Call a friend

Tony thinks about it for a moment, weighing his options. Much as he’d like to just curl up and sleep everything away, it wouldn’t do him any good. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and pressed the power button before inputting his login. Rolling over onto his back, Tony made his way to the contacts and began scrolling through them. It was a strange feeling, he thought, to be homesick when his parents were only a phone call away. Not his parents exactly but ones that were approximate enough replicas that he doubt he’d be able to tell the difference other than in his heart. His finger hovers over their name but he ultimately decides not to press it.

He’s still not sure when he’ll be able to find the courage to make the call either.

Instead Tony moves his finger down to the bottom of the list, trying to find Zach’s number. It might not be the same person he knew, but there was something strangely comforting of reaching out to his other best friend. The emotions might not be as raw or painful – much as they hadn’t been when he’d met this world’s Katie earlier today – than it would be for blood relatives. After a moment’s hesitation Tony hits the number and puts the phone up to his ear. Seconds go by as the ringing of the phone is the only thing making noise throughout Tony’s apartment before he finally hears Zach’s voice.

“Nice of you to finally get in touch after I texted you a few days ago, you dick.”

Despite his faux anger, Tony rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, well, a lot of stuff’s happened since then, alright?”

“Sure, sure. I know it’s a lot of effort to turn on the screen and click on your unread messages.”

Tony doesn’t even bother to correct him. It’s not like Zach, or at least this Zach, has any idea what it is he’s been through.

“They had me put in an overnight shift at New Horizons. It's…” Tony trails off, unsure how to justify it in a way that doesn’t have Zach start questioning him. “…alright, I guess.”

“That sucks, man. Maybe you should quit? I doubt the pay’s that good.”

“Well, about that…” he rummages around again and pulls out the check stub from the bank earlier today. “I did get a pretty hefty bonus from them for the trouble they gave me.”

“How much’re we talking?”

Tony reads out the number and it takes him a minute to process the long list of zeroes attached to it.

“Ho-l-y shit. If they’re just giving away that kind of stuff, maybe I should join up too.”

Even though he can’t see him, Tony violently shakes his head before hurriedly answering.

“It’s really not worth it. They’re probably gonna go belly up soon anyway or at least that’s what the doctor I work with told me.”

“Cleaning yourself out like they did for you would do that, yeah.”

There’s a beat between them and Tony takes a moment to appreciate that, in spite of the fact he’s sure Zach’s obviously curious what it was he did that got him so much money to begin with, Zach doesn’t push the issue. Despite his abrasiveness, Zach’s always been a good people reader and knows when to back off.

“Hey, so, changing gears a second… I’m thinking you and me make your wallet a little lighter tonight. What d’you say?”

“How?” Tony says, frowning.

“There’s this place on the other side of town I know…” Zach starts before Tony cuts him off.

“I don’t want to end up in some scuzzy dive-”

“Let me finish, will you? I know the bouncers there and they’d probably let us in for free. Trust me, you’ll have a great time.”

Tony doesn’t even bother to hide his groan as he rolls his eyes.

“Is this a bar or a strip club?”

“Actually, change of plans. The strip club sounds way better and I know the perfect one too.”

“For the love of-“

“Don’t be a wet blanket. You’re not seeing anyone, right?”

“No…” Tony finishes lamely.

“So what’s the deal? Not like Katie’s going to break you over her knee if you enjoy yourself every once in a while.”

Rubbing his eyelids, Tony gives an exasperated sigh into the receiver before finally relenting. Once Zach sets his mind on something it’s next to impossible to change it.

“Since you’re so eager to spend my money, mind telling me what makes this place so special?”

“There’s this Brazilian chick there who’ll light your world on fire, trust me. She dresses up like she’s in that holiday they do down there… Carnival or some shit? I dunno, pretty sure it’s a Catholic thing at least.”

“So what?”

“So what? Man, she’s got it all. Huge rack, legs that go on for days, and one of the fattest asses I’ve ever seen."

“I dunno, Zach. I just got in and I’m pretty tired…”

“C’mon! With the kind of cash you’re working with now, I’m sure you could even get a private show with her. That’s like a once in a lifetime opportunity!”

