H a v i n g F a i t h

Chapter Three:

Salamanders Tricked

“Can you say ‘what the fuck did I do last night?’ I asked Matt as I poured the runny, nearly blacking brown oil on his bare ass. “You know, now would be great timing for a ‘thank you Faith’.”

“Thank you Faith.” He mumbled quietly.

“You owe me.” I replied.

“Are you asking me to rub motor oil on your ass?” He asked, looking over his shoulder at me and lifting his eyebrows.

“Are you actually making an implication of insinuation while in your current disgraceful situation?” I asked casually.

Matt blinked. “Huh?”

“You’re a fuckmook Matty.” I said sweetly, placing a light kiss on his temple and standing up. I recapped the motor oil and tossed it to Cooper. “Lubed and ready!” I declared, stepping down the stoop and watching as Louis and Holden once again stood on either side of Matt, grabbing his arms and-

“Ahh! Thank you Jesus Christ!” Matt practically moaned as his ass dislodged from the doggie door.

“Well, I guess there is an orgasmic reaction for everything.” Louis grumbled, letting go of Matt’s arm.

“You have no idea how bad my fuckin’ ass hurt when I was stuck there.” Matt replied, pulling up his pants. “Can we please get the fuck out of here now.” It was more of a statement than a question as he moved towards Holden’s Blazer and got in the front seat.

We exchanged looks. Usually we, as a group would not tolerate Matty’s prickishnes when he got that way. But considering he’d just gotten dumped by his girlfriend for the last three years, and he’d gotten stuck while taking a dump. We’d let him slide.

Holden got in the drivers, while Louis, Cooper and I sat in the backseat.

Cooper carefully wedged himself between Louis and myself. Grinning between the two of us mischievously.

“Sorry to here about Amy.” Holden stated. “She’s a whore.”

“Thanks.” Matt said, the tension leaving his body. I think he was expecting us to continue on teasing him about the doggie door thing. Which we would, ohh, we soo would.

Cooper grinned and leaned between the two front seat, holding his phone out for Matt. “You wanna see my photo’s, Matt?”

“You wanna see my balls, Coop?” Matt snarled, knocking Coopers hand away.
“Are they shaved?” Cooper asked.

“That was a fucked up question.” Holden said. “Even for you.”

“Don’t look at me like that.” Cooper said to Louis.

“Like what?” Louis asked, grinning.

“Like you think I’m a fag.”

“Aren’t you?” Louis asked.

“It is a completely legitimate concern.” Cooper said.

“Yea, no, of course.” Louis said, as though realizing the legitimacy of Coopers ball question. “Hey Holden, are your balls shaved?” He asked our dear driver, evidently just to mock Cooper.

“Nah man, I got some major nap goin‘ on down there.” Holden responded, and for emphasis- scratched himself.

“And you Faith?” Louis questioned, looking at me and tilting his head.

“You can‘t grow hair on steel.” I replied, then “clank…scrape” I added, crossing my legs.

“So, now we know how everyone’s balls are doin‘.” Holden said. “Who wants to go to Salamanders and get piss drunk?”

Four hands were held up high in the backseat of the car.

“I have to go home and wash my hands first.” I told them.

“Yea, and I have to wipe my ass.” Matt stated.

Salamanders is a small, dirty and sometimes smelly (actually most of the time since Eddy the bartender wiped down the tables with vinegar for good luck once a week.) bar only a couple blocks away from the loft. Beer was good, shots were cheap and it was within walking distance of home so we could all drink- leave the car in the parking lot and walk home. Then come get it when we were sober.

The bartender Sam, is probably pushing seventy now, and he’s as def as a fuckin’ mole. I don’t really know how def moles are, but for that analogy lets just say ’pretty damn’ shall we?

Anyways, we went home- washed up. Left home, and went to Salamanders. Where we as a group unanimously decided, in celebration of Matt’s new found singularity and the fact he no longer had to deal with that bitch on wheels Amy, we were to get positively crapped drunk and get him laid.

Because, we are wonderful loyal friends. Who’ll help you keep your chin held high even when you’ve been knocked down. We help embolden the character and raise self-esteem.

“You are such a fuckin’ looser!” Cooper yelled at Matt, laughing and kicking back another shot of tequila. “I can’t believe you took that shit for so long.”

“What ther foot, fuck are you waddling about?” Matt asked.

“She treated you like a piece of shit!” Cooper clarified loudly. “No- she treated pieces of shit better thannn you. She, treated you like er..like er.”

