Chapter 82

Susan had to go but she posted messages for Abby and Weaver if they wanted to come, when and where to show up. She hoped someone would end up coming so it wouldn't just be her, Matt, Ben, Anna, and Doug. That would be way too awkward. She went home to get dressed and...After dawning a nice red skirt and a black top, made her way to the club to wait for her friends. 'Please god don't let this go to hell' she thought.

Anna put her arm around Matt as they walked into the Lava Lounge. She looked around for Susan. She finally spotted her and Ben and they walked over to join them, she had left her hair down and was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. She looked at Susan smiling, as Matt pulled a chair out from the table for her, "Hey Susan, Ben. I must say Susan you have a knack for picking places." She said as she felt Matt's hand on her back letting her know that he was there for her.

Susan looked around. The place wasn't crowded but it was filling. "What? I like this place." she teased. i asked a few other people to show up...kind of left a note on the cork board so hopefully we wont get Romano or anyone like that." she said with a laugh. "Why don't you pull up a seat?" Susan said making room for her.

Forty-five minutes later Allison was finally ready. Doug hated it when woman took forever. "I told you it was casual" he said looking at her very short dress.

"This is casual" she said looking back at him.

Doug just sighed and pulled up the car for her. It took him only a few minutes to find the bar, and once they parked Doug got out almost at a run. This girl was already pissing him off.

"I'm so excited to meet your friends!" she kept telling him before he opened the door for her. She went in first and almost screamed. "This is so neat!"

Doug screwed on a fake smile but his heart sank as he saw Anna over with Susan and two other guys. He didn't need this tonight. "Allison..." he whispered trying to get her to leave before they were noticed."Lets..." but she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bar. Reluctantly Doug walked over to their table and stood with a rather bouncy Allison and he put on his best 'i hate my life' smile. "Hey guys" he managed to say.

Anna looked up, "hey," she said giving her best fake smile. She couldn't believe the woman that was with him. She kneed Susan under the table. Okay Anna be nice, friendly, and don't pick any fights, Oh she would have loved to have smacked him hard. Anna looked around and saw that they had karaoke. "You know what I'm going to go down and sing, might as well cut loose and have some fun." Anna got up, "baby what you want to hear?" She asked Matt, he muttered a song in her ear and she smiled, "you got it. Why don't you get us something to drink and I'll be right back." She didn't want to sit there with Doug and his new girl. She walked over to the little make shift stage and flipped thru the music sheets looking for what she wanted.

Kerry walked into the Lava Lounge. She had left Carter, Chen and Luka working. But a night out with colleagues sounded rather well, fun. She spotted Susan and Doug sitting over at a table and headed over. "Hope I'm not too late." She said as she looked for a spot to sit. "Is that Anna up there?" Kerry said as Anna started to sing. "She's pretty good."

Anna started to sing "toxic," she crossed the floor over to where Matt was standing taking him by the hand. And pulling him back with her. If Doug was going to bring his little thing here, she was going to put up her best front that she had moved on. Anna even though she wouldn't admit it was jealous. As she sang she put forward her best seductive moves on the dance floor. She let the music and her jealousy control her moves. After all the song was Matt's idea and she knew that he knew what was going on between her and Doug. As protective as he was of her, he still wanted her to have a good time. And this was taking her mind off everything that was going on, at least for now.

Doug took a seat and got one for Allison. He tried not to show the fact that he was upset at her having a good time. At least Allison looked like she was having fun. Doug hated the song...hated the way she danced with that guy. Hated everything. "Come on Allison...lets throw darts."

She gave a rather blonde smile. "I don't know how..." Doug didn't care. He wasn't going to sit here and watch this. He grabbed her hand and led her to the board. If she could make him jealous, he knew he could do the same. As the dong ended he wrapped his arm around Allison's waist he held her hand in the other, showing her how to hold the dart.

He rested his chin on her shoulder and made over exaggerated laughs at all her joke. While she was trying to throw he kissed the side of her neck causing her to giggle. 'That'll teach Anna you act like a freaking slut in front of my friends' he thought. Doug wished they could both be more mature about it all but revenge felt better.

