Frost and Stories: part 27

    "Stop laughing!"  Artie, Dollie, Goliath, Sunny and Mors were all laughing at the giant bruises on my face still unhealed from Shady's kick.  It had now been a week since training had stopped and about half of the bruises were lingering around.  Half.  They didn't hurt anymore, but they sure were prominent.  And by that, I meant ugly.  So I'm a little vain, sue me. 

    Anyway, I was at Legends and the second everyone had seen my face, they'd started laughing.  And they still hadn't stopped even though I'd been there for half an hour already.  Everyone knew that Shady didn't go soft on people, though she did hold back on beginners.  Yep, that had been her holding back. 

    The only people on my side in this were Gaia and Shady.  Gaia because she was such a pacifist that I don't know how she kept up that ongoing anger of hers for the spirit of summer.  Shady because I'd 'shown promise' when I'd managed to knock her down.  Mors, Artie and Goliath at least had enough decency to look apologetic for their laughter.  Dollie and Sunny... not so much. 

    Gaia swatted Sunny on his arm - she couldn't reach his shoulder.  "Stop it!"  She glared at him until he stopped outright laughing.  Though he still wouldn't stop smiling about it.  I narrowed my eyes at him and he shrugged like nothing was wrong.  I still don't like you, you know.  He was starting to grow on me.  By now I'd realized just how hard it was to keep him from free drinks.  It was really, really freaking hard.  But I still didn't like him.  It isn't all that hard to say no, and I understand not wanting to, but you should know when it's in your best interests to say no. 

    "Really guys, you should have seen 'er.  She actually knocked me off my feet.  Literally."  The club wasn't open yet, not officially.  There were a few people hanging around who came out early, but most of them would start showing up within the next hour or so.  All the staff usually hung out at the bar beforehand.  And when I showed up during the off hours, I did too. 

    "There's no way.  Sorry, Story, but there's just no possible way that you managed to beat Shady."  Goliath rumbled from the back. 

    "I didn't say she beat me, I said she knocked me down."  Shady was acting like a proud parent.  Which, considering she'd only been my teacher for a week, was a little big-headed of her. 

    "Well I still don't believe a word of it."  He turned around and went back to setting up his station.  He was bartending tonight and Shady was the bouncer. 

    "This coming from the guy who was beaten by someone half his size."  I smirked at him.

    "Hey, I wasn't thinking straight!"  Everyone chuckled at his excuse, no matter how true it was.  I was just happy that the focus had shifted away from my face and the bruises covering it.  He waved us off and promptly ignored us from then on. 

    I turned to Artie, who was still chuckling mildly and staring after Goliath.  "Hey, thanks by the way."  He turned around to face me, eyebrows up.  "For the bracers.  Thanks to you, my arms were the only part of me that escaped bruising." 

    He shrugged.  "Not a problem.  I've trained with Shady before, so I know that she rewards her pupils with armor.  But I guessed that you'd never really been in a fight before, and so I got you those right off the bat.  And, I assume I guessed correctly?"

    "Yes, yes you did.  Thank you, my friend.  I very much appreciate you helping me cheat the system."

    "Hey!"  Shady whipped her head around at me, but there was a smile on her face.  The front door creaked - a sound that could only be heard when there were less than twenty people in the club - and Shady glanced at it.  "Well, fellas.  That would be my cue to man my station."  She pushed herself away from the bar, walking backwards as she spoke.  "I'll talk to ya later!"  With that, she turned around and went straight for the front door to let in the patrons.  The only reason there was a bouncer at all was if there ever was a fight.  And one that Annie couldn't calm, for that matter.  Also, so that no one snuck in a mortal or so that a mortal didn't sneak in of their own accord.  No mortals.  That rule was firm and always would be.

    None of us had anything against mortals, believe me, we're all incredibly grateful for mortals, especially our believers.  It's just that, no mortal, no matter how great they were, could believe in every single one of us.  Not even close, there were way too many.  So, even if any of us were to bring our believers with us, they wouldn't see the majority of the club, even if they did believe in a lot of us.  So, to avoid walkthroughs and general confusion, mortals were banned.  We all knew it and so it was a rare day that someone even tried to bring a mortal here.  But still, there was always a bouncer on duty anyway, just in case.

