“Hey buddy, long time no see.” Tony called out to me as he simultaneously grabbed both a napkin and tub (short drinking glass).

“Hey Tony, it’s been forever right?” I replied as I pulled myself onto the stool at the edge of the bar. The bar making a horseshoe shape. With me sitting on the last seat before the opening. The place was mostly dead, there were a couple older people I probably recognize eating in the dining area but the seats far outnumbered butts at the moment.

Throwing the napkin in front of me Tony placed the tub on it and then smirked and raised an eyebrow as a bottle of Whiskey was placed between us on the bar.

“You know, if we’re going to do dis, we gotta’ do dis right?” he told me with his best Italian mafia impression. Really, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Some things and places are timeless. No matter how long you’ve been away.

This bar had been my home away from home for years. I started working here flipping burgers when I turned thirteen. After a couple of years Tony would start slipping me shots of this and that while no one was around. It sort of became our thing to get a good buzz going before the shift ended. Really it was always the only thing to do.

“Some things don’t change.” I manage to mumble through my smile.

“What’s dis? He don’t like us now cuz he’s all travelled and shit?”

“Shut up Tony” I laugh, “The best things never change.”

“That’s right kid and don’t you forget it.” He said as he poured us both shots.

Bringing the shot glass up, cling, and back down to the bar before taking it. Gosh, had the whiskey here always been this harsh? I do my best to gulp it down but with my physical inability to chug I sort of takes a number of small gulps with the majority of it resting in my cheek.

Two gulps. Three gulps. and done.

“Now common, give me some love.” Tony demanded as he made his way around the corner with his hand outstretched.. I didn’t bother getting out of my chair since then I’d of been towering over him. Grasping his hand we do your stereotypical bro hug.

“Oh my goodness, is that a ghost!?” I hear calling out from the door behind me. I turn to see two larger men walking into the place. The first guy in was Ron, a bartender for the night shifts and one of my favorite people in the world. He was a bit larger but moved like lightning when he needed to. Shaved head and right now wearing his biker leathers. Really, one of the nicest people I’ve ever known.

The guy coming in behind him went by the name Brian and he was definitely a character. A little taller than Rob, Brian was a jokester. Like literally a comedian, he did some standup downtown on the weekends and was honestly really funny. A bit closed minded but really funny. “Oh crap, I think it is a ghost!” He yelled followed by his patented cackle.

I didn’t even attempt to hide the smile on my face I’m sure was brimming from ear to ear. While lots and lots of things have changed... this here hadn’t... Thank god.

“Lets get some welcome shots poured up Tony!” Ron called out as he place himself on the other side of the opening with Brian following close behind.

“Hey Tony” I said in a hushed tone.

“Yeah kid what’s up?”

“When does Gwen come on?”

“In about three hours, why? Don’t tell me you’ve been avoiding your family.”

“Of course not, I just wanted to know when I should leave to continue avoiding her, you know?”

“Kid, some change is good. I think you need to grow up a little.” Tony replied with a mischievous grin on his face “Here” he said while filling my shot glass up again, what was this number four already? “Some courage.”

Gasp. God that isn’t going down any easier. I fight down a cough and squint at the guys.

“I’m not avoiding her I’m just waiting for her to cool down.”

“Remember what I just said about growing up a little champ?”

“I’ll grow up when I’m dead.”

“Careful” Ron interjected, “Keep pissing Gwen off and that’ll happen sooner than you think.”

“Shots?” Tony called out with the bottle magically in his hand again.

“Courage..” Ron and Brian agreed...

Now, I just had to figure out how to get out of here before I could no longer drive Tye’s truck… 

______________________________________________________________________________

“Corin, how long have you been here?” I asked as Brent and Tye moved him over to be seated in between us. 

“Not too long…” Corin replied obviously intoxicated.

“Not long? You’re wasted, you drunk.” Tye laughed as he started grabbing ice from Corin’s glass and throwing it at him.

“Buzz off Tye, I’m just fine, you try drinking how much I’ve drunk and still be… Legi… legit-able?”

Tye’s eyes instantly turned to slits as his demeanor changed. Damnit Corin, now me and Brent are going to have to deal with two drunk idiots instead of one…

Knowing Tye and Corin were now a lost cause I shifted my attention over to Gwen. The place wasn’t quite busy yet but it had enough people in the place to keep Gwen moving. Though, honestly, was it just me or was Gwen glaring in our general direction...

“Hey Bartender, I’m thirsty over here!” Tye yelled out as he fought Corin over his glass. Trying to down the rest of it no doubt.

Yeah, that was definitely the look of contempt on her face. Oh shit, here she comes…

“Good evening Gwen.” I said as I bowed my head towards her.

“One second Locke.” She replied as she walked right past me landing in front of the now embattled Corin and Tye. “I’m sorry, Tye, did you say you were thirsty?”

