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Episode 17
Since it was slow and “Slow today,” Faye said.
“No one has any money,” Francis said. “ “Yep,” Faye said. “I hadn’t. That sucks.” Milly shrugged. “I never really hung out there a lot but it was nice to have it there when we wanted to dance after Rhonda’s closed.” “At this rate everything will be closed before we’re old enough to legally go,” Tammy said to Francis.
“What’s “I don’t know. She won’t really let me look at it and she normally doesn’t care if I hang over her shoulder watching her every pencil stroke,” Francis said with a sigh. “You haven’t looked to see what she’s sketching?” “No… Well don’t think I haven’t thought about it. I mean she just leaves her sketch pads out and I could look at them if I wanted to but… if she wanted me to see them she’d show me. I do know this, she’s looking for a huge wall to paint because she looked at the back of The House yesterday and mumbled something about painting on brick and not being able to get the detail she wanted and the windows being in the way, and not really wanting to cover the red brick.” “It has something to do with Marcella,” Milly said, and they all looked at her. “Well I’m not her wife. She left the sketch book in the rec room and went to the can and I looked at it. Just lots of sketches of Marcella, and the face of a clock, over and over again. Just this clock.”
“Franny,”
Francis got up and walked up behind the bar with “Well it’s not the only reason.” But she kissed her again anyway. “Do you like waiting tables here?” “Yes, why? Don’t tell me you’re going to fire your own wife because business is a little slow.” “No, but you know you don’t have to work here. I mean, you’re my partner. We have enough money so that you don’t have to work if you don’t want to, and you certainly don’t have to work for me.”
“ “No, you need to have your own money, Francis. My dad never let my mother work or have her own money and that’s at least part of the reason she was so trapped—so dependant on him. I just don’t want you… well feeling like I’m making you wait tables for me…”
“ “Huh?” “You’re behind the bar. I certainly don’t feel like you think you’re any better than I am. We both work here. Since we’re married don’t you think that’s the way it should be? Someday if I ever figure out what I want to be when I grow up and get the education I need to do whatever that is then maybe I’ll do something different. But I have to tell you that right now I think that if I never did anything but work at Rhonda’s I’d be happy.”
“Good.” “Oh don’t you worry, you’ll be the first one to know if I get to feeling neglected,” Francis said. “You know you say that, Franny, and I’m sure looking at you that everyone thinks you’re my high-maintenance woman, but the truth is… Well, you aren’t high maintenance, and you never really ask for anything.”
Francis thought about that for a minute. Hell she
thought she was high maintenance; it seemed to her that
“Our birthday,” Francis said. “Is there anything you want?” “You.”
“Business sucks this evening, so,” “Sounds good to me.” “Ha!” Milly said laughing. “I told you. Ten bucks.” She held her hand out expectantly towards Tammy, wiggling her finger. “They talked first,” Tammy objected. “Come on pay up,” Faye said. “Shit.” Tammy reached in her pocket and pulled out ten bucks. “I live with them and I still wouldn’t have guessed that she’d called her over there just so they could fuck.” “So about tomorrow night? I’ve got the night off and I’m ready to paint the town red,” Faye said. “I’ve got one set so you guys are supposed to come by the club and watch me dance and then we’re going where?” “Club Excel,” Tammy said. “Doesn’t it bother you that… Well we’ll see you naked.” “You’ve seen me naked before,” Milly said with a wicked smile. Milly watched as Tammy’s face got red. “Yeah but…” “Did you watch her dance?” Faye asked Tammy. Tammy started to fidget in her seat. “No… yes, yes of course I did,” Tammy said guiltily. “And did you enjoy it?” Faye asked. “No…” Tammy sighed. “Yes, yes more than I should have. That’s sort of my point.” Milly laughed wickedly then reached across the table and took Tammy’s hand. “You better give me a huge tip; you rich kids are always the worst tippers.” Their eyes meet over the table and Tammy’s hand was warm and strong. Milly broke her gaze and pulled her hand away almost too fast. “Tammy isn’t rich,” Faye said with a laugh.
Tammy glared across the table at Milly and Milly just smiled sweetly.
“That’s funny because I could have sworn I heard
Milly didn’t know why she wanted to see Tammy squirm till she was doing it and
then she realized why with a tug at her heart. Dammit,
she reminds me of Marcella. “Baby,” Faye coed at Tammy, “Why didn’t I know you were rich?” “I’m not rich,” Tammy said squirming and then muttered, “Mom and Dad are.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “You knew her parents were zoo trusties. How did you think that happened, sweeping up elephant shit?” Milly asked with a laugh. Faye shrugged. “I don’t know. I just thought maybe they had lifetime memberships or something. Why didn’t you tell me?” Faye asked Tammy again. “I assumed you knew. Besides it’s not my money…” “Yet,” Milly said with a chuckle.