    Mors was leaning against the bar, blocking as much of it subtly from Sunny as he/she could.  Gaia was also standing between him and the barricade for the alcohol.  They were playing tonight.  All of the bartenders knew not to serve Sunny drinks outright, but the other customers snuck them to him.  Damn, enablers.  Sunny didn't seem to notice the blockade of bodies, or even the bar.  Well, he wasn't out to get drunk off his ass by his own accord anyway.  He just never said no to a free drink. 

    He did, however, notice my eyeing him and the bar.  He raised an eyebrow at me.  "What?"

    "Nothing."  Mors knew exactly what, and smirked at me.  I ignored it.  I wasn't about to be responsible for Sunny's first drink of the night.  No way in hell.  So I kept my mouth shut tight. 

    Dollie wandered off to wait on the tables that already had people seated.  Artie and Goliath were getting ready for opening.  Before long, the last member of the band showed up - along with his other friends - and the band converged on the stage to get set up.  I was left alone in my seat.  Not that I minded, I didn't.  I was free to watch the comings and goings of the other costumers.  Which was plenty entertaining, believe you me.

    It didn't matter how many years I'd been coming to Legends, and it didn't matter how many different immortals and immortal creatures I'd met.  The sheer variety of people was entertaining.  To me anyway.  From creatures whose necks stretched to miles long, to ones whose heads popped right off their bodies with no repercussions.  From centaurs to minotaurs.  From malicious fairies to benevolent ones.  From those who were known in ancient times as gods to those who were as unknown as myself.  Skin and hair in every color of the spectrum.  Sizes and shapes as varied as there are languages.  Seriously, even coming alone when everyone else was busy, I still got my fill of awesome. 

    So yeah, an hour later, the club was in full swing and full to bursting.  You know, the usual.  My primo spot at the bar let me see nearly everyone at least once, when they came up for drinks anyway.  There were actually more of us than you'd think that abstained from alcohol altogether.  I mean, when you need a crap ton of alcohol to get drunk in the first place and when there's no long lasting side-effects, you tend to go buck-wild.  Well, most of us needed a crap ton of alcohol, some of us - Mors - had one drink and were completely plastered.  Once more I wondered what kind of drunk I'd be.  On a scale of Sam to Mors, I was expecting way south of Sunny.  But, all I did know was, a drunk mouth speaks a sober mind, so there was no telling how crazy I may or may not get.  I always sort of expected for me to get louder and crazier. 

    Tonight, however, I was very excited.  Even more so than usual when I ventured out into the club scene.  Tonight, Annie was doing something that the club didn't do often.  I know because this was the first time they'd done it in all the time I'd been coming here.  Tonight, was karaoke night.  Or open mike night, if you wanted to call it that.  Now, supposedly, the reason they didn't do it often was that things got crazy.  However, after seeing Mors drunk, I don't know if I could see Legends any crazier.  I didn't think it could get crazier.  I mean, Jack had made a slide that grown ass people were sliding down and crashing into things.  I highly doubted that anything could top that. 

    But, having been singing since before I can remember, karaoke night is like Christmas for me.  I'd always wanted to audition for American Idol or America's Got Talent or, better yet, The Voice.  I'd died before I got the chance.  I knew I had the pipes, I just never got around to it.  But boy did I love karaoke.  I even had my own karaoke machine when I was little.  I also had a toy microphone that I'd kept far beyond the day it stopped working.  It was a better prop than a hairbrush, let me tell you.  And, unlike many people, I've never had stage-fright.  And unlike many of those who brave karaoke, I didn't need a drink first.  The band was still set up so that there was music in between the brave ones, but tonight the jukebox was off limits, because of the theme.  

    But yes, tonight I was in my element.  And I didn't intend to hog the stage either.  I can share.  Actually, I was interested in seeing the other immortals up on stage.  To be completely honest, I was more excited to see them than I was to be singing myself.  If you can believe me.  Also, it would be a nice change of pace from Sunny and his ego.  However, if the lineup was any indication, there was gonna be an ego war tonight.  There were some big name immortals on the sign-up list.  Yes, you had to sign up for it, though you could also crash the party and just hop on in between people if you wanted to. 

