar and Rick keeps me secured as I am a bit unsure on my feet. “You’re friends with Vanessa?”, he takes turns glancing at me and her carefully, “Luca is falling really fast for you. Had a crush for some time now. I’d say from the very beginning, but he won’t tell.” I look at him shocked.
Silence emerges as if it was Nil and Sin in unison. Rick scans the room, maybe watching out for Luca, but then his gaze returns to me. “Don’t worry. I don’t judge. I think it is cute.” My looks must shift to skepticism as he giggles. “I am very perceptive, like really”, he states, he moves closer and starts to whisper, “have known from the beginning. Remember your first day?” I think for a moment, then shake my head. “In the locker room. You check out people differently. You are too uncomfortable with skin”, Rick explains. “I am very shy, like really”, I copy his statement.
He smiles and leans back: “My guess was right, wasn’t it?” I scratch my head and feel dizzy. “Don’t you throw up on me”, Rick demands and embraces me to steady me. “Don’t worry”, I take deep breaths and my vision returns to normal. I let go of Rick, who comments: “O’right? Wasn’t my intention to throw you off your feet. Luca’s a friend o’mine…” His shoulders sink and he tries to sort through his thoughts: “Sorry, I am so bad at dis. I just want to show support. Well, I… I want to brag, I saw dis comin’, you know?” I start to laugh off the tension. My own as well as his. It works, he follows suit. I feel his grip around my shoulder and I lay my arm around his as well.
We return to the others. Vanessa is eying me carefully and I smile happily. Rick gently squeezes my shoulder. “Bros already? You are too easy, Ricky”, Heather says sarcastically. “More bro than you know”, Rick replies mockingly and defensively. “He promised not to let go of me, or I might just hit the floor”, I explain. “Total bro move“, Vanessa agrees. She smiles at Rick. Rick smiles at her then at me. “I can’t take too much harmony at once, though”, I admit. Luca almost jumps from his seat and to my right side. “Ready for another dance?”, he asks and grabs my hand. Rick releases me as I do and I follow Luca.
My stomach doesn’t like the idea of leaving them behind like this. They surely talk about us now. And they will interrogate Rick. Resigned I shrug my shoulders and let Luca lead the way. We end up in a corner. “Did he say somethin’ stupid?”, Luca wants to know. I smile: “You know Rick. Can't keep anything to himself.” “At least with alcohol he’s an open book”, Luca states nervously and then meets my eyes, which seem to calm him down. I just keep smiling until he smiles too.
“Another beer?”, he asks sheepishly. I shake my head: “No, I am already at my limit and the floor is a bit uneven, isn’t it?” He laughs, I must be drunk as it is awfully attractive. “Only three beers? You’re cheap”, Luca realizes. “Efficient, effective maybe too. But far from cheap”, I correct. I can feel my blood rushing through my veins. Alcohol as adrenaline has the nice addition to block Sin and Nil out of my thoughts at least partly. I can hardly hear them and my buzz is really enjoyable right now. Must be Luca’s company. I breathe deeply to keep my balance. I can feel his warmth radiating and there is hunger in his eyes. He keeps a little more distance than necessary. I like his discipline. Something Sin should practice more often. Again Silence. My attention returns to Luca. “Then we dance, burning the fuel.”
Luca has to have had some more beer, while I danced with Rick. He really lets go of inhibitions. He dances to impress and I have to say, I am for all that is worth. Well, I am basically drunk and can hardly keep up. But he knows how to shake dat… hip. After taking a leak, we return to the others and sit down. I am totally out of breath. Rick hands me a bottle of water. Luca wipes the sweat off his face. “Damn, are you always that energetic or are you trying to impress someone?”, Rhea asks. “Never know where you meet scouts or stars. Maybe I will shake it in some background these days” Luca flirts. “Sure”, Rick replies, “knock yourself out.” “Attentionwhore as always”, Vanessa sighs. Rick sits very close next to her. My and her eyes meet. I look at Rick who reddens subtly.
“After I’ve seen lil’An and Vany, I thought, I’ve seen it all… but I confess, I was wrong all along. You two hit it off on another level”, Jen analyzes, “you two should be dance teachers or somethin’.” Lil’An is my nickname. I’m not small but the smallest of the guys actually working at our bar. I went out with the girls a few times and Vanessa or Vany the dancing queen showed what she is working with. She aspires to become a professional dancer and she learns all the real dance moves. Luca might have actually learned quite a bit from her. I didn't, I just move my body to the rhythm of music. No more, no less.
While I’m lost in my train of thoughts, Vanessa pouts: “They are naturals, I won’t deny that. But they both lack the posture and composure of the single moves.” Jen shakes her head: “You tell me, they could improve?”
Jen and Vany are completely sunk into their discussion as Luca starts to dance sitting just moving his arms and upper body. It is really funny. Rick grins and suppresses a laugh. The other girls cheer a bit and follow his lead. I keep sipping my water and watch them attentively. As soon as Heather takes over providing new dance moves, Luca leans over to me and whispers into my ear: “Are you going to take me home tonight? I mean, I would say, I make sure you find your way home. Even if you don’t wanna score, can I crash with you?”
He returns to do his silly dance with the girls and I sit there confused. His look at me tells me everything I need to know. He wants to go down and dirty. All the way. Do I want to score him? I guess I don’t mind and I know Sin would surely love to. And I have to admit, I am curious. Yeah, one look deep into his baby blues tells me I wanna score badly.
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