Upon seeing that the dancer and Lana are having a little moment, I stepped away so as not to disturb them. It feels like it has been years instead of weeks since Lana's confinement. I am glad that she's moving on bit by bit. I even hoped that she'd find someone interesting who would divert her attention from her past and move on to a fresher future.
The dancer I asked for Lana's first lap dance was really not an easy catch. She's quite new as I was told and doesn't accept lap dance requests. It was good that I pleaded for her through the kind bartender on the other side of the club.
She was still reluctant to even after I told her that she's going to dance for a decent woman and not just some drunken man. I insisted that I wanted my friend to experience lap dance for the first time and I promised she would behave. When I pointed out who she was going to dance for, she thought for a second and luckily, agreed to the deal.
She and another girl dancer will have to do us a lap dance for ten minutes. I guess it was successful because when Lana saw them approaching, she was already hypnotized. I couldn't blame her, that girl is really scorching hot!
I saw the kiss that Bailey gave her afterward. It left Lana in a daze. I walked back to the bar where Mike was bartending. "Two shots of tequila for me and Lana." I bravely ordered.
"Are you already leaving after?" He asked while he gets our drinks.
"It depends." My eyes went to Lana and saw that she was still stuck in the same chair unblinking. "Probably. My friend seems to be already drunk." I laughed, no pun intended.
He followed my gaze and saw Lana staring at nothing in particular. "Is she alright?" He asked worriedly.
"Lana? Of course, she is. She just got the first lap dance of her life. I'm sure she's okay. It was fun." I explained. I enjoyed it too since we were first-timers. I guess it has gotten to her more than it has gotten me but that is still good.
"Oh." Mike quipped.
"Yes. An O. That must be what she just got." I laughed louder already feeling the effects of the drinks we had. I saw Lana looking from side to side. She just woke up from her dazed moment. I stood up and waved at her. She saw me immediately and was shaking her head in shame.
She started walking slowly to the bar. "She's giving me her number." She declared. I put my other arm around her shoulder with the drink in another.
"That's great, isn't it?" I joked.
"I don't know. Should it be? I just came from a relationship. Don't you think I am moving too fast?" She hesitated as she reached for the drink I ordered for her.
"Careful, that's tequila. If you wanted to stay a little longer, you should steer away from it and drink it later." I said a little sober. I remembered I was driving. What an ass.
"Hey Mike, can I have light beer instead?" She ordered and Mike complied carefully watching her at the same time.
"I think your pace is just right. You just came from a whole new level of pain, it's your right to pull yourself away from it. I even would suggest you start dating again, as soon as possible. For such pain, you will need a whole new level of happiness to be able to move and forget about it." Her poker face is out of focus. She's getting anxious about something. I have to act on it before she thinks of anything.
"I am really sleepy and quite drunk, you know? Can we start heading home?" I distracted her when I remembered, I cannot drive. "Oops. I guess we should find a driver to take us home." I hinted peeking at Mike.
"I can do that for you but I still have three hours more before I can head home. I can drive for you if you can wait that long." He said as he wiped the counter slightly flirting with a few women sitting with us by the bar.
"Obviously, we can't wait that long. Maybe we can just call a cab. What do you think, Lana?" I nudged her, bringing her back to present. Just as she was about to answer, Bailey came around dancing with the crowd. I looked at Lana, expecting a reaction. I thought she was looking at Bailey but she was surprised when Bailey came to her giving a little piece of paper, probably her number. Bailey even waved in front of her pulling her out of reverie.
She smiled and reached for the slip ever so lightly with cheeks pink as a rose. I smiled at Bailey when her eyes found me. She did me a big favor out there, I'd remember to give her a nice tip.
Lana, in the corner of my eye though, looks as if she's looking for someone else. I encouraged a reaction by asking Bailey if she knows how to drive. She said yes, so I have to ask her when her shift ends. Bailey consciously glanced at Lana before saying it has ended an hour ago. She was just waiting for her friend to finish her shift.
"Lana, don't you think, it's nice if Bailey could drive us home? I really cannot drive now. I'm too drunk. We might get a ticket if I try to."
Lana, unbelievably still out of it, looked again. I don't really know who she was looking for so I nudged her again, harder this time.
"Yeah?" She asked innocently.
"I'll pay for the time you'd be driving for us. That is if you want to. No pressure." I told Bailey instead waiting for an answer from Lana.
She thought for a moment before saying yes. She said she'll just get her things at the back and we can head out. Once Bailey was out of sight, I confronted Lana.
