The Untitled Story

Chapter 4:"The Underage"

“Where do we sit? I can’t see.” Kole asks.

“Let’s sit at the bar.” Maddi answers. She sits on a stool and rubs her chin thoughtfully as Jackie nervously sits next to her--Matt’s to Jackie’s left. Kole stumbles around behind them.

“This is stupid,” he says, pulling up his beanie. He squints at the sudden and bright light bursting through the room. He sighs and sits next to Maddi in the only available seat. “If you try to stab me I’ll--”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Bland threats. We’re allies now. The only thing you need to worry about is whether I’m going to make you foot the bill or not.” Maddi interrupts.

“I’m nervous that someone’s gonna catch us.” Matt says, timidly twiddling his thumbs.

“I haven’t been caught before, and I come here every Saturday night.” Maddi promises.

“Just ‘cause you haven’t been caught yet doesn’t mean you never will.” Matt rebuttals. Maddi leans over the bar and lightly slaps him. He reels backward in his chair and rubs his face.

“Where the hell is the bartender?” Kole asks. Maddi sighs and hops off her stool, walking toward the backroom. She kicks open the door and screams in terror.

“What the hell are you doing back here, man?!” she shouts.

“What does it look like?!” a familiar-sounding voice responds. Maddi scowls and heads toward her seat, covering her face with both hands. A few minutes later Dana walks out of the backroom, tucking his shirt into his pants.

“What’ll it be?” he asks. Maddi scowls at him disgustedly.

“Aren’t you going to wash your hands? I don’t trust you handling alcohol after catching you handling yourself.” she jeers. Dana sighs, turns around, and walks into the backroom again to wash his hands. When he comes back he wipes his hands on a towel.

“What’ll it be?” He asks, his tone less enthusiastic than it usually is.

“Wait, Danny, you work here too?” Matt asks.

“Yep. I work everywhere,” he answers. “Now. What’ll it be?”

“Fireball whiskey--doesn’t taste as bad as strong liquor usually does. Gets you drunk as hell, too.” Maddi orders.

“Oh-kay. I didn’t need an explanation,” Dana leans under the bar and retrieves a glass bottle filled with bright amber-colored liquor. “It’s not that it gets you drunk, it’s that you drink it so much it gives you an awful hangover.”

“I’m aware.”

“Sure. On the rocks?” Dana asks. Maddi nods as he slides the medium-sized glass across the table. Dana turns to Kole. “What do you want?”

“Smirnoff.” His answer is brief.

“Ayy, no feminine additives or anything? Damn, you’re no coward.” Maddi congratulates him, even though it’s no achievement.  Dana sighs and pours a glass of the transparent liquid, and slides it across the table.

“Leave the bottle.”

“Sure.” Dana delicately places the large glass bottle in front of Kole. When he does, he unintentionally reveals the chip lodged in his wrist.

“Woah! What’s that?” Matt asks, pointing to the off-white chip. Dana covers it up with his shirt sleeve and feigns ignorance.

“What?” he asks. Matt grabs his arm and pulls up his sleeve, pointing to the chip.