    If one thing about Legends was true, it was that they were only official when they needed to be.  From the minimal rules, to the way everything was run.  Annie trusted everyone to fend for themselves, and so they did.  Basically everyone was on their own until they needed help.  There were lots of times when I'd been there that some of the patrons jumped in to help.  I wont lie, I'd helped out too.  This place wasn't just Annie's.  Yes she was the owner, and without her this place never would have existed, but Legends was a safe haven for all immortals.  It was the only place where we never had to worry about non-believers.  It was the only place where we could forget that to most of the world, we didn't exist.  Here, we were as real as anyone outside on the street.  As confident as we all were, someone walking through you as if you were insubstantial can wreck anyone.  For that reason alone, no one wanted to see Legends fail. 

    But no one ever really brought that up.  It was just an unspoken truth that everyone was aware of.  That's also why fights didn't break out more often.  It doesn't matter how strong of a rule it is that says no fighting, people are still gonna fight at clubs.  Especially drunk people.  But, in the club, we were all equal - to an extent.  Annie was the law here, yes, and many people had egos that told them that they were better than the rest of us - Sunny - but we all knew we were on level ground, so there was no need to prove anything by fighting.  That's not to say there weren't drinking contests.  But that's another story for another day.

    The club had been officially open for about an hour when the band took their first break for open mike hour.  I wasn't going right off the bat, I was ready to just enjoy myself first.  But a few minutes after Sunny and co left the stage, the lead guitarist came up to the bar to get drinks.  He ended up stopping right next to me and I was once again reassured of my assumption that he and Sunny were cut from the same cloth.  He slapped the bar-top loudly.  "Hey, Artie!  I need a round for the band!"  He had a faint French accent that I could only place because who doesn't know a French accent when they hear one?

    Artie came over to the guitarist and eyed him skeptically, though underneath the skepticism, there was resignation.  Yep, this guy was definitely in the same ball park as Sunny.  "What do you guys need?"  He pointed at him warningly.  "And don't even try asking, I'm not serving you any alcohol."

    The guitarist shrugged in a bemused way.  "What do you take me for?  Of course not."  Artie raised an eyebrow at him and he dropped the act.  "Alright, fine.  Lemonade for Gaia, Sprite for Mors, and two waters for Sunny and me."

    "Coming right up."  Artie went back to his station to get the drinks poured and Mr. Guitar Man turned to me, a smolder on his face.

    Inwardly I rolled my eyes.  Here we go again!  At least this one's not drunk and understands no.  "Why hello there, miss."

    I put a polite smile on my face.  "Hello."  Hey, I still wasn't good at rejecting people, okay?  Honestly, if I wasn't worried about seeing him every time I came to Legends in the future, I'd have shot him the Jenna Marbles face. 

    "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of being introduced.  You know all of the other band members and I have seen you around, but I don't know your name.  May I ask it?"  Well, he was being more polite than Sunny, that was for sure. 

    "Story.  And you are?"

    He held out his hand and I met it in a shake.  He grinned at me again.  "Porthos."

    I won't lie, I did a double take.  "Wait a minute.  You aren't who I think you are, are you?"

    "Well, my dear, that depends on who you think I am."  His smile was only slightly smug, and he was still more polite than Sunny.

    "You wouldn't happen to be a Musketeer, would you?  You know, Athos, Porthos, Aremis, d'Artagnan."

    "Then you would be correct.  I have no doubt that you've seen Aremis running around here as a busboy most nights."  He chuckled and glanced at the table that Sunny, Mors and Gaia occupied.

    So that's who that waiter was.  Well, no wonder they were such good buddies!  Holy crap!  The freaking Three Musketeers!  My jaw was hanging, a fact that, the moment I registered it, I remedied by shutting my mouth.  "Uh, yeah, I've seen him."  Holy freaking shit, Porthos the pirate... 

    He noticed my general air of star-struck and rolled his eyes.  "Oh god, your not going to fangirl on me are you?"

    "What?!"  I was offended by that!  I may be an unabashed fangirl, and everyone may know it, but when in public, I keep my inner fangirl restrained.  Unless someone brings up one of my fandoms in conversation, then the beast is unleashed.  "Okay, first off,"  I propped my elbow on the bar and pointed at him warningly.  "I do not fangirl unless provoked."  He chuckled at that and leaned against the bar, smirking.  "Secondly, I'm gonna stop you right there.  Sunny already tried on me buddy, and flattery don't charge these batteries."  At least not when coming from someone with an arrogance problem, which he did have, from what I'd seen. 