"What was that, Lana? Bailey had been looking at you feeling awkward standing right there and you seem to make her feel out of place." I asked with an attitude. I must remind myself not to push her too much. It might trigger something. She answered one word.
"Blake." She looked irritated.
I immediately looked around trying to spot her in the crowd. I don't see her and gestured to Lana.
"She's not here. I thought she was, but it was not her." Lana simply said, downing the tequila shot behind her. That is not good. I brought her here to enjoy drinking not to drink because she is not having fun.
"Bailey kissed me back there. As I closed my eyes, I remembered the last kiss I gave Blake before we broke up. I remembered how she cheated. How I was left hanging. I remembered how stupid I had been. I have been very gullible. I never thought it's possible that I will lose her one day. Here I am, crushing again on another girl. What assurance do I have, that I won't get hurt? How can I be sure that I am over Blake? Why does she have to be in so many faces?" She ranted getting all stressed up.
I'm not sure if she's taking her anti-depressants but I hoped she does. "Lana, do you have your meds?"
"Why do you think I will bring it here?" She sarcastically answered. I huffed containing my patience. I don't want her to have episodes here. I asked Mike for a big glass of water. I need Lana to calm down before Bailey comes back.
"Drink this," I said instructing her to down the whole glass. She obeyed without a fight. I'm glad she did. I maneuvered her into the corner where there are vacant plush seats. She obeyed again. She leaned on the couch and closed her eyes. I talked to her while I slightly massage her temples.
"Bailey is driving us home, Lana. I have one big favor for you. I want you to behave yourself, be nice. She's getting out of her way to help us home so please, please, please be nice." I pleaded holding her hands.
"Alright. But this is just because she is not Blake." She said mindlessly. I thanked her but I can't shake the fact that she is not herself this time. She had mentioned Blake's name for almost three times now within ten minutes.
Bailey came with her bag behind her. A backpack for that matter. "I'm sorry, Lana suddenly felt ill so we transferred seats."
"No problem. Does she need a few minutes more?" Bailey asked gesturing to "sleeping" Lana.
"No, I'm fine. Let's go home." Lana suddenly said, springing from the seat. Bailey, on the other hand, was glad to hear it.
Lana insisted that she'll be sitting next to the driver so I stayed at the back avoiding my much-needed sleep.
"So, how long have you been working there?" Lana suddenly asked Bailey. I just listen.
"Not more than a month. I auditioned as bar dancer to assist my expenses at school." Uh-oh, a student. Lana seemed impressed but a little bothered.
"What year are you now?"
"I'm in my last semester. Luckily will graduate in two more months. I was working as a disc jockey before for another club. I decided I should pursue what I love the most and that is, obviously, dancing." Lana will seriously notice their similarities. I do notice it. If Lana, did, she did not speak of it. Instead, she went for an early kill.
"Do you always give your number away?" We were taken aback by the question. It was almost rude to the ears. I watched Bailey's reaction. If she was offended, she did not show it.
"No. You were the first stranger to have my number." Bailey laughed a little louder taking the tension out of the window. She was offended.
"You were the first customer whom Bailey gave a lap dance," I interjected. Bailey silently thanked me through the rearview mirror. Lana was silent after that.
"Do you always ask people if you are their first?" Bailey asked with a vengeance. I guffawed awkwardly. Lana stare-stabbed me for it.
"No. Not always." Lana quipped. Bailey snickered.
"Don't you think it's a little too late for Bailey to go home alone?" I suggested to Lana.
"Oh, don't bother. I can get a cab home." She said declining the offer.
"Yeah. I think it's not appropriate that you drive us home when you are going home alone. Unless there is a boyfriend waiting for you, then I will not push it." Lana said a little too proudly. I caught the hint of the segue.
"If you are asking if I'm in a relationship, the answer is no. But if you insist that I sleep over, I'd be glad to." Bailey complied. I was more than happy.
As soon as we arrived, I headed to the couch. I allowed myself to plop and assume the place where I am going to sleep. Lana was trying to pull me up and drag me to the bedroom but I am not letting up. I pretended to be so tired and sleepy that I already dozed off, which is by the way not too hard.
"I guess, we should then head to the bedroom. I'll bring out a pillow and a mattress for Tia here." I heard Lana saying. They walked to the bedroom and I can no longer hear what they were saying. Lana comes back to the living room stuffing the pillow on my face. I giggled a little and continued to pretend asleep some more.
"I'm killing you tomorrow, Tia." She threatened. "For now sleep well." She said as I hug the pillow to my side. "Make sure you have a good explanation when you wake up." She continued before leaving me to sleep.
