CHAPTER 2: FLIRTY FRIEDA

Everyone was at the Bronze Beagle enjoying the night together. Charlie finally made it out to Shermy's bar named for his own beagle. Pat was his date, of course. Also out there was Franklin and Eudora, Mary and Monica, Pig Pen and Frieda, Lucy, Linus, and Sally. Schroeder stayed at home due to Lucy being with them. They had heard about Patty finally awakening and decided to celebrate her coming out of the coma she was in.

"To Patty," toasted Franklin, "finally awakening after weeks of being under." And everyone toasted Patty. Though she was still in the hospital finishing her recovery, they were glad she was back. And all would come to visit her when they could.

Later that night, Charlie and Pat were talking with Shermy at his private spot in the bar. Charlie, in particular, wanted to catch up with his good friend.

"Who else have you talked to that we knew?" asked Charlie.

"Well did you know that Charlotte Braun briefly came back to town?" Shermy said.

"Really?!"

"Yeah. While you were still in San Diego, Charlotte had moved back for a year or so. She later moved out east in the D.C. area somewhere."

"What is she doing now?"

"Working in politics."

"She has the voice for it, that's for sure."

"Actually, she doesn't talk loud anymore, or rather, not as loud as she did as a kid. You can still hear her, but it's not ear-bleedingly loud." Both men laughed at the memory of hearing Charlotte's loud voice.

"I never knew Charlotte before then," said Pat. "It was probably before I met you guys that she was around."

"Yeah, she was an old friend of ours," said Charlie. "Let's just say she was the only girl who could nearly match Lucy in loudness."

"Well, to be fair, even I couldn't hold a candle to Charlotte Braun." Lucy had joined the group after getting a non-alcoholic beer.

"Lucy, you're not drinking normal beer?" asked Charlie.

"Nope," Lucy answered. "Trying to stay sober. Plus with the meds I'm on, I can't mix alcohol with them, anyway. I hear that Violet's trial is coming to an end soon."

"It is, Lucille," said Pat. "She really put Chuck here and his family through the ringer with her actions."

"Well all of you know how much I used to tease Charlie myself," said Lucy, somberly. "As I got older, and after I got locked up myself, I realize how detrimental my actions were to everyone. I knew I was hurting more than helping."

"Well, to be fair, Lucy, you were right about some stuff when it came to me," said Charlie. "I was too wishy-washy, and I was a pushover. While you relished in teasing me, you also were being brutally honest with me, as well. That's what made you different from Violet. You actually had feelings and even felt feelings. Violet was heartless and jealous. She never thought about consequences, until it was too late. Now her father had cut her off and she's finally seeing what her actions had cost her. At least I hope she's seeing it."

"Well just the same, Charlie, I would never tease you or do even half of the things I used to do ever again."

"I believe you, Lucy. I can see the change."

Elsewhere in the bar, Pig Pen was looking for Frieda. He walked up to where Thibault was working. He said, "Hey Thibault, you've seen Frieda?"

"Naw, man," said Thibault. The last I saw her was on the dance floor dancing with some dude."

Pig Pen kept on walking around trying to find his girlfriend. What he saw almost shook him to the core. He saw her in the back area with a tall guy straddling him as he tried to get her number. He was also trying to make out with her.

"Come on, bae!" he pleaded. "Let me get yo' digits!"

"I told you, honey, I have a boyfriend," said Frieda. "He's here with me and I don't want to upset him."

"You're too late!" growled an angry Pig Pen.

"Matt!" exclaimed Frieda. "How long have you've been there?!"

"Long enough!" Pig Pen hissed. "You can let one of the gang give you a ride home! Or maybe your new plaything there!" And he went to pay his tab.

"Here, Thibault, I'm cashing out!" he announced.

"You found her?" asked Thibault.

"Oh did I fucking ever, dude!" steamed Pig Pen. After paying, he headed for the door. Shermy stopped him mid-flight.

"Hey Pig Pen, everything okay?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

"No, Sherm," said Pig Pen. "I'll tell you about it later. Right now I need to head home."

"Where's Frieda?" asked Shermy.

"Oh nearly making out with some dude!" he answered through gritted teeth. "Talk to you later, man." And he headed out the door. Frieda was running up towards Shermy.

"Sherm, have you seen Pig Pen?" she asked.

"Just went out the door," Shermy answered. "What the hell happened, Frieda?"

"I'll explain later, right now I need to stop him from leaving," said a frantic Frieda. She ran out the club chasing after Pig Pen.

"MATT, WAIT!" But it was too late. Pig Pen had sped off into the night. Frieda just stood there and watched him leave. Charlie, Pat, Shermy, Lucy, Linus, and Sally came out to see what the commotion was all about.

"What just happened?" asked Charlie.

"I messed up big time, that's what!" said Frieda, beginning to tear up. "I may have lost one of the greatest men around due to my flirty attitude."

"Well, at least you acknowledge you have a problem," Sally retorted.

"Are you going to need a ride home?" asked Lucy.

"Would you, Lucy?" sobbed Frieda.

"Of course," Lucy replied. "Linus, could I borrow your car?"

"Here's the keys," said Linus, and he tossed them to Lucy.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," Lucy said.

"I'll have Butch allow you back in, Lucy," offered Shermy.

"Thanks, Shermy," said Lucy. And both women left for Frieda's place. Everyone else went back inside the Beagle. Frieda knew she had to make things right with Pig Pen, or lose him forever.

NEXT CHAPTER: HOW DO YOU FIND THE DEFENDANT?