201 ΡδρζαΓ

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

【ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ,
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sᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ.】

The night Micha left him felt akin to a loved ones passing. All night he wept, unmoving from his spot on the floor. When morning came, his head was pounding relentlessly. As much as he wanted to stay in, there was work to do. For the rest of his trip he threw himself into his work. He meant with his partner, the sponsors, and so many others. For the next four weeks events were planned and crowds were drawn. They were the hottest club in all of Paris. The calls came in, the reviews were raving, and they had gigs booked up to the next six months. To say it was incredible, was an understatement. Samuel smiled for the presses and did what he could to help. Before he knew it the entire month had passed. He'd thought of staying but what was the point? He was no longer needed. At least for now. Nickolas could handle things on his own. He was quite capable. And thus, he went to the airport and came home. The penthouse was more lonely than usual. He walked through the penthouse. Everything was just as he left it and yet it felt different. He blamed his memories.

The first two months since his return Samuel was determined to find Micha. He had looked everywhere. His studio had long been abandoned, he hadn't been seen at their usual haunts, and he never came to the club. On the day he went by his house he really felt abandoned. There in the yard was a for sale with flyers describing the house. He kicked the sign out of anger. Where was he? He always knew that Micha said he could leave him without a trace. But he didn't want to believe it......yet here it was. The reality. In the three months since Micha had left, he did not answer his calls, reply to his e-mails, or even send a text to let him know he was alive. He was just......gone.

By the fourth month, he could no longer avoid his family. They had all noticed his odd behavior and tried to get an answer out of him. At first it was easy to deflect their invasions of his privacy. But as the topics turned to marriage and "how beautiful" his fiance was looking these days, he burst. In a fit of anger, he just blurted out how he refused to marry her because he was gay. The family had stared at him in shock and his mother even fainted. When his father asked him if he wanted to repeat himself, he said it again. "I can not.....I WILL NOT marry her. Nothing will come of it! I.Am.Gay. GAY! Not straight. This isn't a phase. I am one hundred percent I-love-c**k gay!" He immediately excused himself from his fathers' estate. The days that followed were rough. His mother was in complete and utter denial, continuing to ask him about how he felt about this and that for his wedding. His father wasn't speaking to him at all. And as for his brothers.....they were on the fence. Because for so many years Fox News told them that the gays were evil and after everything they held near and dear. And here stood baby brother the complete opposite of what they'd been told for all these years. On the bright side, he wasn't evicted from the mansion and his brothers hadn't tried to take away the club. Still.....he had his bad days.

Nine months passed and Samuel was passed the idea of Micha ever coming back. His club was more popular than ever. His mother was starting to see the light after he personally told his fiance that the wedding wasn't going to happen. And the rest of the family tiptoed around him like he was a mental patient. A gay family member. Why it was almost unthinkable. Yet here he lived and breathed. Samuel went about his life pretty much as he did before he met Micha, minus the casual sex. His love life was as dead as his soul. He didn't need love. He was fine.

The anniversary to his break-up was coming fast. One whole year. No letters, no calls, no texts, nothing. Micha had literally and utterly fallen off the face of the earth. In the last month leading up to the date, Samuel had thrown himself once again into his work. Eat, sleep, work, repeat. That was how he spent his days. On the week of the anniversary, Samuel schedule event after event. Every night the club was packed. His claim for the events was an end of summer blow out. But the reality was he was avoiding the date. He didn't want to think about him, see him, nothing. In the last eleven months he'd been trying his damnedest to rid himself of Micha. He tossed out photos, gifts, anything that reminded him of the man. He even went so far as to getting new electronics so as not to accidentally stumble upon any photos or videos he may have forgotten to delete. The old devices were wiped clean and quickly sold off. All he had been left with were his memories.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

Arriving at the club, he took note that nothing had changed. Micha wasn’t surprised, after all what could change on a club that made profit. He paid the taxi driver before getting out. Micha thanked him as he went to the entrance. He made his way inside but didn’t go to the bar. Micha found a table in the corner where it was a little dark. He wanted to observe his surroundings. After all he didn’t know if Samuel would be here or not.

