Wanna Bet?

by R. S Burnett

  “Give my one good reason why I should let you out of it” Andrew says to me making me glower at him.

  I lean down on the bar and try to get Lucy’s help.

  “You have to help me out here. He wants me to do a strip tease” I stop so she can finish laughing. “I wouldn’t do it anyway but normally I would go along with it and play it up without actually taking any clothes off”

  “Why can’t you just do that?” She asks still laughing just no so loud now.

  “Because Morgan’s here and I don’t want him to think he’s dating a stripper” I whisper quickly and relax she gets serious.

  “You can’t ask her to do that” Lucy shouts up at Andrew as I stand and take my place next to him again.

  “Why the hell not?” He demands. “She …”

  I cut him off leaning up to him and whispering in his ear. “I don’t want the man I’m dating to think he’s going out with a stripper Andrew. Cut me some slack please” I beg.

  I stand back and wait for his reaction. His eyes swing to Tucker who frowns at us and then he looks back at me I shake my head at his assumption and discreetly with my eyes I gesture to the crowd.

  “Fine” he sighs into his mic “But you’re not off the hook. I will think of something else”

  I feel my whole body relax with relief and finally search for Morgan in the crowd, when I find him he is watching me smiling. I grin down at him and roll my eyes making him chuckle. I’ve told him all about the bets and trouble I get myself into with them. He finds the whole thing amusing but somehow I don’t think me pretending to strip in front of a club full of people would have the same effect. We both jump down from the bar, I go and hug Lucy gratefully and discreetly point Morgan out in the crowd for her then we go to work while Andrew sits on a bar stool grumpily thinking about another forfeit.

  “You’re not going to start being boring now that you have a boyfriend are you?” he pouts at me.

  “No, I just don’t want to take it too far, just tone it down a touch when he’s in here please. I’d really appreciate it if you’d let him think I’m slightly normal”

  “Fine” he grumbles.

  About an hour has passed since I came here and Morgan still hasn’t come over to see me, the bar has been busy but he hasn’t acknowledged me at all since I was on the bar. He has been looking my way with a strange expression though I frown to myself into the drink I’m pouring.

  “Have you noticed the way Morgan keeps looking at you?” Lucy asks me when I turn and lean my back on the bar as soon as we have a quiet five minutes.

  “Yeah, it’s strange right?” I ask.

  “It’s as if he’s checking to see if you’re watching him” she thoughtfully.

  “That’s what I thought, He hasn’t even said hello to me yet” I complain

  “Well he’s a bit preoccupied at the moment” I turn at the shock in her voice and watch as Morgan leans in and kisses a woman wearing a tight black dress.

  “Okay please tell me I just imagined that” I say turning back around not able to watch any longer just in case I see something else.

  “What an ass” She mutters “want me to go slap him for you?” she asks seriously making me laugh.

  “No it’s okay” I sake my head at her then head to the end of the bar where the band are sat Jamie catches my eye as I’m headed towards them and I gesture for him to move away from the band and meet me halfway.

  “Alright Brooke?” he asks as I lean over the bar to talk to him quietly. Once I’ve explained what I want him to do he looks into the crowd and then frowns at me.

  “Please?” I smile at him pleadingly. He walks away and heads into the crowd and I go back to help Lucy serve the group of students that have just come in. We have another busy twenty minutes and finally just as the bar are clears Jamie comes over.

  “They swapped numbers, and spit … a few times. He’s here to see a friend. They’re going out for dinner tomorrow, I didn’t catch where to though”

  I drop my head on the bar “I have terrible taste in men. It’s official I am a dickhead magnet”

  “Wait I thought you just wanted me to listen to see if he was single because you thought he was fit?” Jamie asks looking down at me.

  “I’ve been dating him. He’s supposed to be staying over mine tonight, you know our first sleep over” I answer feeling a bit sick.

  “Idiot” Jamie mumbles.

  “I know, I should have known sooner what he was like” I agree but he just shakes his head at me and joins the band back at the bottom of the bar.

  “He’s planning on dumping me after I’ve has sex with him isn’t he?” I ask Lucy.

  “Sounds like it” she agrees with me.

  I walk down to the end of the bar and join the boys.

  “Hey Brooke, what was the bet you backed out of earlier?” Derek asks me when I join them.

  “Strip tease” I reply then turn to Tucker.

  “Can I speak to you a sec please?”

  “Sure” he says looking at me questioningly then walking to an empty table with me.