Tammy glared at Milly and Milly got a momentary thrill that she quickly squelched.
What the hell was wrong with her today? I’ve
accepted it. Somewhere inside I’ve accept that Marcella isn’t coming back. So
what? My libido is suddenly ready to go on without me, because I’m not ready to move
on yet? Nowhere near ready, and I’m checking out my best friend’s girl friend.
That’s just fucked completely up. But Tammy is just fantastically attractive—and
built—so maybe that’s normal. “How rich are they?” Faye asked. Jerry brought their food and then Tammy just started stuffing food in her mouth so that she wouldn’t have to continue talking about it. Milly and Faye laughed and they ate their meal. Tammy was sure it had been forgotten, but when Francis walked out of the store room grinning like an idiot and looking ever so slightly ruffled in appearance she walked right up to their table and started clearing away their plates. “You cost me ten bucks,” Tammy said accusingly. Francis just looked at her, smiled wildly, and guessing why said, “That was a sucker bet.” “But it doesn’t matter because you’re rich,” Faye said in an almost accusatory tone. “I’m not rich,” Tammy insisted. “However she is the only heir to her parents’ rather vast fortune.” “How vast?” Faye asked. “Her dad is Willard
Willis, of the “You’re a big fucking help, Franny!” Tammy screamed after her. “All right, this is a new one. Of all the things that people are usually embarrassed about I’ve never known money to be one of those,” Milly said. “My grandfather was a self-made man. My parents worked very hard to get… Well, way more than people ought to have. I’m not just some spoiled rich kid.” She was really mad now. She’d been fighting this sort of crap all her life. People who wanted to be her friends just because she came from money mixed with people who didn’t even try to hide their resentment because she came from money. “I went to public school and rode the bus just like you guys. I know what work is. Dad made me work in the office since I was like twelve to buy my first car. They don’t just hand me wads of cash.” “That’s right. She has an allowance and a trust fund,” Francis said, coming to get another load of dishes. “Fuck you, Francis,” Tammy said, “Your wife owns this fucking caf� and the apartment building we live in, so you have a damn sight more money than I do.” Francis bent down and kissed her on the forehead. Then she looked from Milly to Faye. “It’s a sore subject, the money. Tammy thinks it’s a terrible burden.” “And again I say… fuck you, Francis,” Tammy said. She tried to get up and Faye pulled her back in her seat. “I get it,” Milly said from across the table. “When you have parents who are so wildly successful it sets the bar pretty high. It can make your expectations of self completely unrealistic. Of course my very successful father ran off to chase his dream and become very successful with his new wife and two other children when I was just a kid and my very successful mother pulled me from pillar to post most of my childhood and tossed me out on my ass when she found out I was queer so I don’t feel like I want to be anything like either of them.”
Milly had hit the nail right on the head as her father would say. It was why she
couldn’t just play ball, why it was important to her to go pro, and next year she
wouldn’t have to contend with that bitch
“Damn,” Francis said and flopped on the bench beside Milly, “I just
figured out what to get “You still haven’t gotten her anything?” Faye asked in disbelief. “I got her some paints and brushes, but let’s face it that sucks. I just thought of something, though.” She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “Tammy, give me your dad’s number.” “Why?”
“Because Tammy gave her the number and Francis dialed and walked across the caf� where it was quieter. Francis came back a few minutes later. “Well, what did Dad say?” “He said he knows just the wall,” Francis said excitedly. The place was finally starting to fill up, so Francis went to wait on some customers.
“So do you know what
Tammy just shrugged and Faye looked at “Yeah,” Milly said with a sigh. “Jesus Christ,” Tammy mumbled.
“I don’t know, dude, because apparently she has everything a little fem woman could want.” “Do you know what she got me? Is it extremely cool?” “It’s fucking huge, dude,” Tammy said. “Come on, Tammy, I keep thinking of things and everything just seems really lame. You’re her best friend. What’s something she’s always wanted? I’m fucking running out of time.” “She loves the Levi straight-leg jeans, especially the hip huggers. She thinks they were made for her ass,” Milly said.
“They were,” “She always wanted a leather jacket, a tattoo, and sex twenty-four/seven, but you already gave her all those things.” Tammy was thoughtful.
“Come on, there has to be one thing she wants more than anything else in the
world,” Tammy smiled, “I think she already got that, dude.” “Come on, think.” “Why don’t you get her a car?” Milly asked with a shrug.
“A car?” “Oh yeah, dude. She’s right. Franny had to learn to drive in my car. She always wanted a car but her parents wouldn’t spring for one, wouldn’t let her use theirs, and because she didn’t have transportation she couldn’t get a job to buy her own.” “I don’t have that kind of money right now. Business is bad… I don’t know.” “It doesn’t have to be a new one,” Faye said.
