Gabriel Lewis's Story

Gabe's head was throbbing as he rubbed his temples. Only eight-thirty Am, and I'm already hungover. . . Maybe a few more rounds will clear up my raging headache, and the memories that are clearing up. Gabe thought as he laid his head back down on the cool wooden surface of the bar in the pub on Western Blvd.
"Aye, Gabe!" The bartender called over the cacophony of noise in the bar. "Aye! Wake it up bud," Seth, the bartender, shouted again.
Gabe looked up at him with bloodshot eyes, how long has it been since I slept last?
"Hey, Seth my man . . .One more round of whiskey over here." Gabe said with a slight smile, a sad broken smile to be sure, but underlying the brokenness was a heart of gold, ready to venture out into the world again. If Gabe would ever let it again that is. As Seth brought over his large mug of whiskey Gabe nodded his thanks and quickly drank his liquid painkiller, both emotion pain and physical. Gabe looked up at the TV and saw an advert for a restaurant in town, pretty damn close to his bar too.
Musing to himself Gabe muttered "Joe's BBQ huh? Sounds nice . . . Aye Seth, can I borrow twenty bucks? You know I'm good for it?" Seth shook his head sadly before sighing and handing Gabe a twenty. Gabe nodding his thanks stood up and stumbled out, as he did Seth coughed obviously. "Ahem!" Seth scowled Gabe sighed and threw Seth his car keys before walking out the door.
Guess I'm walking to lunch then. Gabe thought disappointed. As he walked around the streets he opened up the GPS on his smartphone, as he did it gave him directions to Joe's. As he approached the scent of ribs and BBQ surrounded him, a smoky thick and rich scent stuck to his skin as he walked though the door a perky stewardess chirped out.
"Howdy! Welcome to Joe's! Go have a seat riiiight over yonder and your server today's name is Emily! Have a great day sir." She smiled widely, Gabe was too drunk right now to read that woman's name tag. He slumped down at that table and tried reading the menu, the words all blended together so he decided to not even bother.

Gabe looked at the woman, the Emily chick. Yeah she was cute and all, but honestly he was too blitzed to care at this point.
"Well tell ya' what Em," Gabe drawled out in a southern accent, wasn't his natural tone but hey why not? "I'll take some hot coffee and then I'll take some ribs if that's not too much for you." Gabe attempted a smile but it came across as more of a grimace. Too much liquor in a day Gabe. He thought running his fingers through his hair and glancing over he saw a woman at the bar who appeared to be homeless, and sickly.Damn, I hope I don't look that fucked over.Gabe thought as he turned his attention back to Emily.
"That's it for now I think Em, thanks." He smiled this time, weakly but he managed.

Alison ordered a burger, fries, and coke. She looked around the room and searched everyone up and down. She saw a drunkard who looked so stoned he couldn't even see. 'gross..' She thought as the waitress came by with her food she continued eating and hurried as if she had to be somewhere.

Gabe looked at his food and smiled. It looked amazing. . . Emily's voice shook him out of his little stupor.
"Uh, I just. . . I usually have 'rough nights' I guess, every night." Gabe shrugged and then added. "A lot of 'us' guys? What do you mean?" Gabe arched one eyebrow and turned to face her fully.

Honestly Gabe could barely remember most of his life because of how drunk he always was. Thankfully for him. When he did remember it scared the shit out of him. So, Gabe decided he would just be drunk permanently.

Gabe grinned wickedly "I think I'll just give you my number honey, if you want my name I guess you'll have to call me sometime." Gabe scribbled his number down on her paper with decent-enough cursive writing before drinking his coffee slowly, smiling at his accomplishment around the rim of his mug.

"Guys like him huh. . .?" Gabe trailed off in a stupor gazing into his coffee, the steam wafting into his face. Sticky heat clinging onto his skin.

Instead of going home, Cameron went to Joe's BBQ, it was closer than home, and he definitely was hungry. He walked into the building, and he saw a bunch of guys from the bar. He saw one guy who stood out, though. It was Gabe, his friend. He walked over to him, and he grinned, "Hey, how's it going Gabe-y?" he'd always called him Gabe-y because he knew it got on his nerves.

Gabe watched Emily walk away, damn she was dredging up feelings Gabe wasn't quite sure he wanted to deal with again.

However that train of thought was interrupted by an old. . . Friend named Cameron. As Cameron approached he used the nickname he knew Gabe hated.
"Hey, Cam. It's going fine I guess, I haven't seen you in years man." Gabe indicated a seat next to him at the bar for Cameron.