“Bitch.” Holdan stated, drinking his beer. “She treated ya like a lil’ bitch.”

“Fuck you!” Matt cried, his voice cracking as he pointed at Holden who sat next to him. His arm swept over the table, knocking over a couple of empty beer bottles. He pointed at Cooper who was across from him and pulled a face. “And double fuck you!”

We of course laughed at our friends expense. He let his head fall to the table with a thud and he groaned.

“Ijusdonefuckinit” He slurred.

“You’re done fuckin’ it?” Holden asked.

“Done fucking what?” Cooper asked.

“Amy.” Louis stated.

“No! No!” Matt said, lifting his head. “I don’t fucking get it! Things were going sooo well.”

“Couldn’t of been going that well.” Louis commented.

“No, it was- I mean we fuckin’ fucked like fuckin’ rabbit’s the night before.” He whimpered, sitting back in his seat.

“What the fuck is that about?” Cooper questioned.

I was the only one laughing, hysterically- might I add.

They all looked at me, completely blank faced as I continued to chortle.

“The fuck?” Matt asked.

I snorted. “Men are so stupid.”

“What?” Louis asked.

“No, forget it.” I said waving it off.

“Fuck that, explain.” Connor said.

“It’s not important.” I told them, taking a drink of Louis’ beer. He looked at me and we shared a half sided grin with one another. You know the kind, where you both know something no one else does- almost like a confirmation of a secret by expression.

“No no, you cannon cannot call us stupid and then not tell us why we’re stupid.” Matt told me, waving his finger.

“Yea that is ignorance enforced upon us, by you.” Cooper added.

“Then its not our fault we’re stupid, its yours.” Holden said.

“So tell us.” Matt pushed.

“Just tell us.” Cooper pressed, poking my shoulder.

“Okay! Fuck!” I said smacking Coopers hand away. “Okay so you’ve heard the expression, ‘the kiss of death’--”

“Yea what does that have to do with anything.” Cooper asked.

“Well if you’d shut the fuck up I’d/She’d explain.” Cooper and I said at the same time.

“Before a girl dumps a guy, lets say- eighty percent of the time, she knows she’s going to ditch him about a month before she does.” I said.

“Get the fuck out of our faces with that bullshit.” Holden said in disbelief.

“Ahh, and the realizations start hitting home, don’t they boys.” I said grinning despite myself. In my coat pocket there was a pack of Kool’s I pulled out, opening the box I pulled one out and placed it between my lips. Not paying much mind as Louis’ hand snuck in and took one of my cigarettes for himself.

I noticed Holden eyeing the box and I tossed it on the booth table so he could steal one too if he wanted.

“So, if a girl knows a month aheada time that he’s gonna dump your pathetic ass-” I continued

“Hey.” Matt scowled.

I turned my head and allowed Louis to light my cigarette for me with his handy dandy silver zippo. I inhaled. “Then she’s feeling pretty bad about your ignorance for those thirty days- give or take.” I blew a large cloud of smoke out upward and continued. “In fact, for that month all she’s been doing is stewing in her own…” I took a second to search for the right word, and when I did, put emphasis on it by saying it crisply. “Compunction… and out of ‘compassion’” I made small air quotations as I said that. “That is to say, she feels sorry for you.- she’ll give you what I refer to as ‘the pity fuck of doom’. Something special to remember her by, and get you through that long cold harsh winter of non-voluntary celibacy.”

“Fuck you.” Matt said in disbelief. His eyes wide.

I grinned and tapped my cigarette in the ashtray, giving Louis a look over my shoulder. He smiled at me, blue eyes twinkling with amusement ever so slightly.

“So they know, before they break up with us they know.” Holden stated.

“What, you thought it was a spur of the moment thing?” I asked.

“Fuck yea I did!” Matt retorted. “Here I was thinking I did something in the past twenty-four hours to piss her off and here you are telling me.. Telling me.”

“That she’s been with you even though she didn’t want to be with you for about a month now?” I asked.

“Yea!” Mark scowled, “That’s a real kick to the balls Faith, thank you very fuckin’ much for that information now I can doubt every single one of my relationships from now on even if nothings wrong.”

“Hey, don’t take that shit out on me. Okay, I’m just the mother fuckin’ messenger.” I said calmly. “If anything I helped enlighten you.”

“Now you know they know.” Louis added, taking a drag off of his cigarette.

