Just By Chance

19. dRuNk: Part 2

(Warning: This is another loooonngg chapter. Much longer than the others. Get some popcorn because it's a spicy one:] )

The night was not going smoothly for Beam. He wanted to speak to Forth but Forth was constantly surrounded by his friends and seniors. He wanted to at least buy Forth a drink but the engineering seniors made sure his cup was never empty. He wanted to stand next to him again but Forth was always flanked on either side by his seven friends who currently seemed more like bodyguards than friends. Beam also wanted to dance, but he knew he could never in a million years ask Forth to dance with him. At a bar. In front of their friends. Nope, wasn't gonna happen. Especially when Forth had been turning down girls all night who were trying to get him to dance with them.

When Beam witnessed Forth finally giving in and being dragged off by a girl into the crowd to dance, he thought he was going to lose his mind. He tried to occupy himself with other thoughts but his eyes kept drifting back to wherever Forth was in the crowd, who now seemed like he was actually enjoying himself.

Forth had one hand around the girl's waist as he danced, while she swayed her hips and flung her long hair. She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck and swayed some more.

At that, Beam turned his eyes away. Forth was having a great time and he could clearly see that. Of course he would have a good time with a pretty girl. And he didn't need to be ashamed about dancing with her like he would be if he danced with Beam.

Beam turned so his back was to the crowd and leaned on his elbows over the bar. He grabbed his drink and took a long swig, draining the glass. He set the empty cup down and pushed it away, but almost instantaneously, it was refilled again by the bartender. Without hesitation, Beam downed that one too.

"One more, please." He called to the bartender who nodded and refilled the glass. Beam closed his eyes and sighed and was about to lift the cup to his lips when a hand stopped him. He looked up to see Phana and Kit, Phana's hand over the cup, blocking it.

"Beam." Phana said, a note of warning in his voice. Beam set the cup down and remained silent.

"He's intoxicated, Beam. Just like you're about to be if you keep drinking like you are." Kit said, eyeing his friend.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Beam said flatly and Kit rolled his eyes.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. He's dancing with her. Not dating her."

"Why not? They look good together." Beam stared at the condensation that was gathering on his glass from the cold drink. He ran a finger over a large collection of water that was about to run down the glass.

"Don't be like this, Beam. Have you even tried to talk to talk to him tonight?" Phana asked, taking a seat on the side of him.

"How can I? His friends swarm him like flies, and now look." Beam turned to face the crowd again and nodded towards Forth and the girl. "I'm too late."

"You don't know that." Phana said patiently. "It's just a dance. You should know better than anyone that a random dance in a night club doesn't mean anything."

"Yea, Beam. You used to always dance with girls at the club." Kit said. And it was true. In the past, Beam could definitely be a little promiscuous when he wanted to be, and he had never had any trouble getting the attention of girls. But after falling head over heels for Forth freshman year, all that stopped and he only had eyes for Forth.

"I wouldn't worry about it. It's still pretty early in the night." Phana said, checking his watch.

"Besides, he was turning girls down all night. This one literally dragged him out to dance." Kit said looking at Forth and the girl.