8 Like Sugar | Chapter Eight

When Jared got the text with the address of the bar and nothing else, he wasn't sure how to feel. On Saturday evening he hung around his closet wondering what to wear and ended up picking a dress shirt and a dark blue pair of trousers. The bar was a casual setting, but at the same time, people were going to dress to impress so he tried keeping it a bit formal.

Jared drove over to the little bar downtown. There wasn't any space to park, so he had to drive down and park in the parking lot of a closed grocery store. He walked down the street before being allowed into the bar by the bouncer. It had taken some convincing and having to mention his name and why he was here to get the bouncer to let him in, so Jared was already irritated by the time he got into the stuffy bar. Its temperature was a mile's different from the cool breezy wind outside. Jared slipped through the crowd, making his way to an empty table. He settled down, letting his eyes scan the bar that was lit up in dim party lights.

The crowd was noisy, and everyone was latching on or sticking close to someone else. If Jared had to take a wild guess, he would assume he was one of the oldest people here, but at the same time, he knew how bars were — letting people in and turning them away based on how they looked/dressed. Unless you proved you had some money to spend, high rated party bars wouldn't let you in unless you were good looking and well-dressed. There were probably a few people in their forties hanging around that looked nothing like their age.

Jared's eyes fluttered to the waiter that had come up to his empty seat to ask if he wanted anything. He made a small order, looking out into the crowd again when the young man left. Jared let the tip of his finger's drum a beat on the table. He was watching the stage and was glad he was wearing his glasses unless he wasn't sure he would be able to see a thing. It looked like a drag queen was doing a comedy skit on stage, but the person obviously wasn't Darnell. They were taller, bigger and had fairer skin.

"I'm Miss Anantasu."

Jared remembered Darnell saying to him on the phone after he wrote his exams on Friday. The younger man's tone had been full of excitement. Jared remembered asking if Darnell had gotten his stage name from a Japanese cartoon, and he remembered Darnell laughing and explaining that it was a Thai surname because he was part Thai from his father's side — mixed with Black and Asian — Blasian.

There was a round of applause when the current queen on stage took a bow and threw kisses at the crowd. She exited from the left, and someone with a microphone came up on stage to announce the next act for the night.

"Give it up for Miss Anantasu," the man said, getting a round of applause and whistling, Jared could feel his throat get clogged up and his heart beat faster as he keenly watched the stage for the person that would climb the stairs to it. He had a cold glass of beer in his hands, and there was a whirlwind of emotions forming in the pit of his stomach as the petit drag queen came up the stage. They had six-inch heels on, a short dress that exposed their lean legs, a big curly wig, and make-up that wasn't as exaggerated as the one on the other queens' faces. They all had - hips? Those had to be padding.

The queen struck a pose, making people in the crowd whistle and Jared's face turn a deep red.

It was sexy.

It was so — unlike Darnell.

That's Darnell? The realization still left ripples of shock in Jared as he watched Darnell prance around the stage as he sung in a feminized deep voice that could be likened to that of black gospel singers. Jared couldn't believe it, but at the same time, he did. As Darnell moved across the stage singing and entertaining the crowd Jared could see the man's youthfulness and charming persona shine through.

During the performance, Jared saw a young man stand in front of the stage and take pictures. Darnell did poses for him, blowing the man an air kiss as the crowd let out suggestive cheers and laughter. Jared tried not to think too much about it. It was all part of the performance. It would be baseless to get upset with a stagehand for doing his job. And assuming there was something between them, it was none of his concern. Darnell didn't belong to him or owed him an exclusiveness.

It hurt, but it was the truth, so Jared swallowed his jealousy and tried to enjoy the show.

When Darnell's performance was over, he exited the stage and there was a round of applause from the crowd. It took a while to realize Darnell was no longer upstage. Jared was a mess of emotions; everything from amazed to dazed. He blinked when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket before reaching to get it.

Message from: Darnell.

How did you like the show? I saw you sitting at one of the center tables. Almost didn't see you and thought you didn't come. Couldn't call to check if you were coming sooner because I had practice. : (

SAT, 10:23 P.M.

Jared read the message before opening the reply box and started typing. He paused after a while, wondering if he should add more to the text.

It's fine, and you were great!

That's what he had so far. Jared bit his bottom lip, doing a mental spin of a die before deciding it was okay to add a heart emoji and be a little specific. He clicked send, reading his message back to himself before putting his phone on the wooden bar table.

Message to: Darnell.

It's fine, and you were great! ♡

Do you want to join me at my table, or should I just leave since you're going straight home after this?

SAT, 10:25 P.M.

Jared's phone buzzed, and he looked at the notification on the screen before smiling.

Message from: Darnell.

Stay. I'll be out in the crowd soon. ♡

SAT, 10:26 P.M.

