A Ceaseless Infinity

Chapter 3

"Where in God's name have you been?"

It was Casey. Once again screeching in her idiotic blond person voice. We met in High School. We were arch enemies back in then until the day we got into a fist fight and I kicked her ass. Then she started paying me to be her sort of "body guard." She was very paranoid in high school, still is. I only followed her around because I was desperate for money, so I could feed myself and buy a pair of snow boots for when winter came. If anyone had actually attacked Casey, I wouldn't have done shit about it. However I did follow her around all the time spending nearly every hour of my day with her, and when people spend that much time together they are bound to become fond of each other. I admit I am not the nicest person especially not to Casey, but I really did care about her and I was glad she was around.

"My jack ass boss kept me late so I missed the bus and had to walk home." I didn't tell her about the man from the bar, because she would either tell me to never go to work again or go into that neighborhood, or she would have told me to hop on that. Neither of which I wanted to hear at that moment.

"Oh honey I am so sorry! Why didn't you take a taxi or something?" She asked me.

"Rent is due next week. I can't afford a taxi, not even for 8 miles. I don't think I can eat anything but Ramen and water until I get paid later this month either. Why do you insist on living with me? I can't afford anything Case." Casey's family was loaded and always offered to pay my share of the rent since it "Wasn't that much money".  For me it was a lot and I didn't want to owe anyone anything so I would never accept. All Casey did was frown and look down at her Prada shoes and expensive jeans. I sighed and gave her a hug and went to catch up on my sleep. 

At about 5 o'clock I woke up and took a shower and got ready to go back to work. I walked in 5 minutes early and put my purse in the back, grabbing a broom on my way out. I swept up the front of the bar and made sure all the chairs were around their tables and the counters were clean. Everyone started to trickle in while I was cleaning. Soon the night got started up and I was behind the bar first. At about 9:15 I heard the door open and I looked over. This man is everywhere! 

The Jason man sat down at the bar with his friends as they all ordered drinks. He got a water again. I shook it off and went about my business mixing alcohol up for the drunken pigs who were sitting or at least attempting to sit on the stools in front of me. After the man and his friends got their drinks they went over to a table where a girl named Alison was dancing and sat down. They were laughing and having what I presumed was a good time, becoming highly intoxicated very rapidly. I rolled my eyes at them. To be perfectly honest alcohol and drunkenness made me sick. Why would someone do that to themselves? Nothing good ever comes from intoxication. The song queuing station changes started and I waited to see who I was switching with. Alison walked up to me. No no no no no. Please anyone but Alison. I can't dance in front of that man. No. No. n.... 

"Hey Claire we are switching. Take them away." Allison said as she walked past me and behind the counter. Kill me. Please someone kill me.  I walked up to the table and tried to keep my head held high and not show weakness. That's what turns these men into slavering animals. I got up and started to dance, but one of the friends of this Jason fellow waved me over so I got down and went to him. 

"Honey, y'all should give my friend over there a show. He is a shy son of a bitch." The putrid man slurred into my ear. 

"Which man sir?" I asked him just to clarify that my day was officially in the shitter.

"Him." Yep. Right to Jason. I slowly closed my eyes and exhaled. I didn't want to dance on him. For the first time in my career, I am embarrassed. The friend slipped a $50 into my underwear. I decided that was enough to make me do it.

"That's a nice corset by the way little lady." He yelled. I turned to walk to Jason and the man slapped my rear. It took everything in me not to backhand the bastard. I never wore anything but a corset because I had a tattoo on my lower back that I will never, ever let anyone in this place see. When I applied for the job I told my manager I would never wear anything that showed my tattoo and since he was a nice guy he accepted that condition, but damn do I pay for it in the things he makes me wear. 

I came up to Jason and couldn't meet his beautiful green eyes. I was so ashamed of myself. 

"Uhh what are you doing?" He demanded. He sounded very, freaked out. He was getting a lap dance for free so I didn't see why he was being such a wiener about it. 

"Your friend told me he needed some fun so I guess I am here to give it to you." and with that I started to grind on him like the people in charge of this dingy bar taught me. I wasn't facing him though. I couldn't bring myself to do that. Once I was done I turned around and gave him a sarcastic bow only to find that he wasn't even looking. I glared at him until he looked at me. Once he finally did I went and got back on the table and did my thing. 

"Mr. Barnes! My man how are you!" The creepy friend of Jason's shouted at an older man, who looked to be in his 60's who was walking up. He looked vaguely familiar. Jason's eyes flew wide open and he whipped around to look at the man. He slowly turned around and he looked absolutely furious. Once the man was sitting on the chair by Jason I noticed a resemblance. Then it hit me, this man was Jason's father. I didn't see why I should care so I just kept dancing. Jason’s father was one of the creepers. Usually men stare when they come in here, it is a strip bar after all, but some have this look. A look like they are peering inside of you picking you apart piece by piece. The other part of that look is pure lust. The kind that I would imagine on a shark feasting on its prey. Soon enough the song signaling my end to this humiliating evening started so I grabbed the ones and fives the people had put on my table and ran to the back to change and get to the bus station, but most of all to escaping the unnerving glare from one Mr. Barnes.

You have to be fucking kidding me. I missed the bus. Again. I strongly debated going inside and just sleeping in the changing room at work but I had to get up to go to an “event” thing with Casey the next day which probably meant a fashion show or something petty like that, so sleeping at work was not an option. I kicked the bus stop sign and took my heels off and started towards home. Once again after about an hour and 4 miles a car pulled up next to me and sure enough it was Jason. 

"Listen, this is the second day in a row I have seen you walking. Please my friends are all passed out in the back seat so they won't bother you. I don't like to see a nice lady like you walking alone in the dark in a place like this." He said to me. Screw this. I wasn't walking again.

"Well, I guess I don't walk to walk another 4 miles so sure." I sighed

"Wait, yesterday you told me you were almost home! You let me leave you to walk 4 miles at almost 4 in the morning?" Jason asked. I smiled sheepishly at him and looked around. He went over to the passenger door and opened it for me and waited until I was seated and buckled before closing the door and walking around to the other side. I turned around a look at the 2 losers passed out in the back and slapped the guy in the face who humiliated me previously that night. Jason started the car and ask for directions to my apartment. Once we pulled out front I unbuckled and thanked him for the ride and got out. There was a sign on my front door. 

"Claire, I have company! I tried to call and you didn't answer. See you tomorrow." I stood there staring at it for what felt like eons. No way could this day get any worse. I turned and walked away from the door when I heard screams coming from my pitiful roommate’s window. I jumped when I turned because Jason was standing right behind me. 

"Do you... want to stay at my place?"