Chapter Text
“JESUS FUCKING CHRIST CHANSE I HATE YOU!”
“THEN WHY DON’T YOU JUST LEAVE ALREADY PARKER?!”
“I WILL!”
“FINE!”
It had been five years since Chanse and Parker broke up, their ugly fight still ringing iadn the doorway of Chanse’s apartment. He needed a change.
Chanse placed the last box of his things into the trunk of his car, his furniture had been sent off a few days prior. As he walked through the door of his empty apartment Chanse remembered their last conversation, a loud, messy, horrible argument. Parker clung to Chanse’s mind like a cancer, invading his thoughts every time he walked through the doorway. Chanse left his keys on the kitchen counter, and breathed a sigh of relief as he walked through the doorway for the last time. Now Chanse could truly forget all about him.
After hours of driving, Chanse arrived at his new apartment. He spent a few hours bringing boxes up to the empty space, unpacking the essentials and setting up a sleeping bag to spend the night in. Tomorrow he would make his apartment into his home, but tonight, Chanse wanted to celebrate.
Chanse spent some time looking up bars in the area, eventually finding a gay bar where live musicians played every night. He thought it could be a good place to meet someone, but even making a friend or two would suffice. Chanse teased his hair in the mirror, he’d been growing out a mullet and spent a thoughtful amount of time making sure it looked good. Put on the classic bisexual man guyliner and adorned his favorite jacket covered in (nerdy / GnG themed) patches. Then he caught a bus and mentally hyped himself up before walking into the bar.
Parker had been bartending at a popular gay bar in his city for a couple years. He hosted the game nights with an immeasurable passion, and came up with the weirdest, but surprisingly popular, drinks. Parker still wore his checkered vest, but ditched the leggings for a plaid skirt. His ears and face were covered in piercings and he had plenty more tattoos.
As one of the only gay bars in the city, it was always busy. But Parker was always chatting with his patrons as he moved at a furious speed. Watching him work was dizzying, but Parker always managed to have a smile on his face and an uncanny ability to recognize people who’d only been in the bar once or twice.
Chanse walked in and he found himself bumping into a few people, the bar was packed. He shuffled over to the bar, looking around at the crowd and attempting to catch a vibe so he wouldn’t act awkward if somebody were to come up with him. As he waited in the line, somebody did come up to him. And to Chanse’s relief, the conversation flowed seamlessly. Chanse’s patches had caught the man's eye and they talked about GnG as the line moved slowly. They traded numbers and Chanse was offered a seat at the man's table, he looked to where the man was pointing and saw a group of attractive people laughing and talking to each other. Chanse said he would come over after he got his drink and waved a temporary goodbye to the man.
He was distracted as he finally reached the bar, adding the new contact into his phone as he began to order.
“Hey how’s it going, could I get uh-” Chanse looked up, his jaw dropped and he froze as he saw an equally surprised Parker Bradley looking right back at him. Parker had stopped shaking the mixer in his hand, looking Chanse up and down as if he couldn’t believe Chanse was actually right in front of him.
“Uhm. A.. uh, a vodka cranberry. Please.”
After the insanely awkward interaction, Chanse tipped Parker too well and left without a word, drink in hand. He sat down at the table, introducing himself and making quick friends. The group played GnG, and Chanse was invited to come play! He happily agreed, exchanged his number with the group, and they all kept talking for hours.
Chanse couldn’t stop looking over to the bar, to Parker. How was this happening? Of all the places he could move to trying to get away from Parker, he was actually here. And Chanse walked right into the bar where he worked. Fuck. He kept feeling worse as whenever he looked over to the bar, he found Parker looking over at him. A hot blush creeped over Chanse’s face, and he was teased by his newfound friends for not being able to hold his liquor. He laughed nervously, brushing it off and continuing to talk to the group. But Chanse and Parker’s eyes always found each other, all night.
The bar slowly died down, Chanse had been sitting with his original drink for way too long. He was too nervous to go up to the bar again, too nervous to face Parker. Eventually the group left, leaving Chanse alone at a table that was way too big for him.
He decided to go get some fresh air, Chanse didn’t want to leave just yet, after all he was celebrating. He found a bench outside the bar and sat down, taking deep breaths in a vein attempt to calm his nerves. Chanse put his face in his hands, hearing somebody walk out of the bar and sit next to him on the bench.
“I like your hair.”
Chanse’s head shot up and he looked over to see Parker smoking some fruity vape that’s fumes made Chanse a little lightheaded.
“Uh.. Thanks. You.. On break? Or something?” Chanse stuttered, lacing his hands together and squeezing them tight.
“Or something.” Parker leaned his head back, blowing smoke up into the cool night air. “Are you here on vacation? You never struck me as a bustling city getaway type of guy.”
“I just moved here.. Today actually. I came here to uh.. Meet people.” Chanse looked away, focusing his gaze on a group of pigeons across the street.
“You came to the right place then, on the right day too. Tomorrow is the slowest night of the week.” Parker was watching Chanse, even under the dim street lights he was able to see how much Chanse had changed. He’d gauged his ears, grown his hair out, and the way he dressed changed dramatically. But Parker also noticed the ways he’d stayed the same. Clean shaven, still into GnG, same bright look in his eyes.
“Lucky me.. Uh I-”
“Do you want another drink? On me.” Parker cut Chanse off, an attempt to stop Chanse from leaving.
“Maybe another time. I-I think I should head home.” Chanse looked back at Parker, giving him a small smile as he stood up.
Parker stood quickly after Chanse did. “Sure, I’ll see you soon?”
“Um.. Yeah, I’ll see you soon, Park.” Chanse walked off to catch the nearest bus. Parker’s heart skipped a beat as he was called that familiar nickname, watching Chanse walk away until he disappeared into the crowd of partygoers walking the opposite way.