Making Friends

Given the many burnt bridges left like char in my dust, my parents decided to move us to a small beach-front town in Texas. They figured, the less the city had to offer me, the less trouble I could get into. Let me ask, have you ever lived in a small town? Sometimes, Momma ain't always right.

Even though my family had been “relocated” for several months, I had not quite gotten used to wakin' up to the sound of the waves, rather than the ruckus of sirens and traffic and the noisy neighbors of a bustlin' city. But when I woke up this mornin' it was not just the waves that startled me.

I had no idea where I was.

I was in a bed that could only be meant for a child, and yet my clothes were thrown about the floor with a mess of sweats and t-shirts that thank-God only a grown man could wear.

I heard the shower runnin' in the attached bathroom and tried to take a quick second to gather my thoughts. What in the hell happened last night?

Okay – I had been havin' dinner with my parents.

After embarrassin' 'em thoroughly by lickin' my plate clean of all traces of the Etoufee sauce (that, come on, was the best I'd tasted since back home), I had removed myself from the contemptuous stares and followed my impulses to the beach.

I could remember the clashin' of the waves around my calves as I dug my toes into the sand, lettin' the tide bury my feet up to my ankles.

As bad timin' would have it, I had noticed a very attractive Bohemian-type guy headin' my way, just as I also spied a jelly-fish bouncin' along much too near my sunken feet.

Hearin' me yelp as I tried to pull myself backwards (nearly falling), he came joggin' over and pulled me free from the sand just as the next wave came crashin' in; bringin' the jelly-fish ashore.

At that point, I was only eternally grateful of his rescue. But then, I turned to thank him. Greeted by perpetually green eyes, shaded by a thick veil of lashes and a mess of curly ash-blonde hair, I was only too glad to have a handy medical condition excusin' me from the kiss I planted firmly on his lips.

I could feel his body tense against mine – probably in surprise as was most people's response.

But then, his lips parted, and – ohhh – they were soft.

“Thank you,” I whispered, tryin' not to sound too much like a bull-frog as I searched for my voice.

Chucklin', he replied, “No – thank you.”

A sly smile only enhanced his face as he added, “I'm Kevin.”

“Jeaux,” I answered, still swoonin' a little.

“I think we live on the same street. My parents joined your's back at the restaurant,” he explained, motionin' behind him. “Your parents were right.” He smiled again – the very smile I would grow to love.

“Right about what?” I asked, immediately concerned. Sometimes they made me out to sound like some schizophrenic lunatic, I swear.

“To expect the unexpected.” His perfect green eyes felt like they were boring holes right into my spine. Still, he smiled. He was amused. That, I could work with.

From there, he took me to a little locals' bar. We walked along the moonlit beach enjoying very mild small-talk.

Already aware of my little impulse problem – it seemed – he didn't say not one discouragin' word when I got the urge to run. Fast. I wanted to feel the oxygen pumpin' in my lungs, and the heat of exertion coursin' through my veins. I wanted to feel my hair flyin' behind me and taste the tinge of salt from the ocean breeze. I wanted to feel the sand in my toes; the fling of water at my back.

And I was runnin'! Forrest Gump ain't got nothin' on me.

At first, my smile was so wide I did in fact taste the salt in the air. I could hear my gleeful laughter dance behind me in the wind. I was alive!

After a righteous stitch formed in my side, however, I was forced to an abrupt stop, bendin' over and wheezin'. So sue me – it's been awhile.

I was still tryin' to catch my breath, leanin' against my knees, when Kevin jogged by, stoppin' to a walk as he sauntered past me. “You gotta stand up if you're ever gonna catch your breath.”

I stood up, feelin' slightly embarrassed, and raised my arms up over my head. “Sorry,” I panted.

“Feel better?”

I couldn't stop my shy grin. “A little, yes. More so...once this stitch gets outta my side," I said wincing through my perma-grin.

The bar, Elmos, brought with it the fond memories of home. It looked just like Shenanigans, right down to the weathered wood-slat walls. “People are going to think I brought you in here already three sheets to the wind,” he teased, openin' the door for me.

“Probably why I like bars so much...Nobody thinks I'm weird, just drunk,” I smiled.

I remembered makin' our way to a table and orderin' drinks. And though it wasn't a karaoke night, it didn't make any difference to me when my new favorite song, “Rollin' In the Deep,” hit the jukebox.

I felt that beat. Then that urge. As unconsciously as an average person's foot begins to tap to the rhythm, I'll just start to sing.

I'll just say it too. I can sing. My daddy comes from a long line of musicians, so I think I was born with an ear for it. And singin' the gospel at churches back home with my momma sure didn't hurt.

Kevin's look of approval only made me want to find a microphone...or a stage even. You see this is the part about my condition I like. I was so terrified with stage fright that I couldn't even join the actual choir in our church before. Now...all I wanted to do was feel the lights of the stage.

I'd finished the song with a raucous round of applause and returned to find Kevin. I was feeling quite pleased with my performance, confident, and I had a nice warm buzz to top it all off.

Back at our table, I found Kevin talkin' to a girl – Rachel, I thought, whom I had seen around town a time or two. I could see her flirtatious smile and inconspicuous attempts to brush his arm or chest with her hand.

I had no claims on Kevin – hell, I didn't even know him – but when I approached the table, she'd looked at me like I was a total freak. Jealous! I thought. Doesn't know how to have fun! I thought. And then, came that competitive urge a handsome man is apt to bring out in a woman.

“Ya know, it's not karaoke night,” she said scornfully, as though she'd just been forced to sit through a God-awful performance.

“And you know,” I retorted, “This...” I said gesturin' between her, Kevin, and myself, “is no contest.”

With that, I leaned in and planted another long kiss on Kevin's lips. He was the first to pull away, lookin' sheepishly past me to the bruised Rachel.

“Ready to go?” I purred against his cheek. “Your place.”

I must have been pretty drunk by then in all actuality, because I hardly remember the cab-ride home. Mostly a lot of carnal PG-13 pawin' behind the cabbie's glass.

Shaking the reverie, and looking from the bathroom door to the walls and décor, I suddenly had one of those oh shit! moments. This was so not an apartment! We must be in his parents' house! Oh my God, did they hear us? Did they know I was here? Please God, just let him have rich roommates, I thought, as the night's romp came floodin' in on me.

I saw the lamp on the floor, where the table beneath it had been knocked down in our haste to find the bed – which, I noticed, we'd made a complete disaster of. Even the bottom sheet was pulled free from the corners.

I could remember his hands - so soft...and knowledgeable. I may as well have had a bulls-eye on every single one of my erogenous zones.

Sex, I had found, had become much more lively with the demise of my inhibitions.

Oh God! My thoughts yelled again. They had to have heard my screams!

I didn't know if I was horny or humiliated.

I heard the shower shut-off and watched the door. The steam escaped the small room in a cloud around his still glistenin' figure as he walked through the doorway. A large smile enhanced his already beautiful face. “Good morning,” he beamed. “Sleep well?” he asked, coming to stand by the bed.

I didn't know it at the time, but humiliation would never be an issue with Kevin. And at that moment, it damn sure wasn't.

Without a word, I slipped my hand underneath his towel and pulled him back onto the bed.

“Oh!” I remembered with a pause, “Are your parents here?”

“Nope,” he grinned, “Just you and me. Let the games begin.”