Wrestling with Corin over his glass Tye turned his head towards Gwen. “About time woman, this has become a matter of honor.” Tye proclaimed.

“Yeah, honor huh?” She said as she reached for the fountain gun. “Here, how about we start off with a little water?” and with that she started spraying the two down.

“Ah, crap woman, stop it!” Tye screamed.

“Gwen, stop! Why you get me to? Get Tye, just Tye.” Corin wailed out as he protected his drink with his body from the spray.

“You two cooled down yet?” Gwen asked calmly while still spraying the two.

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry.” Tye exclaimed.

“Good.” She said as she returned the fountain gun to it’s holster and walked back to the other end of the bar.

I began to raise my hand up to get her attention but thought better of it… Scary…

_____________________________________________________________________________

“Locke, Locke… I think Gwen is mad at me.” Corin whispered to me. I can’t help but roll my eyes. Woh, I’m kind of dizzy after doing that… How long have we been here?

“No, no. No no… Seriously man. She’s like really pissed. You wanna know how I know?”

You mean besides the fact she refuses to acknowledge your existence unless it’s to berate you? I thought to myself.

“Every time she comes down here she refuses to acknowledge my existence unless it’s to talk shit.”

I nod, nice observation Sherlock.

“But that’s not really nothin out of the ordinary. I know she’s pissed at me because she keeps on topping off my glass every time she comes down here.” Corin says as he raises a full glass of probably whiskey.

Well, shit, how did I not notice that? How long have we been here again? I place my brace me hand onto the bar as I trying shaking it off. “When did I get so drunk?”

“I know right? This place is dangerous… But anyway, I’m pretty sure she’s going to try and take me back home tonight.”

“And get out of them cloths!” Tye interjects.

“What? No no. That doesn’t even makes sense stupid.” Corin says brushing Tye off of his shoulder.

“Don’t call me stupid, you’re stupid.”

...Are the lights on in here or is it just me?...

I blink and there are fingers blurring into existence in front of my face. Corin’s sitting there snapping them trying to get my attention.

“Hey. Hey. Hey… Hey… Hey..”

“What?”

“don’t let her take me to my mom’s like this.”

“What?”

“I. I said, don’t let her take me to my mom’s like thi….. Hold on a sec…” I watch as Corin lifts himself up and scurries to the men’s room.

“Haha chump! I win, you suck!” Tye exclaims and then instantly turns a shade of green.

“Victory…” He says to himself.

I turn to Brent who’s off in his own little world.

“I’m surrounded by idiots.” a state before taking another drink.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Splashing cold water against my face brings me back. God, I hadn’t puked two times in my entire life and here I am doing it twice within a 24 hour stretch. At least I don’t feel so drunk anymore.

I reach for some paper towel and dry my face off when the men’s door flies open hittng my in the backside. The guy’s a flash behind me and into the stall were they proceed to hurle their guts out. I need to get out of here before I have to throw up again.

Stepping back into the bar everything has stopped spinning and I’m actually pretty conscious of everything I’m doing. Walking back to my seat I find Locke and Brent sitting in silence, eyebrows furled, and brooding over god knows what.

I’m surprised by Brent suddenly turning his head to me. He opens his mouth as if he’s looking to say something but must have thought better of it at the last second and decided not to. God, he’s fuckin wasted.

Looking to the clock hanging in front of us I’m actually kind of surprised to read it saying 10:30. How the hell did we manage to get this shit faced so early in the night? I think Gwen spots me and starts heading over. On her way down she’s grabbed a bottle of whiskey. Not my usual one but a random one I don’t recognize. I lean over the bar to find seven or eight different whiskeys sitting on the stainless steel dish counter.

She’s been mixing my Whiskey all night. That dastardly jerk, no wonder I threw my guts out just a minute ago.

Without saying a word she begins to lift the bottle up to pour more into my half full glass.

“Wooh, woh woh woh.” I call out as I throw my hands over the glass. She proceeds to pour anyways thinking I’d remove them in order not to make a mess. She’s wrong of course and the whiskey starts splashing all over the bar.

“Move your hands stupid.” She yells at me

“I’m not thirsty.”

“You’re making a mess.”

“No, I’m pretty sure you’re the one making a mess.”

She snarls, “Shut up Corin, you’ve been making a mess for the last three years.”

Shit, here it comes. Emergency evasive maneuvers!

“I’m sorry.”

I surprise her and myself. We both sort of blink at one another.

“What did you say?”

“I’m sorry.”

“No no, I know what you said I mean what about?”

… I take a really deep breath and roll the dice. “I just want an energy drink.”

The hope in her eyes completely vanish and I can totally hear the disgust in her voice as she turns to walk away. “Get your own stupid drink.”

And that my friends, is how you successfully run from your problems. 

Obstacle Nine. Sleep