    He just stared at me for a second, and I wondered if I'd actually thrown him off course.  Did I just reject someone in a proper manner?  I waited for a response from him.  What I got was not what I expected.  He laughed.  Like full bodied laughter, complete with wiping tears from his eyes.  "Oh, Sunny was right, you are something."

    Artie set down a tray with the band's drinks on it, silently taking in the laughing Musketeer.  "Order's up."

    "Thanks."  He turned and picked up the tray, before addressing me again.  "It was nice to meet you, Story.  Don't worry, I, unlike my luminous friend, understand that no means no.  Don't be a stranger."  With that, he left, true to his word. 

    As I watched Porthos disappear into the crowd and reappear alongside his band mates, Artie watched me in bemusement.  "So, you've met Porthos, have you?  What did you think of him?"

    "Well, I will say with complete confidence that I prefer him to Sunny."  I picked up my drink and took a swig, mumbling to myself.  "At least he didn't start a fight."

    "Oh, you're still holding that over Sunny's head?"  I shot him a look.  "Really, he's not that bad, he just get's worse when he's drunk."

    "It's the fact that he gets drunk, and how he gets drunk that I hold against him.  No isn't a hard word to say.  Two letters, one syllable.  N O, it's that simple."

    He sighed, bracing his arms against his side of the bar.  "Cut him some slack will you?  I don't know why he refuses to say no, but I do know that it's important enough to him that the only person he will accept no from is Gaia.  So I respect that."

    "Wait, he listens to Gaia when she tells him no?"  Artie nodded.  "Why?  Is that why he's told her the reason?"

    He chuckled and pulled up some more glasses from the shelves behind him.  "No.  Gaia and Sunny are related, didn't you know that?"

    "What?!"  Those two were related?  By blood?  They looked nothing alike, acted completely different.  What the fuck man!

    "Yeah, Gaia is Sunny's many times great-granddaughter.  Those two are as close as if there weren't all those 'greats' in there at all."  He moved to take an order from some chick dressed all in leather who'd been calling his name for a minute.  I glanced towards the band's table, eyes jumping from Sunny to Gaia.  No freaking way....

---

    Two hours later, I'd learned just which immortals were brave and couldn't sing.  And I mean could not sing.  I was willing to bet dying whales would sound more pleasant than some of these guys.  Ye-owch!  But hey, at least they were having fun.  Some of them a little too much if the way they staggered on and off the stage was any indication.

    There were only three more people scheduled before me, and I was rearing to go.  I had my song picked out - which was an ordeal in and of itself, believe you me.  When you've memorized a few thousands of songs, and love them all equally, it's pretty hard to choose.  But I just thought back on my old favorites that have withstood the test of time.  By which I mean, since the day I heard them, I've never once gotten tired of any of them.  But once I did that, it was a no brainer. 

    Gaia came over to me where I was waiting near the jukebox.  She gave me a smile.  "Are you nervous?"

    I raised an eyebrow at her.  "Nervous?  Me?  You have met me right?"

    She giggled and one of the flowers that were ever present in her hair fell to the floor, not that she noticed.  "I didn't think you would be."  She turned to glance at the immortal on the stage now, a girl with a creamy skin tone and straight black hair.  "Shiba's great isn't she?"

    I raised my eyebrows and took another look at the woman.  "As in  the Queen of Shiba?"  Gaia nodded.  "Yeah, she's great."  She was singing Halestorm's 'Here's to Us', a song I was definitely familiar with.  It had actually been on my list of contenders.  I wasn't worried though, I highly doubted anyone was gonna steal my song. 

    Gaia turned her face towards me, though her eyes didn't leave the stage.  "So what song are you singing?"  She tapped her foot along to the beat and I noticed, not for the first time, her barefoot-sandals. 

    "'Miss Movin On' by Fifth Harmony."  I'd loved that song.  I know it was about moving on from a boyfriend, but I'd always taken it in a different light.  I'd done the ultimate moving on when I'd become immortal.  The song was much more powerful when I thought of it that way - and I couldn't think of it any other way.  

