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It had been three years. Three years since he’d packed up everything he could and drove away from home. Beck had been tired of living with expectations and ideals that he didn’t want. He had a life to live and he was gonna live it his way so he moved into his shitty beater car and slept in parking lots for the last few years.
Now at 21, he sat at a bar having his first legal drinks laughing it up with some strangers he probably would never see again. Honestly, he didn’t mind this life. It felt freeing to him and helped him negate that high school to college to the corporate pipeline. Here he could party and socialize and do what he loved, which was making music. He just had to live frugally, though he had a habit of dropping too much cash on stupid things, and being smart about his choices. So far it had worked out. Honestly, he could’ve probably rented some shitty place by now but he much preferred going out on his free nights to dumping everything into some dead-end apartment.
He was about to order another shot when a guy sat next to him and ordered two gesturing to him. He was taller than him only by an inch or two, with dark hair in clean dreads styled into a half-up look showing off the shaved side. He smiled and held out a hand before speaking, “Name’s Darnell. Heard it was your birthday from some drunkards figured I’d actually keep you company.” Beck smiled, taking his hand and shaking it chuckling. He appreciated the company, especially from a semi sober up front guy. “Nice I’ll take it. I’m Beck.”
The shots slid to them from the bartender who seemed more than tired with their shift as it was getting late. The two picked up the shots and made a motion to cheers before knocking them back. Darnell ordered another round but added one. “So how old are you Beck? Not gettin' me in trouble?” Darnell snickered a bit leaning on the bar a bit. He snorted shaking his head, “Nah just turned 21, figured I’d party it up even if I’m alone. Rather have fun than mope.” Darnell nodded laughing a bit. They idly chatted waiting for their shots. Admittedly with club music Beck was only catching half the words but he was enjoying the company. The guy seemed chill and laid back, honestly his kinda guy. In more ways than one if you know you know.
But before he could really attempt to sink his teeth into the guy a girl rolled up in a blur of glitter and pink snatching the third shot. Her pink highlights damn near glowing with the black lights flickering. She waved after downing the shot holding onto Darnell’s arm. “Heyyyy! I’m Nene! Happy birthday, stranger!” She yelled over the music still bouncing around. Beck snorted a bit seeing her jump into their conversation and nodded, “Thanks! I’m Beck nice to meet you!” She nodded and kept dancing in place clearly a bit further gone than his new friend. Though he wasn’t sure he was all that far off. He’d felt the warm buzzing feeling hitting him a while ago but now it was definitely kicking in.
So by the time Nene started to pull him to come dance he wasn’t stopping her. Darnell snorted watching them yelling that he’d come to grab them when they had to leave. They shouted back an ok and went to enjoy the incoherent base-boosted music. Jumping around and doing something akin to dancing on the sticky dance floor. People bumping into each other, others hitting on strangers trying to get a good night. It was one of his favorite places to be, and if he managed to score Nene and Darnell’s numbers he’d definitely make sure to meet them at whatever club they went to. They were more interesting than most he’d encountered.
The night blurred from that point but eventually, Beck’s handsome new friend came by to bring them out of the crowd and into the cold October air. Beck hadn’t brought a coat and was shivering and laughing as he and Nene stumbled around. Though as they started to walk Beck realized he’d have to tell them where he stayed. Not exactly the hottest thing to admit you’re bumming it in a 1990 Ford Explorer. So when Darnell asked where he lived he kinda just struggled to stay quiet trying to pull a lie out of his ass. “Hey man wanna just crash with us?” Darnell asked him eventually picking up on his hesitance. He nodded quickly grinning at the prospect of crashing in an actually heated apartment and not his shitty sleeping bag situation. Nene squealed and started dragging him rambling off more things they could do to keep the party going. Beck just followed after trying to keep up with her ramblings.
It took 15 minutes to get to the apartment complex and get inside. One up the five flights of stairs, which was a whole extra five minutes because he and Nene kept tripping and laughing at each other, they got into the apartment. He was pulled over to the couch where she pulled him down to sit with him. “How come we have never met before!! You’re so fun to party with man!” She asked as she threw off her shoes and pointed at him, “Darnell and I are ALWAYS at that club and youuuu have never been there before!” Beck snorted and put his hands up, “tried a new place! Figured the old one I frequented wouldn’t be to find of getting a real ID after I’d used a fake for the last few months. Glad I chose that one tho met you two!” She nodded and grabbed her phone to turn on the music. Darnell took a seat on one of the beat-up lounge chairs, “Nene, we got another roommate don’t wake his ass up.” He chastised her gently as he relaxed into the chair. Nene whined loudly but put her phone down and slumped. Beck just snickered and yawned, feeling the crash now that he was somewhere warm and quiet. They just chatted idly for a bit bouncing between music and clubs and drinks they liked. Anything that came to mind was said until they started to doze off and fall asleep. Beck just soaked up the warm place to sleep for the night. Grateful to have seemingly made some friends along the way. A great 21 birthday, and probably the best birthday he’d had.