Sometimes

Sang

It's busier than usual for a Tuesday night. 

Exams are finished though, for most people anyway, and Tuesday is our two for one beer night, until midnight. 

It's going to be messy tonight, but the tips will be great. 

I giggle at whatever this bozo just said, since his buddies are all cackling it's my safest bet. Pretending to not have a thought in your head helps a bunch in this line of work. 

I jot down their drink orders keeping up pretenses, turning to take care of my next table, as the jokester gently taps my hip, tucking a bill in my shorts. I smirk at him, because, while not entirely unheard of, smacking the paying customers does not bode well for the ole tip jar.

I add a little more sway to my hips as I head over to the bar, the new bartender seems to be getting into the swing of things. What's more, he's less inclined to be hassled because he's a guy. It's actually the smartest plan Winnie had when hiring him. Plus, he's really easy on the eyes without being condescending about it.

"What's shaking doll?" he asks, flashing me a huge smile. I'm mesmerized for a minute by the different colored eyes, but it gets easier every time I look into them. 

"Hey Mark. Two seven-sevens and a pitcher of MGD please, three glasses." I practically have to yell to be heard, which doesn't help my messed up throat, but he nods, seemingly in understanding. I lean against the bar, elbows propping me up, eyeing the tables. There's a group in the corner that are likely going to be a problem, but I already see one of the bouncers that has stationed himself in closer proximity. His eyes lock onto mine and I flash him a smile. 

I'm glad it's not my section, poor Meagan really doesn't have the best luck here and having a bouncer closer to those yahoos will help her in a pinch. His eyes don't leave me though, even as Mark nudges my elbow with the fully loaded tray.

"Looks like we're in for a busy one tonight!" he offers, as I try to balance the tray. He watches me warily but knows better than to try and help. I may be small, but dammit I can hold my own. I chewed him out his first night here and he's been much less chauvinistic-y ever since.

I meander through the throng of people, placing my tray down onto the table and distributing the drinks. Thankfully grabby has excused himself for some of the live entertainment, which means I can just drop off his stuff and go. A few of his buddies toss some coins on the tray before I leave to check on my other customers. I catch Kelly from the corner of my eye giving me none-too-subtle hand signals in an attempt to gain my attention. When she sees me turn toward her she beams, holding up a hand beside her face while pointing with the other. I shake my head, there is zero stealth to this woman. I look toward her gesturing finger only to have time stop.

Shit. What is he doing here?

Kelly starts fanning herself, misunderstanding my current state of panic for swooning. Yes, yes, they're hot, literally every single one in the group that she has just sat down in my section is devastatingly handsome, but one of them in particular cannot see me here!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not embarrassed about my job.

It's good pay and the perks are beyond anything I could have expected. Winifred, or Winnie as she insists, is an excellent boss. She takes the best interest of her staff to heart and fully supports their choices. Half of her dancers are attending University, she put into place a program where you dance on stage at least two nights a week, doing odd shifts to pick up extra money throughout, and she will help pay for school. Hell, it's the only way I could even dream of attending any form of higher education, I didn't exactly have the best opportunities growing up and she helped me every step of the way. Not to mention, the women I work with are amazing. Yes, okay, some are a little much, but their hearts are in the right place. We look out for one another, take care of one another. It's its own little family vibe, and because I'm the youngest they've taken it upon themselves to embarrass me at every turn. 

Dear Lord. 

Kelly is determined to set me up with a man, even though I've explained to her I don't have the time, which isn't strictly the truth but I can find my own man, thank you!

And I thought I had, well all signs pointed to it going in that direction, but now he's here and he's going to bolt for the hills the second he spots me. All that groundwork I put in, for nothing!

We're in the same chemical engineering class and he asked me if I wanted to study with him. I didn't have any reason not to, even though I didn't want to have to teach this guy everything, but it turned out we were evenly matched. He had no problems keeping up with my test-quizzes and vice versa. After a few sessions, they turned more into just hanging out than anything. I was finally going to pull on the proverbial big girl panties and ask him to go out for coffee tomorrow after our final, but now that he's here, there's no hope in hell that it's going to happen.

Over the years, I've discovered that people canbe a little judgmental about my choice of career, it's more jealousy thananything, but whatever. I make my own money and I have no regrets, but it stillsucks when people you think you know make those snap judgements. It's why Iwithhold the information until I am sure they won't just ghost me. It's more ameans of protection than outright lying about it. 

Deciding I've spent enoughtime hyperventilating to be strictly professional, I force myself to smile at Kelly,even though there are a few more teeth than necessary, snapping my spinestraight and sauntering toward the newly seated table.