    "Wasn't that a girl group in the 2010's?"  I nodded.  "They broke up, what, seventeen years ago?"

    "Yep.  In my mind, I don't care who sings it, so long as I like the song."  Shiba finished, took a bow and walked off the stage clearheaded and sober - or at least, that's what it looked like.  The next immortal walked up, a huldra by the look of her back.  She took off on some jazz song that I could neither place nor name.  "Any idea who's before me?"

    "Uh..."  Gaia's eyes roved the room before landing on some girl sitting near the stage.  "Her."  She pointed her out to me, a strawberry-blonde wearing a bright red, strapless dress.  "That's Aphrodite."

    "Goddess of love?"

    "That's the one."  Aphrodite noticed us watching her and Gaia waved.  The love goddess winked and blew a kiss at us.  I fought back the urge to roll my eyes.  Gaia giggled and crossed her arms.  "Don't let her wardrobe and behavior fool you, she's celibate."  She looked over her shoulder at me.  "She believes that people in love can't think straight, so, in order to do her job, she abstains from relationships.  She's still a huge flirt."  She shrugged.  "But, I guess you can't help it when you're known the world over as a goddess of love."

    The huldra finished and Aphrodite strolled gracefully onto the stage.  Oh, great, I have to go on after a graceful immortal.  Lucky me.  The strawberry-blonde stepped up to the microphone and smiled out at the club.  "Hello everyone."  There were a few whistles in the crowd, one distinctly from a certain glowing immortal.    On my god.  I swear, if her voice was any more seductive, she'd be living at the playboy mansion.  "I'm going to be singing a song called 'Miss Moving On'.  I hope you like it."  

    My jaw was almost hitting the floor.  What.  Did.  She.  Say?  Gaia saw very clearly the expression on my face, and she knew it meant trouble.  "Story, calm down.  Just pick another song."

    "Pick another song?!  I go on next!"  That bitch stole my song!  I'm gonna kick her ass.  Inwardly, I sighed.  Even inner voice wasn't fooled, I wasn't gonna do shit and I knew it.  What made it worse was that Aphrodite had an amazing voice.  Confidence falling.  Pride wounded.  World shattered. 

    "Well, isn't there another song you like more?  I know you know more than one."
    
    "Of course I know more than one, what kind of spirit of stories would I be if I didn't?"  I glanced at the crowd.  They were completely under her spell.  Damn it!  "The problem is, most of them are slower songs.  Everyone want's something fun to dance to.  Something to keep the party going."

    "So what?  You don't care what people think anyway."  I shot her a look.  "Come on.  Life is about taking chances!"

    I paused.  Life is about taking chances...  That's it!  "Gaia, I could kiss you!"

    She had a bemused smile on her face.  "Why?"

    "I know what song I'm singing.  Life's about taking chances, right?"

    "Absolutely!" 

    Meanwhile, up on stage, Aphrodite was killing it.  She was putting her heart and soul into the performance, which was saying something considering she didn't move a muscle.  But I didn't care.  I can't believe I didn't think of this one first!  My new song was one that came out in the year 2000.  From the day I first heard it on the radio at six years old, I'd been in love with it.  It was a song I'd lived my life by without even realizing it.  And it was country to boot, my lifeblood!

    "Yeah, I'm movin' on!"  On the stage, Aphrodite had finished her song and descended the steps.  I walked past her without saying anything.  I wasn't even mad about the song thing anymore.  I mean, it wasn't her fault.  However, she didn't have the same idea of silence as I did.  She lightly touched my forearm to catch my attention as we passed each other.  "Good luck."  She flashed me a smile.

    Like I need it.  I smiled back.  "Thanks, you were amazing."  She smiled, graciously accepting the compliment and descended the stairs, leaving me to the stage.  I walked to the mike and glanced around at the crowd, which was loud and a bit rowdy.  I smiled with confidence.  "Hey everyone.  I'm gonna slow things down a little with a song called 'I Hope You Dance'."  I closed my eyes and, in my mind, the music started.  The violin and guitar playing together like dream children would.  I smiled again, to myself, before I began singing.

    "I hope you never loose your sense of wonder
    You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger
    May you never take one single breath for granted
    God forbid love ever leave you empty handed.
    I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
    Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
    Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
    And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
    I hope you dance!"