While he sat there, he ordered himself a drink. Nothing that consisted of alcohol. Micha ordered a soda, as he was not looking to get himself drunk right now. He needed a clear head, or at least clear enough. Micha sipped his drink as he looked around. He didn’t expect Samuel to be tending the bar like he normally would. After all he was most likely hiding away in his office trying to make heads or tails of his paperwork.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

【ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ,
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sᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ.】

That night the club was in full swing. A line wrapped around the building as people waited to get inside. The DJ tonight was incredible and the crowd was loving it. Tonight Samuel had ditched his suit and was manning the bar with three others. Even with the four of them working together they could barely keep up with the demand. He was going to need to make a rush order on alcohol if he was to keep with the demand. But he would put that in later tonight. For now, he focused on making three apple-tini's and a long island ice tea. He put the drinks on a tray and ordered the nearest waiter to take them over to table three. Sighing, he glanced around the club. It was an amazing night. Everything was going so smoothly. Absolutely nothing could ruin his mood. He hadn't felt this alive in months.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

As he sat there he took note of the bar. From where he was sitting he could see him. Micha heard the sound of the music and watched as people danced. It was busier tonight that it had been the many times he had come after getting out of work. He didn’t find it surprising, after all give him anything and Samuel could turn it into something. Micha watched a little bit before standing up. He waded through the crowds toward the bar. MIcha took a seat at the end out of the way. He did not want Samuel being distracted, but he couldn’t help but watch. It was something he enjoyed doing, watching Samuel at work. Micha found it wasn’t often that he did, but it was better than watching the dancers who would do nothing for him.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

【ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ,
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sᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ.】

One right after another the drink orders kept coming. It was hard to hear, so he was constantly yelling over the music. Samuel and his bar mates were quick to keep with the orders. The faces blurred so he never really saw who was ordering what. He didn't think twice that Micha might be showing up in his club, tonight of all nights after all this time. Someone ordered two sex on the beach. Samuel turned to the bar, collecting the ingredients and went about fixing the cocktail. To keep the customers happy, they occasionally did a few party tricks. It wasn't anything over the top, but the customers enjoyed it. In a matter of minutes, Samuel served up the drinks and received a a sizable tip for his efforts. He gave the woman a charming smile and watched a bit as she walked away. Every now and again, a customer would flirt with him. It was bound to happen, especially since somehow word had gotten around that he was single. But he never went through with any of them. He didn't want to get involved. Walking over to the cash register, Samuel deposited the money he'd been collecting from the last five customers. At this rate he was going to need to put some of it in the safe in back. But it could wait. He was having fun. He wanted to stay out front, be busy......stay distracted.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

The longer he sat there the more he could see something had changed. He saw the smiles Samuel was giving customers, he knew it was normal. Micha however couldn’t stand it, was it out of jealousy perhaps. He stood as he left the bar. Micha waded once again through the crowd toward an opening on the opposite end of the bar. He wasn’t into the crowded scene of people. After all when did he ever mingle with others. Micha went in the hallway that lead toward the employee area as well as the office. He hoped it wouldn’t be lock or at least for his sake. Micha went toward Samuel’s office as he tried the door, luckily enough to find it open. He slipped inside and closed the door behind him. Micha looked around the office, it was a mess as usual but no surprise. He went toward the couch, taking a seat on it. Micha knew Samuel would slip through eventually, at least he could wait without listening to all that noise.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

【ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ,
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sᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ.】

An hour had passed and he was still at it. Samuel was so busy that he did not notice he had been watched by anyone then the person who gave their next order. He continued dishing them out just as they were ordered. They were doing amazing business and the night was just beginning. Checking the register again, it was getting too full for his taste. He pulled out the drawer along with one of the leather pouches in it. He placed it on the counter and counted out the bills, leaving just enough to continue with no problems. The rest was stuffed into the pouch. Zipping it up, Samuel replaced the drawer and closed the register. He tapped one of the other bartenders, informing him that he would be back in a couple of minutes and was leaving him in charge. The man nodded and went back to making a dry martini. Samuel held tight to the pouch and moved through the crowd. It was nearly impossible to move through. He couldn't believe how well business was going.

After struggling through the crowds for a good ten minutes, Samuel was able to reach the door labeled "Employees Only". The hall was far quieter and emptier. A few dancers and waiters lingered while on break, chatting among themselves. Samuel nodded as he passed and made a beeline for his office. He'd been coming and going all day that he hadn't bothered locking the door. Many personal items and club related items had been stored in there so it was quite messy. But he hadn't been concerned about anyone coming in. At least he'd never had to worry about it before. Opening the door he walked into the office, right past Micha and straight for the safe. With his back turned to the male, he twisted the three digit combination in and pulled open the door. He set the leather pouch right on the top shelf next to his stash of cigarettes. Out of everything that had happened this year, that was one habit he had not been able to break. Samuel closed the door and locked his safe. He didn't bother with getting a pack as he already had an open pack on top of the safe.