“Did you know?” Holden asked Louis suddenly, he shrugged innocently in response.

“No dude, if you knew that shit and you didn’t tell us- that’s not cool.” Cooper said.

Louis only smiled silently, taking a drag off of his cigarette.

“The fuck, why didn’t you tell us this?” Holden demanded.

“I didn’t have to- she just did.” Louis explained with a smirk then over at me, “and quite articulately.” He complimented.

“Thank you.” I said sweetly.

“This realization shits fucked up, I’m gonna go get sumor shots.” Cooper grumbled, sliding out of the booth.

“And I gotta piss.” Matt mumbled, getting up and walking across the bar towards the bathrooms.

Louis picked his zippo off the table and prepared to pocket it but I lightly snagged it from his grasp. “Can I play with this?” I asked, flipping it open.

“Don’t burn yourself.” Was his casual response before bracing his elbows on the table. He however did tilt his head so it hovered over my shoulder, hot breath hitting my neck.

Whether or not he was trying to turn me on, I had no idea. It didn’t really matter if he meant to or not considering either way, he was. I shifted my eyes in his direction an smirked.

He smiled, deep blue eyes a twinkling as usual and I snapped the zippo shut.

“Okay, what the fucks goin on between y’all?” Holden asked.

I blinked and turned away from Louis, my face serious. “Not a thing.” I responded.

Which more or less was the truth. I wanted Louis, true. Okay, really true. But I liked him, and I am a firm believer in not boning people you like. It turns from like to love and then its no longer fucking, your ‘making love’ and then before you know it you are in a serious relationship which only leads to possessiveness and an engagement and marriage and kids and fat thighs.

Which meant the more I liked Louis more dangerous being around him got. So, no more making out with Louis! The law has been set. Also, no more thinking about Louis naked… I turned and found my eyes raking up and down Louis’ body… no more thinking naughty wrong thoughts about him… at least when he is in the room.

The cowbell over the door rang just as Cooper returned with a bottle of tequila and an extra shot glass. I had the distinct feeling he was about to start a game of ‘Big Chicken’ when I turned and looked at whomever had just entered Salamanders.

Yea, I’m one of those people who look to see who comes and goes- well actually I only do that in ‘my’ territory, Salamander being just that I felt inclined to drift some attention to the newcomer(s). Since, well, there were rarely ever any new people coming to Salamanders. As I said before, smelly, small. Mostly just old Vietnam vets or the occasional depressed drunk came through.

But no, not then, not that night.

That night I found myself staring at two girls, at least my age. Which is twenty-two for any of you wondering. One had short swooped platinum blond hair. Very Marylyn Monroe-esq. As far as completion and the over all picture went, however she was way skinnier than Marylyn. A kind of regular gym-go’er kind of body which doesn’t personally turn me on. But, hey- to each his own, right. She had, unnaturally round breasts too… and obviously I wasn’t the only one who notices.

“Are those implants?” Cooper asked.

“Is that flattery or ‘flattery’?” I asked, grinning broadly. Cooper didn’t get it but Holden and Louis chuckled a little. I was actually glad to feel my humor was being appreciated.

The other girl however, she had more of a Marylyn body. Soft-shaped, thicker than the blonde, long dark auburn hair. More of a natural appearance to her. No silicone or saline solution from what I could tell. Big soft lips. I felt a deviant smile make its way onto my face.

I am in all honesty, as bad as any man.

The girls sat down at the end of the bar. The blond sat with her back straight and shoulders spread, legs crossed. She made it evident in her physical movements that she was confident, which probably meant on some deeper level she was seeking validation from the opposite sex. Which would explain the daily visits to the gym and her bringing a shorter, plumper friend with her to a bar so she’d look good in comparison. She probably didn’t do that to her friend intentionally but, more than likely that kind of subconscious motive was there.

“Since when do we get hot women in Salamanders?” Holden asked, risking a glance at the two young women at the bar.

I looked at him and obviously something in my face read plain and clear what my opinion on that statement was.

“You don’t count.” Holden said, “Yor’ just a guy in an fine ass female body.”

“That reference to my body as ‘fine ass’ saved that statement, and you with it.” I said pointedly, taking a drag off of my cigarette.

Matt walked out of the back, fidgeting with his pants a little and walked past the two women seated at the bar. Distracted by the slight smile the blond gave him, he tripped over his feet a little.

“Fuckmook.” I said under my breath.

Still there might have been hope, the blond grinned at his clumsiness and said something to her friend.