    The club didn't exist.  I couldn't see anyone or hear anyone.  All I could hear was the music.  All I could see was everything worthwhile I'd gotten so far in my life.  At that moment, I didn't care if everyone hated my voice - though I knew they wouldn't - right then, the only thing that mattered, was the music.  Sometimes, that's enough. 

    "I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
    Never settle for the path of least resistance
    Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking
    Loving might be a mistake, but it's worth making.
    Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
    When you come close to selling out, reconsider
    Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
    And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
    I hope you dance!"

    I will never loose my sense of wonder, I will never take a breath for granted, I will never settle for the easy road, I will never stop living by taking chances.  This song had touched my soul back when I first heard it, and it was never going to leave.  I refuse to let it.  

    "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
    Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
    Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
    And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,"

    The club was dead silent, I was conscious enough to know that. In that one moment, the moment where the music stops and the singer pauses for breath, everything was still.

    "Dance! I hope you dance!
    I hope you dance! I hope you dance!
    I hope you dance! I hope you dance!"

    Slowly, I came back to consciousness. My eyes focused on the faces of the people in the crowd, my ears readjusted to the sounds of life, and the music faded away. I walked off the stage, knowing it was someone else's turn in the spotlight, not caring about any reaction or lack there of I may or may not get. I'd been reacquainted with my way of living. No one else's opinion mattered.   Not then, not ever.  Well, maybe someday. 

    I walked back to my seat at the bar, not paying attention to anyone on the way.  When I got there, Artie was AWOL, probably taking dishes back to Lil.  Goliath came over to me though.  "You were great!"

    I smiled at him.  "Thanks.  I was actually gonna sing the song that Aphrodite did, but, well, you know."

    He waved it off.  "You sang the right song, don't worry about it."  He handed out a few drinks before turning to me again.  "Lots of people agree with me, if that cheering was anything."

    "There was cheering?"  Had I been that out of it that I didn't hear any of it?  "Seriously?"

    "Well, yeah.  But there were a lot of weird looks too."  I raised an eyebrow, wondering why there would have been looks.  "You know, because of your bruise."  He gestured towards his face, pointing out that my face was still half purple.

    "Oh, that.  Yeah, won't lie, I actually forgot for a minute there."  I giggled sheepishly.  Whoops.  That also meant that my face was bruised when I'd been talking to Porthos.  Oh well, too late now. 

    Goliath shrugged in a 'what are you gonna do' way and glanced over my shoulder.  "Incoming."  He retreated to the other end of the bar and I turned around to see what he was talking about.

    Making his way towards the alcohol, was Mr. Never Say No himself.  Luckily, he still looked sober.  But he was still headed this way.  I shifted in my seat, ready to bar him from the bar, if the need arose.  When he stopped next to me, he ignored me at first, instead shouting to Goliath.  "Hey, Gol!  Time for our round two!"

    "Yeah, yeah."  Goliath waved him off, but started getting the drinks anyway. 

    Once Goliath had turned away, Sunny finally deigned to notice me.  By which I mean he turned a smolder on me at full force.  "You, were amazing up there."

    "Thanks.  Coming from you, that really is a compliment."

    "You seem surprised."

    "You don't."

    He shrugged and sat on the stool next to me.  "The way you walk around like you own the place made me think you must have the pipes to back it up."

    I stared at him for a minute.  "You know, I thought something similar when I first met you.  You staggered up here like you were god and everyone should kneel at your feet.  Then I heard you sing and it made up for it."  I glanced away, then I realized what he'd said.  "Wait.  I walk around like I own the place?"

    He laughed.  "See?  We're not so different.  We both walk the fine line between arrogant and confident."

    "No, I walk that line, you often dive off into arrogance land just for shits and giggles.  Usually when you're drunk."

    He rolled his eyes.  "You know, contrary to what you so obviously believe about me, I don't actually go out of my way to get rip roaring drunk."

    "Yeah, I know.  You don't believe in saying no.  I've heard it from just about everybody."

    "You say that like it's a bad thing."  The look on his face was challenging, and I was never one to back down from a challenge.

    I eyed him.  "Look, Sunny, I'm all for saying yes.  You can't live if you're always saying no."  He thought he won, if his expression said anything, that is.  "But sometimes, it's in your best interests to refuse.  Especially when you know you should!"

