“a drink sounds great – thank you. it’s nice to meet you too,” kenny gave him a smile, hoping he would remember the offer by the end of his shift. he accepted the handshake, as he did not want to potentially appear rude, but made sure it didn’t last… too long. it was only natural instinct by now, and he simply hoped that blaine would not pick up on it.
he thought about his question for a minute or so. this town was rather boring, he could admit, but to him, it was a comfort after so many years of moving… he just wished that he had done more here than work and sit around in his apartment most of the time so he could give a better answer.
“what there is to do? honestly… not too much,” he laughed for a moment. “it’s a small place – there’s the bar, of course, and there’s a nice diner down the road that makes good milkshakes. sometimes, the library does stuff on weekends – but i’m not too sure what, i’ve never been inside. if you like shopping… we don’t have too much, besides like, the regular stuff – and a few family-owned businesses that make candles and stuff, if you like those places.”
Blaine shook Kenny’s hand not seeming to notice much judging by the smile still written on his face when his fingers drifted back to the drink he only just began sipping away at. Another swallow and a brow lifted up. This time his teeth were bared from the ear to ear grin and he couldn’t help huffing out a light chortle. “Feels like I went full circle then. I grew up in Ohio. Our town had about as much going on as this one. Even the bar sort of looks the same.”
Unless you drove out of the city limits and found the one single gay bar between two towns a couple hours apart? This place looked like every bar in Little Town, USA. At least the company seemed pleasant enough? And it beat sitting back in his little hotel room alone with limited cable and barely any internet speed.
“Maybe I’ll try the diner for breakfast in the morning? As long as they have coffee? I’ll be happy.”
Happier if the garage called with good news. “How long have you been here? Local or just wander here and decide to stay?” Blaine smiled from Kenny down towards the ice in his glass, before lifting it for another swallow. Ten minutes of talk and this was the most conversation he had that wasn’t on his bluetooth since he left New York. Maybe taking a break, as unexpected as it was, might’ve been a good idea. Human contact wasn’t something he realized he missed until he found himself scrambling for any reason to keep talking.
“still in town, man?” it’s alwayssomewhat nice to come across someone he actually thinks he recognizes, a break from walking around and wondering how many faces he’s forgotten.“hope everything’s alright.”
he looks down for a moment, hoping he actually has remembered him, and isn’t making an utter fool of himself. he decides to give it a shot anyway.“i have the day off, so i could show you around if you want.”
“Yeah. Still in town,” Blaine hummed over the rim of his glass quirking a brow as he took a sip. “Looks like the part they need has to come from the nearest dealership. The closest one that has it in stock? Phoenix. Aside from the one they thought they needed two days ago when it arrived and it was the wrong one, I mean.”
He’d already let Cooper know he was going to be late. Like days late. Now? Seems as though it’s going to be a few more.
Aside from knowing no one? The quiet and boredom from lack of company or anything to do was going to start driving him crazy. No wonder why so many townies ended up right where he was. At the tavern. “Yeah? Seriously?” His heart leaps at the offer and he’s already stepping away from his half empty drink and motioning towards the door. “Lead the way. You have no idea how stir crazy I’m getting. Good day off so far?”
kenny nodded over at the stranger, a part of him able to understand his troubles. it would be quite jarring to end up somewhere new, he thought, a place you never intended to end up in, that you don’t even know. he knew he felt like that, when he first woke up. now, it is simply normal, but a part of him still remembered those old feelings, holding onto them into an attempt to feel more… normal.
“that sounds rough, man. do you think they can save your car? i know there’s a mechanic not too far from this place,” kenny offered, giving the man a small smile in return. he collected a few glasses from the bar, trying to keep his mind busy, chuckling lightly.“i wish – i’m working here tonight… but it’s a pretty deadplace today. nice to see a new face – i’m kenny.”
Blaine didn’t mean to unload the way he had and he’d caught the day creeping onto his tone more than he wanted it to. A sure sign he was tired but his mind was going the hundred miles an hour that his car was officially checked out from clocking until they got the parts they needed sent in. A brow quirked up. “Oh! Yeah. That shouldn’t be a problem. They ordered the parts before I left. But it’ll be a few days. Hopefully by Friday? Or I get to spend the weekend learning all about this place.” Which didn’t seem like it needed more than an hour to learn.
Compared to New York City? A town like this felt like a blip on the map. But the dinner was good and the drinks were cheap. Now that he had someone to talk to after going a few days without? Maybe a break didn’t seem that bad. A few day break. Not an all weekend one. Or Cooper was going to end up having to go back to work before he even got there. “Ah. Sorry. I didn’t notice. Maybe after your shift then? If that’s a thing they allow? I’m Blaine. Nice to meet you, Kenny.” He offered a hand. “Care to fill me in on what there is to do here?”
he’s surprised – and somewhat relieved – to see someone at the bar as he turns. this is always a rather dull night, almost painfully so, the place almost dead save for a few regulars. they’re strangers to him, with his memory in the state it is, but he can tell from the way that they speak to him that he’s meant to recognise them.
“you alright, man?” he asks, hoping he’ll be able to strike up a conversation. gently, he places down the glass he was going to take outside to smash. talking to someone will hopefully shove away the painful thoughts. “i’ll be happy to listen if you need it.”
Car trouble in the middle of nowhere landed Blaine stranded in a town he’d never been to. Compared to New York City, it felt like one of those blink and it’s gone type places even if it wasn’t what most people would consider small. Hauntingly reminiscent of Westerville, Ohio. It made him realize he’d been avoiding going home for far too long and after Los Angeles? He really should call Sam and make a trip there to catch up.
Either way? He was stuck staying here until they fixed the problem. Having a drink seemed like the easiest way to calm his nerves before shutting himself away in his motel room.
Two rounds in and the reason why he was on the road came creeping back in his head leading to the thoughtful pout that must’ve gotten at least one person’s attention. Blinking out of it, he turned his head and scrunched his nose apologetically, his thumb tapping against the rim of his glass. “Long life day. Broke down about twenty miles outside of town this afternoon. Only now getting settled in from the mess it was. Looks like Los Angeles is going to be a much longer drive than I was planning on,” his smile grew, “I’m Blaine. What are you drinking?”
pianokeysandbowties 