Matt slid into the booth once more and Cooper grinned at him cockily.

“Shut the fuck up Cooper.” Matt muttered.

“I didn’t say shit.”

“You didn’t have to, you were thinking it.” Matt retorted.

“Actually I was thinking about how I’d like your mom to wrap her legs around my head so I could wear her like a feed bag!”

“Not. The mom thing again, man, please.” Holden grumbled. “Its used to fuckin’ much.”

“Screw you, the mom thing never gets old.” Cooper replied.

“Actually it does.” Louis interjected

“Suck my dick Louis, you don’t know what the fuck your talking about.” Cooper said happily.

“Suck your dick?” Louis echoed in thought. “You mean like how your dad tried to suck mine last night?”

“Oh that was a good one.” Holden acknowledged.

“Did you just call my dad a fag?” Cooper asked.

“Hey , Matty?” I asked across the table.

Matt looked up at me. Eyes droopy, frowning. He was depressed- and when he was depressed he looked like a gerbil… a pathetic little gerbil. One that had just recently met Richard Gere.

I had to help. Especially because helping him would help me.

“That actually is the kind of insult that calls yourself gay, and someone else gay.” Cooper stated.

“Like, saying your Dad likes to take it up the ass.” Holden stated. “Is as much of an insult to me as it is to you and your pops?”

“No.” Louis disagreed. “Saying ‘Your dad likes to take it up the ass’ and ‘I like to give it to your dad in the ass’ is completely different. Its all in the context of the statement.”

Ignoring the others as they argued about the homosexual level of ‘you’re dad sucked fucks guys’ insult. I pointed my attention towards Matt.

“You wanna get laid?” I asked him quietly, putting my cigarette out.

The others, unfortunately had heard my question and stopped arguing instantly. Looking at me expectantly.

Matt’s eyes ran over everyone at the booth, and settled on me. His mouth opened and closed- then opened. “Y-yea.” He said and looked towards Holden quickly. “Hand me my coat.”

“No.” I said, “Not with me.”

“Uhh.” He was confused.

“You’re such a tool.” I commented offhandedly and continued. “I meant with that pretty little blond sitting at the end of the bar.” I said slowly, as though taking to someone challenged, and leant back in the booth.

“She wouldn’t.” Matt said simply, looking over his shoulder at the Blonds back.

“She would.” I stated.

He looked at me, skeptical. And to be honest I was a wee bit hurt, I mean, I’d known him a year now and to date I cannot recall a time I let him down. Maliciously and purposefully hurt him, like the time I put a mouse trap in his bed- sure. But not let him down. What kind of friend did he take me for?

“Matty.” I purred. “Trust me.”

“Says the woman who poured ice water on my balls last week.” He replied flatly.

“I warned you before I did it.” I countered. “C’mon. Have a little faith in Faith.”

“Lets say I did.” Matt stated. “What would-”

“You would have to give me forty dollars.” I told him.

“And why would I do a dumbshit thing like that?”

“Because if you do, I can tell you how to get that blonde to go leave here with you-”

“And why would you -”

“So I can go home with her friend.” I said, smirking.

Matt seemed to calculate it, and obviously believed I wasn’t bullshitting him because he pulled out his wallet and took out two twenties and handed them to me. I took them quickly and pocketed one, then offered the other to Cooper.

“What’s this for?” Cooper asked, confused.

“You’re going to walk over there with Matty and look in the Blonds eyes and, no not offer her twenty for a hand-job.” I said, verbally slapping the glint in his eye away. “You’re going to say ‘You’re right, those are gorgeous blue/green/brown‘, whatever the hell colored eyes she has, and pull out the twenty and give it to Matt, then come back here. Leaving Matt to talk to the lovely, yet somewhat malnourished looking blondest over there.” I finished, lifting an eyebrow. “Then offer to buy her a drink with the money she just helped you win.”

“It won’t work.” Cooper, ever the naysayer.

“Just do it.” I snapped at them.

Neither of them moved. Stubborn Jackasses…

“What if it doesn’t work…”Cooper asked.

“I’ll ride you like seabiscut.” Bold faced lie.

Coopers eyebrows shot up and he got out of the booth. Obviously that had been enough of encouragement for him. Matt followed him hesitantly as they made their way over to the girls.

I watched Cooper inspect the girls eyes slowly and speak, The blond grinned a grin that could have been in the spotlight of a ‘Crest White Strips’ commercial as Cooper handed Matt the twenty. He gave them one last Cooper smile and headed back to the Booth.

