CHAPTER SIX
Traffic greeted the excited women as they made their way downtown in Patty's red corvette. Gabby felt her stomach turning over as she looked at the long lines to different clubs and bars, wondering how people had the patience to do this every weekend. She sincerely hoped they wouldn't be standing in a long line...after all this was her first time wearing high heels and her feet were already killing her...
"So where is this place anyways?" she asked. "I feel like we've passed all of the busier clubs."
Patty smiled, "The place we're going is the last bar on the block and the smallest...don't worry we'll be there as soon as these jerks move out of our way!"
Gabby was shocked at her friend's road rage, but inwardly agreed with her. This traffic was ridiculous and making her more anxious by the second. They would end up sitting there for another twenty minutes before finally reaching the bar. It was a small place that had smaller windows covered by red curtains. The outside sign read, "Chico's" in red letters and sat above a solid black door. There was no line...in fact...there were barley any customers there at all. Gabby felt her nervousness subside as Patty parked the car.
"You ready dear?" she asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Gabby told her as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Patty could see the concern on her friend's face, "Listen, if you want to go back to your place we can...I don't want to upset you on your first night out."
Gabby smiled, "No this is fine...I need to start exploring the world a little especially if I don't plan on working as a temp for the rest of my life."
With a warm smile Patty nodded her head and shut off the car's engine. The women got out of the car and carefully crossed the street. Patty gave two hard knocks on the door before the bouncer opened it up for them. The tall heavy set man intimidated her...he was bald headed with a brown goatee and brown eyes furrowed by his eyebrows. He had broad shoulders too and the largest arms and legs Gabby had ever seen.
"Hey Patty," he greeted her. "Brought us a new one I see,"
Patty smirked, "Yes but she's new at this so make sure you're nice to her Paul."
Paul glanced at the small woman. His eyes traveled from her worried eyes to her full red lips and down to her body that was hidden under her coat. Her slender legs told him how good she looked under there, but he knew he wouldn't have a chance with her.
"I'll try to be nice...but no promises." he said with a wink to Gabby, making her blush slightly.
Patty wrapped her arm around Gabby's shoulders and together they entered the bar. To Gabby's surprise, the place was busier than she expected. At every table there was at least two men and one or two women. They were all sharply dressed and ready to party, although Gabby was unaware of the type of place she walked into. She smiled at the sight of the stage that had a large red curtain pulled in front of it and a lonely microphone standing in the center. She could already see herself up there singing her little heart out, she just hoped she was as good as Patty seemed to think.
"Let's sit at the bar," Patty suggested after they gave their coats to the worker in charge of that.
Gabby nervously followed her to the bar that was located across the room, but slightly closer to the stage. They took a seat between two men, one of which she recognized immediately.
"AJ?"
AJ, who hadn't seen her come in, looked up from his drink at the sound of his neighbor's voice. He was highly expecting her to be covered from head to toe in one of her church outfits, but was immediately floored upon sight of her. Her hair was longer than he expected, and she was...skinny with a small waist and gentle hips. The jeans she wore fit her snug, clinging to every curve of her slightly thick thighs. She was crazy beautiful...
"U-uh hi Gabby..." he said. "You look...great."
She fought back a smile as blood rushed to her cheeks. "Thanks...I thought you were too good to hang out with losers like us?"
He shrugged, "I didn't think you guys were coming here, this isn't exactly a place for women like you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
He shook his head and glared at Patty who was busy talking to the man on the other side of her. "Some friend you've got there...bringing a sweet little christian girl into a showgirls bar."
Gabby's mouth fell open as the sound of a band sounded from the stage. She turned around and tapped Patty's shoulder, harder than she really wanted to, but Patty was busy standing up with the rest of the crowd clapping for the band...and the women who had just graced the stage.
Each of them wore corsets and either tutu's, tights, leather pants...or sexy undergarments only...Gabby wanted to leave but then the girls began to sing...and she was instantly shocked. They were amazing! She watched closely as they danced and sang both beautifully and sexually, gaining tips from the audience. AJ smiled widely next to her as he too enjoyed the performance.
"Scoundrel..." Gabby thought to herself. "He's just like every man out there...only wanting what looks good and not what's best for his life..."
When the performance ended, the leader of the showgirls stepped forward to introduce herself as Sandy. She was very pretty, with short blonde hair, blue eyes, and a long slender body that made most men drool. She opened the floor for karaoke night to begin, and called up a man named Thomas from the crowd.
"Wait...there's a list of people already?" Gabby asked.
Patty smiled, "Yeah, I put you on to do a song...you can thank me later."
Gabby shook her head as the bartender approached her. "Excuse me ma'am. Can I get you a drink?"
She was nervous...in all her years of being on Earth she had never tasted an ounce of alcohol.
"U-uh..Um...well-"
"-Get her a long Island..." AJ spoke up.
She glanced at him sharply. "But I don't drink..."
He chuckled, "Oh man, I knew you were one of those sheltered cats..."
"First of all, I'm not a cat and second of all I'm a good girl. I don't need to drink in order to have a great time." she said.
AJ smirked and then shook his head, "Gabby...it was a figure of speech. You should really lighten up."
"And you should learn how to be a gentlemen." she fired back. "Besides, it's rude to order women drinks before you even know what they like."
He laughed at her ignorance of men but it inwardly intrigued him. He knew there were women in the world a lot like her, but he had never really ran into one before. She was like a fish out of water...or more like Ariel when she got her legs for the first time.
"Is this man bothering you ma'am," the bartender asked.
"Actually-"
"-No I'm not," AJ cut her off. "She lives next door to me so beat it slick."
The bartender looked appalled but said nothing. He gladly poured Gabby a glass of water and walked away.
"Why must you be so rude?" she asked him. "That poor man did nothing to you."
AJ shrugged. "It's just the way I am. If you don't like it...stay away from me."
Gabby trembled as he got in her face, however, she couldn't bring herself to take her eyes off of his. There was something about him that she never noticed before...a sudden emotion she encountered only once before in her life.
"Hey leave her alone AJ!" Patty yelled.
"Back off porky...I'm done here." he said before looking Gabby up and down and then walking to the other end of the bar.
Patty chuckled and began pulling off her earrings. "Girl that ass is getting the hands tonight."
Gabby giggled and gently touched her friend's arm, "No...don't worry about it."
"Why not? He insulted me and he was rude as hell to you! He's not getting away with this shit!"
"It's a front." Gabby said. "He's acting like a tough guy to keep people away."
"How do you know that?" she asked.
Gabby looked down at her lap for a moment and then looked into Patty's eyes. "Because I was like that for awhile, only I was quiet about it. He's crying out to be heard...to be understood. He just doesn't know it yet."
Patty glanced in AJ's direction, "Alright I'll take your word for it...but if he even looks at me wrong, I'll kick his ass."
The women shared a laugh before it was Gabby's turn to grace the stage. As she approached Sandy, she noticed the woman looking at her very closely before handing her the microphone.
"The song chosen for you is, "Bound To You by Christina Auglara," can you handle that?"
Gabby nodded knowing the song all to well. It was from one of her favorite movies, Burlesque. As usual, she closed her eyes as the introduction of the song played. Before she knew ir she had everyone's attention...including AJ's.