The Sad But True Ch.3 (Johnny's)
It was hard going to work everyday after having my falling out with Trevor. He still tried to bring me back around to our old arrangement sometimes but for the most part we didn't talk. It's hard realizing the person you thought was your best friend is ashamed of you, it's even worse figuring out that same person only spends time with you to use you. But I let him use me , I was so alone I felt sex meant we had something remotely real. In truth I'm not much different from when that was my mind set.
Spending time with Daren made me feel happy in a way I wasn't familiar with. I don't ask anything of him and he doesn't ask anything of me and I don't feel the need to give or receive to know he'll still be around. It's really not that complicated on paper but in reality it's hard finding someone who feels like a true equal in this way .
Being friends with Daren led me to meeting some of his friends as well. He introduced me to his friend Trip a 20 something year old panther who just so happened to still work for Mr.Richardson. He was a hipster meets athletic hybrid. He and Daren went way back. In their company I felt like a bit of a third wheel but it was still better than my old social activities which were solitary at best. I also met Daren's ex girlfriend a pink furred zebra named Teresa. She reminded me of a singer the way she carried herself. She's such a cool girl I can understand why she and Daren stayed friends after breaking up.
The 4 of us , Daren, Teresa, Trip, and myself were eating out one night. We went to "Johnny's" the local bar, like Daren's library it was on the verge of being ran out of business by Mr.Richardson.
Johnny's was an older bar, it had a real 70's vibe about it. There was an orange, green, and purple pattern to the floor that seemed perfect for skating on. The bar stools and chairs were metal with orange or black backings. The walls were painted with old school graffiti flowers and music notes in black green and purple. And all the tables looked like old records. The place was a trip to the past which most people enjoyed, and the food is always great.
Daren - how am I wrong for saying all pandas are fat , it's not racist , pandas are genetically fat
Teresa - I don't think you should go around saying it though
Trip- maybe but I get where Daren is coming from , it's like how most rats have long tails or deer have small tails , pandas just so happen to be fat
Teresa - you still shouldn't say it though
Daren - if pandas were naturally skinny there would be no problem why should there be just because they happen to be fat
I found myself in the role of spectator as they went back and forth at each other at the table. It felt good just to be there. I was they newest member of their group so they didn't notice my being so quiet which allowed me to savor what felt like progress. But I wouldn't call it progress, I'm not a video game or a program, maybe I should call it evolution. Just a few weeks ago I would be nowhere near as many people that I am now.
I sipped from glass as my eyes flew from person to person watching their debate continue. I felt that if no one else would then perhaps it was time I got us back on track. As much as I could have stayed there just enjoying their almost TV worthy conversation we did meet up for a reason that day.
Frank- hey ... um you guys weren't we supposed to be talking about saving the library
I spoke too softly, I'm sure they didn't catch what I said.
Frank - you guys, we really should talk about the library
Again they seemed to be to caught up in their conversation to hear me.
The waitress came by and as she refilled my drink she did what I couldn't.
Waitress - hey yall, the dogs been trying to tell you to Chang subject and with your getting so loud I suggest you listen to him , now can I take yall's order
Everyone went quite. Daren and Trip held in a laugh brought on by the fact that the waitress pretty much told them to shut up I assume.
Trip - yea , I'll have the special
Daren - my usual
Teresa - the garden salad please
Frank- I'll have the "Fire cracker plate"
Waitress - alright , I'll be back with your orders shortly
The waitress walked away and left us.
Daren - why are all waitresses cows , have you ever noticed that
Trip - your right
Teresa - you guys I think She and Frank are right we have gotten way off topic here
Daren - alright where were we again
Frank- your dad wants you to give him back the library, but you don't have to
Trip- if you can afford to keep paying him for the place that is
Teresa - and you have to pay him for what he hasn't made you pay in the past
Frank- we thought that he had the right to raise the rent on the library but because you live in an apartment in the library he can't raise your rent because that technically makes it a residential building and the actual library can be chalked up to your yard
Trip- and because it's illegal to raise rent on a residential property after a price has been set
Teresa - all you have to do is find a way to pay what your father hasn't made you pay in all this time and then find a stable amount of income to pay rent for now on
Daren - but how do I do that, my dad's giving me three months to get the money together but it would take a miracle to actually find that kind of money
Teresa - there must be something
Trip- yea , but what
We all leaned back in our chairs and I think the four of us all felt the same sense of hopelessness.
We tried to think of something but we kept drawing the same blank. In the heat of our brainstorm I didn't even notice who had just walked into the bar.