“I don’t want to give my wife a crappy-assed car,”
“You could buy it on time,
“Or I could use the money I’ve been putting back to pay off my
loan,” Faye watched Tammy and Adrian walk away then followed Milly up to the bar. She sat on a barstool. “She took your baby on yet another quest. It’s only a matter of time till Tammy comes back with the hair cut and the tattoo, you know that don’t you?” “What am I going to do about her Milly?” Faye asked in a whisper. “Unless I don’t know you at all, fuck her rotten,” Milly said with a laugh. “When she was drunk she told me she loved me. I told her she didn’t and she said she would if I’d let her.” “So why don’t you?” Milly asked. “Because I’m fucked in the head.” Milly sighed, “Oh don’t even tell me that you’re thinking of taking that head case Jan Shears back.” “You told me I should.” “When?” Milly asked in disbelief.
“The night you beat “Oh yes. You should always take the advice of a coked up crazy woman. Are you out of your tiny little mind? Tammy’s a gem, and she’s fucking rich, and if you’re even thinking of tossing her aside for Jan I’m going to take you right now to have your fucking tiny little head examined,” Milly said. “You tending bar Milly?” Jerry asked. “Yep,” Milly said. “Two drafts.” Milly pulled the drinks like she knew what she was doing and then handed them to Jerry. “Seriously, Faye, I thought you said you were over her.” “I was… I thought I was. Oh God, Milly, I almost fucked her.” And then Faye told her what had happened in her apartment. “And that’s what’s with the sixty-two days thing?” Milly asked. “Yes.” “You don’t seriously think Jan Shears is going without pussy do you?” Milly said in disbelief. “I mean come on honey, she can say it all she wants that doesn’t make it true.” “Be quiet, here comes Francis,” Faye said. Francis walked up to the bar. “Ah, where’s my wife?” “She took Tammy on a quest,” Milly said. “Apparently she can’t figure out what the hell to get you for your birthday.”
“Well what do you get the girl who already has “That’s what we said,” Faye said with a laugh. “But seriously what do you want?” She shrugged. “Hell, I don’t know. World peace? I need two bud lights taken to table four,” she told Milly and pointed at the table as she took off to wait on another one. Milly nodded, grabbed the beers, and ran them over to the table where one of the women sitting there got herself in all sorts of trouble when they let her girlfriend catch her checking Milly out. It wasn’t just the way Milly looked, it was the way she moved and spoke that made everyone’s heart beat a little faster. “Home wrecker,” Faye said when Milly came back. Milly just smiled and scooted back behind the bar. “Not so,” Milly said. “So where were we? Oh I remember I was trying to talk you out of making the stupidest mistake of your rather sordid life.” Faye sighed. “I know you’re right, Milly. Out here in the open when you say things they just sound all wrong. But in here,” she pointed at her chest, “in here I still feel like I’m supposed to be with Jan, like maybe when you love someone this much you’re just supposed to put up with whatever crap they put you through because it’s worth it…” “You said you were about to fuck her and then you saw her with her head between that bitch’s legs. You really think you’re ever going to get that out of your head? Let me tell you what you’re going to do if you aren’t very careful, Faye. You’re going to throw a perfectly lovely woman who obviously cares very deeply for you out of your life and let Jan back in and then there will be the fighting and screaming and screwing around and you’re going to want Tammy back and some other woman is going to have snatched her ass up and she won’t be there. Because someone who looks like Tammy… she doesn’t have to have any game.” It wasn’t what Faye wanted to hear, which meant she’d already really made up her mind. “Isn’t there even the slightest chance that Jan has changed, that she really is waiting for me that she could be faithful this time?” “I suppose. And you know what else? Maybe Santa will slide down the pole at the strip club and bring me a book contract,” Milly said, rolling her eyes. “Marcella always used to say, once a cheater always a cheater. I love Jan honey, but I wouldn’t touch her over-sexed, crazy ass with a ten-foot pole. Doesn’t this whole celibate thing just prove she’s crazy?” “I don’t know, I think it’s sort of sweet. If she’s really doing it which I don’t really believe,” Faye said. “Well there’s your answer, Faye. You can’t believe a fucking thing she says. Is that how you want to live your life?” No, but the more they talked the more it became clear that she was seriously considering taking Jan back. “What are you guys talking about?” Francis asked walking up to the bar. “I need a pitcher and three glasses at table three,” she pointed. “This is a fucking pain in the ass. I wish I was twenty-one tomorrow instead of just twenty so that I could just carry the beer myself. How fucking ridiculous.” Milly went about filling the order silently. “Seriously what the hell were you guys talking about? You looked like you were about to come to blows.” “Faye’s a huge dumbass,” Milly said, walking away from the bar with the order. Faye looked at Francis, smiled and just shrugged, and Francis just sighed and said, “If you don’t really want her, you ought to just cut her loose.” Then she walked away. Faye was shocked for a few minutes and then she realized Francis was Tammy’s best friend, so she probably talked to her about everything. Tammy knew what was going on in Faye’s head probably better than Faye did. Milly came back. “Why can’t things just be simple?” Faye asked. “Tell me you aren’t asking me that question. Today my manuscript was rejected with a nice little form letter saying please try again, and I just buried my partner who died fighting in the middle of another country’s civil war. I don’t understand anything any more except that nothing in life seems to be simple.” “I’m sorry, Milly, I didn’t know your book was rejected.” Milly took a deep breath and let it out. “You know what… not that big a deal. Losing Marcella sort of puts everything else in perspective and… well you know what? Forget everything I just said to you about Jan. If that’s where your heart is, maybe that is where you belong.” “I just don’t know, Milly, and I’m sorry to lay my petty bullshit problems on you and I shouldn’t put you in the middle.” “Now we’re talking,” Milly said, and obviously decided to change the subject. “Ralph uses the paper now, which is nice,” she smiled. “I think I’ll give him my rejection letter to use.” When
Francis woke up she was really excited because it was their birthday.
