"Vee, I'm outside. And close your blinds will you? I can see straight into your house." The car was parked in front of her drive way and I sat looking at the emptiness of the road ahead. I felt someone in the darkness of the road looking back at me, but my stare was interrupted by Vee's late response.
"Shut up egg head, my blinds are broken and I'm on my way down now."
I chuckled. "Get some new ones smart ass."
I saw her door open and I ended the call. She looked fabulous as always; her blond hair cupped her face and voluptuous frame. She had a tight black dress that hung off one shoulder and the hem came up to her mid-thigh, and had red pumps to accentuate the whole outfit. It was simple and classy, but her smoky make up added that little bit of flare.
She hopped in the passenger seat and pulled out a CD from her purse.
"I've been waiting to listen to this on your booming system for a while now." She pushed the CD in the dashboard radio.
"Is that all you wanted me for?" I asked pretending to be hurt.
"Pretty much eggy." She smiled. "And what is it I hear about you not looking good enough for the men in the local bar?" She was referring to my text earlier. "You are the most beautiful chick in this town! Damn, I wish I looked as exotic as you do"
"Vee, shut up! You do look exotic! How many blonde girls do you know who has as many curves as you?" I looked at her like a man would to tease her. "Damn girl you fine!" I couldn't hold in my laugh.
"We are two fine ass mother effers!" Vee yelled out the window as we drove off.
We parked in the lot to Bo's Arcade and despite what happened earlier, it was the only bar I knew of and trusted.
"Hey Nick," Bo greeted. "Entry fee is twenty bucks."
"Bo, cut the crap." I raised my eyebrow.
"Just kidding loves, go on in."
I laughed lightly and pushed the wooden door to that all too familiar smell of sweat, smoke, and booze.
Vee sat in a stool close to the bathrooms and I sat next to her looking around at the people playing pool in the corners of the hall. I found it oddly comforting to watch them, I guess it's because I've grown used to it.
I looked towards the pool table the furthest away from me and felt someone in the darkest corner staring at me. That same feeling I had in the car waiting for Vee.
I shrugged it off and turned to Rick, my next door neighbor and the bartender for tonight.
"Hey Nick." He smiled wiping a beer glass.
"Hey Rick." I sighed.
"Aw, isn't that cute. Your names even rhyme!" Vee teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Give us two Long Islands and a side shot of vodka."
"You okay about what happened on your last shift?" Rick looked at me with sad eyes as he sat the glasses on the table.
"I always manage to get though these things, you know that." I thought about the area downstairs where I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the wood floors of blood. Things like that happened all the time here at the arcade and things always go back to normal. The cops wouldn't dare shut us down because they come to this bar all the time and play poker down stairs like everyone else does. Without Bo's, everyman in Clearwater would have to drive to the next town for a drink.
Rick passed us our drinks and I gulped down the first shot immediately. Vee glanced at me for a sec before sipping her drink. I can tell she was going to be asking me questions later.
Tonight was our lucky night; Bo let us have free drinks all night and he knew I needed it. Bo has become somewhat of a family member of mine, he's always looking out for me, even if it wasn't in the most conventional way, he still had my best interests in mind. I sort of loved him for that.
"Hey Ricky, you mind driving me and Vee home tonight? I don't want to worry about driving safely." I wanted to get this cleared up before I got too drunk.
"Whose car am I taking?"
"We can take mine and then I'll drop you off at work tomorrow morning."
He agreed and kept the drinks coming.