Jeremy was lucky to avoid lunch rush traffic and arrived a few minutes before noon the following day. He wore the same outfit as yesterday (after washing it, of course) and hoped his new boss understood his financial situation enough to let it slide. He pushed open the double doors and stepped into the establishment, the AC current hitting him in the face upon entering.

Freddy's was a large building that looked more like a 1920's theater than an elite night club. There were dozens of tables and several expansive booths around the floor, each with a candle and tablet cloth sitting upon it. A bar was to Jeremy's far right that sported an array of various alcohols sitting on the shelf and a wood countertop with stools lining the bar area. There was what Jeremy assumed to be a private loft on a second floor with railings to overlook the first floor. The stage in the far back wall of the room had a half circle stage and had red velvet curtains that were currently closed across the stage.

Jeremy was met by a man who came from a door near the stage not too long after stepping in. The man was eastern Asian and had messy black hair, thick-framed glasses, and a bit of noticeable pudge. He wore a nametag on his blue uniform that simply said "Payton" in black font.

"You must be the new night guard!" Payton said in a cheerful voice and stuck out his hand, "The name's Payton. Payton Griffiths. I'm your new teacher for the next hour."

"Jeremy Fitzgerald," Jeremy replied as he shook the other's hand. Damn, he has a sweaty palm, he thought.

"Boy, I sure was getting worried we'd never find another night guard. I've been working my ass off, and the wife's been at my throat for it. The old guy, he left so suddenly… he, uh, moved over to Michigan, I-I think. It's a damn shame- he was really nice guy… Anyways, it's great you're part of us now!"

Jeremy just nodded mindlessly, looking around the place without really listening to Payton.

"Yeah, isn't this place beautiful?" Payton continued, looking around in admiration, "The boss said this used to be an old theater back in the 20's, but the previous owners gutted most of the place out and redid the whole thing."

'What happened to them?" Jeremy asked, "The previous owners."

"Not sure. The boss said they, uh, went bankrupt, o-or something. I can't remember, he told me so long ago. But the rumors you've probably heard are just a load of bull, I can tell you that." Payton was fidgeting his hand throughout the entire conversation. There was a moment of silence between the two before Payton spoke up again. "Here, lemme just show you around."

Right as Payton was talking, the door Payton came through earlier opened once more. A black woman with a cloud of brown curly hair on her head, bright pink lipstick, and a giant purse over her shoulder came through. She stopped when she saw Jeremy and furrowed her brows.

"Jeremy…?" She muttered. Jeremy was puzzled as well- he felt like she looked familiar, but then it finally hit him. That large puff of hair and vibrant lips were positively unmistakeable.

"Fritz?"

Fritz ran up to Jeremy and practically threw herself into a hug on him, nearly knocking the other off his feet. She let go of him after giving a squeeze and was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Is it really you?" Fritz said, "Oh my god, it's been so long! You're practically the same as you were in high school, but you've definitely been working out- your bicep is as thick as my neck!"

"Heh, you've changed a lot yourself," Jeremy replied. Fritz had become a very pretty young woman over the years- no more glasses, no braces, and her pear-shaped figure had filled her out quite nicely. Though her exuberant and loud personality remained the same as always.

"You two, uh, know each other?' Payton piped up, looking between the two.

"Are you kidding?" Fritz exclaimed, "We were so tight in high school. We-" Fritz stopped her thought and thumped herself on the head in a 'duh' moment. "Oh yeah, you're supposed to be in training. Sorry, sorry. I'm just so happy to see you again. Uh, how about meet me at Starbucks down the street after your training? When does he get out, Pay?"

"Um, about one? Maybe earlier," Payton replied, scratching behind his head.

Fritz clapped her hands together. "Great! Sound good, Jer?"

"Yeah, that's fine." Jeremy replied. He waved at Fritz as she headed out the door, still a bit disoriented from this sudden rush of nostalgia.

"She's a loud one, isn't she?" Payton muttered as he watched Fritz leave, then turning to Jeremy, "Come one, I'll give you the grand tour."

They two men both went through and disappeared through the stage door.