“Damn,”
Francis stopped what she was doing and looked up at
Then she just buried her face in
She pulled her fingers out of “Oh God, Francis, that was fucking amazing.”
“I’m getting better, learning things from you,” Francis said and
kissed “I think the student has surpassed the master.” “Happy birthday,” Francis said with a smile.
“Is that what you want?”
“Dammit,
“What the hell are you doing now?” “Get on your hands and knees.” “What?”
“Just do it.” She did, and then
When they were just lying on the bed wrapped around each other and she was finally
catching her breath again, “I know it basically sucks as a present,” Francis said.
“I well… There’s something else, but it’s more a ‘go do.’ In fact, if we don’t hurry we’re going to be late. You ready?”
“Sure.” “The bike?” she asked excitedly. “No.” “You know I can’t drive a stick shift.” “We need to teach you sometime, but actually I thought we’d,” she dug in her pocket and handed Francis a key ring with a key on it, “take your car,” she said grinning like a mad man. It took a second for what she’d said to register. “No you didn’t!” Francis said in disbelief.
“It’s paid for baby, so yes I can.” Francis
was driving like a little old woman. She knew she was and she didn’t care. She
didn’t want to scratch her car. She kept looking over at
“Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see when we get there,” Francis said, more nervous now then
she was excited. She had thought she’d gotten Adrian the best birthday gift ever, and
then Adrian got her a car, and now it just seemed like a nothing gift. She hoped They
pulled up to a big building smack in the middle of town. As she got out and started
following Francis she could see that it was a fairly new building. “Francis what did
you do?” “Don’t ruin it; wait and see,” Francis said. As they got closer she could see a man waiting by the door, and as they closed in she could tell it was Tammy’s father and her heart beat a little faster. “Hey kids, you’re running a little late,” Willard said.
“Sorry Dad,
“That’s great.” He must have read the expression on
Willard opened the door and led them into a huge room with a vaulted ceiling four
stories tall. The offices circled the room and the hallways were all open to the space
with rails. Across the room the first thing you saw when you walked in was a huge white
wall four stores tall and fifty feet wide. Willard pointed at it. “Will that about do
it kid?” “Willard… what I want to do, it will be controversial.” “So?” “Political.”
“So? Something tells me you’re not a rabid conservative. I’m
thinking we have similar politics. I’ve got more money than I need, “What do you think?” Francis asked, nearly jumping with excitement at her side. “I think… it’s a damn good thing I got you a car or I’d feel like a real shmuk now. It’s perfect. Perfect.” “Yeah, well, you better get busy. The grand opening is in two weeks. Can you do it?”
“I can,”
“Good.” Willard reached in his pocket, pulled out a check, and handed it
to
“Money?” “See girl, I’m going to have to break you of that. You have talent; most people don’t. That’s a commodity folks ought to be more than willing to pay for. It’s true that Francis called me and told me you were looking for a big wall to paint but the funny thing is I was going to ask you to paint this wall anyway, so I am going to pay you.” “I’ll tell you what, Willard; you see what I do and then if you don’t just want to paint it white again pay me whatever it’s worth to you.” “That sounds fair.” He reached in another pocket and pulled out a key. “Make sure you lock up when you go. Clean up crew comes in the day before the grand opening. Until then the place is yours.”
“Thanks.”
Willard didn’t let go of her hand. He looked in her eyes. “Let me tell
you something, “Yes, sir.” Willard let go of her hand. “Good. Now go on and enjoy your birthday.” “Thanks, Dad,” Francis said, hugging Willard’s neck.
“But sir, this is…” “Squeeze,” he said and then laughed.
“That’s better. Now go on, get out of here!” he shouted after them.
