Devious Origins

CHAPTER 3

When the Vespa screeched to a halt in front of the Brass Rail, I resisted the urge to leap off and kiss the ground. Instead I calmly dismounted, removed the helmet, then used one of the scooter's mirrors to check my hair and straighten my tie again. Dee jumped off and stashed her goggles in the Vespa's storage bin, then turned to me and said, "You look fine, Barry. Heck, you look too good for this place."

"We might actually be a bit overdressed," I replied.

"No helping it now. Lead on MacDuff."

"You know that play doesn't end well, right?"

"Don't be such a buzz-kill. I just scored myself a kickin' lair. I feel like celebrating."

We walked up to the entrance of the Brass Rail, its dignified oak door belying the raucous atmosphere that lied beyond. Loud music and numerous voices leaked through as an indistinguishable droning.

"You ever been here before?" I asked before opening the door.

"Nope. Never went out much when I was actually a student here. Pretty much a study-o-holic the whole time."

I tried to picture her sitting quietly with a stack of books, studying. No... my brain couldn't form the image.

"Its not too late," I suggested, "We could go someplace quieter."

"You can't chicken out on me now, Barry. You've got to introduce me to your friends. Let's go. The only way out is through."

"Robert Frost. Well... almost."

"Yes, I know. He really said 'the best way out is always through'... and Shakespeare actually said 'Lay on, MacDuff', not 'lead on'... but nobody actually talks like that. It is irresistible how literate you are, but I'll like it even more with a drink in my hand."

She was right. I was procrastinating. And being obnoxiously pedantic besides. It was just that the idea of her and my classmates actually interacting was somehow frighting... like throwing a bobcat into a box full kittens. They didn't know what they were in for.

She pulled the door open. The sound hit us like a physical wave. We stepped in, and the bouncer asked us for ID. I was temped to steal a glance at Dee's license as she flashed it just to see if her name really was Diana, but I didn't think I could do it without being obvious. We waded into the crowd.

It wasn't as packed as a Friday night, but it was a respectable crowd. Dollar Tapper Wednesdays was a decent draw. I scanned the crowd for my friends, finally spotting them at a table against the far wall.

"I see them," I yelled to Dee, pointing in the direction we needed to head. Jake was the first to react when we showed up.

"Barry, you made it!" he exclaimed, then looking my suit, "and from a funeral no less."

"Real funny, Jake," I answered, "This is my friend, Dee. Dee this is Jake. Don't believe anything he says about me. The big guy next to him is Tony. Next to him is Sara, then Kelly, Robert... don't call him Bob... and Michael. I've known Jake since freshman year. Sara, Kelly, and Michael almost as long. We've had a lot of classes together. Tony and Robert joined us only this year, switched over to comp sci from the business management program, but we're trying not to hold that against them."

Hellos were exchanged all around. The music was a notch lower than deafening in this corner of the place, so we could actually talk without yelling ourselves hoarse. Jake poked me with an elbow, then gave me a smart-ass smile and covert thumbs up when he thought Dee wasn't looking.