The music ends and she struts out to center stage, waiting as they shuffle for wallets lightened by a nights worth of drinking and entertainment and happily hand over their remaining creds. A few guys get fresh, leaving a hand there a little too long. Beer muscles, gotta love em.
�All right gentlemen, let�s hear it for Lola Lolita.� Drunken shouts rise up from the crowd as she�s given more credits. I wonder what her real name is.
�We�d like to thank you all for coming out to club Xstacy and remember that we�ll be back here tomorrow night from 9-3, showcasing more of Forge�s finest ladies for your viewing pleasure. And I�ll be back here too, DJ Jay, spinning the tunes. Goodnight everyone and hope to see you again tomorrow.� As the lights come on, �Lola� disappears off stage and the after show begins. The bouncers, dressed all in black, step away from the camoflouging black walls and make their presence known. My eyes sting as the light reflects the murky layer of smoke hovering near the ceiling. I take out my own, light it and add it to the mix.
I shut down the equipment for the night and start to pack up before hitting the office.
I walk in without knocking. He looks up from the stack of papers and smiles.
�Hey Jay, great show tonight. How much do I owe ya?�
�200.�
�200 creds! You�re killing me. I got a business to run here.�
�So do I.�
�You sure I said 200 creds kid?�
We go through this every time. When I first started I used to let him talk me down to 150. Rick�s a great guy but he�s cheap, always trying to cut corners and cut expenses.
�200 Wednesday, 200 Thursday. Of course, if that�s too much for you, I�m sure you could always pick up some extra shifts at Edgeside.�
�Come on kid you know you�re like family here. And you�re doing a great job. Look here�s 200 creds, now go on and have yourself a good time.�
He hands me the money and I smile. �Pleasure doing business with you Rick.�
�Absolutely kid, see ya here tomorrow now.�
�You got it.�
The clean up crew is in full swing as I head toward the exit. �Great show Jay� Louie booms as he pats me on the back with his massive hand. He�s easily one of the toughest looking guys here -- twice my size and I barely come up to his chin � but also the nicest, as long as you�re not threatening the welfare of the club or one of the girls.
�Thanks man, see you later.�
The air night air is crisp as I step outside. That first hint of fall. I pull out another cigarette and light up. That first puff is always the best. I savor it, rolling around my mouth before slowly letting it out. Another night down in the books. If someone told me a year ago I�d be climbing the DJ scene in Forge, I�d have looked long and hard at them to make sure they only had one head. They say everyone here has a dream. Not me, that�s why I came here. To find my dream and make it a reality. A year later and I�m still searching. Don�t get me wrong I love my job. I�m taking the music that�s already there and molding it into my own. Life is the best teacher and this has been one hell of a lesson. But it�s only a stopping point. Not leading to what I want in the bigger picture. Not productive. Old habits die hard I guess.
I like what they�ve done with the Dreamscape here. Maybe I could get in on that, from the production angle anyway. Acting isn�t really my thing. Or maybe take a few elementalism courses. Return to that institution of ivory tower knowledge called university. Dad would really be proud. Ran all the way here only to go back to school. Screw that! I flick the end of the cigarette angrily into the street. The burning orange embers connect with the concrete and shatter in a million directions. Like the lava bursting forth below Edgeside. Magic and dreams, that�s what its all about. There�s so much more I need to experience here, so much more I need to learn.
Before I know it I turn down West past the abandoned gas station to the towering tenament. Egress Estates. I slide my keycard into the slot and wait for the green light. I don�t feel like waiting for the elevator so I walk up to room 302 and collapse on the couch. My eyes focus upon the small pile of mail I just stepped over. Sighing I go back and pick it up: phone, gas, rent. Shit! Good thing I�ve got some gigs coming up. I walk over to the fridge glancing past the week-old dirty dishes and swig some milk from the carton. It�s pretty damn amazing I never get any rodents considering how messy I leave this place. Wiping the milk from my face with the back of my hand I walk into the bedroom and flip on the stereo. Jazzy with a strong beat. I lay back and lose myself in the music.