He picked it up and slipped one between his lips. Samuel patted himself down, not finding his lighter. Turning towards his desk it was then that he realized he was not alone. He froze. There he was, the man he'd been trying so desperately to forget. He took in his appearance, noting the length of his hair and added scruff. It pained him to think how sexy he looked. His cigarette hung from his lip forgotten as he stared. It took him far longer than it should have to get himself together. "What are you doing here?" he asked. Turning away, he snatched up his lighter and inhaled. Samuel sat at the chair behind his desk. He didn't trust himself to be any closer to him. He had long given up on the idea of him ever returning. So why was he here now?

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

After picking out the flour, Alaine looked towards Liam, wondering if there was anything else that he needed. Alaine had never actually made waffles from scratch. Then again, he hadn't made anything from scratch. Unless grounding his coffee and making a bowl of cereal in the morning counted. He simply didn't have time to cook and didn't wish to learn. If he could live off the meals of others without gaining too much weight then he could live with that. When Liam asked him if there was anything else, he shrugged. "I can't think of anything. Unless you want something other than water, milk or coffee to drink." he replied. For him, coffee would go just fine with breakfast. But he wasn't sure if Liam would want anymore. He didn't mind picking something up for him. After all he was a guest in his home. It was only the polite thing to do.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

As the hour passed, he was growing bored. He had already smoked about half a pack of cigarettes while he waited. Micha heard noise as he was soon greeted with the door opening. He didn’t move nor make a sound as Samuel went to put money in the safe. Micha pulled the cigarette from his lips, exhaling letting the smoke billow out. He watched Samuel was he seemed oblivious to him. Micha wasn’t surprised as he waited, after all he could wait all night. It wasn’t long before Samuel finally turned around to see him. He saw the surprise on his face as he took in the sight of him. Micha took amusement out of that but merely moved to stub out his cigarette in the astray next to him. He took in Samuel’s words, though they didn’t seem happy, but then again why would they be. Micha shifted as he stood crossing the room toward Samuel’s desk. He moved to slip behind it as he stood beside Samuel as he leaned on his desk with a hip. ”I was just passing through, and thought I would come in to say Hi. Micha spoke speaking half truths and lies. He had only just arrived, and he was passing through, but there was more he wanted to say then just hi.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

After gathering all the items, they had everything they needed. Liam was ready to go, after all he knew it would take some time to get through line, get back home and make breakfast. He wasn’t in a hurry however. Liam wanted to spend as much time as he could with Alaine before having to get back to work. He shook his head slightly as Alaine spoke. ”Coffee will do just fine.” Liam spoke smiling at Alaine. He took his hand once again, leading him back toward check out. Liam opted for the self-checkout as he found it was easier. He set his basket down, as he released Alaine’s hand. Liam worked on scanning everything and putting them into bags. Once everything was scanned, he pulled out his wallet and paid the machine. Everything came out to a little over twenty dollars. Liam found nothing was cheap, but he didn’t mind. He wanted to make breakfast for Alaine, after all he knew if he left him to his own devices it would consist of coffee and cereal, which he found unappealing. Liam put his wallet back into his pocket along with the receipt and grabbed a few of the bags.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

【ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ,
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sᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ.】

Watching his former lover carefully, he wanted to know to what he wanted. All this time......never did he return any of his calls or messages. He had resided himself into thinking that he wanted nothing more to do with him. He had thought their relationship to be dead, buried, and never to be spoken of again. Sitting behind his desk, he watched him intently. What exactly was he planning? No sane person dumped their significant other and disappeared for an entire year just to show up out of thin air. He eyed the male suspiciously as he approached. He was too close. Why was he so close? As much as he wanted to, he didn't allow himself to move away. He didn't want to let on how bother he really was by his presence. Samuel exhaled, the smoke billowing around him. He listened to him speak and found the words to be downright laughable. "Well you've said it. So leave. If you haven't noticed, it's a bit of a madhouse tonight and I'd to finish this cigarette before heading back out there." he replied. And that was no lie. Whatever Micha had to say, he could have said months ago. He'd had an entire year, so why now.

