Wrapped In Lace And Red In The Face

Every time Erik moved his head, he felt his body freeze as the earrings hit the side of his face. A reminder that they were the focal point. He looked around at the other dangling earrings at the party. Their glare against the lights proved him the outcast. He did not feel the power that they were giving off. These were his first 'loud earrings,' as his mother would say. He was no stranger to studs, but this was a new look. They had a white, pearl exterior surrounding a lace center. His suit sported white lace on the cuffs and fringe, so he figured they were perfect at the time of purchase. As he continued to take in the people around him, he became less and less certain. The ridiculous feeling of everyone knowing he was uncomfortable only brought his hands into tighter fists. The soft panel hit his cheeks, and he froze just inside the entrance of the hotel bar.

The working relationship he shared with the others in the room led to a certain sense of dread. The conference was over, and the last thing he needed was these flashing signs on his head being the reference point for him in the future. Erik knew he was swimming in a sea of regular dangling earring wearers. He could hear it in their accompanying heels, pulled-back hair, potentially purposefully short haircuts, and the casual head tilts to show them off. Their laughter brought them forward in a swaying motion only seen in his daydreams. Erik was not delusional enough to see mirrors before him. They were experts in a field, and he was a hobbyist. Some may even call him an imposter.

To his right, a ring of a recognizable voice came too close for comfort. The bar in the center was a who's-who of the conference. All those who had to give the cold shoulder the rest of the weekend were there, giving all who required their ear for the moment. Everyone knew this was their last chance. Everyone, including Erik, needed to talk to Ervin. Ervin Bolin had arrived moments ago and was already engaged in what seemed to be three conversations at the same time. His suit brought a nauseating confidence, and his name brought power and a promise to Erik’s attention. His boss had asked him to talk to Ervin at least once to get his name in the mix, and he had said yes. These foolish conversations were all before he bought these earrings. Due to Ervin’s importance, he knew this would likely be his final chance. There was no way he would be the type to take a later flight out the next day to hang around and network.

Ervin picked up his drink and moved to a corner with his colleagues. The maneuver brought him to the right of Erik’s current positioning. In one swift motion, Erik moved to the other side of the hotel bar. The room was in a large rectangle, so he figured the perpendicular side was best in this state. They could meet at the next conference, but now he must avoid Ervin at all costs.

His coworker, Seven, was standing in this corner in his own little circle. The nickname was due to his seven buzzer-beater baskets in college before he tore his ACL. He loved to tell all seven stories, and Erik knew all by heart. He was, however, a nice guy who was great at including Erik in the conversation. He made it his target to snake into Seven’s current circle of contacts. Two recognizable shareholders were on Seven's side, so it would not be too much of a leap. As he leaned left to push past another group, the reminder of his discomfort hit his cheeks again. Before he could think about how this would play with Seven and his gang, a waiter cut him off in his frozen state, and the next thing he heard was breaking glass. Those in far corners look towards his section before acknowledging the horror and continuing their conversations. But the immediate stares were all around him, and those stares that just missed his face were a reminder.

He stumbled into a casual position and apologized to the waiter. The waiter let Erik know it was okay, and Erik slowly faded into the crowd as the conversation slowly recommenced. One thing was for sure: he could no longer see Seven. He then decided to go to the next safest spot, the corner on the long end away from Evin.

Making his way over, he saw Gail and Helene engaged in a circle with three people he vaguely recognized. One might have been named Michael, but he couldn’t fully remember. Helene and Erik were close, so this brightened him up. An easy discussion he knew he could stick with and a litmus test for whether he should sneakily remove the earrings. She would be straight with him in the kindest way.

As he arrived at the outside of the circle, Gail swiveled her head to reveal a pair of white lace earrings. Erik did not know Gail too well, but she was an inspiration for both confidence and uniqueness. If she saw the sight of his earrings, there would be no more warm welcome. Erik swiftly but cautiously moved towards the bar. He was unsure if it would be more of a problem for Gail or himself, but it was best not to engage.

The final untainted corner was closest to Ervin and his followers. It was also the barest corner in the room. The chairs were scattered, with some people on their phones or in private conversations with close friends. Some people were waiting for drinks at that section of the bar, and it would be easy to strike up a conversation or nurse a drink. He, once again, was on the move when he felt a tap on the shoulder. His statement pieces swung around with him to meet eyes with Doreen. Doreen was a problem when sober and a nightmare when drunk. He only had to see her at conferences, but she seemed to go to them all. She was never with her other coworkers and was always the first at the bar.

“Erik! I was worried we would miss each other!”

I wasn’t. Erik thought through his smile.

“I had to find you after talking to Helene. She was pretty short with me though. Don't know what her problem is.” Erik knew but would never say. He also felt extra prickly after that comment. “Are you going to the bar? I was gonna take a seat over there, so please join, and we can chat. Oh my god, it’s Laure!”

The woman he assumed to be Laure looked with glee in her eyes as the person she sat with looked at Doreen, clueless to the energy she was about to bring. Erik made his way to the center bar. Both to keep up appearances before Doreen forgot about him, and because it was the only safe space left. The only safe place left for him was right in the middle of the chaos he had left. Erik stood surrounded by what felt like contamination zones. He could not even take a drink as the stress piled on.

Out of nowhere, he heard a voice.

“Can I get another? Thank you.”

It was Ervin, and he knew it. He whipped his head to the right, allowing the lace to touch his cheek. This was his last shot, but at what cost? What did he need to do to make sure Ervin took him seriously?

Ervin’s eyes didn’t make contact. Instead, they looked right past him. He could feel the red beginning to take over his ears. Ervin was going to know this was new. Ervin would smell the lack of confidence.

“Erik, right?” Erik nodded and stuck out his hand. “I love the earrings. Very nice.”

Erik smiled.