Behind the Clouds

As Steve and Rob stepped out of the car, thunder claps were heard
overhead, and the moon could not be seen anymore, though Steve felt
it's imposing presence behind the clouds. Now they ducked into the
place they came here for. A tiny hole in the wall on West 4th called
The Cut Throat. The place literally had holes in the walls, smelled
of stale beer, and let's just say you didn't put your ass on the
toilet seats. It was a fun and familiar place though, and the beers
were two bucks each and shots were three.
Upon entering, Rob and Steve saw that Christine,Laurie,Carrie,Fred
and Jason were at the bar, and could tell from twenty feet away that
they had all gotton an early start on the evening. It was at this
point Steve knew the night was going to go according to plan. He
started thinking "everyone who planned to be here is here and now I
can proceed." Christine and Carrie shouted out almost
simultaneously, "hey Steve, over here!" Steve having a delayed
reaction, lumbered over and Rob followed. Fred and Jason exchanged
brief pleasantries with Steve, who went to speak with Carrie and
Christine. Rob conversed with Fred, Jason and Laurie.
The Cut Throat had lots of regulars there tonight and a few new
faces. It was loud, and the jukebox was playing "Don't Tread on Me".
"So where have you been?" Christine asked. "I haven't seen you in
like a month." "Yeah, me neither" added Carrie. "You have been
making yourself very scarce lately." Carrie and Christine were both
voluptuous young brunettes of twenty-one, who had both known Steve
in and out of the bedroom, and both were aware of their involvment
with him. They were also both very competitive about Steve.
"I'v been working all the time and rarely have any time to myself"
Steve said. "Any time I do have to myself is spent alone, just
relaxing."("more like brooding" Steve thought to himself) "Sorry I
haven't called." "You must have had sleepless nights dreaming about
me" Steve said, half jokingly and half serious. "Not really" Carrie
said. "I'v been pretty busy myself, doing this, doing that."(at
which point Steve noticed Carrie giving Christine a sly look, and
they both smirked and then laughed under their breath) Steve was not
laughing with them. He then ordered a boilermaker for himself and
did not ask if any of his friends wanted anything.
"So what does that mean?" Steve asked in a very composed
manner(hiding the urge of wanting to rip out their throats). "It
means that she has been having fun and taking care of things while
you have not been around" Christine said. Christine, although
twenty-one, had the feminist male bashing attitude of a forty-five
year divorce when drunk. Steve always thought she was bisexual. The
bartender suddenly appeared and set down Steve's shot of Jim Beam
with Budweiser chaser. Steve just as quickly threw it back in the
blink of an eye, and did not bother with the chaser just yet. He
was now starting to feel more powerful and intoxicated. Somehow
when Steve would hit a certain point of intoxication, his thoughts
would become psychotic, though his body would maintain it's balance
and composure. He was not at that point just yet.
Meanwhile, Rob,Fred,Laurie and Jason were speaking and thinking of
more random lighthearted subjects. Rob was saying how hard it was
going for his Ph.D. while Jason and Fred were debating as to
whether or not the Islanders would win a cup anytime soon. Laurie
was just listening, laughing and watching everyone in The Cut
Throat have a good time. Steve was now on his sixth boilermaker
when he was asked by Christine and Carrie if he would mind going
home with them. He responded by saying "hang on, I'll be right
back". Steve walked to the back door slyly and slipped out of
sight into the back alley. He took a piss.
He began walking back to his car when suddenly it began to rain
heavily. Without a second thought Steve quickly, yet methodically,
headed for his Camaro. As he reached it, that wave of calm and
well-being hit him again. He aproached the rear of the Camaro and
opened up the trunk to double check if all of the contents were
still there.(they were)He opened up the door and got in. He went
right into the glove compartment and pulled out a gram of coke,
already mixed and ready to go. He put his finger in the bag and
brought it back out with a small mound on the end of it. He put it
up his nose and snorted. A cold wave went up his nasal cavity and
down the back of his throat when it happened. That point of
intoxication where all of his thoughts and perceptions, although
not connected to reality, are very clear and precise in his mind
and not cloudy. He took another three snorts, put the bag away and
started up the 425. His ability to operate and maneuver the
vehicle was fine, since the four squad cars that he saw on the way
back to The Cut Throat did not stop him or even flash the
cherries.
As he pulled up to the front, he saw Jason and Rob standing
outside underneath the awning. The voices started at this point
saying "what the fuck are they doing out front?! I know. They are
waiting out front so they can question you about where you have
been and what you have been doing.