Anna finished her song. As they headed back to the table she about lost all of her self control. The way he was holding on to Allison...was the way that he used to hold onto her. No she wasn't going to let her mind go there. She sat back down as she pulled her chair a little closer to Matt's so that his arm could be around her. Anna wished that she could be drinking something other than lemon water.

After Allison hit the wall, missing the board all together, more than a few times Doug decided to call it quits. He headed back over to their table and sat down. He took a sip of his bourbon and leaned back against the chair watching other people dance. "It's nice that we could all be here huh?" he said as a general question. He was looking for something to do so he didn't have to sit and watch Anna and matt. "Allison, we should go sing." he said putting his arm around the back of her chair. Her eyes lit up.

"Yeah sure! What though?" Doug's mind searched as he stood up. "Do you know jack and Diane?" Allison stared at him blankly.

"oh come on... you know John Mellenc..." doug just shook his head that was embarassing. "Nevermind I'll just sing one myself first...but you think of one and we'll do it together." Doug's legs shook as he walked up the look at the possible songs. He couldn't believe he was actually nervous. As he scanned the list he smiled as his eyes fell on the perfect one. Playing the words in his head it was the only one that made him think of Anna...it's was perfect. Doug sat on the edge of the stage and waited for the couple singing to finish.

Anna watched them walk away as she shook her head, laughing "oh my god she doesn't know John Mellencamp...what rock did he find her under." Anna put her head on Matt's shoulder.

Doug gave Allison a smile and handed her a ten dollar bill. "Why don't you go buy us a drink while I'm up here...save my seat ok?" he gave her a wink and watched her walk away. "That was rough" he said to himself. So much for her taste in music being a saving grace. Doug looked up as the couple got off the stage. He took a deep breath and stood up, grabbing the microphone and smiling at his friends. He even gave Anna a friendly wink. After telling the piano player what song he was doing he took a breath as the music started...

Hey baby, is that you?
Wow, your hair got so long
Yeah, yeah, I love it, I really do
'Norma Jean', ain't that the song
We'd sing in the car
Drivin' downtown, top down
Making the rounds
Checking out the bands on Doheeney Avenue
Yeah, life throws you curves
But you learned to swerve
Me I swung and I missed
And the next thing ya know
I'm reminiscin' dreaming old dreams
Wishing on wishes
Like you would be back again
I wake up and tear drops
They fall down like rain
I put on that old song we danced to and then
I head off to my job
Guess not much has changed
Punch the clock
Head for home
Check the phone, just incase
Go to bed
Dream of you
That's what I'm doing these days

Doug couldn't help it. He stared at Anna the whole time through the first verse. Once he hit the chorus he closed his eyes to hit the high note but got right back on track. He was putting everything he had into the song...hoping she might notice.

Someone told me after college
You ran off to Vegas
You married a rodeo cowboy
Wow, that ain't the girl I knew
Me I've been a few places
Mostly here and there once or twice
Still sortin' out life, but I'm doing alright
Yeah, it's good to see you too
Hey girl, you're late
And those planes, they don't wait
But if you ever come back around
To this sleepy old town
Promise you'll stop in
To see an old friend
And until then...
I wake up and tear drops
They fall down like rain
I put on that old song we danced to and then
I head off to my job
Guess not much has changed
Punch the clock
Head for home
Check the phone, just incase
Go to bed
Dream of you
That's what I'm doing these days

For once in awhile his intention wasn't to make her jealous, or hurt, but to show her he was sorry...the only way he could. He didn't know if she'd get it but he was sure trying. Doug finished the song and took a small bow as people applauded him. He gave a small grin as he jumped off the stage. He really only cared about what Anna thought. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked back over to the table and sat down.

Susan watched Doug on stage. He was doing a really good job. Boy could he sing. "Wow...he's really good" she said to the table. She felt some funny vibe going on between him and Anna but wasn't quite sure.

She couldn't hide it anymore and there was no holding it back now as the tears started to fall. She quickly untangled herself from Matt when he hit the second verse. As they song ended, she stood up from the chair, she could barely see from the tears falling from her eyes as she fumbled to grab her coat and keys. "I have to go, I'm sorry Susan, I thought that I could do this, but," she choked on her tears," I can't...I can't... Matt I'm sorry." She ran for the door as fast as her legs would allow her. Not stopping until she was outside in the cold Chicago air could she breathe again. She leaned against her car trying to get it all under control.