Happy New Year everybody! Thank you for your kind reviews, you rock!
Enjoy,
So ;)
ps: scuby thank you for giving me ideas :)
wee idgie, I'm sorry, but we won't know who or if someone was really in the locker, I leave it to your imagination.
Act 4: Catherine
Tough shift and long night, not to mention another odd episode with Sara. Speaking of which, I'm looking for her and I think Greg might have been daydreaming again. I look at the address I wrote down and my surroundings again, yep I'm at the right place, but I think it might have been a mistake. I swear if Greg was joking it was of really bad taste, he better hopes that I find Sara inside that place or I will kill him.
I walk in the building and to my surprise I see Sara sitting at the bar, sipping her glass and enjoying her surrounding. I order a ginger ale and walk to her.
"So what's a woman like doing in a place like this," I say and sit down on the stool next to her.
She looks at me blankly with a smirk on her face. "Wow, I thought that line was long dead," she chuckles.
"I'm old…that's all I've got to work with, so cut me some slack," I come back. We laugh softly and then she takes a sip of her drink. "Can I get you something?"
I rise my glass. "I'm good thank you."
"Oh sorry, I didn't see you already had one. So…" she sighs. "What bring you here?"
"I figured you'd be here," she eyes me suspiciously. "Well…Greg figured you'd be here," I admit and she smirks. "I have to admit," I start while looking at the stage. "…it was a bit of a revelation that after a rough night you come to one of the most upscale strip club in Vegas."
"This place is nice," she shrugs.
"I know it is…nothing like the place I worked in."
She closes her eyes and shakes her head "Nope…funny, 'cause I just can't picture you as a stripper."
I turn back toward her "You've tried picturing me as a stripper?"
"I just did."
I smirk. "How far did you get?"
"Nowhere, it just doesn't fit…can't picture you as a stripper."
"I was very good…"
"I'll have to trust your word," she shrugs again.
I let silence settling between us and watch around as dancers make their routine. "Do you watch when you come here or do you ever get a lap dance?"
"I never stay long…just long enough to…" she trails off and clears her throat before taking another sip. "I never stay long."
"Long enough to what?" I smile, not letting her off the hook.
She clears her throat again. "Some girls finish their shift at this time…I kind of stay just long enough to have a drink or two with anyone who catches my attention."
I raise an eyebrow. "You ever take one of them home?"
She chuckles and looks at me as if to say 'duh'. "That's kind of the point you know."
Some unpleasant feeling mingle with unexplainable anger rise inside me, and I'm bother with myself for this lack of control over my feelings.
"You see that red head on the far right?" she asks me in a hushed tone. I nod, taking a look in the direction she indicates me. I see a young woman – between 25 and 30 years old. I'm about to ask Sara why she pointed her to me when she keeps on. "I think she fancies me," she says clearing her throat.
Wow okay.
"I think I'm going to take you up on that drink offer," I reply trying to fight the sudden dizziness.
"Bart, two more please," she orders before turning her attention to the red head who's smiling at her. "I'm going to wait a little while longer before going on and talk to her," she adds.
I drain my glass in one go feeling the heat burning my throat and spreading lower. I make sign to the bartender to refill my glass. "So you're going to taker her home?"
"Hopefully," she nods and glances to the woman quickly. "If the way she keeps looking at me is of any indication I'd say she's at least a bit interested in having a drink with me."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why?" she asks confused.
"Why would you take her home?"
"Well looking at her I'm sure she's one to debate about physic theories and new forensic methods," she rolls her eyes. "To get to know her a little and have fun Catherine."
I drain my second glass in one big gulp fuelling the fire already raging in me. I couldn't say what forces me to do my next move but I reach out and run my fingers through Sara's hair, then I turn a bit so I can make eye contact with the red head before focusing on Sara again and running my fingers down her arms.
"What are you doing?" Sara asks me clearly puzzled with a movement of recoil.
"Nothing," I frown innocently. I lean in to her and whisper in her ear. "I'm going to the ladies' room…don't go anywhere," I let my fingers trail up her arm to her shoulder as I walk away. I barely see her sending me another 'what the hell look'.
On my way to the restroom I make sure to keep the eye contact with the red head.
Once in the restroom I watch at myself into the mirror. I'm very aware of all the wrinkles on my face, of the dark circles under my eyes and all my flaws. "Don't start Willows," I mumble angrily to myself. "You look good, you're attractive and intelligent…you own the world," I keep mumbling looking at my reflection with determination. "You own the world…you own the world," I repeat again.
