SAGE
Even after more than two months, nothing has changed. Every day I wake up, every day there is the pain. I just get better at avoiding it, avoiding any feelings at all.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC0xBFkAVj
BASIL
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl7saTV9Rk
"What do you think she's called?"
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4iU3ZILvZ
I take a sip of my drink before answering Xaviers question.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgQghwtM4T
"Who knows, man. Just ask her instead of pestering me."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouXZyfibbU
"Maybe she's called Eve. Or Apple..."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wYqCLZceG
Xaviers eyes are fastened on a girl I can't see from behind the bar. I push a Rum & Coke towards him, shaking my head.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc2c6vFQBl
"Do you even hear yourself? Maybe she's called snake, that's just as corny. I hope you didn't think about using that as a line on her."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlfWeRMRxK
"Whatever, dude, you're called Basil. It's not like your parents should've smoked any more weed."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzVaPgiFSQ
"Think twice about being rude to the owner of the club you're ogling women in every weekend." I retort.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K5HtvodpZ
Xavier and I go way back, which is why I tolerate some of his douche behaviour. But only some.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwojbF1Ypv
"Sorry, man, you're fine, you're fine!", Xavier raises his hand in a gesture meant to placate me. It actually does work, because it shows he still has a healthy amount of respect for me. As he should.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkYz9QxUfw
"I should go up to her, shouldn't I? I should just do it!"
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVCaPHIXmN
"Sure." I take another sip of my drink and hide my grin behind the rim of the glass. Xavier will fuck this up for sure, and I'm in for the treat of watching him do it.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9wrkyroYE
When he doesn't move from his spot at the bar, I give him an encouraging shoulder pat. He straightens, takes two steps towards the dancing crowd and then pretty much disappears into it, since he's wearing a shirt and dark jeans like every other guy in the club, including me.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmsuzFpajJ
With my elbows propped on the bar top, I try to find him again, but my eyes find someone else instead. On the edge of the dance floor, a woman clad in a black longsleeve moves in sync with the staccato beat of the house music currently playing. The strobe lighting produces mesmerizing reflexes on her long, black hair and high cheekbones. Her eyes are closed and she looks completely lost in her own movements, isolated from the mass of writhing bodies around her. Nobody dares coming too close to her, even though she is undoubtedly attractive. No one dares to break her trance.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIgroUG001
While watching her, I realize: People like her are the sole reason I sometimes show up at my own club. To make sure it is still a place where lost people can find solace, even if it's only for a few hours.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH5pYTxj3B
And then I groan, because I see Xavier moving in her direction.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj5VxuxIuM
