Chapter 8: New Guy On The Job

A/N: The last chapter was pretty short, so I decided to post two chapters in one day.

-events set during "Big Days"-

I was in my apartment watching the latest episode of Big Bang Theory when I got a knock at my door.

"Hold on!" I said. I paused it just as Sheldon was starting to rant about something.

I opened the door to find Cindy.

"Hey, Cindy. Come on in."

"Thanks. I won't be here long." She said.

"So what's going on?"

"There's something that I recently found out, and I think that you should be the first person in my life to find out, being my best friend, and all."

"Well, damn. I'm...honored. I guess." I said, a bit perplexed.

Cindy took a few deep breaths before she finally laid it out for me clearly. "Okay here goes: I'm gay."

It was like getting hit like a bunch of firecrackers, which I guess is what Sheldon feels when people do the little things to him. It's hard to figure out what to say next when your best friend comes out of the closet.

"How long have you known?" I asked.

"About 3 weeks. I've been seeing this girl, Casey, recently, and things are doing okay."

"Well great! That's fantastic."

Cindy looked surprised. "So no problem?"

I nodded. "Absolutely no problem. I don't really see what you needed to be so worried about, and yet it makes sense. In fact, how about this. You come to the bar I just got a new job at, and I'll give you and your date a great night."

"Thanks, Ollie. I had a feeling you were the right person to talk about this to. So where's this bar you got a new job at?"

"I've known the owner for a bit now. He needs a new position filled. After 8 years of bar-tending under my belt, I think this'll be no problem."

"So where is it?"

"It's 75th and Amsterdam. It's called Maclaren's Pub."

A few nights later, I arrived at the bar for my shift. This was only my second week on the job, but I seemed to be fitting in quite nicely. Carl, the owner even liked me behind the bar as his newest employee.

"Might I say, Ollie, that the bar really suits you." He said, once.

That night, it seemed a little quiet. Cindy had set the date up for 7, so I arrived at 6. I headed down the steps into the bar. Carl was standing at the bar.

"There you are, Ollie." He said. "Now I want you to pay close attention to me right now. Right?" He gave me the 'look' sign with his fingers.

"Right." I responded.

"Now that guy there? At that booth? He's one of my loyal customers here. I want you to do one of two things: make sure he stays a regular here, or don't talk to him." He pointed me to the one person I didn't want to see here most of all at the moment.

"I got it." I said, remaining calm.

Carl grinned. "I knew I could count on you, Ollie. Now keep the people happy, and do good!"

"Yes sir." I saluted.

Carl then walked out.

I grabbed a rag and got settled in. Soon enough, Ted walked over to the bar.

"Beer please. Anything you'd recommend in a bottle."

I handed him a cold one right from the fridge.

"I feel like I know you from somewhere." He said, taking a sip.

"Funny. I feel that way too, T-Dog." I said, sniggering.

"Dammit! Econ 305 keeps catching up to me. You were there?"

"Oh yeah. You were a fool, man." I put down the rag. "We met before that, though. St. Patrick's Day a few years ago. I gave you free drinks that night."

"Oh yeah." Said Ted, realization spreading across his face. "Well then, bartender," he stood up. "Nice to see you again. What your name?"

"Ollie, and it's good to see you too, pal!" I raised a hand as I started wiping down the counter. It was a few minutes before I was called by name again.

"Hi. You're...Oliver right?"

I looked up to see a pretty blonde in a cashmere sweater.

"Oh, please. My friends call me Ollie. Casey, I presume?" I said, reaching over the bar.

"Yes." She said, shaking my hand. "You're a friend of Cindy's?"

"Oh yeah." I said, grinning. I couldn't help but notice that she looked nervous. Was it because of the date, or was it because she was afraid of being judged? I decided to show her I was accepting.

"You look like you could use a drink." I said.

"Gin and Tonic, please. But not too strong."

"Playing it safe, huh. I understand that completely." I said, pouring her drink.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. But enough about me. You're on a date with Cindy, and I'll gladly stay out of your hair. You need anything, just let me know."