For the longest time after, Jared couldn't help grinning over the fact that Darnell had sent him a heart back. It just made him feel warm. Jared massaged his chest with his fisted hand as he wondered about what was getting over him. Why was he smiling over a simple text, and why was he making a big deal of a heart emoji? And no, he was certain it wasn't the alcohol he had been drinking he had only taken a few sips.

About an hour later Jared heard the chairs on the table he was sitting at being pulled out. He looked up, seeing Darnell who had changed into casual clothing with a woman who had a thick coat of eyeliner around her eyes as well deep red lipstick coating her lips.

"Sorry, it takes some time to get out of everything," Darnell said, and Jared assumed he was referring to his drag outfit. Jared could only imagine, he heard about how Drag queens used corsets, tucked and padded to achieve their appearance.

"Oh, this is my good friend and housemate, Nathalie," Darnell said, introducing his friend to Jared. Jared smiled at the lady, but she didn't smile back, she just observed him with a discerning look. Jared felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, so he looked away from her, trying to focus his attention on Darnell.

"You looked great," Jared told Darnell, watching as the younger man's smile widened as he hummed.

"Thanks," Darnell said, licking his lips as his eyes moved to the glass of unfinished beer. "Can I have that?" he asked, and Jared nodded, pushing the glass over to him.

"I thought you didn't drink?"

"I drink a little after performing," Darnell explained, and Jared nodded.

"Okay, it was nice meeting you in person, but I have to take care of something backstage," the lady said, drawing the two men's attention. She got up, patting Darnell on the head before walking away.

"She's scary," Jared said, airing his thoughts when the woman had walked a good distance away. Darnell laughed, shrugging as he watched Jared's uneasy gaze in the dark.

"She's very defensive about me, so she's skeptical about people I talk about a lot," Darnell explained, finishing the glass of beer before giving Jared an assuring smile.

"You talk about me?" Jared asked in a small voice, feeling his heart swell as Darnell nodded.

"A lot," Darnell said in an equally small voice as the table went silent. Jared could feel his heartbeat in his ears. He didn't know what to say or how to react, so he just stayed silent and watched as Darnell ran his fingers down the side of the empty glass.

"Want me to walk you to your car? I'm guessing you have to be home soon, and I have to leave and go get Nathalie," Darnell spoke up, piercing the little bubble the two had created. The bar was crowded and noisy, but it felt unbearably quiet when the two of them didn't exchange words.

"Yes, I would like that," Jared muttered and Darnell grinned, getting up from his seat. Jared got up too, and the both of them walked out of the bar and down the street to the parking lot Jared had parked his car in. Jared got into the car, and Darnell got in to, saying something about wanting to spend a few more minutes with him before leaving.

Somewhere along the line of talking about their day Darnell reached out to give Jared's thigh a squeeze, the older man blinked. He was flustered. Darnell just smiled, giving his thigh a squeeze through his trousers before edging forward under the dome light. He pressed his forehead on Jared's shoulder, humming as he moved his hand from the man's thigh to his chest.

"You'll come again, right?" Darnell asked, and Jared let out a sigh, muttering a 'yes' that might have come out too fast to even hear. Darnell laughed, kissing the man's cheek. Jared turned his face to look at him, and before he knew it Darnell had caught his lips with his. Darnell tasted light beer and fruit that was probably from his lip balm. Jared shivered, letting his fingers run through Darnell's hair as they shared the sweet kiss. Jared closed his eyes, letting out low sighs anytime his tongue would meet Darnell's. There was something inherently innocent yet daring about the way Darnell kissed him that made Jared's toe curl, and his chest bubble with emotion.

"Good night," Darnell said when they pulled away. Jared stared into Darnell's doe eyes for a bit, smiling before turning away.

"Good night," Jared repeated Darnell's words, taking a hold of the steering wheel as he looked up ahead. He heard the door to the passenger seat shut close soon after, and then he watched Darnell walk away until he was out of site. Jared had to take some time to put himself together after Darnell kissed him. He adjusted his sitting position, trying to keep the friction between his legs at a minimal. Of course, he was horny from just kissing. Just great. He thought, sucking on his bottom lip as how laughable the situation was, dwelled on him.

Jared laughed. As irritating as it should be for him, Jared couldn't help but laugh at himself as he started the car and drove out of the parking lot. He tried not to think about his feelings too much, but they were bubbling to the surface as the days passed by. They were harder to ignore. He was falling for Darnell, and he couldn't help but feel the odd mix of anxiety and happiness that was burning inside him.

He was so happy. This was the happiest he had ever been in a long while. But he was also afraid. He was so very afraid of the complications of a one-sided attraction, but he couldn't control his emotions, and Darnell wasn't giving him any reasons not to love him. He felt helpless, and at the mercy of the beautiful man, who he was sure would never think of him the same way.