Author: Skytate17
Title: You Won't Be The One That Got Away
Summary: The two ended up at the same bar every Friday night. One came to dance, one came to do his job. They were two different worlds, colliding on these ambitious Friday nights when the party goers were out. Stealing glances across the bar, one wishing the other would knew he existed, the other wishing he never existed at all.
Chapter Four
Bridge entered his apartment living room at this early hour in the morning, tossing his jacket and things on the coffee table, kicking off his shoes before collapsing against the couch. He was more tired than usual, so tired that he didn't even feel like shuffling his way towards his bedroom. The couch was going to do fine tonight.
Rolling on his back, he stared up at the ceiling, then towards the coffee table where all his stuff lay. He thought for a moment, wondering when Sky was going to give him a call. The party was going to be that Tuesday, three days from the time now, after the doors closed. Doors closed at one that night and they group usually hung around a few hours after.
It was never anything big, but she never liked to celebrate heavily, so it was always pretty nice. He waited for a few moments more, staring at his phone before coming the realization that Sky was probably already out for the night, as he should have been.
Bridge closed his eyes, snuggling against the cushion of the couch before falling asleep not but minutes later.
It was those few days later when Z locked the door to the bar after the last person had stumbled out. She sighed, leaning herself back against the bar, about ready to go home as soon as she was done cleaning up. Turning around, she saw Bridge sitting there, already done putting away all his things.
Sky was busy clearing stuff off the bar along with a few others who were picking up stuff that had been left at the tables scattered around. The young woman made her way back to the bar, taking a seat beside Bridge as she watched their coworker clean up.
"Z," the guy muttered then, leaning into his friend slightly.
"What?" she grunted back, in turn leaning into him. But he backed off, nearly sending her toppling to the floor. She quickly caught herself, sitting up straight as Sky turned his head briefly, grinning at the exchange between them.
"Happy Birthday," he muttered as she narrowed her eyes, averting her attention to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition calendar that just had to be hung up at the bar. It was in fact her birthday, which she had forgotten because no one had called her all day to say anything about it.
Smiling brightly, she threw and arm around him, hugging him tightly to him. "Guess it's party time," he laughed, now knowing that as soon as everyone was done cleaning up, they were going to bring out the drinks and the cake.
Bridge stared across the way at Sky as he collected the remainder of the cups, taking them to the back. He hadn't called at all since Bridge gave him his number. Not to ask about anything. Apparently he got his information about Z's party from someone else because he certainly didn't give it to Bridge. In fact, the two hadn't spoken properly since then.
It was an in and out thing. They either worked on different days, or when they did work the same night, Sky did his work at the bar; Bridge did his up at the DJ podium. Before he even got a chance to say hi, Sky was out the door. It seemed that him working there only made things harder.
A few hours went by and Z's little birthday bash was quickly coming to an end. She had a few drinks, Bridge didn't have any because he was never much of a drinker. Sky, on the other hand, got himself completely wasted.
Bridge carried a few dishes towards the back to clean up after her party, Z following him lightly. "Hey, I think someone needs to take him home," she commented then, his attention immediately lifting at the thought of driving that man home. "He's completely wasted… he can't drive home."
"I don't know where he lives," Bridge then commented, dumping the dishes into the sink. "But, if you can figure it out, I'll take him…"
"Of course you will," Z smirked then, handing him a piece of paper. "Luckily for you, as the manager, I have his address… It ain't far from your apartment." He glanced down at the piece of paper, very familiar with the location. "I'm heading out now… I'll tell him you're taking him!"
She gave him a quick hug and a friendly kiss on the cheek before collecting her things and pushing through the double doors, heading towards the exit of the bar. Once Bridge was finished with the cleaning, he also went through the double doors into the main bar, seeing Sky sitting there, perched in one of the stools.
"Z told you I'm taking you home," Bridge muttered, tugging his keys from his pocket before leaning over the bar a little bit. He rested his elbows on the counter top, staring at the drunken man in front of him. Sky glanced up with a curious look before cocking his head slightly. "You remember?"
"Yeah," he muttered, then nodding his head, staring up at Bridge for a moment. There was a long pause of silence before Bridge bit his lip, beginning to head around the side of the bar. "Do you ever get embarrassed?" the man suddenly questioned, clearing his throat as he rubbed his sleepy eyes, feeling himself just wanting to pass out.
"Embarrassed?" Bridge questioned before taking a seat on a stool a few away from Sky, who had now turned to face Bridge, leaning his side against the bar top. "By what?"
"That you like guys… Is it ever embarrassing?"
Bridge winced slightly, lowering his head then before shaking it and returning his attention to Sky. "No… the only embarrassment I ever get is being turned down, but that happens with everyone," he muttered, Sky nodding his head.
"And like… no one hates you or anything… you know, cause you like guys?" he carried on, Bridge hearing the slurring in his words. The only reason they were talking really was because Sky was drunk. He had a feeling things like this would be said if he were sober.
"No… everyone I know is okay with it," Bridge commented back, resting himself against the bar top, propping his chin up on his hand as he stared across at Sky, who was now focused on his feet which were swinging around. Well, one foot was touching the floor, he was making the other one sway, in a childish drunkenness.
The oldest of the two was silent, staring hard down at his swinging foot, a look of pure confusion masking his face. It was like he was trying to process a conscious thought as to why his foot was swinging. Bridge smiled briefly from the corner of his lip, finding this to be completely adorable.
His smiled quickly dropped when Sky brought up his attention from the floor, although still leaning forward in his seat. Soon enough, though, he caught himself off balance and began slipping from the chair. Bridge reached forward, catching the man before he stumbled completely to the ground, using all his strength to get Sky back up on the chair. He was a great deal smaller than the drunk.
"You smell good," Sky randomly commented, Bridge nearly dropping him because he was so taken aback by the comment.
"And you smell like alcohol… come on, buddy, I'm taking you home," he grunted, helping Sky up from the stool. The wasted man wasn't hesitant in completely leaning himself against Bridge, which the guy had no problem with. The two shuffled towards the door, Bridge smiling to himself, although he was sure when the other man woke up the next day, he wasn't going to remember a thing.