“Ten thousand dollars, I couldn’t spend that on paint, drop cloths, brushes, and scaffolding rental if I tried.” She sighed. “It’s more than I paid for your car.” “I love my car,” Francis said, beaming. “So are you happy?” “I was happy before. Now I’m ecstatic. And you know what he said about luck? Well he’s dead on, because that’s what I did with you. I got lucky, so I just held on.” “And squeezed,” Francis laughed. “Yeah.” Tammy
was glad that Francis liked her car because if she hadn’t Her mom and dad had expected her to come home over the summer and had been some upset when she’d wanted to stay with her friends on B Street, but she’d made a real effort to go to dinner once a week and spend some time with them and had promised to go on a cruise with them in August, so they were cool. She was mostly just enjoying hanging out with her friends, running and working out every day, and the rest of the time just lying around like a slug. And then there was the thing with Faye that she didn’t really understand. Most of the time she just felt—the way Milly had so eloquently put it—like a piece to a really intricate puzzle that just really didn’t fit anywhere. Of course Milly had been talking about herself but it explained Tammy’s position to a T. She really liked Faye, she loved having sex with Faye, she loved Faye, didn’t want to think about not being with her, but she didn’t feel like Faye was the person she was supposed to be with her whole life. She knew Faye should be with Jan and yet the thought of Faye leaving her for Jan hurt. Yet it felt inevitable to her, like she was just a place keeper in Faye’s life. Part of her wanted Faye to just commit to her so that she could just be in love with Faye and Faye could be in love with her. Yet part of her just wanted Faye to cut her loose and go be with Jan so that Tammy could go on with her life instead of just running in place. There was no part of her that was willing to be the one to leave the relationship. It was odd, but she felt like she could handle being dumped by Faye a whole lot easier than she could handle dumping Faye. She was her first real girlfriend, she was a lot of Tammy’s firsts and Tammy liked having someone to go places with to be with, but she was sure it wasn’t going to last. They had wound up taking two cars and Tammy was glad because it meant she and Faye were alone in her car while Adrian and Francis and Jan were in the other. Then when they left the club Milly would ride with them and Tammy wouldn’t have to be stuck in a car with Jan and Faye and see and almost feel their connection. A connection so much stronger than the one she shared with Faye. She hated feeling that way about Jan because she was one of her best friends. Jan was also her only rival for Faye’s affection, and it could sometimes be hard to separate the two. Like right now because she knew Jan was trying to get Faye back and Jan didn’t really care how that might affect Tammy. Because to Jan Tammy wasn’t part of the problem and she wasn’t part of the problem because Jan knew as well as Tammy did that if Faye could forgive Jan, getting rid of Tammy wouldn’t be a problem for her at all. “You’re awful quiet baby,” Faye said. “Just thinking,” Tammy said, forcing a smile she didn’t really feel. Faye reached over and put her hand on her leg. For the moment at least Tammy didn’t feel like a place keeper. Faye smiled at her and said, “We’re going to have a great time, you’ll see.” Tammy nodded and decided she just wouldn’t think about it. The
strip club was busy but not packed and there had been a little bit of trouble at the
front door because Tammy and Francis didn’t have ID—better not to have it than
to have one that proved you were too young was Adrian’s thinking on it—but then
Doug walked over and waved them on in. They moved right up to the main stage.
The stripper working the center stage wasn’t all that good. Her body was all
right but wasn’t nearly as fine as the one
Jan was screaming like a banshee. It didn’t matter what the woman looked like
or whether she could dance or not, Jan started screaming and throwing money on the stage.
It was funny and you had to smile or at least Francis leaned her head back and said, “So, this is a strip club.” “It is.” “Ah, I could take it or leave it,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “Ditto,” Francis said. “Take it off! Take it off!” Jan screamed. “She’s a stripper, Jan!” Francis yelled at her, laughing, “I don’t think you have to tell her to take her clothes off.” “I’m just trying to be polite,” Jan said with a laugh. Then she was screaming at the stripper again, “Come on baby be good to me!”
“She went to a special school to learn strip club etiquette.” The G-string came off the dancer and then she threw it right at Jan who caught it in her teeth.
“See why an education is so important?” Tammy just wanted to have a good time. She really did. Just hang out with her friends and enjoy naked women dancing on a pole. But when Faye reacted to Jan’s screaming at the strippers by pulling her half way across the club away from the rest of her friends, it sort of made it hard to just pretend like there was nothing between them.
