Sad but true part 2
(Read part 1 first)
I kissed him.
Daren - are you fucking kidding me right now
Frank - it just felt right I didn't mean to
Daren - you sad lonely fuck
Frank - I just ....
I couldn't speak, I hate it when I cry but I started to right then and there. I tried to hold it in , I even turned around so he couldn't see my face but I know he could still see it happening. I was breaking down. The night started so well but somehow it end here with me and Daren standing on the rooftop of his library with me in tears. But can you blame me , he such a nice guy , and he actually gives two fucks about me.
The night started with Daren picking me up and driving us to the towns country club out in the mountains. He was dressed somewhat nicer than usual with a shirt on that had a suit pretend on it and black geans. I almost felt over dressed in my suit, then again it was a rather old suit I'd only worn out when my grand parents wanted me to go to church.
As we stepped out of the car it was clear we were among much richer and prestigious company.
Frank - I've lived in this town my whole life and I don't think I've ever been here before
Daren - yea it's a bit much but, the people who hang here aren't exactly the usual customers
Daren tossed his car keys to they valet as we walked inside the building. The place had exposed wooden frame work and metallic construction. The floors were this rich mixture of green white and green marble. And there were hardly and walls that weren't glass so that you got a view of the horizon from the top of the mountain no matter where you stood.
From the second we walked in Daren was picking up glasses of wine from the walking servers throwing them back like he was putting out a fire.
Frank - don't you think maybe you should slow down
Daren - your a funny guy Frank, trust me if you your smart you'll start knocking a few of these back yourself
He walked further into the crowd of people following a tray of drinks. I tried to follow but I lost him in the waves of people. I started to notice eye after eye look over at me , I didn't belong. And as I started to retreat into a corner I found myself taking Daren advice picking up a glass of wine.
I sat in the corner for a while sipping from my wine glass every once and a while. Watching those people dancing drinking having a good time , it got to me. Why wasn't that me , why wasn't I having fun , I then looked down at my clothes. So what if I'm not the most best dressed , I'm still here. I started to stand and even took a step forward but my heart pounded and I felt my body become heavy. I sat back down and returned to me drink.
I was there for a long time , I just wanted to go home. I heard the music cut and people started to sit at tables. As the room was seated I could see Daren across the room harassing some guy for more wine. I got up and went to go stop him.
Daren - bring me another drink , do you know who paid for the drinks
Waiter- Mr. Richardson if you would just
Daren - my father, my father paid for those drinks and that tray and the bar you should be walking to in order to bring me back another fucking. ..
I cut in and stopped him before he could continue.
Frank- hey Daren why don't you come have a seat
Daren- what no this guy needs to do what he's being paid for
I got between Daren and the waiter and waved the waiter to walk away as I walked Daren to a table in the back.
Daren - fine fine
We sat down just as the lights in the room began to get dim. Daren's dad walked on stage and the people clapped and applauded him until he was behind the podium center stage. Daren did a fake clap as he mumbled something and looked displeased.
Mr. Richardson had a certain charm about him in the way that he spoke. He seemed like a nice guy but every word that came from his mouth made Daren more and more noticeably sad , angry and all around displeased.
Mr. Richardson - as you all know with the expansion of this great community as of late , I have done my very best to not only insure that the new additions to the town are up to snuff but also that the older parts of town get upgrade
Daren stole a glass out of the hand of a woman siting to his other side and downed the wine.
Mr. Richardson - you know what I'm talking about, I mean the old rec center , the library, Jonny's and all of the out dated ...
Daren got up from his seat abruptly and the room turned to watch him as he went for the front door out
Mr. Richardson- oh I'm sorry everyone you'll have to excuse my son , seems he's had a bit too much of the spirits
I followed Daren outside.