I hold my head up high and exit the room with more confidence than before. I walk back to Sara feeling some looks on me. Sara jumps a bit as I put my hand on the small of her back before sliding back on my stool and ordering another drink.
She takes a deep breath and finishes her drink. "Okay, I'm going to talk to her, wish me luck."
I chuckle bitterly and drain my new drink. "I think you've already ran out of it."
"What?" she frowns.
I nod in direction of the red head and we see her leave with a man. Sara's jaw drops and she looks at lost "Damn," she mutters.
"Well, maybe someone else will catch your eyes…"
"I should have gone talk to her earlier," she says not even listening to me.
"There's no guarantee she'd have been into you."
"Oh please Cath. I can read body language and signs. Even if there was no guarantee I'd have taken her home I know had her attention for at the very least share a drink, and then…wait a minute," she stops her rant and sends me an angry look. "You spoil my game," she accuses me.
"Me?"
"Yes, don't play innocent! Your weird behaviour before going to the bathroom…"
"I can't help if I had to use the restroom Sara."
"You acted to make her believe that you and I….damn what's wrong with you? That was not cool Cath, you spoiled my day," she says before standing and putting some bills on the bar with harsh gestures. "I'm going home."
I grab her arm as she passes me.
"What?" she snaps.
"Take me home…"
She yanks her arm out of my grip. "Call a cab," her reply feels like a slap on my face. I feel like one of those cheap girls you wouldn't give the time of the day. "I have other plans," she adds through her teeth. "Since you ruined the one I had here."
"Damn it," I stand. "I'm standing right in front of you and you want a stripper for a romp in the bed?" I finally let out.
She chuckles bitterly. "So that's what it's all about? I was clear about it. This is not happening," her finger waves between us.
"Oh yeah? What about the locker room?"
"What about it?"
"The kiss…my hand in your pants…you weren't objecting to that."
"So? I'm human, surprise. It was pleasant, I grant you that, but that's all it was."
"Pleasant?" she's so full of shit. I lean into her ear. "You were soaked…I didn't know a woman could get that wet…"
"My body reacted to your touch, big freaking deal. You'd think by now you'd know that human body responds to stimuli, nothing more, nothing less."
"So I was simply a stimuli? If we go back to your place and I sit you down a chair, start to strip…rub against you…you'd be averse to that?"
"Read my lips, this is not happening," she growls. "Why can't you just let go? If you want someone, go ahead and find someone, that's easy, I'm sure some people would kill to be in your bed."
"You know, you're," I start to reply with anger, but as I take a step toward her alcohol takes its full effect and I'm suddenly unsteady on my feet. "Whoa…" I put a hand on Sara's shoulder in order to keep my balance. I can feel her holding me up with reluctance.
"Sit down."
"No, I'm fine..."
"Bart, can I have some water please?" she asks as she's backing me on a stool. I let go of her not wanting to be a burden, still refusing to sit down. "Don't be stupid, sit down," she says firmly. "Did you eat today?" her voice is softer.
"Hum…I think I did…"
"You think?" she hands me the glass of water.
Last thing I remember is having breakfast with Lindsey, which means it was yesterday. Damn this job and its ability to make you forget about the simplest things.
Sara sighs again. "Come on I'm taking you to have a bite, then I'll take you home."
I don't protest knowing that this is probably the best to do. I stand, grabbing her arm immediately for support. She passes one arm around my waist and we make our exit at a slow pace.
"You should know better than to drink with an empty stomach," she says.
"I started with ginger ale, I hadn't planned on drinking."
"Sorry, but then again I didn't know you hadn't eaten."
"It's okay. I should have known better but then you…" I shake my head not finishing my thought. "Look, you don't have to take me for food, if you'll just run me home…"
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I was stupid and now I'm ridiculous, anything else?" I ask sharply in spite of my state.
"Can we not fight right now?" she stops moving. She takes a deep breath before speaking again. "I'll take you eat first and then I'll take you home," her tone doesn't leave room for argument. She opens the passenger door. "Get in."
She drives us silently to a diner not far from the place we were moments ago.
All the way there I berated myself for being so stupid. I was just suppose to go there and see if Sara was alright, and here I am drunk and unable to drive myself home just because…because…all this is Sara's fault, that's all I know.
Damn you, Sidle.
Again, Happy New Year 2009, I wish you all the best, health and love on top of it. Hope everything you wish for will come true. Cheers everyone!
Bonne Année et Meilleurs Voeux 2009!
Thank you for reading