Weighing his options silently, Tony pauses before answering. Zach usually does mean well and Tony has to admit he’s never steered him wrong before on this kind of thing; his taste in women is spot on.

“Alright, I guess. But you’re driving us over there since you know where to go.”

His fist bump is practically audible through their connection.

“Hell yeah. I’ll be over in half an hour, so make sure you don’t look like a total slob.”

“Don’t be a jack ass. Remember who’s paying here.

The trip to the club was a largely uneventful one as Tony and Zach drove through the city, the buildings around them slowly changing from nice looking high rises to collapsing skeletons of what they once were. Tony tried not to think about it as they made their way through the streets, crisscrossing through intersections like surgical scars. He almost manages to doze off when he feels the car lurch to a stop and feels Zach’s hand shaking his shoulder. “Try to stay awake in there, alright?”

“I’m sure whatever crappy music they’ve got’ll help, don’t worry.”

Unlocking the passenger door, Tony steps out onto the uneven pavement of the parking lot, the bright neon sign’s hum mingling with the crowd bumming around outside the entrance. All types of men are present, from kids who look like they’ve probably managed to sneak in with fake IDs the bouncers don’t care enough to check, to guys in their early 20s (the majority Tony notes) who stand around with drinks in hand, as well as the occasional middle-aged lech. A few of them even have dates with them, some seeming bored but surely trying to ensure their men look but don't touch while others are assuredly along for the ride as any of the guys are. Looking up, Tony reads the business name.

“The Good Time Club? That’s the best they could do?”

“It’s not about what you call it, it’s about the performers, Tony,” Zach says with a sigh, running a hand through his mop of red hair.

Shrugging his shoulders, Tony pulled his jacket a little tighter around him, bracing for the air conditioning of the building. As they step past the other clientele and into the threshold, Tony’s suspicions are immediately confirmed. It seems to be a strip club like any other, with a random techno beat playing from some dingy speaker, along with obviously disinterested women trying their best to play along with whatever guy was giving them the time of day. Even the bartender – a matronly looking figure who was doing her best to likely try and convince someone he’d had too much to drink – seemed worn out.

“Lead the way, I guess,” Tony says, but Zach isn’t paying much attention to him. He’s too busy turning his head this way and that, obviously looking for someone. It only takes him a moment, though, as he immediately darts off into the throng of people and after a moment’s hesitation Tony follows suit, apologizing to this or that person as he squeezes past them to find Zach.

It doesn’t take Tony long. As he finally managed to move past a goth-looking guy being grinded on by one of the working girls here, you see your friend standing next to a statuesque black girl with curly hair, her skin almost midnight dark as she laughs at whatever joke he’s telling her, the warmth of her expression meeting her brown eyes. Deciding that he might as well stick close to him for now, Tony marches over and taps him on the shoulder.

“We’ve been here for about five minutes and you’re already running off. Try to keep it in your pants just a little bit longer?”

“You got it all wrong, Tony. I just know Mel here,” he jerks a thumb towards the stripper in front of them, Mel, who gives you a bright smile, her perfectly white teeth contrasting beautifully against the rest of her, “and she knows most of the ladies who work here. She says Maria’s show is gonna start soon.”

“Zach’s mentioned you a lot before,” Mel says, sidling over to you. Much as Tony knows that she’s paid to act nice to whatever sorry schmuck comes into the club, he has to admit that it’s working. She’d normally be too petite for Tony's taste but there’s no denying how gorgeous she is – and there isn’t much in the way of hiding the rest of her body, as he now realizes that she’s only wearing heels, a thong, and pasties over her nipples. He can already feel a twinge just by looking at her. “He left out you’re pretty cute.”

Tony can already feel the blush beginning to form on his cheeks. “Oh, well, hopefully it’s only been good things,” he bridges awkwardly. “I’d hate to make a bad impression before we got to know each other better.” He winces, then, in realization of the unintentional forwardness of the comment.

“Assertive, hm? I do like that… Tell you what, Zach? Let me have handsome here and you can go off to Maria’s little number all by yourself.” She doesn’t bother turning around to look at him, but you can see over her shoulder that Zach is giving you an ear-to-ear grin and two thumbs up.