Daren - he knows how much that library means to me , I live there, I read every book that comes in and out , I had a three some on the roof
Frank - you had a three some on the roof
Daren - yea , it was a great night I was with this one girl and this other guy and ... and ...um... that's not the important part , what's important is that I love that place and he's just gonna take it
Frank - he can't just take it from you can he ? You said he gave you the building right
Daren - my dad is still my land lord , and if he wants to he can raise my rent whenever he wants
Daren sank to the floor siting with his back to the wall and I sat beside him.
Daren - I don't know what I'll do if he makes me move out , I'm not an average jo like you Frank , I don't do the 9 to 5 thing , longest job I've ever held was working for my dad about a week before even he had to let me go
Frank - I'm sure everything will be alright
He rested his head on my shoulder and I patted the top of his head.
Daren - I'm gonna be homeless Frank, I'm gonna be a homeless drug dealer
Frank - sounds about right
He laughed a little.
Daren - your a funny guy Frank
When we eventually went back inside Daren's dad was finishing up his speech. He walked off stage and over to greet us as we started to go back to our table.
Mr. Richardson - so good to see you decide to rejoine us son , and who's your friend
Daren - dad Frank , Frank dad
I tried to shake his hand but he looked at my paw before he pulled his son away. They went over to group of people that Daren didn't seem happy to speak with. It wasn't long before Daren walked back.
Daren - we're leaving
Frank - oh , ok , is something wrong
Daren - I think this high altitude is messing with me , how about we go somewhere more chill and down to earth
Frank- yea sounds good
We left the party and went to a bar. We drank and talked and it was fun. I felt like I really had a friend.He told me about the good days when he and his father actually saw eye to eye. They weren't always so isolated from one another but as Daren got older his dad got more caught up with work , and with Daren's mother being nowhere to be found that left him to be alone for a lomg time. I obviously could relate to his period of loneliness. I found myself opening up about how back in high school I didn't have many friends and how in college I was the guy that stayed in his room most of the time. We began sharing so much to one another I couldn't find a line we hadn't crossed as far as secrets and feelings being told .He really felt like a friend and as friend I felt it was up to me to cut Daren off when he got to the point of slurring words and falling out of chairs. We were talking in that bar for so long we didn't notice we were 2 of the only 10 people still there at around three in morning, and five of those people worked there. I drove him back home. We both stumbled and trudged our way from the car into the library. We started to go back to Daren's apartment on the third floor but Daren walked past his room. I asked him where he was going and he expressed how he was dead set on seeing the stars , though he didn't say those words as much as he mumbled them lowly . He got up to the roof and I followed him. He went too close to the edge, he was telling me some joke that he couldn't stop laughing long enough to get out when he almost stepped over the edge. I grabbed his arm and pulled him in close walking us away from the edge. Everything moved so quickly so suddenly I got swept up in the moment and I did it . I kissed him . As I was holding him close he was looking into my eyes and I into his and I couldn't help myself. He broke away from the kiss just as quickly as i started it.
Daren - are you fucking kidding me right now
Frank - i ... im sorry i just ...its just I ... I didn't mean to
Daren - you sad lonely fuck
Frank - I just ....
He started to laugh.I was so confused, it started a chuckle and turned into an obvious laughe with a grin I hadn't seen before.
Frank - wait, are you laughing
He gripped the back of my head gently and it caught me off guard. He pulled me back in and this time he fed me his tongue. He started laughing again in the middle of the kiss getting passionate. He then pulled away again and started walking back down stairs and of course I followed.
Frank - what was that
Daren - that was a "I'm so drunk kissing you doesn't feel like a bad idea right now" moment , but that's about it
Frank - oh
Daren - yea sorry Frank , but your my friend and your a lonely guy , tonight was better than I thought it be and a big part of that might be because of you but I want us to be friends , at least long enough for me to decide if I want to give you a shot at more
Frank- but why
Daren - so that you'll know if you really want me or just don't wanna be alone
Frank- can't I be both, aren't they the same
Daren - they're not the same things Frank , they're not the same things