"I can call them back," he said automatically. Lexi felt as if she had traveled back in time six years, and Danielle would be on the other line.
"You know, perhaps this feels a little too familiar," Lexi said sitting up and pulling away from him.
He coughed uneasily and righted himself on the sofa. "You're right. Sorry."
She could tell he wasn't. It didn't matter though. He was doing the right thing. She was doing the right thing. For once.
* * *
K.A. Linde
That Thing You Do
'Cause we, could be happy can't you see,
If you'd only let me be the one to hold you,
And keep you here with me
Cause it hurts me so just to see you go,
Around with someone new,
Every time you doing that thing you do
- The Wonders "That Thing You Do"
* * *
Chapter 4: August Five Years Earlier
Flashes of silver light careened around the open dance floor sending blurred, refracting images across the wide-eyed girls shaking their asses in time with the rap beats blaring from the projection speakers. Saturday night at Chamber showcased new DJ spinning talent, and for the sea of wall-to-wall listeners nothing could get better. Several bartenders distributed lethal quantities of whatever one's heart desired in alcohol. The medium-sized rectangular room divided in two by sliding glass doors separating the dance space from the more secluded lounge area which was covered with romantic nooks and couches that practically swallowed you whole. A raised platform designed in an L-shape leaned against one wall in the dance hall and had a black bar against the open side to avoid any serious drunken injuries. Beefy security guards in bright yellow Chamber polos remained stationed in precarious locations as a rather deliberate reminder for the drunkards to keep their cool. One too many customers had found themselves sprawled on their ass on the outside pavement after a fight broke out or the Fire Marshall deemed the building to be over the limit, which tended to happen most nights. Tonight was no exception.
"I need six lemon drops, three Bud Lights, two Jager bombs, and an Amaretto sour," Trina demanded of the tiny red headed bartender. The girl looked frantic pulling random bottles off the shelf and replacing them almost instantly. She grabbed several shot glasses placing them haphazardly on the bar before glancing up at her customer helplessly.
"How many shots did you want?" the girl asked her voice coming out mousy.
Trina rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. "Honey, why are you working the busiest night of the week if you can't take an order? I said six"
A blush crept up across her cheeks and down her neck. "I…uh…" the girl stammered not anticipating the harassment.
"I mean really, what was Joe thinking hiring someone so incompetent?" Trina questioned her further leaning forward against the bar. Her eyes were locked with the mouse who looked terrified. Several of the surrounding customers looked anxiously over at Trina. Some just looked angry that she was taking up so much time with the only bartender at this end of the bar. A small blond girl standing to her right nudged her lightly in the ribs giving her a shut the f**k up look. Trina didn't even register the jab. She was smiling instead at the girl behind the bar. "What's your name sweetheart?"
"Mary," she said fumbling with the bottle opener. Mary getting even more flustered managed to drop the metal opener. She quickly ducked down to retrieve it only to continue to be badgered.
Trina smirked at the girl maliciously. "Seems like you are better suited for church…Mary," she said dragging her name out. The girl just glanced up meekly not even able to form words. Her eyes were beginning to well up with unshed tears.
"Trina, stop being such a bitch," another girl said materializing next to the redhead. The voluptuous bartender scooted Mary to the side with her hip and began expertly filling the order.
Trina's smile widened at the sight. "Chasity, I thought I would have to break your newbie before you got over here. What took you so long?"
"I'd like to remind you that you are underage darling," Chasity quipped pushing the beers across the counter. "Might I also point out," she said thrusting the bottle opener into the back pocket of her micro mini jean skirt and leaning into one hip, "that three-fourths of the people in here know that."
Mary's eyes bulged. "Oh my God, Chasity, I had no idea. I wouldn't have served her if I'd known."
Chasity rolled her eyes and her innocent naivety. "We don't ID at the bar silly girl." Mary's blush returned in full force. "Anyway, you should recognize Trina here as one of our All-American gymnasts."
"Thanks for the introduction. Why not add a lemon drop to that order for yourself and little Mary too," Trina said fishing out her credit card and passing it to Chasity who stuffed it into her red bra strap. Chasity added two more glasses to the counter and began filling them with clear liquid. Trina held a shot in hand and beckoned the couple off the dance floor.
Lexi brushed her side-swept bangs off her glistening forehead as she made her way to Trina and the rest of the group. Trina smiled as she approached a shot appearing in front of her face. "For you my dear," she said passing her the drink.
Lexi reached forward to extract another shot from the bar and passed it to the guy standing behind her before diving back in and retrieving two sugar coated lemon slices. The eight people in attendance smacked their glasses against one another and downed the contents feeling the familiar burn of vodka. Quickly inserting the lemon slice into her mouth, Lexi instantly felt the dizzying effects of the alcohol, even stumbling a little. "Ugh," she groaned leaning back against the guy's shoulder, "I can't feel my legs. Is that bad?"
He wrapped his arm around her tiny waist securing her in place. "Don't worry. I gotcha."
"I know you do," she said nuzzling her nose into his neck affectionately.
He jumped upon contact. "Damn. Your nose is freezing. How are you that cold? We were just dancing" he asked breaking away from her. She shrugged leaning forward against Trina's chair.
"Who's the new girl?" Lexi asked nodding towards the redheaded bartender.
"Mary," Trina said cocking her head sideways as she studied the girl. "Chasity was just introducing her to me."
Lexi's head shot up at the name. Her head swiveled around the bar expecting to catch a glimpse of very familiar dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes. No matter how many times she came to Chamber, she continued to register the same reaction at the mention of Chasity. After all, Jack had been a regular of hers at one point in time.