Amy looked around her room. "Another Saturday wasted." She glanced up and saw Dominique walk past her door, obviously off to...wherever Dominique goes on the weekends in 7 1/2" killer heels. Not even five minutes later, and to Amy's complete surprise, Janet popped her head in the door and said, "See ya later Amy! I've got a date! Yay!" She clapped giddily, ponytail swinging about her head. She quickly sobered and looked pointedly at Amy. "You should really give Bobby a call." She retreated with unexpected speed as Amy threw a pillow that landed with a thud against the door where Janet previously stood.

Amy rolled her eyes. Who needs him? I'm just gonna go out. Maybe Max will come out for a drink with me.

She walked downstairs to see Max watching some buddy cop movie on TV. "Wanna grab a drink and get out of this house?" Max tore her eyes away from the screen. "As long as I get to pick the place. I don't want to end up anywhere near where Janet might have gone. I don't need a bunch of guys in sweater vests hitting on me." Amy giggled and nodded at Max. "Fine, you pick. I'll go get ready and meet you in the car in 15." Max just raised an eyebrow at Amy. "Uh huh. That means I'd be waiting an extra 15 minutes for you to actually be ready. Half hour. The car. You better be ready by then."

Amy headed back up to her room to dress and get ready. She just needed to get out of the house and have some fun. She had already decided that there was no way she was going out looking to meet anyone. She had told herself she needed a break from men and dating. She needed time to work on her. Get to know herself. She knew she was the 'Perfect Score', whatever that really meant. She didn't feel 'perfect' at anything. After more than 3 years at Jameson, she still couldn't figure out if she was doing what she actually wanted to be doing. Amy couldn't deny that being a spy was fun, but none of it felt 'real'.

She laughed at herself. This is exactly why Max had said 30 minutes. 10 minutes had already passed while she stood thinking. She walked to the closet and picked out something casual and comfortable. An old pair of well-worn jeans and a faded blue t-shirt. Both fit her just right. She spent the next few minutes finishing up her preparations to go out. As she left her room she muttered to herself, "Just Amy tonight. The 'Perfect Score' is staying home..."

Max was waiting in the beat up old pickup she'd had since high school. She had the feeling Amy wanted a low-key night out. Max doubted they would attract much attention in a slightly rusted 4x4 with a Vote for Mondale! sticker glued to the tailgate. The VW had it's uses, but Max much preferred the truck. For one thing, it didn't have plaid trim. She saw Amy walk out of the house and redirect her course from the VW to the pickup, and gave Max a big smile. "Good idea," Amy said as she climbed in the truck. "Let's go!"

Amy really didn't care where they went. She gazed out the window lost in her own thoughts while Max hummed along with the radio. Max would never sing along with the radio, but sometimes she hummed, and usually she didn't realize she was doing it. Amy half smiled and decided she wouldn't ask her about it. It was one of the few 'cute' things Max did.

The pickup slowed and pulled into a parking lot in a part of town Amy didn't know very well. She peered out of the passenger side window. "A piano bar? This looks perfect Max! Thanks for coming out with me." She smiled at Max, and Max shrugged back. "Isn't that what a best friend is for?" They climbed out of the truck and entered the bar. Max didn't bother to lock it. No one would want it.

It was barely more than a dimly lit large room, but it was very cozy, with a dozen tables in a half circle around small lighted stage and a large bar in the center. Amy nodded when Max pointed out a table. "Max, I'm going to grab us drinks from the bar. Meet you over there."

Amy took a seat at the nearly empty bar area. The bartender nodded his head towards her and took her drink order. She smiled at him, ordered herself a Stella Artois, and Max a Blue Hawaii.

Yes, a Blue Hawaii. Max never drank around people she knew. Amy accidentally learned the reason why. Max Brewer didn't handle alcohol very well. On a family weekend in her junior year, Amy and her parents drove to the town south of the Jameson campus to eat at a well reviewed bar and grill. Amy found a rather loud and very drunk Max singing "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" with a group of also very drunk students from a neighboring college. Max's hair was decorated with many tiny paper umbrellas and Amy had to do a triple take before she even realized who it was.

She was actually looking forward to the scowl she was going to get from Max for even ordering her the fruity concoction instead of a Diet Coke.

Before turning away from the bar, Amy decided to order herself a shot of Jack Daniels. "Start the night off right," she said aloud.

"I hear that," a voice responded from across the bar. Amy lifted her eyes from the shot glass in front of her lips towards the owner of the voice. Her soft blue eyes met the warm brown eyes of a brunette sitting directly across from her on the other side of the horseshoe shaped bar.

Amy grinned at her. "Excuse me, bartender? Could I buy her a shot?"