falling - the sequel

you know it will always be there, the pull

H: Hi. I am in the city this wknd. Want to hang out on Saturday?

J: Hi. Yeah. What do you have in mind?

H: Actually I am attending an event, but its at a private lounge in a club in Midtown, so we'll have a chance to talk and grab a beer

J: Okay. You'll have to tell me more when I see you. Can I bring Ed, Nate and Char?

H: Yeah, sure. I'll put them on the guest list.

J: Guest list sounds fancy?!

H: It is kinda

J: Is there a dress code?

H: No, come as you are ;)

Around 11PM the four of us are making our way up the stairs to the 3rd floor which is a private lounge in the club in Midtown. He is sitting on the red couch and is engaged in a conversation with someone. He looks up the second I reach the last step, and instantly our eyes lock.

I smile. His face though goes through several transformations in twenty seconds, from shock to disbelief to calm to a small smile creeping on his lips. Which are even more kissable than the last time I saw them. He gets up and makes his way towards us.

H: Hey you made it - and embraces me into a hug

J: Yeah. What is this?

H: I'll tell you later - we part from the hug, but he holds me dangerously close to him, his hands still on my waist

"Hey guys" - he turns to my friends and greets them one by one. They are happy as well to see him. As he is to guide us towards the bar he gets interrupted and has to go talk to someone but, will be back in 5 he says walking away smiling apologetically.

After two drinks and Nate showing me funny videos on his phone of some people dancing tacky and getting kicked out of the club for it, to relax me I guess...

H: Hi. Sorry about that.

He comes to stand beside Nate, leaning on the bar counter

N: Hey bud – says all cheery

J: Hey – I am more careful, almost shy

There follows an embarrassed silence and smiles, staring at each other, back and forth

N: I have a feeling you know each other so I'll just go see what Ed and Char are up to – he squeezes my arm and leaves. I smile at him

Hero moves closer, to where Nate stood, and leans his one elbow on the bar, tilting his head towards his shoulder while his body is facing me

H: I am sorry about that. We have just been in Japan and we are celebrating as well as meeting sponsors and possible new players, so its a victory AND mingle party. But its also the only free time I had to hang out with you, and I really wanted to do that while in the city so I hope its okay that its like this

I give him a reassuring smile: "Its fine. This is kinda fun"

H: How have you been?

J: Good, busy at work, glad its weekend... you? you said you just got back from Japan?

H: Yeah, we played a tournament there

X: Hey Tiffin – someone shouts

We look in the direction of the voice. There is a guy, standing, grinning, raising his glass and smiling from across the room

X: Congratulation's buddy  – he almost sings

Hero doesn't have a glass, he looks franticly around him, I shove my glass on the bar counter in his direction, he smiles and turns to the guy across the room.