Looking around them there were at least a hundred other people around their age there. But Madison was right; they certainly weren’t going to run into anyone they knew in a place like this.

“I can not believe you brought me to a grunge bar,” Ashley whispered in Madison’s ear while the taller girl ushered them through the crowd toward the bar, “how the hell do you even know about this place?”

Madison’s only response was a smirk as she sat them down in the only two empty seats at the bar. Waiting for the bartender to notice them, Ashley took a moment to look around.

 A live band was playing on a stage set up on the far left side of the bar, a large group of its patrons jumping up and down to the beat of the music in the open area in front of the stage. Ashley also noticed that large abstract paintings were scattered on the walls all over the bar. The paintings were dark in nature, but beautiful. The work seemed out of place in its surroundings and Ashley couldn’t help but wonder what they were doing in a place like this instead of hanging in a gallery somewhere.

“What can I get you?” The bartender interrupted Ashley’s admirations. “A long island iced tea.”

“These paintings are amazing.”  She couldn’t help the surprised tone in her voice. The bartender just smirked coyly at her and then let her attention fall to something behind Ashley.

“It’s not really a compliment if you sound so shocked when you say it.” A husky voice whispered into her ear from behind her, causing her to jump up almost out of her seat and Madison and the bartender to laugh. Ashley glared at her friend and then turned to give the person who startled her a piece of her mind.

She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting when she turned around, but she was suddenly staring up into the most beautiful ocean blue eyes she’d ever seen. The girl in front of her was gorgeous; her long blond hair standing out in deep contrast to the dark clothing and make-up the girl wore. A small silver ring in the blonde’s lower lip immediately caught her attention and she unconsciously bit her own lip.

Clearly amused by Ashley’s reaction to her, the blonde let out a small chuckle before winking at her and turning to talk to the bartender.

“Hey Chelsea, I’m going home for the night. Call me if there are any problems.”

“No problem Spencer. See you tomorrow.”

With that Spencer turned to go home only pausing for a brief moment to smile one more time at Ashley, who she noticed was still watching her.

Ashley’s eyes followed Spencer as she walked away from the bar, but instead of going toward the front door like she had expected she went to a side door near the bar unlocked it and ducked inside before closing the door behind her.

Finally shaking out of her stupor Ashley turned back to Madison, who was sporting a mischievous grin big enough to make the Cheshire cat jealous.

“What?”

“I think we just found the answer to all your problems.”                 

**********

Continue??????