I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t say it right now, I knew this moment would be a defining moment in my life. If only I could block out who I truly am for what is expected of me. I swivelled the barstool, stopping only when I saw her. She walked the lengths of the bar, to the table and chair at the end of the restaurant,in front of a big glass window. The rain is pouring, and I can hear the crackle of thunder every now and then. The restaurant is slightly packed for the evening — with mostly people waiting for the rain to subside. She pulls out her laptop from her book bag and then brings her hand up to brush her hair behind her ear. She has dark brown hair that dropped down her slender shoulder, her face is oval shaped and her red lips are plum and unescapable. I lick my lips unassumingly wondering how those lips taste. I look up at her and our eyes meet. Her sultry blue eyes look down, embarrassment warming her cheeks. And I smile behind hooded eyes. I swivel back around on the bar stool and ask the bartender to give me another drink. He waddled across to the spritzers in his uncomfortably tight shirt. His hair is strewn with blonde colours over his black hair and the way he talks is just not right. He passes me the drink “ is that all hun” he says And every part of me wanted to strangle him. Dad always raised me to be a man. “Don’t call me that Fag” I respond I see shock sweep across his dark eyes as his once jovial expression becomes deadpanned. “Sorry Adam— I just thought since we....” he responds And before he can finish I cut him off “Well you thought wrong” I grab my drink and walk over to the girl in front of the window. I grab the chair opposite.” Can I sit here?” I ask “Sure” her lips curl into a small smile and I guess she looked cute. Like a woman her age would normally look. A bit pale though for LA weather. Dad would approve . “So what are you doing in this part of town” I pause “ I’ve never seen you before”. “ Yeah I’m not from here” she pulls out her land-yard around her neck showing me who she is “ just here to get permits for a construction” she says **** She laughs and snorts and it is cute. Her legs have found their way across the bottom of the table and is now touching mine every now and then. “So you coming?” she asks me “ ohh feisty I like it” I say She grabs her stuff and heads for the unisex toilet. And like we planned I count 10 then follow Brain eyes meet mine from behind the bar, hurt in his eyes...