A bottle of beer hits a small, wooden table and a woman aggressively rises, pointing down at her tab. Many heads turn to stare at the middle-aged woman in the restaurant as she begins to slur her words and struggles to stay standing. She balances herself with her hands on the table and lifts her head as searches for a waiter or waitress.
"Bullshit," the woman growls. "I did not drink three bottles of beer and yet, you've placed it on my tab."
A younger woman in her twenties timidly walks over and attempts to explain that the woman had indeed ordered three bottles of liquor.
The older woman raises a hand off of the table and her arm is suddenly grabbed by a young boy who's barely twenty-years-old.
A second boy interjects and places himself between the two women, making sure neither one gets hurt.
"Calm down," Trip says to the drunken woman as he slowly brings her hand down.
"Who the fuck are you?" the woman asks and rips her arm away.
The other boy quietly talks to the waitress and hands her a hand full of cash. He tells her he's taking care of the woman's tab.
"Thank you," the waitress says as her face flushes at the handsome boy. He smiles back at her and turns to assist Trip.
"There's a cab waiting outside," Trip tells the woman. "And your bill is taken care of. It's about time you leave."
The woman huffs and turns away without a word of gratitude to the two young boys. She leaves the restaurant, glad she doesn't have to pay a penny out of her pocket for any of the services she's been given tonight and hitches a ride home in the cab Trip ordered for her.
Trip sighs and runs a hand through his dark hair as he exits the restaurant followed by his partner.
"That was something," the boy says to Trip and Trip nods his head.
Shoving his hands into the pockets of his shorts, Trip looks up at the taller boy. "I forgot your name."
The boy looks at Trip with such a warm smile that almost makes him jump. His hair is dyed a dark shade of blue that almost appears black and one of his eyebrows is shaved toward the end.
Like Trip's.
Trip stares at the boy's lip ring as he talks and the boy swipes his tongue across his lips.
"Nakota," he tells Trip, his voice surprisingly deep.
"What about your nickname?" Trip asks. "The one Boss gave you."
Nakota just shrugs. "I guess I don't have one."
"Weird," Trip replies as he unlocks his bike from the rack.
"Mhm," Nakota says as he nears Trip. "Are all missions random like this one?"
"Yeah," Trip says. "Though, we weren't criminals this time."
"What do you mean?" Nakota asks as Trip backs his bike up as he straddles it.
"Normally we become thieves or break into places," Trip says.
"I see," Nakota says. "Exciting."
Trip doesn't know about that. He begins to pedal away without another word to his new partner until he's halted.
"Wait up," Nakota says as he jogs over. Trip brakes and waits for Nakota to arrive beside him.
"You're nineteen too, right?" Nakota asks.
"Twenty," Trip says. "Today is my birthday."
"No shit," Nakota exclaims and softly pats Trip on the back. "Aren't you going to celebrate?"
Trip shakes his head. "It's not that big of a deal."
"C'mon," Nakota says with a grin. "My treat."
Trip sighs. "Why?"
Nakota slings an arm around Trip who still sits on his bike. It seems he's an awfully friendly fellow.
"It's your birthday, Trip," Nakota says. "And I want to get to know you better."
Nakota removes his arm and Trip glances at his lip ring again.
"Why?" he asks once more.
Nakota laughs, the sound deep and it causes a warm feeling in Trip's chest.
"You seem like an interesting guy," Nakota says. "And you're my partner after all."
Trip releases a long breath. "Alright."
He pedals slowly as Nakota walks beside him and after around seven minutes, the two arrive at Trip's favorite Italian restaurant.
They're greeted at the door and seated at a lovely table set for two. After placing their orders, Nakota looks across the table at Trip.
"How'd you join the company?" Nakota asks.
Trip raises his eyes. "My brother."
"Hmm," Nakota says as he looks up in thought and then returns his eyes to Trip.
"I've met only a few members so far," Nakota says. "Which one is your brother?"
"Beck," Trip tells him. "The one with the curly brown hair."
"Beck, huh?" Nakota says. "So that was his name."
"You met him?" Trip asks.
Nakota grins. "For a minute."
"Oh," Trip says.
"He's a serious fellow," Nakota says. "Like you."
"Yeah?" Trip asks and flashes a smile.
It takes Nakota by surprise and he raises an eyebrow.
"Shit, Trip," Nakota says. "You should smile more."
An immediate frown replaces Trip's smile. "Why?"
"You look-"
A waitress comes by and interrupts Nakota's thought as she places their food down on the table. They say their thanks and Trip immediately digs in.
"What were you saying?" Trip asks as he takes a bite.
"It's nothing," Nakota says and takes a sip of his drink.
They continue to eat in silence until Trip feels his cellphone buzzing in his pocket. He pulls it out and doesn't recognize the number. Even so, he answers.
"Hello," Trip says.
"Hey."
Trip's heart instantly begins to beat quickly and his stomach grows warm.
"How'd you get my number?" Trip asks and hears laughter from the other end.
"Beck gave it to me," Reed says.
"Oh," Trip says.
"What're you doing?" Reed asks.
Trip looks across the table at Nakota.
"I'm out to eat," Trip says. "What's up?"
"Okay," Reed says. "Call me when you get back to your house."
The line goes dead and Trip silently puts his phone away.
"What an interesting reaction," Nakota says. "A lover?"
Trip purses his lips and feels his face become hot.
"No," he denies but Nakota just laughs at him.
"Don't worry," Nakota says. "I won't tell anyone."
"He's not my lover," Trip says but doesn't successfully convince Nakota so.
"Okay, okay," Nakota says as he throws his hands up in mock surrender. "Is he hot though?"
Trip covers his face with his hands in embarrassment.
"Haha, cute," Nakota laughs.
It isn't long before they finish their meals and head outside.
"Thanks for the meal," Trip says to his partner.
Nakota shoves his shoulder softly. "Happy birthday."
Trip offers a small smile and hops onto his bike.
"I'm heading home," Trip says. "See you."
Nakota shoves his hands into his pockets. "I'll walk you back."
"I'm fine," Trip says but Nakota follows him anyway.
They arrive at Trip's home soon after and Trip catches sight of a figure leaning against his apartment building. The boy pushes off the building and walks over to Trip and Nakota.
"I thought you said to call you when I got back," Trip says. "But you're already here."
"Yeah," Reed says, his eyes glancing at Nakota. "I couldn't wait."
Trip remembers his partner walked him home and quickly turns to introduce him to Reed.
"This is Nakota," Trip says to Reed. "He's my partner."
Reed's lips form a straight line. "Nice to meet you."
"You as well," Nakota says with a sly smirk. Then he turns to Trip.
"I thought you said you didn't have a lover," Nakota says as Reed looks at Trip.
"I don't," Trip says as he narrows his eyes. "I'm going in. Thanks for walking me back."
Nakota just nods his head and takes one last look at Reed before turning away to leave.
Once Trip and Reed make their way inside, Trip turns to him.
"Why are you here?" Trip asks him.
But Reed just reaches out and envelopes the twenty-year-old in his arms.
"Happy Birthday."
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thanks for reading (: