Another Gritsy and the decision is made that I am driving and I really don’t mind. At first it perturbs me because I’m unfamiliar with downtown but I’ll manage and I need the experience. I pick up —— and Victoria and we set out. I have an edge that I won’t be able to kill. We’re on 45 and after passing Crosstimbers I feel a second of tension and then it’s gone. We enter downtown without a problem. We’re circling the venue for parking and even that frustration doesn’t get to me. At the parking permit terminal, a drunken hobo walks up behind me, belligerent against the sign and then he moves to another hobo, exchanging harsh words. We’re outside Gritsy and we run into Vince. It’s always warming to see Vince and we exchange words. He brings up ****** while —— and ——- smoke a cigarette. Condolences and I tell him it’s ok and we’re ok. Silence. We’re waiting for John, Jose, and Michelle. Vincent goes inside.

We wait some more and before long the three walk up. John’s good, Michelle’s beautiful as usual, and Jose has a good buzz going whether he wants to admit it or not. Inside the club is small and intimate. Large x’s emblazoned on our hands. The girls drink early. I decided to have a drink with Jose and our gritsicles are gone faster than the time spent to make them. Only one drink. The music’s good and the bass is good and we find our spot. As soon as we’re there, ——- and Victoria are off to find boys and drinks and I don’t mind. They’re building a good buzz and now I’m just a little lonely. Then John and Jose leave too and it’s just me and Michelle and we look at each other with lonely eyes. And we’re waiting and waiting for friends and It’s still just us. —– pops in again and she’s well more than buzzed. I can tell by the violent kisses and the bites she gives me on my chest and shoulders.

She tells me she has to look out for Victoria and she’s gone again and my smile fades and she’s gone as soon as she came. And then it’s me and Michelle for far too long. I start to worry, but not worrying, just a slight concern.

So I go outside and I see the problem .Victoria is crying, John and ——- are trying to console her, Jose stands alone across the way looking dazed. Everyone’s drunk and I laugh to myself because this is just ridiculous. I try to calm the situation and it’s just ridiculous. I tell John to get his ass inside and find his girlfriend and I round everyone together to get inside and it kind of works. We’re inside for a bit and everyone quickly disperses. ——- and Victoria are outside again. John is finding Michelle. And it’s just me and Jose. We find another bar in a backroom where no one’s at and I tell Jose to pour himself a drink and it’s a beer glass half full with vodka and ice. I smell it and my body tingles. There’s a girl putting feathers in people’s hair so Jose decides it’s a good idea to spend ten dollars on one. Michelle joins us sans John.

I’m sober and everyone’s drunk and the situation is crumbling. We’re outside again and it’s more drama. John and Victoria and —— are all into it drunk. Something is said about ***** and —– breaks down and I try to console her and she pushes me away and I follow her. She stumbles and sits alone on the concrete and I see another guy try to console her so I shoe him away and I put my arm around her and she sobs into my shoulder and she’s sobbing and I tell her over and over again that everything’s going to be ok. And eventually she calms down and apologizes and we round everyone up and we’re back inside. John and Michelle are having problems. Victoria and Jose are getting close. ——- and I try to dance. She pulls me close and she tells me it’s not just the liquor but she loves me and now she has the courage to say it. We work our way to a seat and she straddles me and tries to touch me in places she shouldn’t. Not here. She tells me she wants me. Jose and Victoria are in the seat next to us. We all laugh.

——- is still all over me, whispering terrible things into my ear. We eventually make it to the parking lot. Jose is stumbling drunk. Victoria’s pissed. In the car, Victoria is half asleep. ——– wants me. We get home and she spends the night. I don’t sleep until six. I’m up at nine. I have work at ten.