She watched the stripper with half-hearted interest and tried to ignore Faye
glaring at Jan. Oh God, I’m just like the
single straight guys now. I’m just watching with no emotion at all. But look at her;
she isn’t as hot as Faye and she can’t really dance and… Well, she’s
just ignoring the pole and that’s what makes it interesting—like watching a
combination of hot, sexy, naked women and sports and… Wow! Jan has really great
coordination, so what’s Faye doing now that Jan’s got some bimbo’s panties
in her teeth? Tammy looked at Faye. And there
you go. I don’t think she’d give a damn if I did the same thing, and yet
she’s damn near got steam coming out her ears over what Jan’s doing. I need to
grow some balls and just end it. The stripper left the big stage and moved to one of the smaller ones. Then the announcer called out, “And now ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the magnificent Milly Saint John!” Lights started strobing, sirens started wailing, and a fog machine pushed a cloud of fog onto the stage. Then the music kicked in. Not the lame-ass shit the other girls had been dancing to, but Poison by Alice Cooper. A few months ago Tammy wouldn’t have had any idea what that song was, much less be able to pick it out from the opening bars, but Adrian had a taste for really hard rock, thought Billy Idol was a god, and Alice Cooper was a genius. Their tunes littered the jute box in Rhonda’s and were often played loudly in the apartment while Adrian and Francis were getting a little. As the opening licks of the song started Milly sauntered onto stage dressed in a black leather thong, a black tux coat with tails, and a top hat. She cracked a whip the tail of which landed on the stage right in front of Tammy as if she thought she might not have already gotten her attention. As the tempo picked up Milly took off the top hat and threw it to Adrian, who caught it and stuck it on Francis’ head. Milly cracked the whip several more times as she danced, her body never seeming to miss a beat. The crowd was screaming wildly—including she realized herself, who was cheering like she was courtside at a ball game. Milly slung the whip so that it wrapped around the pole, and then she climbed the pole, did a flip hand-over-hand down it, and then slung herself around it, launched off the pole, hit the floor and started doing pushups right in front of Tammy. She wasn’t wearing anything under that coat and Tammy was getting an eyeful of her perfect titties as they almost but not quite hit the floor. Her face was a mask of desire and then her eyes met Tammy’s and held her gaze and Tammy was unable to do anything but just look at her. Milly smiled wildly at her, then winked, jumped to her feet, and danced off to another part of the stage. At her side Faye laughed and nudged her with her elbow. “Hey, chick, you might want to remember to breathe,” she said. Tammy took a breath but didn’t take her eyes off Milly. She was… just amazing to watch. Then Milly was in front of her again. She had the whip in her hands and she caught it in the middle and then slowly moved her hands till they were about three feet apart. Then she slung the whip around Tammy’s neck and shook herself down till Tammy was eye level with her breasts. Tammy just looked at them. “Hey, you cheap little shit, where’s my tip?” Milly teased. Tammy looked away from the boobs and into Milly’s eyes and then she dug into her pocket, pulled out a hundred dollar bill and tried to hand it to her. “No baby.” Milly shook her head. “You have to put it in my G-string.” Tammy looked at Faye. She was laughing her ass off and said, “Go on.” Tammy carefully stuck the bill in Milly’s G-string. “When I turn around grab the tails of my coat.” Tammy nodded at that point. If Milly had told her to jump off a bridge she probably would have done it. Milly pulled the whip from around Tammy’s neck, releasing her from her grip, and then she turned and walked away. Tammy grabbed the tails of the jacket as told and then the jacket was in her hands and Milly was topless. As the last notes of the song played out she pulled off her G-string and threw it to Adrian who caught it in her hand. Milly did another song totally nude. While she was dancing, a man came around and picked up her things from Tammy and Adrian. When Milly had finished dancing to the second song she walked over to the steps on the side of the stage. One bouncer handed her a red silk robe and she put it on as another one of the bouncers picked up all the money off the stage. Milly was escorted to one of the side stages, and they weren’t the only ones who followed her. She’s an amazing talent, Tammy thought. She just captivates everyone. I didn’t get how she could love this job and now… I so get it. She’s a really good dancer. Tammy’s crotch was wet; she pretended not to notice. Tammy was obviously mesmerized by the oozing sex which was their good friend Milly Saint John, Faye was seemingly oblivious to Tammy’s mental infidelity because she was too busy glaring at Jan. When she got mad enough to actually stomp away from the stage and head for the bar Adrian told Francis, “I’m going to go get a beer; you want a pop?” “Yeah, sure,” Francis said, never taking her eyes off Milly.
“I only have the two, dude, and they’re both on Milly, but yeah, I won’t let horrid men touch your old lady.”
You could sometimes wait ten minutes to get a bartender’s attention but the
bartender tonight was a woman “A Miller Lite and a Coke. What do you want, Faye?” Faye was once again glaring at Jan. “Faye!” “Huh?” Faye asked, turning to face her. “What do you want to drink?” “Something a lot stiffer than they have here. I’ll just have a Zima.” The bartender—Candy—smiled, apparently in no hurry to get the drinks. “So when everyone heard you got married we all held a little wake.” “Yeah?” “Yeah, so where is the missus?”
