Chapter 3: Chapter 3
The bar's familiar scent of stale beer and old cigarette smoke filled my nostrils as I slipped onto the worn-out barstool and rested my elbows on the counter. I couldn't believe I was back in this dive again, but tonight, I needed a reprieve from the world. I'd spent the entire day drilling myself for the calculus exam tomorrow and my brain was threatening to leak out from my ear. I wanted to drown my thoughts in cheap booze, even if it led to an upset stomach the next day.
And I'll be honest, the company of the inebriated regulars wasn't the most desirable, but sometimes, the human connection, no matter how shallow or fleeting, was better than no company at all.
As I ordered my drink, my gaze shifted around the darkened room, settling on the hefty figure of a large black man in a corner booth. I recognized him immediately from the gym I started attending a few weeks back. I'd been hesitant to check it out, thinking it wasn't my scene.
But, desperate for a change in my monotonous routine, I decided to give it a shot. And to my surprise, I found myself enjoying the sights of all the perfectly sculpted bodies in motion. And there, among them, stood the black man, his muscles rippling under the gym's fluorescent lights, his skin glistening with sweat. I felt an unfamiliar sensation stirring inside me as I watched him lift the weights, each motion a masterpiece, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
I'd never been attracted to black men before, and this realization both startled and excited me. It was as if I'd stumbled upon a hidden desire, long suppressed.
While I was lost in these thoughts, the bartender had served me my drink, and I took a long pull, feeling the alcohol burn its way down my throat and into my chest. I glanced over towards the black man again, and our eyes met. I felt a shiver of attraction run down my spine, and I looked away, embarrassed.
Was he even aware of my existence, the awkward, introverted white boy who stared at him? I couldn't imagine that he was.
But then, to my astonishment, he rose from his seat and headed towards me. I tensed up, unable to believe my luck. Was he really coming over to me?
He stopped a few feet away and flashed me a wide grin, revealing a pair of dimples that made my heart skip a beat. "Hey, aren't you the new guy from the gym? The one that can't stop staring at me?" he said, jokingly.
I blushed uncontrollably, unable to utter a single word in response. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, my pulse racing as I tried to gather my composure.
"Uh, yeah, that's me," I finally said, stammering over my words. "I-I'm Charlie, by the way."
He extended his hand towards me, and I shook it, trying to ignore the spark that seemed to course through my body at his touch. "Nice to meet you, Charlie. I'm Miles," he said, smiling again.