"Dude you said half an hour" Mikey says as he opens the door to let Jonathan in.

"Sorry the traffic. Anyways you ready?"

"Yea let me just grab my jacket".

Mikey walks into his bedroom down the hall. He goes to open his closet but stops to inspect himself in his full length mirror that was secured to the closest door.

Alright Mikey. You don't look like a complete mess. Maybe I should have shaved. It's been two months since I decided to just let it grow out. I look scruffy. Ah well better than gaining weight.... Maybe I'll shave for Monday. Mikey runs his hands through his dark curly hair that was a whole 2 inches longer than it normally is. Hmmm... Maybe I'll let the hair stay though.

"Mikey you done putting on your make up? " Jonathan calls from the living room.

Mikey quickly closes the closet door when he realizes he started drifting away in thought. He grabs the nearest black jacket he could find then closes the door. One last quick inspection. Alright. God go with us tonight. He whispers a silent prayer then turns to leave.

"Why are you such an idiot Jonathan? "

....

"Cheers to new beginnings!" Jonathan shouts over the blaring music.
"Cheers!" as they drink their screw drivers in unison. Jonathan finishes his in one go. Mikey barely takes a sip.
"So what kind of place is this? " Mikey asks as he looks around the sparsely packed room. There are a few couples standing at some tall red tables. He observes a group of girls giggling in a corner. They look young, probably college age Mikey thinks to himself. They are looking at a group guys in the other darker corner. The decor is generally red and black. Red tables, black leather seating. Red and black glasses. Red and black bartender uniforms. Red and black sign that read Dragon R & B on the front. The R & B could have meant restaurant and bar or rhythm and blues like the type of music that was playing. But I think it means Red and Black. Mikey thinks to himself.

"What do you think?" Mikey asks Johny Boy.

"Mikey why do you always do that?"

"Do what? " Mikey asks puzzled.

"Ask me a question then zone out and not hear a word I say. I was talking to you for about a minute about how I found this place"

"Sorry, my mind it just wonders sometimes. Can't control it especially since I don't realize when its happening"

Jonathan sighs. "What do I think about what?"

"Huh?"

"You just asked me what I think so what are you talking about? "

"Oh never mind".

Jonathan rolls his eyes. "That's exactly what Raquel would say. Sometimes I think you are my second wife".

"What? "

Jonathan rolls his eyes." Never mind".

Mikey takes another sip of his drink and continues to look around.

"Oh yea, Raquel says Congratulations. We are very proud of you. And thank you"

"Thanks? For what? " Mikey asks puzzled

"Thanks to your little news. I managed to get Raquel to do something for me."

"Oh no do I want to know?"

"Let's just say, it involves a lot of ice cream, whipped cream, and other creams that I will thoroughly enjoy when the time comes".

"Dude I did not need to know anything about your married people lifestyle. But I'm glad I could help out a friend in need. Even though I don't know how"

"Simple. I traded your secret of you getting a job for it. She offered; I accepted".

"But it wasn't a secret" Mikey says puzzled.

"Well she didn't know so it was a secret to her".

Mikey shakes his head.

"Was umm... Was she.... How was... Uh" Mikey struggles.

"Chrissy? Yup she was there at her party" Jonathan answers nonchalantly even though he knows his friend is still hung up on this girl.

"That's not what I meant. Does she know? "

" Yea she does. She was there when I told Raquel".

"Did she *cough* say anything? "

Jonathan looks away." She tried to but the music was so loud, I was already on my way out. Couldn't hear. Bad reception. "

Mikey laughs at the last comment. Jonathan smiles then looks up.

" Woah! " Jonathan exclaims.

" What is it?" Mikey asks as he spins around to see why has his friend so stunned and suddenly speechless.

His mouth was left gaping when he laid eyes on the girl... No... She was no girl... She is a Woman. He saw her standing at the other end of the bar in a bright blue cocktail dress that stopped just above the knee. The dress showed off a little cleavage but covered enough to leave a lot to the imagination.

She is gorgeous. Mikey thinks as he admires the dark haired beauty across the room. She looks in his direction and he snaps his head in the other direction .

"Mikey you should go talk to her".

"Me? No. Look at her. What would she be doing with me. I didn't even shave."

"You look fine. With those high cheek bones and them brown eyes. Remember you got all the girls, even the ones from church"

"Yea but you're married".

"Yea I know. Looks alone will get you no where. You have to be charming like me." Jonathan says as he shows off his 32.

"Whatever man. Besides she already has enough wolves surrounding her" Mikey says making note of the third man that has approached her in the 5 minutes that she walked in.

She looks in their direction again. Mikey quickly turns around again.

"Look she is even eyeing you too. Go on. "

He ponders. The worst she could say is go away you unattractive, un-charismatic, dull man. Sigh.

" I will give you $50 to go up to her and say "hi, I'm Michael and you are?' " Jonathan says holding up the $50 between his middle and index fingers.

"Fine" Mikey gets up. Turns on his heels and starts making a bee line around the red tables to his destruction in blue. He decides to stand about 3 spaces down the bar from her. She stands there with her glass twirling. What is she drinking?. Dark brown. Light. I don't know. I know nothing about alcohol. But her skin. It's not dark, but not pale, almost caramel or gold even. Wow God never made a mistake here. Maybe I should say that. That's clever right? Bold. Mikey clears his throat and he opens up to say his clever line, he is interrupted by loud shrieks at the entrance.
"Ah Cheyenne!!! " says the petite blond girl as she runs up to his blue dress. Heels clacking on the red and black tiles.

" Hey! " shouts blue dress aka Cheyenne as she puts her glass down and walks off towards her friend.

" You really shouldn't do that. Someone might put something in your drink. "

Who said that? Mikey thinks startled by what he said aloud.

Cheyenne turns around to face Mikey. He swallows a lump of air as Cheyenne walks towards him. Father please help me. Cheyenne reaches over and grabs Mikey's drink.

" Then I'll just take yours". she says in a smooth sensual tone before turning the glass t her lips and taking a sip. Leaving a pink stain on the rim of the glass.  Mikey stops breathing. Cheyenne turns to walk away with his drink in hand. Then he feels a hand on his shoulder.

"Mikey what was that?!" Jonathan asks.

"Can't talk must leave. Now. "