“My God, she’s absolutely gorgeous,
“Yeah,” “So is Jan still single?” “I’m standing right here, Candy,” Faye hissed at her. “Sorry, Faye.” Candy shrugged and went off to get the drinks.
“Faye… Do you even remember who you came here with?” “Oh fuck you, Adrian.”
“Most people just say happy birthday, but I’ll ask the ‘old
lady’ if it’s all right,” Faye looked back across the room at Jan. “Look at her, at the way she’s acting. She’s lying again.”
“About what?” “There is no way that little bitch is celibate when she’s acting like that,” Faye said. “Is she? She’d tell you, I know she would.”
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” Faye said in a tortured voice. “That’s not what I want to do. I just, why’d Jan have to fuck everything up?”
“Because Jan is her own worst enemy, you know that,”
“I do, I love her but… I don’t want to live with her crazy shit,
“You see, and not once in this entire conversation have you even mentioned
Tammy or her feelings in this whole mess,” Faye nodded silently. Francis
looked up at
“Yep,” “How’d she learn to do that?” she asked, pointing to where Milly was climbing the pole feet first.
“Believe it or not she took classes,”
Some dumb ass walked by them, reached over and stuck a dollar bill in Francis grabbed her arm. “Honey, let it go.”
“Hey fuck head!” Francis looked up at him and he was smiling back at her. She couldn’t remember him ever smiling at her. He walked back over to them and it was obvious by his gait why he was smiling. He was drunk.
“Happy birthday, Francis.” He actually hugged her neck. She was shocked
he even knew when her birthday was. After all they hadn’t bothered to send her a
card. He let go of her and slugged
“Ah… yeah,” “So… this is where lesbians go on their birthday, too. I’m here for Chuck’s birthday,” he said as if Francis should know who the hell Chuck was. “Dad, you remember Tammy,” Francis said, Ge just nodded at Tammy and Tammy nodded back, a stunned look on her face. “These are our friends Jan and Faye, and that’s Milly.” “You know her?” her father said in disbelief. “Is she…” “Yes,” Francis said. “You’re kidding me. Well, I better go back to my party.” He almost fell down when he turned to go.
“You know I never thought I’d say this about anyone but I like your dad
better when he’s drunk,” “Really,” Francis said, “He was like a normal human.” They drove to Club Excel with Milly in the back seat and Tammy found that she just couldn’t think of anything to say to her. She’d wound up giving her three hundred dollars in tips—a substantial portion of her allowance for the month. She didn’t care; it was worth every penny. “How do you make sure the bouncer doesn’t keep part of your tips?” Faye asked Milly. “They wouldn’t dare; Doug would kill them,” Milly said. “Besides he pays them well enough they wouldn’t want to risk losing their jobs.” “You’re incredible. Isn’t she incredible, Tammy?” Faye asked, an edge of teasing to her voice. “Yes,” Tammy got out. “Thanks for playing along,” Milly said and put her hand on Tammy’s shoulder.
“Ah… it was my pleasure,” Tammy stammered out. Milly’s hand was
on her shoulder, that was all. Milly’s hand was on her shoulder and her heart was
pounding. Of course it is. I just watched Milly
dance nude for nearly forty-five minutes. I’d have to have a constitution like steel
if I wasn’t turned all the way on. Milly took her hand off her shoulder, and Tammy relaxed a little. She had to quit feeling like a giant perve. Milly was a stripper. It was her job to turn people on and she was damn good at her job. But she’s my friend and you aren’t supposed to drool over your friends. It’s just wrong. She was glad when they pulled into the parking lot at the Excel she parked right beside Francis’ car and they all got out. “I like to thought we were never going to get here. Is Francis like afraid to go over twenty?” Faye asked.
Tammy got out of the car and opened the door for Milly. She put in a hand and
helped her out without even thinking about what she was doing or why she was doing it till
Milly was just looking at her, giving her the oddest look, and she realized she was still
holding Milly’s hand. She let go quickly and then ran around and opened the door for
Faye as if it was something she did all the time, which she didn’t. She put down her
hand and helped Faye out of the car and Faye gave her almost the same look that Milly had.
She was glad when
A DJ was spinning tunes but not too many people were dancing yet. They hadn’t
even gotten drinks yet when Francis drug “Come on, there’s a table,” Jan called out, and they followed her across the room to a big table that was empty. “I’ll get the first round of drinks,” Jan said. They all made orders and Jan grabbed Tammy to help her carry them back from the bar. Tammy walked away and looked over her shoulder and saw Fay and Milly start talking. She was pretty sure she knew what about. “What’s with you bud?” Jan said, elbowing her in the ribs as they reached the bar. “Two Miller Lites, a Zima and three Cokes,” she told the bartender. Then she looked up at Tammy expectantly. Let’s see. One of my best friends is trying to take my girl friend and I’m pretty sure my girlfriend would rather be with her, and I can’t decide whether I should fight for her or just break up with her. I think that about covers it, Tammy thought but just said, “You don’t think it’s in the least weird to watch one of your friends dance nude for you?” “Nope,” Jan said with a shrug. She laughed at the look on Tammy’s face. “Oh now I get it, you’ve fallen under Milly’s magic spell.” “What?” “It’s all right, Bud, if you don’t lust after Milly you aren’t normal.”