It was Trevor, he noticed me before I did him. He sat at the bar rather than a table. I noticed he was sitting directly across the room from me. He was just looking at me and I couldn't help look back as he sat right there. He didn't try to be discreet, he turned his chair directly in my direction and I tried to look away. It didn't take long for Daren Trip and Teresa to notice something was troubling me.
Daren - everything alright Frank
Trip traced where my eyes were trying not to look and he saw Trevor.
Trip- is that guy watching us
Trip began to stand but I grabbed his arm gently but almost frantically keeping him in his seat.
Frank- he's no one , he's just some guy I work with
Daren knew I was lying but didn't say anything about it.
Teresa - oh then maybe we should invite him over
Frank- NO
Teresa - alright , well maybe you should go talk to him he seems to looking at you pretty intensely
Trip- yea the guys starting to freak me out a, why won't he just come over and say something
Frank - I'll go talk to him
Daren - Frank , are you sure
Daren looked me in my eyes we both knew I didn't want to speak to Trevor but I think I needed to.
Frank - yea , I'll be right back
Trip- alright, while your over there see if they have anymore sugar, they never make sweet tea sweet enough
Teresa - or maybe you have too big a sweet tooth
I got up from the table and walked over to Trevor, his blank expression turned into a gin thin a smile as I got closer.
Trevor - hey buddy, long time no see
Frank - I just saw you yesterday
Trevor - that was work
Frank -it must have been
Trevor - look we hardly ever talk anymore and I've realized I may have said some things that were
Frank - look Trevor now is not a good time for me , can you just stop staring at me, my friends don't like it
Trevor - your friends
Frank - yes my friends
Trevor - sure thing buddy
Frank - thank you
I turned around and started to walk back to the table but I nearly died when I realized that Trevor was following me. I quickly turned back around.
Frank - what are you doing
Trevor - don't you want me to meet your friends
Frank- hell no, I don't want you anywhere near my friends or me for that matter
Trevor - you don't mean that
Frank - yes I do
Trevor - look dude I'm trying really hard to make things right , we both know you miss our private time after work
Trip- private time after work ?
I didn't realize we were close enough for the table to hear. Trevor leaned into me and spoke in my ear.
Trevor - you know we can get back to our arrangement any time
He gripped his cock and rubbed it through his pants in front of me. Trip then stood up as he too noticed the scene being made and walked up to us.
Trip- everything good Frank
Frank - yea , everything's fine
Trip directed his attention to Trevor.
Trip- hey buddy, we have a lady with us , you think maybe you can hold off on the crotch grabs
Trevor - my apologies, what was your name
Trip- my name is Trip
Trevor - I'm Trevor
Trip- you guys wanna come sit back down with us
Frank- oh Trevor was just leaving
Trevor - oh was I now
Frank- yea remember you have that thing at work you have to go do for me
Trevor - oh that thing, I think I can spare a few minutes to meet your friends
Frank - you know I'll owe you if you go get it done
Trevor - you'll owe me
Frank - yea I'll owe you
Trevor - oh alright, yea then I guess I should be leaving shouldn't I
Frank - yes you should
Trip- I feel like I'm missing something here
Trevor - I was nice meeting you Trip
Trevor shuck hands with Trip and left.
Trip- that guys a little strange but anyway come on Frank, food shouldn't be much longer
Trip and I returned back to the table and our food brought to us not 2 minutes later.
Teresa - so who was that guy again Frank
Frank - just an old friend
I ate my food in peace feeling I had just dodged bullet. I noticed Daren wasn't enjoying his food as much as the rest of us.
Daren - I think there's something wrong with my food
He started to cough.
Teresa - are you alright here drink some of my water
Daren gulped down the water but it didn't seem to help much. Trip patted his back but Daren's cough only got worse, I could see his eyes turning red and then he fell out of his seat.
Frank - I'm calling 911
Teresa was frantic. Trip flipped the bun off of Daren's sandwich and examined it.
Frank - is there a doctor here
I got up and start asking for a doctor around the bar yelling out we need help.
Trip- I think someone put something in his food
It was a long ordeal , Daren end up going to the hospital where they treated him and found rat poisoning in his system. It wasn't enough to kill him but it very close. He was out of the hospital about 4 days later and in that time the waitress at Johnny's came forward telling the police that she was responsible. She was so upset that Mr.Richardson was trying to shut down her family's business that when she saw Daren that day she couldn't help but do something. She claimed that she didn't want to kill anyone she only wanted to scare him. Of course when Mr.Richardson found out his son had been poisoned he started to go after "Johnny's" even hard. Daren didn't want his father to pursue the the waitress or make Johnny's suffer for her mistakes but by the end of that very next week Johnny's was closed down and that waitress was getting ready for court.