Authors: Gloria Bello
“
You and the Man, you guys are
n’t
…”
“
‘
The man
?
’
…
Julian
?
” she laughs, blushing at the memory of their most recent exchange.
“
Uh, no. Definitely not
.
”
“
Really? Tha
t’s…
weird. You guys are
n’
t anything
?
”
He dips his fries and chews thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving her face.
“
N
o…
w
e’
re just good friends
,
” she smiles.
“
We crossed into th
e‘
Friend Zon
e
’ early on and i
t’
s better for us both, I think
.
”
“
Yeah, he tends to do better with women and longevity in th
e‘
Friend Zone
.
’
So no boyfriend, no Julia
n…
are you seeing anyone at all
?
”
“
…
N
o
…”
“
Why
?
”
“
What do you mean
,‘
why
?
’
I do
n’
t know why. Why do
n’
t people generally have boyfriends
?
”
“
Ther
e’
s not a general reason. Tha
t’
s a unique situation, different to everyone. And
I’
m asking you, specifically you, why
you
do not. Yo
u’
re a beautiful, smart woman with a pretty sharp mouth.
I’
m wondering how it is such a creature can be single, is all
.
”
“
I guess I have
n’
t met the right guy, right? Tha
t’
s what
I’
m suppose to answer
?
”
He chews his food, struggling to swallow a big bite. Once he does, he sighs and looks up at her, his expression serious and confident.
“
You can. You can answer anything, as long as i
t’
s true. You can answer in a lie, even, if you want. But whatever answer you give me, I want you to think about it and why you chose it. See, I look at girls like you, walking around with blinders on the sides of their faces so that they ca
n’
t get distracted. Disappearing into crowds, moving so fast you mostly miss them. Once they stop, the
y’
re engaging, enchanting, even mesmerizing. But before you can wrap your fingers around them, they wiggle away and put their blinders up, moving faster than you ever can, like fucking gazelles in the Serengeti, making sure you ca
n’
t catch them.
I’
m wondering why that is
.
”
She stares at him, her jaw dropped, stunned at the implication. She frowns once more and picks up her shake.
“
We just met. How can you possibly make such an assumption
?
”
“
Because
I‘
just mee
t
’ a lot of you. And you all drive me nuts. I meet a lot of women, a lot. But
I‘
just mee
t
’ girls like you
,‘
just mee
t
’ and nothing more. And I spend my time with the others who have
n’
t fluttered away at my touch, those wrapped in brighter, tighter, more restrictive clothes that prevent them from bolting, holding onto them because I can, wondering what the fuck is going on in
your
head, though, unable to even hear the mindless chatter coming out of their mouths. Is it a challenge? Am I suppose to chase after you? When I catch you, will you lose interest? Will I? Is it
just
the chase? Or are you really, truly, all that you promise? Because, I can tell you, from the outside, what you promise is the one thing every man hunts for from the day their balls drop and they sprout their first pubes
.
”
He dips his fries and points them at her.
“
Whether they realize it or not, what you promise is what they need, crave, live and die for
.
”
She stares at him, completely speechless. He blinks at her and his seductive smile returns, dusting his hands of salty remnants.
“
Le
t’
s go get a drink
.
”
The party is in full swing. The house is packed with friends and acquaintances, mingling and drinking, listening to electro mix. Julian slides his hand down Sharlee
n’
s back, scanning the crowd, again, for either Alice or Scott. His eyes lock on CeCe, laughing with her husband and some friends. He frowns at her, and she quickly puts her phone to her ear to call them once more.
“
Your dress is beautiful
!
” Sharleensays to his mother. Patricia smiles at the lovely creature, dressed in red-orange heels and a stunning teal gown that outshines everyone at the party.
“
Thank you, dear. Your dress is magnificent. Julian said you were beautiful. I do
n’
t think he did you justice, honestly. Yo
u’
re an angel
.
”
“
Thank you
,
” Sharleenfeigns,
“
I do what I can to keep up with him. I
t’
s hard work,
I’
ll tell you. H
e’
s one of the most handsome men
I’
ve ever known
.
”
“
Yes, he is
,
” his mothersays, smiling at her son.
“
He looks very much like his father
.
”
Julian smilesand sips his drink. He spots Nathan moving into the kitchen and decides to escape with him.