“I’m not lusting,” Tammy grumbled, and was glad when their drinks
came and they headed back for the table. She didn’t want to talk to Jan so she
guessed she was a lot madder than she thought she was. I’m three seconds from just kicking her ass. Why?
Is it because I love Faye and want to keep her, or does it have more to do with not liking
being the huge dumbass in this love triangle? At eleven o’clock they lit up the stage and the announcer screamed out, “And now Cold Jets!”
Jan and her group took the stage. Jan grabbed her guitar and Faye’s heart
started pounding hard. There was just something about the way Jan held herself on stage,
like suddenly she was nine foot tall and bullet proof. The cocky little shit head. Jan stepped up to the mike and said, “Tonight is for our friends Adrian and Francis who are both celebrating their birthdays today.” And then they just started playing a Billy Idol cover. Faye smiled in spite of herself. The guy had made like two albums and yet Jan and Adrian practically worshiped him. No doubt because his music spoke to their fucked up little minds.
Adrian and Francis were dancing and Faye was just watching Jan like some
love-struck groupie. Watching her in her tight leather pants and tank top, part of her
fifteen tattoos showing, all Faye could think about was the time she had grabbed Jan after
a show drug her to the stock room at Rhonda’s and they’d just fucked each other
till they could hardly walk. She sighed. That stock
room has seen more action than a Los Vegas brothel. I have to stop thinking about Jan. I
just have to stop it. “I’m not really much of a dancer,” Tammy said. “Milly?” Faye asked. “I’m danced out right now. Give me a few minutes though and I’ll be good to go. Why don’t you just go dance?” Faye nodded and went to dance with Adrian and Francis. Milly was quiet, but looking at her in that way that said—at least to Tammy—oh you poor thing. “Go ahead and say it,” Tammy said angrily. “What?” Milly asked, shrugging and looking confused by Tammy’s sudden out burst. “That I’m a huge dumbass.” Milly sighed reached over and patted the back of her hand. “Tammy you aren’t the huge dumbass here. Faye’s just confused; she cares about you deeply…” “But I’m not Jan; I’m never going to be Jan.” “And Jan isn’t ever going to be you, honey, thus Faye’s dilemma. Have you thought at all about what you want?” Tammy laughed and shook her head. “Honestly Milly I just don’t have a fucking clue.” “Then there isn’t anything wrong with just hanging out and seeing what happens. You wouldn’t have to fight very hard for her to win her away from Jan because… Well Faye doesn’t want to care about Jan and if you really wanted to you could knock her right out of the running.” “Are you blind?” Tammy asked, and motioned towards the stage where Jan was rocking her ass off and women were knocking each other down to get a little closer to the stage. “I can’t possible compete with that.” Milly’s fingers gripped her hand more tightly and Tammy looked at her. “Tammy, Jan Shears is the kind of girl you want to fuck, not the kind of girl you want to play house with. Jan needs constant maintenance. She needs a keeper not a lover.” “Do you want her?” Tammy asked. Milly laughed. “Like I want a case of herpes. No, so I’m not going to help you out kid. Truth is I don’t understand what’s going on in Faye’s head because I wouldn’t have any trouble at all choosing.” Milly let go of her hand. “So I’m getting my second wind, you want to go dance?” “I’m really not a very good dancer. I wasn’t just saying that because I’m pissed off at Faye because she’s spent the whole night looking at Jan,” Tammy said. “Oh, honey, you know if you’re dancing with me no one’s going to be watching you.” Milly got up, grabbed Tammy’s hand, and drug her onto the dance floor where Tammy attempted to prove to everyone that she couldn’t dance. It didn’t matter; Milly was dancing with her and as she watched Milly it became less and less important whether she could dance or not. “You’re not bad at all, Tammy,” Milly said, dancing close to her. “Well I’m not good,” Tammy said. “Yes you are, and the more you relax the better you’ll be. Just let the music sort of move you. You have decent rhythm; you’re just self conscious.” She smiled. “Marcella, she was the worst dancer ever. No rhythm whatsoever and didn’t give a shit. She loved to dance. Jan would make fun of her and she’d just laugh it off and say ‘It’s not a fucking contest.’” Milly laughed. “I loved to dance with her.” Tammy was enjoying dancing with Milly because it made her forget about all her problems. Then Faye came over and broke in and she was dancing with Faye, but Faye was looking at Jan and she knew she was going to have to do something about it soon or she was going to go nuts.
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