Chapter 380: Club TRIC

Saturday, February 4th, Evening (Eastern Standard Time)

(Song Lyrics in italics)

Tonight they were in the Mercedes-Maybach for the first time. Izzy got called back to DC, so Brooke let them use the vehicle for tonight. Brooke smiled and said three young doctors going out should have a nice vehicle. Finally, Candi pulled the SUV into the gravel lot outside Club TRIC.

"You would think they would pave the lot by now," Fawn said.

"Yeah, I don't think I've ever been to a club with a gravel lot, and I've been to some low-end places," Madyson said.

"I asked once," Candi said.

"What was the answer?" Madyson asked.

"They couldn't do it, something to do with drainage," Candi said and parked the SUV, "We're here."

"I do have eyes," Madyson said.

"Are you all set?" Candi asked.

"Yeah," Madyson said.

"Of course," Fawn said.

The three women got out of the SUV and walked towards the club. Candi adjusted the strap of her dress as they got out to the stairs. One thing the gravel lot taught her was to tread carefully. Many people fell crossing the lot.

At the top of the stairs, the doorman, Joe, let them in. Candi, like most of the Scotts, was always on the list. Walking into the club, the three young doctors looked around.

The club is busy tonight. On the stage were several different local bands. Candi looked at the band and their cheap banner duct-taped to the back of the stage; the name on the banner is The Swaggering Jacks. They played a classic rock song, Her Strut; they sounded like a good bar band, maybe boarding on a great bar band.

"The usual?" Candi asked.

"Sure," Fawn said.

"Yeah, why?" Madyson asked.

"Get us seats; somewhere; I'll get the drinks," Candi said.

"Sure," Fawn said.

"Okay," Madyson said.

"Come on, Mads," Fawn said.

The two women walked away, looking for a booth or some sofas. Candi smiled and watched her friends walk off. Candi shrugged and wandered over to the bar. At the bar, Candi stood there and waited for one of the bartenders. Candi noted that Owen was working. It was Owen that came over to take her order. But he was stopped.

She's totally committed
To major independence
But she's a lady through and through
She gives them quite a battle
All that they can handle

"I got this, Owen," the other bartender said.

Candi looked into the blue eyes of a blonde-haired, pierced, and tattooed older woman. If someone could be considered an honorary part of the family, it was this woman. Amy McMichael nodded and looked at Candi.

"How are you doing, Candi?" Amy asked.

"I'm good," Candi said.

"How are things? Any news?" Amy asked.

"No, nothing, I know as much as you do," Candi said.

"Izzy hasn't told you anything?" Amy asked.

Candi shook her head, "No, at least I've not heard from her since she raced back to DC," she said.

"That's got to suck," Amy said.

Candi nodded, "Yeah, it does," she said.

"I see Brooke hooked your friends up," Amy said.

Candi chuckled, "Would you expect anything less?" she asked.

"No, not at all," Amy said, "She's generous to a fault. Brooke bent over backward for Whitter and me when we wanted to re-commit. I swear she insisted we do it at Beaulieu and wouldn't take no for an answer."

"That sounds like her," Candi said.

"She can be scary," Amy said, laughing with that laugh of a person in the know.

"That she can be," Candi said.

"So, anyway, Brooke hooked y'all up," Amy said.

"We even have the Mercedes-Maybach," Candi said.

"Oh! She must love you," Amy said.

"That she does," Candi said.

"So, what can I get you?" Amy asked.

She'll bruise some
She'll hurt some too
But oh they love to watch her strut
Oh they do respect her but
They love to watch her strut

Candi told Amy, and the older woman made up their drinks. Slowly, Candi walked across the club. She knew that both men and women were checking her out. Candi also knew some of it was the dress she wore, and the rest was she kept herself in good shape.

The sad fact was she had little time for any entanglements. Some of the attention from men is appreciated; it made her feel they noticed her work. Candi knew she wasn't into women. Candi smirked; she wasn't into men that much, or women, in fact, too much baggage. Anyway, she had to finish her specialty training.

Sometimes they'll want to leave her
Just give up and leave her
But they would never play that scene
In spite of all her talking
Once she starts in walking

Candi arrived at the sofa Fawn grabbed and passed out the drinks. Each woman was fortunate enough to have their own sofa. Candi looked at her friends/housemates and held up her drink.

"So, who poured for us?" Fawn asked, teasing.

"Who do you think? Amy," Candi said.

Fawn smiled, "She always hooks us up," she said.

"That's her job; she manages the bar here," Candi said.

"So, I watched the news today," Madyson said.

"So? We all did," Fawn said.

"I was wondering if what's happening over in Europe is the reason Izzy went back to Washington DC," Madyson said.

"She's supposed to be in the capital anyway," Candi said.

"But her leaving the way she did…." Madyson said.

"More than likely," Candi said, "I wasn't there when she got the call."

"Wasn't that where your brother is?" Madyson asked.

"Mads?" Fawn asked.

"It's okay, Fawn," Candi said, "Yes, Mads, my brother's unit is over there. We don't know if it was involved or what even really happened. Izzy hasn't called to tell us any more than what we know."

Candi sighed and leaned back on her sofa. On the news, there were rumors of causalities. Candi had only one brother, and she couldn't see life without Keith, well, at least not yet.

The lady will be all they ever dreamed
Oh they'll love to watch her strut
Oh they'll kill to make the cut
They love to watch her strut

Candi shook her head.

"What's wrong?" Fawn asked.

"Nothing," Candi said.

"I don't think that's anything," Fawn said.

"Just thinking about Keith," Candi said.

"I'm sure Keith is okay, Candi," Madyson said.

"Yeah, Candi, they would let someone know if Keith was hurt," Madyson said.

"Yeah, Izzy," Candi said.

"She wouldn't keep it from your dad," Fawn said.

Candi nodded and looked off to the band.

"Candi, we're here if you need us," Madyson said.

"Mads, nothing is going to happen," Fawn said.

"Fawn, don't do that BS; we know bad things can and do happen," Madyson said.

"That's not what she needs to hear right now," Fawn said.

"What I need right now is to enjoy my last night in Tree Hill," Candi said.

Fawn nodded, "So, raises a good point," she said.

Madyson leaned forward and held up her drink. "To one last night," Madyson said.

Candi leaned forward and held up her drink. "One last night," she said.

Fawn nodded and joined them. "One more night," she said.

They clicked their glasses together, and Candi smiled.

Yeah love to watch her strut
Watch her strut