    I'd only once seen Sunny loose his cool, and that was the first night I met him.  He usually strutted around with a confident smile that bordered on arrogant.  But now, he was frowning and dead serious.  He pointed a warning finger at me.  "Listen here.  I don't go around questioning your way of life, so don't you go around questioning mine.  I swore to myself a long time ago that saying no carried too much weight.  I haven't said no since and I haven't accepted it in all this time."

    I was actually slightly worried.  Sunny never got like this, at least, not while I was in the vicinity.  For once, I kept my mouth shut.  "I know what it outside.  But you know what?  I don't give a crap.  No one knows what I've been through in my life except for me, so no one else has the right to tell me what I can and can't do."

    "No one else, except for Gaia, right?"  I had to know why.  I understand the family thing, but even I wouldn't compromise my way of living for Caeden, Elizabeth, Tanya, or even Jack.  I f I did that, then I wouldn't be the person they call family, or called in Caeden and Tanya's case.  So I had to know why Sunny was willing to go against that for a relative so distant you probably couldn't speak there relation all in one breath.

    Sunny, to his credit, didn't miss a beat in his response.  "That's different.  Gaia knows things about my past and I know things about hers.  You, on the other hand, know nothing.  You don't even have room to criticize me when I'm drunk."

    "And why is that?"

    "Because you've never had so much as one drink.  Ever.  In your entire life.  And you know how I know?  'Cause you've told me as much.  I might listen to you bitch and moan after you've had some sort of alcohol.  But, until then, you have no room to talk."  He leaned over the bar.  "Gol, those drinks done yet?"

    I glared at Sunny.  I mean, he had a point.  I hadn't meant to piss him off, but pissed off he was.  He was right, I didn't know anything about his past, but that was because he kept it under lock and key.  I'm not saying that everyone should go around spilling their guts to every one and their brother, but you can't judge people for not knowing anything about you when you don't tell them anything.  But, most people aren't as open about their pasts as I am.  Most people value their secrets more than I do.  However, that didn't give him the right to tell me I had no right.  You know what?  Screw this.  "Hey, Sunny?"

    "What?"  He still sounded irritated and he didn't look my way.

    "You say you'll listen to my criticism once I've had a drink or two?"

    "Yeah, whatever."  He wasn't listening.  However, at that moment, Goliath came back with the band's drinks.  Before Sunny could grab the tray, and before Goliath could walk away, I smacked my hand down on the edge of the tray.  Sunny finally glanced at me, then.  "What the hell?"

    Without taking my eyes off Sunny, I spoke to the giant.  "Goliath, get me a margarita."

    Goliath started laughing.  Sunny was eyeing me in much the same way I had earlier in the night.  "That's funny, Story.  So what?  You want a re-fill of your soda or something?"

    I took my eyes off Sunny.  "No, I want a margarita.  That's what I said, that's what I want."

    Goliath's eyes went wide.  "Oh, you're serious.  Um, okay.  One margarita coming up."  He ran off to start on my drink.  It was a good thing Artie had come back a minute or two ago, because otherwise I may have lost my nerve.  Now, no talking like that, you! 

    Sunny stared at me, a tiny smirk on his face.  I stared right back.  "After this, you're gonna have to start listening, buddy."

    "Is that so?  Well, we'll see then, won't we?"  He sat there, smirking at me until Goliath came back with the drink. 

    When he set it down in front of me, he looked slightly worried.  "Are you sure about this, Story?  You've never been the type to drink."

    "Yeah, I'm sure.  It's the only way to get Lantern here to listen to anything I say."  I stared at the glass, gingerly picking it up.  I won't lie, I was nervous.  Never in my life had I had anything alcoholic in it to drink.  And that was saying something because my mom's family had been known to bust out Brandy Slush at each and every family gathering.  I took a breath.  Now's as good a time as any to take my first drink.  "Besides, how bad can it be?"  Without another thought, I brought the glass to my mouth and chugged it back. 

    I set the glass back on the counter and took in the stares of Goliath and Sunny.  Goliath looked like he couldn't believe that I'd just done that, while Sunny looked far too excited for his own good.  I remember Sunny saying, "This is gonna be good."  Then... well, then everything sort of got a little fuzzy.