Silently he slid in next to me and watched with interest as Matt and the Blond talked for a minute before Eddy the ancient and half def bartender made his way over.

Matt said something to the girl, the girl smiled and said something to the bartender. I watched as he slid onto the barstool next to her.

“You’re a fucking evil genius.” Cooper said in distracted admiration.

“See, now corny shit like than never fuckin’ works for me.” Holden stated, pulling out a cigarette.

“Because your not sincere enough.” I may have been speaking to my friend but in all honesty I was paying absolutely no attention to him. The reddish-brown haired woman was, as I had foreseen, quickly forgotten about by her friend and by Matt. Sitting awkwardly in her stool I watched her fidget a little before opening her purse and digging through it for something.

Cell phone? Cigarettes?

I watched carefully, ignoring whatever Louis was saying beside me. The woman pulled out something shiny… quarters. She was going to the Jute Box in the corner of the bar.

“That’s my queue.” I said quietly and swatted coopers arm with the back of my hand to get his attention. “Move.”

Cooper rolled his eyes and slid out of the booth.

I began to slide out too, when I felt a hand on my wrist. Grip firm but not hard. I looked over my shoulder at Louis who was staring at me, expression blank.

I could feel Holden and Cooper watching, with a mixture of interest in scandal and protective testosterone.

“What?” I asked shortly. Hoping to god he didn’t think that kiss earlier actually meant something. You had to use the firm tone with some people, so they understood where you stood on a subject. This was no exception.

He seemed taken back, shocked at my tone. And released my wrist without a word.

That’s a good boy. I thought callously.

Then I smiled my brightest forced smile and pulled out the twenty Matt had given me. I slapped it on the table. “Drink up boys.” I told them dismissively, avoiding Louis’ emotionless blue gaze as I stood up.

Taking it as the average rejection response I chose not to think much about it. He’d get over it, just a bruise on his ego. Louis really didn’t give a shit, he was only looking to get laid.

Then again, so was I.

But not with Louis.

So I walked to the Jute Box in the dark corner of the bar, where the auburn haired woman stood about to put her quarters in it.

“It doesn’t work.” I said casually, walking up beside her and placing my hands on my hips.

She looked at me with big hazel eyes, as if she’d just noticed my existence at that moment.

“Then why is it..” She pointed a carefully manicured nail at the Jute Box, which had flashing lights on and looked altogether as though it would work just fine.

“It’s kind of a running joke.” I said, leaning against the Jute Box. “For Eddy-” I nodded towards the aged bartender.

“Running joke.” She echoed, lifting her eyebrows in interest.

“He gets your money and doesn’t have to listen to your music, and on top of that he gets to watch unsuspecting new customers, and the occasional irrational drunk get pissed off‘.” I explained.

She nodded in understanding. “So putting my money in there would be a complete waste.” She stated.

“Yea, pretty much.” I agreed, smirking. “I’m Faith, by the way.”

“Aadi.” She said, smiling and pocketing her change.

Aadi… I liked it.

There was a moment of silence between us and my eyes flickered to Matt and ’the blonde’ who were discussing something. I just hoped he wouldn’t bring up the whole, ’I just got dumped and got my ass stuck in a door’ thing.

I looked back and Aadi who seemed at a complete loss for something to say. She pursed her lips together as though trying to think about something, and that was it. I was finished. I was going to that ugly liar liar place.

“Okay, Aadi.” I said quietly, as though sharing a secret.

“Yea?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow.

I let out a hesitant sigh and tucked some hair behind my ear. “My friends, I don’t know if you saw me sitting with them or not-” I nodded towards Holden, Louis, and Cooper who were watching me with great interest. She looked over her shoulder at them briefly.

“Uh huh?” She prompted me, showing interest.

“Well actually they aren’t so much my friends as they are my brothers.” I continued, un-leaning myself from the Jute Box. “Anyways, they have a bet going.”

“Let me guess, its about my eyes?” She asked sarcastically, showing obvious antipathy for the set up Matt and Cooper used on her friend. She was smart, I’d give her that…

“Actually, its about who can get you to take them home.” I said, wrinkling my nose a bit.

I am such a bad person.

“What?” She asked, looking suddenly offended.

I only nodded, keeping my mouth shut while she seemed to process the information.

“Jackass’s.” She said under her breath, looking back and giving the three men in the booth a deadly but brief glare.