“
Excuse me, ladies
.
”
Nathan hovers over a tray of hour dourves, scrolling through his phone. His long, brown hair is slicked back, his fitted suit still somewhat loose on him. He looks much younger than his mid 4
0’
s, despite the graying hair around his temple and in his scruff of a beard. His hawk-like eyes move up and over Julian and he smiles a genuine, modest smile without relinquishing any of the obvious command in his presence.
“
Hey, man. Escaping, too
?
”
“
Yeah
,
” Julian sighs.
“
This is like, one of my anxiety nightmares coming true. Wha
t’
s going to happen next? My teeth fall out and I lose my pants
?
”
“
The nigh
t’
s still young
,
” Nathan says.
“
Who knows
.
”
“
Thanks for coming. I know yo
u’
re not a big fan of shit like this
.
”
“
I
t’
s cool, man. It gives me another perspective of you
.
”
“
Good or bad
.
”
“
Much worse than I imagine. Yo
u’
re a time bomb
.
”
“
Really? Seriously
?
”
“
Fuck yeah. I
t’
s great. Just what we need. Having this party was maybe the best prep work you could have done
.
”
“
Wo
w…
it was
n’
t even my idea. I ca
n’
t focus on this. I
t’
s like having your spleen removed, but being fully conscious and having to work early the next day. I just, really want to start already, you know
?
”
“
Yeah, I know, me too.
I’
m hyped! Just try to relax for now. I
t’
s all you can do at times like these. Drink, mingle. Wait for the end
.
”
“
Thanks
,
” Julian says drily.
“
Great direction
.
”
“
Your family is nice. I loved your brother. So fucking uptight, just like you described him. Every word I got from him was like pulling teeth. Very on guard, almost hostile. H
e’
s great
!
”
“
Yeah, not the adjective I would have used.
I’
ve been avoiding his general vicinity for the majority of the night, which is
n’
t hard because he and his wife are basically camped out in my backyard
.
”
“
Yeah, I know. I went up to him and tried to talk to him back there. That was an hour ago. His wife is pretty hot, though, yeah? For a, you know, suburbanite
.
”
“
Way out of his league,always has been. I do
n’
t know what she saw in him
.
”
“
Aw, I would
n’
t go that far. H
e’
s not so different than you. I mean, beside the obvious personality differences. You both have that stoic, masculine presence the ladies love
.
”
Julian laughs and picks at the food, searching for something that was not there.
“
Tha
t’
s very true. I think we get it from my mom
.
”
Nathan chuckles and glances at his vibrating phone.
“
Fuck, i
t’
s th
e‘
Misse
s’
. Hey, man, I know i
t’
s early
-
”
“
Do
n’
t worry about it. Thanks for coming. Tell Melanie I sai
d‘
hi
.
’”
Nathan smiles and gives him a quick hug and handshake.
“
My man. You watch, we are gonnaset the world ablaze
.
”
Julian returns to the party, studying the mingling crowd. He watches Mike and his wife, Emily, moving in separate paths, talking to friends, clients, and potentials of both, circling the crowd like sharks. He watches his girlfriend flirt with a group of friends, showing off her shoes, commenting on the shoes of others, always maintaining her position on the podium. He watches CeCe, sitting on the edge of the couch with her arms around her husban
d’
s waist, laughing at a joke or story someone in their circle told, blending into the crowd of people in a casual way he could never achieve. In between, people dance and sway gently to the music. Others drink heavily. Others disappear into bathrooms and bedrooms to indulge in secrets that make the part
y‘
special
.
’
He sighs and slouches against the hal
l’
s entrance, completely bored and discontent.
The front door swings open and Alice steps through, roaring with laughter. Scott follows, his arm around her. They stop, the look of fury on Julia
n’
s face immediately chilling. Alice is the first to recover, pulling her coat off and handing it to one of the catere
r’
s. Scott follows suit and moves, smiling, to his friend.
“
Good to see you, man!
I’
m sorry w
e’
re late
,
” he says, taking Julia
n’
s hand.
“
I
t’
s all my fault. My flight was delayed and I was famished. I had to eat
.
”
“
Ther
e’
s food here
,
” Julian says robotically, smelling the alcohol on Scott.