Make Out Flake Out

Ah going out. Truly one of the best parts of being single, but also one of the worst. On the one hand it is fun. In a city as vast and diverse as New York, it feels as if anything is possible on any given night. Millions of single people, bars open till 4am, and a stressed population that constantly needs to let loose. The ideal recipe for lots of fun and lots of questionable decision making. On any given night you can, in theory, meet the love of your life. But then there are the downsides. It is expensive, it requires a lot of time, and it is rather close to alcoholism. But no one wants to talk about that. Americans drink a lot. Our European counterparts drink with almost every meal and yet we still somehow manage to out drink them on aggregate. They drink for pleasure, we drink almost as a competitive sport. It is sometimes weirder to not drink than it is to drink. Drinking in and of itself is not so bad when you can do it in moderation, but when those nights get away from you there is hell to pay. Not only do you lose a good night's sleep, but you also lose the next day at a minimum. Such is the price of going out. Most people only go out on the weekends. Which makes sense. You have nothing to do the next day so why not let it all hang out on a Friday or Saturday? Well that also has its pro and it cons. Unless you know you're spots, everything is quite crowded those days. Often with college kids. The worst. Which kind of ruins the going out experience. Therefore it is sometimes better to go out on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The city is a bit calmer as it is a school night, you have a lot more room to breathe and operate, and you have to keep you're drinking in check because of work the next day. But the real question remains, is anything still possible?

Victor was on his way to buy a laptop from his friend Jim. They had met a few years earlier on a night out. They hit it off instantly and have been hanging out ever since. They started out as drinking and going out buddies but the friendship extended beyond that. They were both artists at heart and a bond formed between them. They could talk about anything. Both had also recently gotten out of meaningful relationships. They helped each other recover from the subsequent heartbreak. Victor had a day job but was hell bent on making it as a writer. He wanted to start a blog, which was why he wanted the new (used) laptop. Jim too had a day job, but he also auditioned for tv roles on the side. He had been acting semi-professionally for almost a decade and was still waiting for his big breakout role.

"So what are you going to write about?" asked Jim as Victor entered his apartment.
"I'm going to write short stories," replied Victor.
"About what?"
"Anything. Stories from my life. I have actually been writing for myself for a long time now, I think it's time I shared it with the world."
"That's great. But its tough being a creative in today's world man. The odds are always going to be stacked against you. So much competition."
"Ehh I would argue its easier than ever. At least for writing, you don't have to go through a publisher or anything. You can just go online and start. Develop a following naturally and see what happens."
"Yeah that's true. But what is you're goal with this writing?"
"I want to pay my rent with my writing. I want to see if I can do that."
"How confident are you in you're ability to do that?"
"I am 100 percent confident. I will do it. I think whenever you start something you have to believe that you will be successful. You can't leave room for doubt because then you will never start."
"That's what I love the most about you man, you're confidence. I would have given you this laptop for free."
"Yeah but if I pay for it, its mine."
"So true. $50?"
"Yup $50."

Jim had factory reset the laptop and it ran like a dream. It was a 2018 Mac Book pro. The battery ran out quicker than was ideal but it still was way better than Victor's current laptop, which had to be plugged in to operate. This laptop was a steal for Victor and both Jim and Victor knew it. One of the many perks of friendship: sweetheart deals. They shook on it and Victor sent the payment via Venmo.

"Well the night is still young. Shall we have a drink?" asked Jim.
"It's a Tuesday man, I don't know. I have to get up pretty early in the morning," replied Victor seeming hesitant.
"Yeah I feel you, but it's only seven. You can still be home by ten and get you're beauty sleep."
"Alright fine, what ya got?" Easy sell.
"I got some tequila that I will never drink," Jim said pointing to a Patron Silver bottle.
"Sold!" said Victor. Tequila was his drink of choice.

Jim poured Victor a tequila on the rocks and poured himself some whiskey. He put on some music in the background and the two of them started talking about anything and everything. Mostly about their past relationships but also about their pursuits as artists. One drink turned into two and 7pm turned into about 8:30pm.

"Lets have one more out somewhere?" asked Jim.
"Yeah why not, three is my limit and I am feeling good," replied Victor.
"But what's going to be good on a Tuesday?"
"Corner Bistro," said Jim, referring his local neighborhood bar.
"No way man, that place blows. Its always a nothing burger."
"Not on a Tuesday man."
"You're saying its better on a Tuesday than a Friday?"
"Everything is better on a Tuesday."

Wise words from a wise man. Victor did not need much convincing. He packed up his newly acquired laptop and they were on their way to the Corner Bistro. It was a block away. Victor went inside to find seats while Jim stayed outside to finish his cigarette. The bar was crowded but there were a few seats at the bar all the way in the back. Victor went to hang his bag and his coat and sat down at the bar. The second he got there, the person who was previously sitting next to him got back from the bathroom. It was a beautiful woman. Easily 6 feet tall.