 

[xDarkWinterx]

Was he sane, did it really matter? He was here now wasn’t he. After a year of being gone, he knew showing up out of the blue wasn’t a good idea. Micha watched Samuel carefully as he seemed bothered by his closeness. He didn’t care, after all it only brought him some comfort. Micha smiled a little as Samuel spoke. ”Madhouse yes, I see you’ve done well for yourself in the last year..” He spoke glancing around a little before returning his eyes back toward Samuel as he pulled away from the desk. ”I missed you Samuel...though I’m sure it’s nothing to you.” Micha spoke withdrawing from his desk as he moved to sit down back at his couch. To say he hated Samuel would be a lie. He didn’t hate him, at least not anymore. Micha had learned to forgive him, even if only a little.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

【ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ,
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sᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ.】

Yes he was here now. But for what? He'd already left him. Sure it was Samuel's fault to begin with, but he had apologized. He wanted to try to make amends. Micha was the one who chose to end it. In the last year Samuel had put all of his energy in growing his business and removing his memories of Micha. But having him here right next to him all those memories came rushing back. Samuel looked away as the male smiled. It only made him more uncomfortable. He listened to the male compliment his hard work, mumbling a thank you in response. Lifting the cigarette to his lips, he took another long pull. He watched Micha move away from his desk and go back to the couch. What came out of his mouth next was something he was not expecting at all. Samuel felt a bit conflicted. On the one hand he was glad he had missed him. But on the other, try as he might he had one time or another, missed him too. Samuel sighed and looked away from the male. "That's not true." he said softly. "If you'd checks your messages or answered your cellphone you might have known that." Getting up from the desk, Samuel walked around it and over to the coffee table in front of the couch. Bending down, he stubbed out his cigarette. "Well I gotta get back out there."

 

[xDarkWinterx]

Micha knew that Samuel was mad, it was plain and clear. He didn’t know how to fix it. The only thing he could do was make up for it. Not now however but perhaps over time. Micha had screwed up, but so had Samuel. He wouldn’t have left if Samuel had stopped him. Micha watched as Samuel seemed put off by his words. It was no surprise to him, nor was he offended. Micha nodded simply as Samuel spoke. True he could have checked his phone if he still had it. Out of spite and because he did not want to be found, he had thrown it away. ”Perhaps I would have.” He spoke watching as Samuel stood to stub out his cigarette. Micha knew Samuel had to get back out there, the show couldn’t go on without him. ”That’s fine, but I’ll be here waiting.” He spoke making no attempt to move or get up. Micha could wait all night if he had to, especially if he wanted to have a decent conversation with Samuel.

 

[Pure Acid Dreamer]

【ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ,
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sᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ.】

That night could have gone better for the both of them. But they couldn't go back. To his knowledge, time travel was not yet a thing. Thus they simply had to live with it. If he seemed a bit angry, he thought he was within his right to be. After all it wasn't he dumpee and not the one who did the dumping. He nodded quietly when the male spoke. Honestly though, he didn't believe him. Micha knew his work number, his cellphone, his email, hell even his damn address. The man could have gotten in touch with him. He just didn't try. After stubbing out his cigarette, Samuel was ready to get back on the floor. Be busy, distracted, away from Micha. He said nothing when he spoke again and left, closing the door behind him.

Out in the hall, Samuel walked a little ways down the hall before stopping. He close his eyes and pushed his hair back with both hands. What the hell. Just as he was really starting to move on. Opening his eyes again he marched towards the doors and into the noisy club. The crowd was just as energetic and chaotic as it had been when he left. Samuel slipped through the hoarders of people and took his place behind the bar with the others.

For the next three hours, taking hours was all he could think about. He put all his energy into taking orders and filling them out. By the time last call came, they were just about out of alcohol and running low on ingredients. He was going to need to restock but he could worry about that later. Slowly but surely the crowded trickled out until they were completely empty. The DJ had stopped playing and the silence was deafening. Grabbing another pouch, Samuel emptied out the two registers. He left the others to clean up their stations. He didn't want to go back to his office, but he had no choice in the matter. Once again he passed through the back doors and walked down the now noisy hallway. He passed several employees and slipped into his office, shutting the door behind him. Just like the first time he came in, he went to put the money in the safe. When he finished he turned his attention to the one on his couch.