CHAPTER 3

Stone is nowhere to be seen when I wake up. I groan in frustration and slump on the bed again. It’s so hard to help him and I’m done doing that. I just met him today so I don’t understand why I’m inclined to help him.

I reach for my backpack and take out my 'Moby Dick.’ This is what is supposed to keep me busy until in the evening. I’m doing night shift today.

Fuck!

I can’t concentrate. I keep thinking about Stone and whether he is safe. What is he up to out there? Where is he? I thought we agreed he should stay at my place and I will help him get a job?

I toss the novel into the backpack and decide to take a shower. Maybe I should head for Lex early today. I might bump into him. I might make extra money too.

I settle for baggy blue rugged jeans and a white T-shirt. The pair of canvas doesn’t change because it’s the only one I have. 

I toss a joint into the backpack and leave the house. I decide to walk. Maybe I will bump into him somewhere in the streets.

He reminds me of Jim. That’s why I feel inclined to help him. Maybe I should look for Jim. I looked for him and gave up but this time round I’m not giving up. He is somewhere, probably needs my help like Stone so I will do anything to help him.

I walk into Lex after thirty minutes of walking. The place looks deserted, except for few customers. Anyway, people rarely drink during the day. This is the place that is filled with people in the evening.

“Need your help Frankie.” That’s Sera. She looks terrible. 

“Damn! You look like shit itself.” I laugh leaning against the bar counter.

“I feel like shit but don’t rub it in my face.” 

“What’s up? Your girl is here to help.”

“I have been working since night. Haven’t slept and I’m damn tired. You can help?”

“You want to sleep?”

“Yes and there is this dude I’m meeting. Was wondering how I should do that.”

“Don’t worry. Your girl has you covered.”

“Thanks Frankie. I will make it up to you soon.”

“Let me grab my apron and get to work.” I disappear into the changing room and put my backpack in my locker. I put on the apron and walk back to the bar.

“Great. A double shot of tequila on that table at the corner.” I follow her eyes to a table with a man whose face is in his hands. 

I watch him rub his face furiously and shrug.

“This one is going through a crisis.” I comment.

“That’s why he needs the double. Start with that.” She smiles and disappears into the back room.

“A double shot of tequila Tim.” 

“So you ain’t going to say hi?” he asks pouring the tequila into the glass.

“Must I?”

“Of course.” He grins.

“You should go to hell.” I take the glass and walk to the table. His face is still in his hands and he looks lost in thought.

“Here is your tequila sir.” I say humbly placing the glass on the table.

“Thanks.” He raises his face to look at me and I come across the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.

Damn!

He is cute.

No. Not cute but handsome. There is a difference between the two, right?

I look at his hair and squirm a bit. I can do him any time. Not a long lasting thing but a one night stand. I can prove to my colleagues they are wrong once and for all.

Wait. 

I’m crazy, right? This guy would never sleep with me, leave alone look at me twice.

“That will be all.” He startles me from my reverie making me look down in embarrassment. 

“Okay.” I turn to walk away. This is so embarrassing. What was I even thinking. 

The fuck.

“Wait.” The husky voice makes me turn again. I look at him but he gives me a disinterested look and gestures to the empty glass.

“Double shots.” He orders and buries his face on his phone. 

Well. That’s rude. 

Get a grip Frankie. That’s what other customers do. You are here to serve not to socialize.

My subconscious reprimands me making me scurry to the counter.

“Another double shot of tequila.” I tell Tim absent mindedly.

“Dude really drowned them?”

“Yap.” I say looking away.

“if you do him I will pay you Frankie.”

“You are such a dick.” I glare at him.

“I’m serious. This one looks different. We are used to seeing crazy dudes here.”

“What’s different? His hair ?”

“No. Just something else. ”

“Kinda."

“Think about it. Do him like the other guys and will give you fifty dollars.”

“Add some dollars there and I will.”

“Nope. Fifty.”

“As I said before, you can go to hell.” I snap and start walking away.

“Okay. Seventy.”

“Hundred.”

“Eighty.”

“Hundred Tim. Either that or there is no bet.”

“Okay. Hundred.” He smiles. “I will need evidence.”

“On it.” I smile and walk back to the guy with the double shots.

“Here sir.” I place the glass before him and begin to walk away.

I can’t approach this one. Can I?

He is definitely not my type. Tim was right. Who would want a tomboy anyway? I’m used to other people but this one is on another level. He looks disinterested.

Okay.

Here is something about the Lex club.

It is cheap and most of the customers are the middle-class or the low-class like me so he is definitely one of us but still?

I can’t approach him. I should rethink my approach method and approach him then I will win the bet. Hundred dollars is a lot of money for me. It’s not every time one comes across some free cash.

“Can I get the whole bottle?”

“It’s a bit expensive sir.”

“I’m the one who is paying not you.” He snaps making me scurry away to get him the whole bottle.

“Tough, right tommie?” Tim calls me that sometimes.

“He needs the whole bottle.”

“And can he afford it or we will have to call the cops?”

“I guess he can afford.”

“Let’s hope so.” He hands me the whole bottle. I walk back to his table and place the bottle on the table.

“How much do you charge tomboy?”

“Charge for what?”

“For sex or do you do girls?”

“I hope you are comfortable sir. I will wait on another table.” I say looking around. 

This is uncomfortable for me. I don’t know why because I’m used to this. Maybe I’m just a dumbass who doesn’t want money.

Here is the deal. I don’t do it for money. I do it to prove to people that they are wrong about me. Doing it for money makes me a whore but who am I?

I’m one anyway. I sleep with different men and that explains the pack of condoms in my bag but in this case, I can’t do it. It’s uncomfortable for me.

“All the customers have been served. We can bang and I will pay you. You don’t charge a lot. People from this place don’t charge a lot.” He looks serious. No smiling. No grinning.

“I can’t do that sir.”

“Why? Because you are into girls?”

“Nope.”

“Yes tomboy. You are into girls and if not into girls then you will accept my offer.” He leans back on the seat and places his finger on his chin giving me a long look.