“You know what?” I said after a minute of silence, lifting my eyebrow and smiling. “I have an idea.”

She looked at me inquisitively.

“I think you should leave here with me.” I said, giving her my best dazzling smile.

She looked amused, yet skeptical. Her large hazel eyes held a cautious merriment to them. Like on one hand she was positive her leaving with a girl would shock the arrogant prick’s who’d basically assumed she was a slut. (Never even happened, but she thought it did which was all that mattered.) And the fear that I, a woman, was actually hitting on her.

“Don’t look at me like that.” I said, in a somewhat mischievous tone.

“Like what?” She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

“Like I’m just as bad as any man in this place.”

“Aren’t you?” Aadi questioned, shifting her weight to her right foot.

“Maybe.” I answered slowly, this time she couldn’t suppress her smile. “But I’m doing this to get them.” I stated, making that hand pistol gesture at the table of men I’d left behind. “It has absolutely nothing to do with you.” The pistol turned into a dismissive wave at her.

“Is that so?” She inquired. Unconvinced but being playful about it.

“So so.” I replied.

Aadi grinned and looked down at her feet, finally a slight blush.

“Would you like to go get a drink?” I asked.

“I- I don’t drink.” She said softly.

“I wasn’t talking alcohol.”

“Oh?” She seemed slightly more confident in my intentions now that she knew I wasn’t trying to get her drunk and have my way with her.

“Yea, I was thinking more along the lines of hot chocolate.”

“Hot chocolate.” She echoed with a hint of good humored sarcasm. Was she flirting back?

I was finding myself more and more attracted to the small caramel skinned woman before me.

“Something wrong with hot chocolate?” I questioned.

“No, nothing wrong with hot chocolate.” She said reassuringly.

“Then would you like to go get some?”

“Sure.” . She’d spoken not a moment after the words had left my mouth

I grinned. Not just that corny ass’ ‘I-so-darn-happy’ grin, but instead that slightly cocky truly delightful with a dash of vodka -exultant grin. Or maybe I just looked constipated- I don’t know. Either way she was grinning too and that’s all I really cared about that that moment.

“Alright.” I said with contentment. “Let me just get my coat.”

And with that I crossed the bar once more, moving towards the table of miscreants I’d been sitting with earlier. The twenty dollar bill still sat on the table untouched, without so much as a hesitant glance- I snatched it and pocketed it once more.

“Thief.” Cooper stated.

I ignored him completely and held out my hand. “Jacket.” I said, looking promptly at Louis- who was staring fixedly at the beer in front of him. He didn’t seem to notice me.

Ugh. Drunk already. Nice.

“Louis.” I said louder, he looked up at me blankly. “Jack-et.”

His jaw tightened and flexed as he picked up my coat which was wedged between him and the wall and handed it over.

“Where are you goin’?” Holden asked.

“I- am going out for hot chocolate.” I stated.

“If she doesn’t put out you can stop by my room tonight ” Cooper said with utmost seriousness.

“Hahaha, fuck you.” I said sweetly, turning and slipping on my pea coat just in time to see Aadi saying goodnight to her friend.

“I wish somebody would.” I heard Cooper grumble as I walked toward Aadi.

Adjusting the collar of my coat, I smiled at her. “Ready?”

She nodded and together we walked out of Salamanders. I walked out first and held the door for her casually.

“I was just wondering though- where are we going to get hot chocolate at-” She checked the small silver watch on her wrist. “Twelve-thirty in the morning?”

“Denny’s.” I replied while releasing the door. “Where else?”

She only smiled and nodded in approval. “I think there’s one a block that way.” She said after a minute, pulling her own jacket closer around herself. Exhaling, her breath rolled in the cold air and dissipated. “Or-” She turned and faced the opposite direction. “It could be that way.”

“Its this way, c’mon.” I said softly, nodding towards north, the direction she had her back to.

“Oh.” She put her hands in her pockets and followed me as I began down the sidewalk. “Do you go there a lot?” She asked a second later.

I looked towards her inquiringly.

“Salamanders.” She clarified.

“Sometimes.” I replied, with a small shrug.

You lie like a dog Faith Winters. You know very well you spend more time in that bar with your friends than you do at work.

Aadi nodded. “Does it always smell like that?” She questioned, wrinkling her nose.

I had to laugh. “Actually, yea.” There was a fondness in my voice for the bar that I couldn’t of hid if I’d wanted to.