Strangelove’s

SUNDAY EVENING - STRANGELOVE’S BAR

The girls returned to the bar they had visited the night before to find that it was quite a bit busier and noisier than it was the first time around. That wasn’t helping Traci to feel any more comfortable during this second visit and it was taking everything she had to resist the urge to just turn around and walk right out the door. Not that she would have had the chance to make a run for it anyway. Kelly was already dragging her by the wrist to one of the standing tables in the back.

“Hmm let’s see what they have,” Kelly said as she picked one of the menus off the table and began looking through it. “I assume you’ll just be sticking to your iced tea again?”

“I was thinking a coke, maybe.”

“You’re a real wild one,” Kelly said, shaking her head. “That’s OK, they have a decent selection of food too, so it won’t be a total waste for you.”

Traci had just started reading through her own menu when the server arrived and set down two martini glasses filled with blue liquid, garnished with what looked like...

“Two Fruit Loops,” the server said with a friendly smile.

Traci looked down at the drinks. Had the server confused them with another table? “We didn’t order anything.”

The server pointed with her thumb over her shoulder at a nearby table. Two men smiled at them and raised their glasses in greeting.

Kelly flashed them a smile before picking up her glass. “I don’t think I’ve had one of these before. What’s in it?”

“A little bit of Vodka, a little bit of—”

“OK, you had me at ‘Vodka’,” she said and the two of them shared a chuckle.

The server excused herself, letting the girls know she would be back to take their order.

Kelly took a sip and nodded her approval. “Not bad!”

Traci just watched, not making a move to pick up her own glass.

“What’s wrong?” Kelly asked before taking another sip.

“Should we really be accepting drinks from guys?” Traci frowned slightly, and did her best not to look over in the direction of those two guys.

Kelly finished the rest of her drink. “Look, drinks can get expensive. One of the nice things about being a girl is that guys will just buy you drinks, so you should just get used to it and learn to love it!”

“But—”

“Besides, you don’t want to be rude, do you?”

Traci wasn’t convinced. “But aren’t you worried…I mean, won’t it give guys the wrong idea? What if they think we’re…interested?”

Kelly threw back her head and laughed heartily. “So what if they do? Milk it for what it’s worth and get those drinks. Play your cards right, and you’ll have your whole night out covered.”

“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”

Kelly just laughed again before going back to peruse the menu. “Hmm, these battered fish tacos sound pretty good…”

“Oh they’re amazing.” The two guys from the other table had made their way over. They were both tall and athletic looking, one dressed in a faded gray t-shirt and the other in a white button-down with the sleeves partially rolled up—he was the one that had just spoken.

“Mind if we join you ladies?” the other one asked.

“Sure!” Kelly answered before Traci could even process what was happening.