Hey Bartender, can I borrow that pen?
I've got a list of things I need to get down on this napkin
Ryan knew he shouldn't be here. This was the worst place to be in and it was at the worst time to boot as well. Seemed there had been a game that Ryan missed out on hearing about as no sooner had he parked outside and walked into the little bar that sat only a few streets away from his apartment, he was greeted with loud cheering and ever louder blaring noise as he took his normal spot at the bench, nodding at one of the bartenders as he did so.
Originally, he hadn't wanted to come in here tonight. He had work to do and things to see to and roommates to berate (as one does when you live with 3 of your college buddies), but he'd somehow felt like pulling in on his way home. Like he needed to be here for something.
Couldn't put his finger on why though, for the life of him. It bothered him a little, but given he'd really had nothing else to but mope (according to said buddies), it seemed he could use the time off given the last year and a couple of months had been rather rough for him.
(That was an understatement, but he wouldn't be talking about that right now.)
And she's (he's) been goin' out with somebody new
And he's (she's) sittin' there drinkin' a beer across from me and you
Latching onto the beer that had just been tapped in front of him, he took a gulp and was just about to go back for another when he saw-
Her. Her, surrounded by faces that he thinks he's seen at work, but doesn't remember. However, while he's one part curious, her face is enough to feel like it's a punch to the gut. Her name is Sara. Sara Rubin. Co-worker. Woman. Shane's new girlfriend.
Good god. Shane. He hadn't thought about him in...weeks? No, that was a lie, it was more like days and he hated himself for it. Shane Madej used to be the thing that made Ryan's whole world turn, as he turned it on its axis the moment they met as interns at work and became a hell of a lot more in the years that followed.
He and Shane had got on like a house on fire, even if they disagreed on a few things, but eventually, something blossomed between the two of them. Something the ended last year in a pile of dust and debris that Ryan was still sifting through to re-find parts of himself.
His relationship with Shane had been a long one, almost 5 years, even to the point where they were looking at buying a house together and it had been hinted by his mother that Shane was looking at engagement rings. Then suddenly, Shane broke up with him in the middle of last year and his world stopped for a while. Hence the last year or so.
He'd changed apartments, moved in with friends, starved off a few family members who've tried (and failed) to bring it up and tried not to feel like he was inadequate as Shane moved out and moved on without him as he tried to do the same.
Still somehow, even with all of that weighing him down, seeing Sara sitting at the bar with her friends didn't really hurt as much as he thought it would originally.
And if you could pass this along with his (her) next drink
But don't tell him (her) it's from me
In fact, the wheels in his mind started turning before his hand did and he waved his bartender down before he could properly think, grabbing a napkin and asking for a pen from the register for a minute. He most likely looked like some lonely, desperate sleaze writing his number down to sneak to some girl in the hopes of a hookup, but that's not how he rolled.
He had a couple of words to say, yeah, but not bad ones and as the pen rolled on the thin, yet plushy one-ply fabric, they came flowing out like a tap that had been turned on, only to be stopped when he ran out of room to put more.
Only a few were needed however, so it would do. The note read as follows:
She (He) likes movies in black and white
Summer rain and red wine
And she (He) needs someone who knows how to make her (him) smile
She (He) talks to her (his) momma on the phone
About babies and country homes
And how someday she'll (he'll) want one of her (his) own
So love her (him) the best way that you can
Signed another man
Seems it was as good as his words, ever more shaky, were going to get in the face of this.
Hey bartender thanks for helpin' me out
It wasn't easy for me to get these words down
Flagging down the bartender, he tipped him 10 bucks to pass on the note and watched as he did a few rounds before the napkin slowly made its way to Sara's side of the bar and ended up under her glass.
He's (She's) sittin' there reading what I wrote
And I know that she'll (he'll) be better off 'cause now he (she) knows
He tries not to look so he can't draw attention to himself, but stares as Sara spots the writing and picks up the aforementioned object, unfolding it. He watches her eyes, her eyebrows, her lips as she carefully reads each word on it, although Ryan already knows what they are.
She (He) likes movies in black and white
Summer rain and red wine
And she (He) needs someone who knows how to make her (him) smile
She (He) talks to her (his) momma on the phone
About babies and country homes
And how someday she'll (he'll) want one of her (his) own
So love her (him) the best way that you can
Signed another man
He knows she's finished when she takes a breath and his head falls to look at the last few sips of beer he has in his glass.
I couldn't fit everything on this note
It's just a few things I think you should know
Sighing to himself, he shoots the rest down and gets up, not wanting to stay any longer than he felt like he had to. His bed and home was calling, louder now. Best to answer it before he could get drunk or worse.
She (He) likes movies in black and white
Summer rain and red wine
And she (He) needs someone who knows how to make her (him) smile
She (He) talks to her (his) momma on the phone
About babies and country homes
And how someday she'll (he'll) want one of her (his) own
Pushing off his barstool, Ryan shakes the bartender's hand in thank for everything and his service and just as he's walking out of the door, a foot into the cool night air, he sees Sara looking directly at him, her eyes wide. He knows she recognises him in some way, maybe from work or in passing or even, possibly, Shane's still got pictures of them together.
He doesn't really know for sure.
So love her (him) the best way that you can
And be everything I can't (couldn't)
Signed another man
Deciding what to do had been tough, but ever the gentlemen, Ryan just nods her way and waves her goodbye with a melancholy smile as he leaves, feeling somehow lighter inside as he did so. Sure, when he gets home tonight, his friends are going to notice the difference and maybe he might just joke with them that he got laid and cheers and jeering will be thrown his way, but in reality, he's healing or at least trying to and that's all that needs to be said.