Bar part 5

I don't bother to clean the room. Now my head no longer spins but my stomach churns. It wants to wretch. I felt for her and now she's gone. Forever. What's wrong with me? Must clear my head. Yeah, you’ve been under a lot lately that's all.


I begin to think “Remember your training” but I laugh it off. I have to get the fuck out of here is all.
I gather what I can use and slip out of the room.


It must be 4 or 5 blocks through the rain later that I find shelter in a downstairs club.
The air is thick with smoke and noise from a local stand up comic.
I sit at a table for two by the brick wall and shiver and laugh to myself. “I'm so fucked.”
On stage a greasy unkempt puke points at me and a spotlight follows. The small crowd laughs at something he shouts but I'm not here with them at the moment.
The spotlight and the crowd's attention leaves me. It's seems whenever I want to be alone it's not to be.
A waitress who wants to be anywhere but here asks what I want to drink. “Jack and Coke.” Not my favorite but it's my go to drink on the go. Saves time and explanation.


For the hundredth time I grasp my gun. My pants are so soaked from the rain I can squeeze the water out of them. I send a text to Open to have the cab outside in 15 minutes. She texts back that this is her beauty sleep time. “I'll make it worth your while.” Is what I type back.
My waitress comes with my drink on a small tray. I stand and down the drink and place a 20 on her tray.
She starts to say something about change but I'm half way to the door.
My life is by a thread and my mind thinks of the waitress. I wish I could have talked to her. Her eyes betrayed her. I don't look back. It's funny because ten years ago I would have.


Standing in the stairwell I look up. It's still raining hard but it must be starting to get late.
I reach the top of the stairs but there is no cab. “Fuck.”

Where's the fucking cab? Come on man!

Back when I started someone would be there with a tissue before I sneezed. Now the reality is if you are bleeding you plug it yourself. But I'm retired I remind myself. “Idiot!” I grasp the rail and ascend the steps and turn the corner. Before I take 2 steps I feel a tap on my left shoulder. I instinctively turn left with a left outward block and my right fist is ready.


Before me is a beautiful young lady that looks very unafraid.
“I'm sorry. Really.” I offer.
“Sis said for me to pick you up. OK?”


“Yes, yes of course thank you.” I say.
I can tell she's Open's sister. Her God damned beautiful fucking sister.
She turns and I notice she's wearing tight leather gloves. She opens the door all the while keeping an umbrella over my head. As I move to the open rear door I notice her 7 inch heals are stainless and to a point. I make my move inside and as I look up at her I see the street light move along her leather clad arm. She moves silently like a fucking cat. “I have your sister's card. May I have yours?” I ask.
“I'm not a cabbie.” She says.
OMG I'm in love. I'm such a hopless ass I think.
This is the same cab that Open drove me in but it's only now I feel it's power. It has been modified. The suspension is stiffer and I can hear the whine of a supercharger when she guns it.
She does not ask where I want to go. My back is slowly forced into the back seat leather.
It's so warm and comfortable back here I have to concentrate to stay awake and aware. As long as she keeps going I don't care I think. Dammit I have to know. “Where are you taking me?”
“I'm just driving. It's up to you where I take you.” She says.
It's very dark now and the city lights are shining. “Sis is coming on duty soon so I have to drop you somewhere sir.”


“Take me to the bar she found me at” I grab my gun again.

She's not a cabbie what the fuck is she? I'm digging this chick.