Situationshipped

Justin was disgustingly chewing gum. Barry leaned on a pillar-like thing holding up the gazebo and tried to focus on whatever some dude was talking about. Barry couldn't remember his name because his method of remembering names involved associating a name with some striking feature. And Mr. Nameless was the plainest looking white dude he'd ever seen: blonde hair cut at Great Clips, logo-less glasses, and a punchable frat boy face.

Justin blew a bubble, and Barry wanted to scratch off the bit of gum struggling to hang onto his upper lip. Barry noticed Leila talking quickly to a group of girls in another corner. She smiled and looked as carefree as she always did. He was her plus one as of that morning. They'd had sex the night before. Or was that a one-night stand? Waking up to her "want to go to a wedding?" text was odd. She'd left her jacket in his apartment, but she hadn't said a word when he gave it to her on the car ride to the wedding. Their mutual friend Brendon had picked them both up at Leila's place.

The Brass and Mill brewery wasn't much to look at, but it would keep the beer flowing, not that Barry cared much for beer. He drank his purple IPA slowly while Mr. Nameless criticized him for "nursing" it. Then Leila was at his side and asked him to try her drink. He did. It was even stronger than his drink and Barry made a sourpatch kids face. Leila giggled and Barry felt something. He remembered that giggle from when he'd first met her on a walking trail across from a Panda Express about a year ago. Her dog had met his dog, and Barry had met Leila. They'd been friends for a year and then, as of last night, maybe they were something more.

The wedding started and ended. Barry was bored but glad he could quietly sip his drink during the "I do's". He didn't know these fucking people and by the way the bride smiled—as if a torturer was asking her to smile while he branded her—they'd be divorcing soon anyway.

By this point, the reception started, and Barry switched to liquor. He sat across from Leila while they ate whatever odd foods they found at the wedding buffet. 

Why can't weddings just cater Chick-fil-A? he thought as he stared at his plate of green beans, mashed potatoes and thin slices of some kind of cow meat.

Barry wished he was more drunk for the unavoidable bride-groom, bride-father, and groom-mother dances. Ed Sheeran songs fit the atmosphere all too well. Others filled the dance floor as the DJ dished out whatever he considered a proper mix of line dances and club songs.

Leila looked at Barry with a "let's dance" face, but Barry was like, "I need a few more of these," and pointed at his tequila-Sprite. Leila frowned but just started talking to her new friend, Jess. Jess had massive tits and rounder features than Leila, but Barry reflected that his connection to Leila was what made their "situationship" special. 

The DJ called for a line dance, and Barry noticed that Leila could fucking dance. Barry's moves, even with alcohol, always felt choppy and forced. He hated the overwhelming feeling that washed over him: that Leila could have anyone she wanted. Justin was tall and dancing behind Leila, and the gum was mercifully gone from his lip now. And then Barry saw them grind a bit during the expected-but-not-anticipated "wobble" dance. And by the time Usher was singing "Yeah", Justin had his hands on her stomach, and Leila had her ass all over him. It became even more palpable as the rest of the conservative group seemed to create a space around them, which created a sort of force field that brazenly flaunted their electric chemistry. Barry remembered how Leila had seemed unimpressed with him in the bedroom, and he drank some more. 

Brendon found him. "You okay man?"

"Yeah," Barry lied. 

Brendon saw through it. "Yeah man sometimes she gets this way. I know she talked about last night and all."

"She told you?"

"Yeah, and she was talking about how it went and stuff but I reminded her that sometimes it takes time to build that kind of chemistry, ya know?"

"Yeah maybe," said Barry, clamming up at his glib words.

"You're the real deal, man. I could definitely see y'all together."

Mercifully, Barry had an excuse to refill his drink. He was ready to leave. The wedding was wrapping up. Leila found Barry and tried to talk to him, but Barry answered curtly. Leila scoffed and went back to Justin, got his number, and then walked back to Barry and Brendon with a "let's go."

Barry sat in the car and shut his eyes on the way home, but he couldn't sleep. 

"I could tell Justin has a big dick," whispered Leila. 

"That's not cool."

"What do you mean?"

"Is Barry asleep?"

Barry could almost feel Leila looking at him. "Yeah he's passed out."

"Barry likes you."

"I like him too but I don't know."

"And I get that, but you shouldn't be grinding on dudes when you fucking invited him out."

"I'll do whatever the fuck I want."

Brendon sighed and played some music. 

Barry's car was at Leila's place, and Barry didn't say anything to Brendon when he dropped them off. Brendon and Leila were such close friends. It wouldn't be right to keep in contact with him either. 

Leila walked Barry to his car and tried talking to him, but he wouldn't reply. She laughed at him: "You're not even gonna say anything?"

"What's the fucking point?" said Barry. He got in his car and drove off.