cap

Ok so here is the promised explanation of Monday nights idiocy.

There is a place called Liquid Lounge. It's a bar where I know all the regulars by name. I know the manager. My buddy used to bounce there before he moved away but Billy remembered me. It's mostly college fair but occasionally someone catches my eye.

So a nice pair of heels walks in. Short black hair. A leather jacket that cuts just above the small of her back. Reminds me of Amelia Airheart. Jeans, kinda rockabilly. Comes in with 2 guys. Polos, khaki shorts, "Hmm?" Whatever, I don't dress the part half the time either. Half hour goes by, I see her chatting to a guy I know. I have no ability to approach a girl, unless she gives me a smile as an invitation, but I can approach this guy. I have no intention of snaking the attention. I just am curious. Who is she? Is she interesting? So I sit down and introduce myself. Even wingman a lil. She catches me in the act and I boldly tell her that I can't be blamed. Conversation is normal and genuinly entertaining between the 3 of us. She's going into the airforce. Soon was the impression I got. She is from out of town. Shacking up with her cousin. One of the two guys standing....8 ft away? Getting drunk ready to head to Texas. I know a little about the military so the conversation is interesting. Abruptly, cousin has his hand is on my shoulder, his mouth to my ear. I would have been understanding, gentle, disarming, if it wasn't for the squeeze to my shoulder. Hard, that unique pinch that is done to joints like your knee or wrinst. Pressure point. He knows it. He's trying. It doesn't work. I feel it. It just never has the desired affect on me.

"Why don't you try talking to my cousin with respect you piece of shit,"

No one can hear it but me but does it matter? She turns to shout at him to cut it out. My quiet growl is louder.

"You need to take your hands off me."

He walks away. Good. I'm honestly not mad. I don't want trouble. It's a misunderstanding. I was respectful. She was defending me. The growl is to get him to back off. His safety. I don't want trouble.

I could apologize. I could explain or whatever. I lie. I'm not proud of it or ashamed. It's just easier. And the only thing that can disarm this situation better is claiming to be gay.

"For the record I have a girlfriend"

It didnt need to be said, she's cool.

He's shouting at me. He wants this badly. Or he hates me enough. I don't want him to be a burden to her. Or to interfere with my buddy, who is a decent honorable guy. So I get up, slowly. Walk over with my hands up, palms out. I say I'm sorry, I say I have a girlfriend. He should have said, "Oh, my bad. I thought...."

Nope. He shouts back....something. I say calmdown to a fist swung at me by a wet kitten.

O well.

I grab him, pull. Damn shirt rips. Son of a bitch. Grab again. Throw him......somewhere. Then I have an arm around my throat, another binding my arms. He can't move me. Two crosses to my jaw. Is this the first guy? Or a third? No one can ever tell me. Can't shake this guy or free my damn arms. Can you believe I'm still not pissed? So I stand up straight, walk towards the wannabe boxxer. Headbutt. God damn it the only wound I get is from that headbutt!! Nice cut across my nose. My jaw didn't even swell up. Heck I didn't even know I hurt my nose.

I turn around in his arms. Billy's there. Shit. Pulls the kid off me. But the kid turns on him. I get my arm around his in time to stop him choking Billy.

I start repeating, "Let him go"

Something happened. Billy got the upper hand and he's out the door with the kid. A "Liquid Bud" is standing near the cousin, who is demanding to be let back at me. Mike is laughing, I hear a nice compliment about me being Portuguese and therefore made of cement. I try very hard not to smile at the respect given. It will only make things worse. Then he's gone too. And there's the girl. I wish I remembered her name. She's so sorry. I inwardly smirk at the irony that her cousin and I have ruined her night. I tell her to try and salvage the night. And not to worry about me. She rushes after the cousin. I don't. I don't want to go out there and restart a fight. Why is no one pulling me out? Sweat on my forehead. I reach for it and see the read on my hand.

"Jake is this from him?"

"You got a cut on your nose"

Crap

Napkin, need a napkin. I ask if any girl has a compact. Cuz small bars can't keep mirrors for time measured past weeks.

What is going on? I'm alone. No one is crowding me, or anything. There are the stares. The questioning looks for the girls, the immature grins on the guys. I feel really bad, and I feel like a freak. The center of attention for all the wrong reasons. Cuz I don't put people off enough just standing still. I can't maintain eye contact with the girls, they don't need to see some guys blood. I start apologizing to everyone. Each table. The beerpong tables. Then I go to face the music with Billy outside. Castro stops me. Biggest damn cuban in existence. Has spoken 2 words to me ever. Former bouncer turned regular. He's smiling at me. Maybe I have a concussion. Says to wait another minute.

I go out and tell Billy I'll understand if he want's me to leave. He looks at me like I'm purple and tells me to go back inside and grab a guiness and not to say another word on it.

People are nice to me. Approaching me, asking if I'm ok, what happened, then introducing themselves. I can barely take it. I'm bleeding and people want me to stick around!!

Then I remember the wedding Saturday.

Then I get really REALLY pissed for exactly a second.

Weird night. Really weird night.