SPACES [Editing]

Simple Science

When I entered into the bar I noticed how changed it was. It looks the same but it has a different vibe. I walked over to the booth, expecting Ash to welcome me but then I remembered that he got fired when saw the new bartender.

Let me tell you a little something about bartenders: they know everything. It's almost like they're trained to know what to say to people and to know exactly what drink is perfect for a certain emotion.

Now this new bartender doesn't look like it. He wasn't friendly at all, he just handed me my order and went back to flaring bottles.

I drank a couple of shots when I noticed the kid that was sitting beside me. He's probably about eighteen years old. Wide eyed, wavy hair, tall and lanky. He was sitting there, waiting to be attended to by the waiter. He looks like he's not familiar with the place so I decided to talk to him.

"Hey, bud. I'm Louis. I'm the owner's husband." I held my hand out to him. I didn't know why I had to say that, but I had to, if I wanted him to trust me.

"I didn't know the owner was a woman," he told me.

"That's because he isn't." I replied.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I didn't mean to offend, by the way. I'm... I'm also gay." He said, breaking eye contact with me.

"Let me guess, your family doesn't know?"

"Oh no, they know. My friends also know. Actually, my friend recommended this place to me. Said it was safe. I'm Troye, by the way. With an 'e'." He said, fumbling with his fingers.

"It is safe." I reassured him. "So what's up, Troye with an 'e'? Big problem?"

"Do I look that miserable?" He asked, laughing.

"No, you look okay, but there's got to be something wrong out there that made you come looking for a safe place,"

"Yeah, you could say that. By the way, am I in trouble?" He asked, genuinely worried.

"For underage drinking? Nah, you're good. But you better not be driving after this." I warned him.

"Actually, I'll be meeting my boyfriend here because he wanted to talk. If it goes well, he'll be driving me home. If it doesn't, I'll be calling my friend." He assured me.

"Alright, good. So since the bartenders aren't being wise men tonight, I'll just play the role. What's your story, Troye?" I asked him. I remember Harry telling me about the bar when he brought me here before. He told me how important people's stories were to him. If he was here, he'd probably do the same thing.

"I've been with my boyfriend for one year now. We were childhood friends. We grew up together and we were bestfriends until I was sixteen. I told him I was gay and he avoided me after that. A couple of months after, he confessed that he liked me so I told him I liked him back. His dad just found out about us last week and he didn't like it so he beat him up. He tried to hide it from me but I know. I just know." He wasn't even crying when he told me. It was like he's drowned the pain out, like it couldn't hurt him more than it already has.