I spent most of the night serving drinks, flicking my bottle opener opened and closed, and pointlessly wiping down the bar. Cindy arrived about 20 minutes after Casey showed up, and I stayed clear for most of the night. At one point Cindy noticed Ted and walked over.

"Oh, Goddamn, this isn't good." I then mentally prepared myself to intervene if things went to hell. But she hugged him instead. Casey looked confused.

"Who's that? An old friend?"

"Something like that. I know him."

"So what's the deal with him and Cindy?"

"I think you'd rather hear it from Cindy than from me." I advised.

Soon after Cindy came back to the bar.

"You didn't tell me he was a regular here." She said, frustrated.

"Up until this point I had no idea! I just found out tonight."

"Who was that, Cindy?" Asked Casey.

"Oh, him? That's Ted. I dated him once before I came out, but other than that, it wasn't that big."

"Oh. That's all?"

"Yeah. Why? Did Ollie say something?"

I then spoke up. "We've known about him for almost 5 years now. He crashed a party we threw a few years ago, drunk off his ass, but it's clear he forgot what happened that night. He didn't recognize me, or Cindy when we met again."

"Oh. Why would that concern you then, Ollie?" Said Casey.

I thought for a second. "No idea. Just don't understand it. It's like we keep running into him at random moments. It's almost as if they're supposed to be happening." I looked at Cindy.

She rolled her eyes. "Ollie here is convinced that our meetings with Ted are not by chance, but by some kind of higher power."

"What like karma?" Said Casey

"Not really." I replied. "I mean fate. It's like something is trying to get us to meet Ted for some reason. I just don't understand it."

"You think you'll find it out?"

"Maybe. I only just started as a bartender here. I might find out a thing or two about him. In any case, I'll get out of your way now." I walked over to the other side of the bar to continue serving drinks.

A few minutes later, I saw something I thought even the biggest Muggle would say was magical. I looked over at one point to see Cindy making her move on Casey.

"C'mon, Cindy. You can do this." I said, quietly under my breath.

Cindy leaned in and kissed Casey. I couldn't help but give Cindy the thumbs up. Even with her eyes closed, I could tell she knew what I was doing, because she gave me the thumbs up, over Casey's shoulder.

The rest of the night continued on like any old bartender shift. Ted's friend from St. Patrick's day ended up going over and ordering a scotch.

"Don't remember me, huh?" I asked, pouring him a drink; He didn't make a second glance at me after ordering.

"Kid, I don't remember the last girl I slept with. Nothing personal."

"Yeah that's fair. To be honest I didn't recognize you at first because you aren't wearing the most tacky suit on the face of the Earth."

His ears went red. "You take that back. I have never worn a suit like the one you've described."

"Okaaay, man! Just chill out. Here." I handed him his drink.

"Just out of curiosity, have we really met before?"

"Yeah. St. Patrick's Day, 2008. I refused to give you free drinks, and called you Peter Pan."

"Nah. Doesn't ring a bell. All I remember was finding some other way to get free booze after I left. But you do seem a bit familiar. What's your name, kid?"

"Oliver."

"Oliver, huh? You know Oliver? I like you. You fit the role of bartender well."

"Call me Ollie."

He nodded, as he walked back with his drink.

Cindy then stood up with Casey as they began to walk out of the bar.

"Well you ladies have a good night, now. Don't be a stranger!" I said, laughing.

"Does he normally do this?" Asked Casey.

"Not really. That's just him being a smart ass." They headed out the door.

I kept thinking about it. This was yet another encounter with our little friend. Why did this keep happening? I only got this job because I had known Carl from a bartending course I took a few years ago. A little voice then popped into my head.

"C'mon, Ollie. You always believe in fate and it's reasons. What's the reason for this happening? Everything that happens has one."

I tried to answer, but nothing came. It was like looking for the light at the end of a tunnel shrouded in mystery. I couldn't see anything.