"Hi," said the beautiful woman.
"Hello," said a stunned Victor. Sometimes when you meet someone, you can tell there is a mutual interest from the first second you're eyes lock with theirs. There is a certain spark. A holding of eye contact for a little to along. A mischievous smile. This was one of those encounters. "I'm sorry, was this seat taken?"
"Not at all, the seat is yours," replied the beautiful woman.
"What is that accent?"
"You mean you can't tell?"
"Not at all, it is a bit subdued."
"I'm clearly British."
"I kind of thought that but you talk kind of shyly. I couldn't really hear it."
"Well do you hear it now?"
"Yes I hear it now. I am sorry I am a bit underdressed to be speaking to you," said Victor. He was wearing sweatpants and a biker jacket.
"What?" said the beautiful woman with a mercurial look on her face. "You look fine to me."
"Well that is good news. You are simply radiant. What is you're name?"
"Amy, what about you?"
"Pleasure to meet you Amy. I'm Victor." They shook hands. "What are you doing here on a Tuesday night?"
"Well this quite embarrassing. I decided to do a dry January and I lasted 11 days. I broke it today." They laughed.
"Wow, 11 days is not bad at all though." Jim walked in to join them."This is my good friend Jim. Jim meet Amy," said Victor.
"How do you do?" asked a surprised but awakened Jim.
"I am well. Having a pretty great Tuesday night," said Amy.
"Guess her accent," said Victor. Jim thought about it for a second.
"Turkish?" asked Jim. Victor started laughing.
"Told ya. The accent doesn't come out because you're shy," said Victor.
"I'm British. Oh yeah, I am sooooo shy," said Amy as she put her hand on Victor's shoulder.
"I knew you were British," said Jim. He did not.
"Then why would you say Turkish?" asked Amy.
"Oh I was just trying to be funny," replied Jim. "Have to do something to try to impress such a beautiful woman."
"Oh stop! You are so good looking," said Amy excitedly.
"Oh come on, I am shorter than you. I have no shot," said Jim.
"Please you're so good looking it doesn't matter. And besides, the suave Napolean look is in these days," said Amy. "Okay guys I have to talk to my friends for a bit. Sorry to turn my back on you. So rude."
"It's not rude," said Victor. "Please, talk to you're friends."
"It's so rude," said Amy as she turned around. Her back was completely to Victor. It was kind of rude.

Victor and Jim ordered drinks and food and restarted their conversation.

"Is it just me or is Amy really into me?" asked Victor quietly.
"Or into me?" responded Jim with a smile and a double raised eyebrows.
"Game on broheim" said Victor.

Victor was not worried. They continued to sit at the bar and waited for Amy to turn back around. Which she did as soon as the food came.

"Wow that smells so good," said Amy.
"Please, have some tater tots," said Victor offering her the tots.
"Thanks but no thanks. I either eat or I drink, I don't do both," said Amy.
"That's a solid rule. But I also have a rule. I can't eat if the company with me is not eating," said Victor.
"No, eat. You're going to need that protein for what we're going to do later," said Amy with a smile.
"What?"
"Eat." Victor proceeded to eat.

Amy turned back to her friends. After a while her friends, another couple, started to get up.

"Should I leave or stay?" Amy asked Victor as she turned back around.
"Stay," replied Victor. Duh.

Amy's friends proceeded to leave and she stayed with Victor and Jim. They started getting to know each other. Amy was recently divorced and loving every minute of it. Her marriage started off as a dream and had ended due to boredom. Her and her ex-husband stopped having sex. They were both very successful but the magic was gone. They had no kids.

"If we had kids, I would still be with him," said Amy.
"That makes sense," said Victor.
"What's you're type?" asked Amy.
"My type? As in who I want to end up with?"
"Yeah," Amy said with hope in her eyes.
"I don't really have one. I guess I would like to end up with a Russian girl. My parents would like that. But I just don't know if love works that way. What's you're type?"
"I like Russian men. Always have. My first was a Russian, all my boyfriends were Russian."
"Was you're husband Russian?"
"No, he was British."
"That was you're mistake!" They laughed.
"Hey Victor?"
"Yes Amy."
"How about you take my number and we go out?"
"Like on a date?"
"Yes, like on a date."
"How about we get out of here right now and have another drink somewhere else?"
"Dude, don't be so aggressive!" interjected Jim who had been listening to the romance this whole time.
"Nah, I'm trying to be aggressive," replied Victor. He was not the aggressive type but he figured why not? Try something new. It is a Tuesday after all. "Amy, do you want to get out of here?"
"Do you want to have sex with me?" asked Amy.
"Yes, I would love that," replied Victor.

They proceeded to get their coats. Victor paid for all their drinks and hugged Jim. Then Victor and Amy proceeded out of the bar.

"Here's the thing. I don't sleep with men I haven't kissed," said Amy as they were outside.
"Okay," said Victor as he leaned in for the kiss.
"Not here! Can we go sit down somewhere?"
"Out here? It's freezing."
"Okay, then somewhere else."

They walked up the block to the Cubby Hole. A lesbian bar but it was warm. They went inside. Once inside they got to the back by the bathroom. The second they put their stuff down they were making out. It was great. At first it was slow and sensual but it quickly got playful and quite aggressive. She wanted to devour him. Victor was a little taken back but he took it in stride. Every time the kissing stopped, he would look in her eyes. She was either quite drunk or very intoxicated in love. Or lust. Or all the above. He liked her but he had a habit of being cautious at the beginning of things. He had been burned badly leading with his emotions in the past so he had learned to keep them at bay.

"Do you want to get out of here?" he asked.
"Not yet," she replied.

They kept making out. After a few more minutes Victor got tired of standing up. He pulled out of the kiss.

"Let's find a seat," he said as he looked for a seat. There was none to be found.

He looked back and Amy was making her way to the door. Fast. He grabbed his things and followed her. When he got outside he saw her starting to run away. Was she afraid of him? Had he done something wrong?

"Yo! What happened?" he yelled down the street.

She kept running. It looked from a distance as if she might be crying, she had one arm to her face a she ran. He couldn't run after her. You can't do that. He watched her turn the corner and disappear into the night.

He never got her phone number. Guess anything was still possible on a Tuesday night.