Weightless ~

I asked Rodrigo if there was a dresscode for tonight and he just laughed. He said I can wear whatever I want, as long as it's decent. So i picked a checkered black and white shirt, fully buttoned it up, I rolled up the sleeves and jumped into my black skinnies and red vans sneaks. Red white and black, my favorite colors of all time. Rodrigo told me to meet him in front of my building in a few minutes. I was already ready. He picked me up and we walked downtown. My dad really aced the location of the apartament, I could always just walk and everything was close.

When we got there I saw someone standing next to Mr. Barakat. He was my age I think, at least he looked like that. He had skunk-colored hair and was dressed very similar to me when I was in the office, his shirt was plain white and the sleeves were rolled down, his jeans were darker blue and he was wearing black allstars. He looked cool. »Hello Mr. Barakat!« I greeted him, Rodrigo just shook his hand and also said hello to that guy next to Mr.Barakat. He seemed to know him. »Alex, meet my son Jack.« Said Mr. Barakat. I immediately reached my hand out to him. »Hi Jack, very nice to meet you.«

He reached his hand for mine and shook it. I felt a little weird. My face got really hot. »Nice to meet you too Alex.« I pulled my hand back and fixed my hair. Then I started checking my phone, which I always do when I'm nervous. Rodrigo put his hand over my shoulders. »Come on boys, let's have a drink, shall we. And no business talk, hehe.« He was awesome, with a smashing sense of humour and I enjoyed working with him because he was a good mentor. So we sat at the table and talked. They were of course firstly talking business, secondly, me and Jack, we were kinda bored. I found out that Jack is a year younger than me and that he's studying English and History. He also gives guitar lessons and went to the music academy where he learnt it all in the first place. Very intriguing. Maybe we could play together sometime. »Hey dad, we're gonna go to the bar and have a snakebite, are you guys gonna be okay here?« Said Jack. »Sure, go ahead boys, have a great time, we don't want to bore you, just stay close and don't get drunk.« Said Mr. Barakat and smiled. Rodrigo winked to me, like Jack was a girl and I was buying her a drink, lol. »See you later Rodrigo, Mr Barakat.« I said and we went to the bar.
»So Alex, what kind of music do you like?« He asked. »Well, I love Blink 182, they're my favorite band. I like rock music best, I also play.« He grinned. »You play? Acoustic or bass?« He seemed really surprised. »Acoustic for now, I mostly sing.« »Wow, you sing… are you good?« I really didn't like rating myself, because if you say you're good, people think you're vain, but if you say you're bad, they think you lack selfesteem or sth. »I'm decent I think…« He took his cell out and handed it to me. »Gimme your number. We can play sometime and you can sing for me. If it's okay with you of course…« I was flattered. »Sure, that'd be cool.« »There are these two friends of mine, Rian and Zack… we kinda play together, but we need someone who can sing. If you wanna try and play with us sometime, that would be awesome.« I think I never wore a bigger smile in my life. »Jack, I'd love to! Back in NY I could never find someone to play and sing with, so yeah, fuck yeah.«

He smiled and I could see it was sincere. »Cool, we have this place where we hang out and do out thing, it's my dad's old warehouse, we kinda made it ours.« He, also like Vic, had this spark in his eyes when he talked about music, he was passionate. Which reminded me of Vic. I forgot to text him back. Shit. »I'll be right back, gotta take a leak.« I said and went to the bathroom. I checked my phone. He wrote that he misses me and if I'm gonna come over after work.
I replied: Hey! I'm sorry I forgot to text you back, I had some extra paperwork to take care of. I'm actually having a drink with my boss and our client so I'll be late. We can get together tomorrow after work, is that okay? He didn't reply at all. When I checked the time it was only 9:30, which was strange. Vic usually watched some tv after rehersing with the guys if he didn't sleepover at my place. Nothing.

I continued my conversation with Jack. I liked him, he was so simple like his father. He was also very open minded and chill, which are the qualities I prefered the most in a person. We mostly talked about music and stuff like that. But I was never bored, we both kept blabbering and when I checked my phone it was already 11pm. Shit. But still no reply from Vic. I was getting worried. It was time to go anyway. »Call me and we'll get together. It was really nice meeting you babe.« Fuck! I always do this, used to. »Sorry, kinda stuck with me.« I apologized when he looked at me a little surprised with a grin. »No problem, your girlfriend is a lucky girl, I'm sure.« He said and shook my hand. »I don't have one.« I said. »Oh, my apologies then. I'll call you for sure. Nice meeting you.« »See ya!«
I said goodbye to Rodrigo and Mr. Barakat and went home.
Before that, I decided to drop by at Vic's place. I called him but he didn't answer. So i rang the bell. About a minute later he came to the door. »Hey!« I said and leaned towards him to give him a kiss. He went back to the living room and left the door open. I followed him and closed it behind me. »What's wrong Vic?« He wasn't even sleepy and yet he didn't answer his phone. He took a seat on the sofa. »Why didn't you answer my text or call?« I was curious. »I wasn't really in the mood. Something happened this evening when me and the guys were rehersing.« I wondered what it could be. Did he cheat on me or sth.? »Tell me, please.« »You know when I told you about that certain someone that broke my heart a few years ago?« I smelled something bad. »Well that's about everything you told me. But yes, I remember.« He started crying.

I was hurt. I swear, the hardest thing to do it watch someone cry and don't know what to do.
»Vic, do you wanna tell me what happened?« I took a seat next to him and took him into my arms. He sobbed into my chest. I've never seen him like that. He nodded. He handed me an envelope from the table. It said You re cordially invited to celebrate the the wedding of Celine Madison Clark and Matthew Avery Mullins … I put the envelope on the sofa behind me. »I'm so sorry Vic. Do you wanna talk about it?« He again, nodded and told me all about it. He told me he met Celine when they were both 16 and they were together for 5 years. They were to get married but she dumped him and moved to Chicago. Since Vic is only a year older than me, it's only been 3 years since the incident. And I understand him. And that's why I gave him time. »Do you want to go to the wedding?« I asked. »Dying to see her, but I can't stand him anymore. He used to be my best friend…« Oh, now that's where stuff got complicated. »I'm so sorry to hear about that Vic. But hey, if you wanna go, I'd love to accompany you if you'd like.« He looked at me and gave me a big hug, squeezing me tight.
»Thanks Alex, you're great. I'll let you know what I decide.« I stroked his hair and held him. »Do you want me to stay over?« I asked. »No, it's okay, I'll be fine… besides, you're working tomorrow, so go home. I'll call you, okay?« I understood where he was coming from. I was also dumped for someone who I used to call my best friend. Stupid, but I got over it. »Okay, good night and if you need anything, don't hesitate to call. See you tomorrow.« He nodded.

I kissed him and let myself out. I badly needed a shower. Somehow I caught myself thinking about Jack when I was walking home. What an extraordinary guy. I've never met anyone like him. He left a huge impression on me. I don't know what that means. I just felt sorry for Vic, because he's a great guy and didn't deserve all that.

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