The Rookie

The Brick

I followed behind her towards the center of town, I was thinking of dipping out to be honest because I wasn't dressed the best. But I felt bad because I hadn't seen Maggie in a while, but I really wasn't planning on meeting any girls tonight. I argued with the thought for a bit, but I was already pulling in the parking lot behind her. I jumped out of my truck and followed her in, she was already dancing because you could hear the music from the back deck I just smiled and shook my head.

The Brick was the local watering hole where all the townies hung out. I was guaranteed to see people I knew; it was basically a high school reunion every time I went in there. It was a red building simple on the outside, with a big wooden deck out back. Inside was a pizza kitchen with a counter you could order from, upstairs was a function hall that I've never actually seen. And off to the left was the large bar area that had tables mostly high top, and a big U-shaped bar that pumped out drinks all night. The inside of the bar was dimly lit like most, and the walls were covered in our high school sports teams and paraphernalia from over the years. I followed Maggie to the bar, she waved to the bartender Mitch. He went to high school with us but was a few years younger. He waved back and ducked down behind the bar, as we finally made our way through the usual crowd. He popped back up with two Coronas and 4 lime wedges, because Maggie and I liked extra limes.

There was loud dance music playing and you could barely make out what other people were saying. I took my beer cramming both limes in as best I could, Maggie did the same. We tried making small talk with Mitch, but the music was too loud. We grabbed two more beers and headed out onto the deck where the live music was, I was relieved because it was getting hot inside but to be honest it wasn't much better out here either. Maggie and I found a spot against the railing and leaned against it, resting our drinks on top of it. We turned towards the dance floor soaking everything in, they had a DJ set up who was doing a decent job, playing a little something for everyone. The employees made a lame attempt again at hanging pride decorations they had a bunch of rainbow banners and Christmas string lights in a rainbow pattern hung above the makeshift dance floor, at least they tried I thought to myself. The DJ tapped the microphone and turned the volume down.

DJ: "Hey bros and babes! Welcome to another women's only Wednesdays here at the brick! The crowd cheered turning their attention to her, she was the usual DJ they had here, probably to attract more women, but she really wasn't my type to be honest. I must have been lost in thought because I soon realized Maggie was already on the dance floor with some girl I had never seen before. Maggie was always overly friendly to people and this could get her into some awkward situations sometimes, with both men and women. I watched carefully but this girl seemed harmless, so I wasn't too worried I leaned back into the railing again scanning the crowd taking sips of my beer. Just then I felt someone next to me and my face started to turn red as I saw the uniform.

Ofc Sears: " Hey! Wheeler! How was day 1?" He was clearly for who having just worked the day shift with me, and now appeared to be on a security detail.  He was kind of short, middle aged, and a little chubby. But overall he seemed like a nice guy, although I had met him briefly today he looked friendly enough.

Alex: " Oh um – Hey. Yeah today was interesting I guess?" I shifted uncomfortably on my feet not really knowing what to say. The fact that I was totally just caught at a lesbian themed night by my coworker wasn't helping either! I took a small sip of beer and told my self to get it together.

Alex: "So, I didn't know they had a detail officer here for this?" I motioned towards him, and his uniform. I guess I never really noticed before probably because I always had a beer bottle or another girls face to preoccupy me.

Ofc Sears: "They sure do, I mean someone's got to protect all you fine young ladies." He said jokingly and starting to dance a little by wiggling his shoulders and eyebrows in unison. He leaned a little into me, and started to laugh, I became way more comfortable, and laughed to.

Ofc Sears: "So which ones yours?" He nodded towards the dance floor then looked back at me chuckling.

Alex: "Oh no, I'm um single so no one." I tried to say calmly , leaning on the railing again. "But Maggie my umm friend is here with me so.." I shrugged and pointed to her on the dance floor.

Ofc Sears: "What! No way! Get out there then and dance!" He started wiggling again and laughing. I just snickered and rolled my eyes; this guy was fun I thought to myself smiling. "Well I better get back to pretending like I'm working, see yah!" He turned around and went back inside to walk around the bar area. I just waved him off, maybe they don't care that I'm gay, I thought to myself with some relief.

Maggie came back over a little out of breath, leaning next to me kind of close but I didn't really care. We headed back in to grab some more beers; I think Maggie needed a break from dancing to. We caught up on each other's lives some more, turns out Maggie was done with school this year and planned on moving back home for a little while. Which I didn't mind at all, she was my best friend. We alternated drinking and dancing till we grew too hot.

Maggie: "So want to get out of here?" She said jokingly wiggling her eyebrows, I shrugged and nodded following her out to the parking lot after we paid. "So officer...your place or mine?" She said half seductive half joking, she rubbed her hands up and down my upper arms and came close. I really didn't mind, she did stuff like this all the time and I didn't think anything of it at this point. Plus I had gotten a small chill as I was kind of sweaty from dancing and it got kind of cool outside.

Alex: " Well, you do have a killer whiskey selection in your parents basement....and I bet that fort we made is still there?" I said to her smiling big, Maggie and I although in our 20's were total children at heart. She smiled and nodded back to agree, we jumped in our cars and headed out towards the south side of town, to Maggie's house.