  Once we are seated I turn to him “Am I good at sex” I ask watching his eyes for any signs of a lie.

  “Excuse me?” he says choking on his drink, I wait for him to calm down “Why?” he asks.

  “Because see that guy over there” I point to Morgan and the woman he is dancing with “Well he plans on having sex with me tonight and then leaving me to have sex with her” I explain as he turns to look at Morgan.

  “Idiot” he says straight away.

  “I know. I can’t help it. So am I?” I press.

  He turns and watches me intently for a second. “You’re serious?” He finally asks starting to look uncomfortable. I nod at him. “Surely there’s someone else you can ask?” he pleads.

  “Not really no” I say starting to feel uncomfortable as well. “Do you know, what don’t worry about it, forget I ever asked” I stand up and leave the table heading for Andrew.

  “Does kissing a girl turn you on?” I ask leaning up to speak into his ear. He nods at me and frowns in confusion.

  “Have you ever kissed a man?” I ask but he just pulls an are-you-out-of-your-ever-loving-mind face at me making me chuckle. “I guess not. Do you think someone can be turned on from just a kiss weather or not they fancy the person?” I continue my questions.

  “I don’t know, why?” he asks me out loud now.

  “I’m thinking about giving up men but I don’t fancy women and kissing turns me on so I’m thinking maybe it doesn’t matter who I kiss” I explain.

  “Will you let me watch?” he says, excitement gleaming in his eyes. I walk away from him and head back behind the bar. Trying to figure out if it’s time I made a lifestyle change or not.

  “I need a favor” I say to Tucker once I have made my mind up.

  “I’m not having sex with you” he replies not looking up from his drink.

  “I don’t want you to have sex with me” I insist rolling my eyes.

  “Then what do you want from me” he asks ignoring the band members all looking at him as if he’s crazy.

  “I need you to kiss me” I say turning on my most sweet and innocent smile.

  He snorts at my smile “Why?”

  “Because I’m giving up men” I huff.

  “Then why do you want me to kiss you?” he asks slightly offended.

  “I can’t believe you’re going to make me say this” I grumble and then look at him straight in the eye as I explain, hoping I don’t blush “Because when you kiss me you turn me on, really turn me on so much that I’m basically ready for sex straight away after it. My problem is that I don’t fancy women, although watching lesbian porn turns me on as you know so I suppose I could … So anyway I need you to kiss me so I’m so turned on that I’m no longer thinking about who I’m with and then I can kiss a woman and it will be like I’m gay ... except with your help … actually I might need you every time I want to have sex with my girlfrien
d … if I can find one … where the hell would I meet a gay girl?” I trail off distracted.

  He just stares at me wide eyed and open mouthed. I shift nervously.

  “Holy shit” the rest of the boys say almost in chorus but not quite so it sounds like hohoholy shishishit.

  “Walk away Brooke” Tucker says to me tightly clenching his jaw.

  “Fine” I say holding up my hands in a defensive gesture “I’m going”.

  “What are you sulking for?” Lucy asks I reach around her to get to the limes.

  “I’m not sulking” I reply sulkily making her laugh.

  “You clearly are” she says dryly as she watches me line up the tequila shots on the bar.

  “Would you kiss me?” I ask turning my back on the people taking their shots.

  “Sure” she shrugs and then kisses me; I am so stunned I don’t even know what’s going on. I’m aware that a few men are cheering and I suspect they are Jamie, Cam and Derek. I am aware that Lucy’s hands are on my hips holding me in place and I am aware that Andrew is standing very close to us shouting “Fuck, I didn’t think you were serious!” and a few people by the bar are clapping.

  She pulls away from me and I can’t help but feel disappointed. I might as well have kissed a cup I got so little excitement out of it. I throw my arms up and let them fall to my sides then turn and put at Tucker who just rolls his eyes at me.

  “Sorry Luce didn’t get my juices flowing” I say still disappointed.

  “That’s okay, it happens” she shrugging as if she helps people discover their sexuality all the time.

  Andrew climbs on to the a and grabs a mic I barely stop my legs from taking me as far away from the building as possible, I know this isn’t going to be good, for me anyway. Holding in a sigh of exasperation I get my mic and jump up there with him.

  “Tonight is all about discovering your sexuality” he announces making the crowd go wild. I look around and notice that Morgan is no longer here so I check my phone, he text me.

  Morgan: Sorry babe I had to rush out to a meeting.

  Unbelievable able to man sells cars for a living and it’s as if he actually believes that I didn’t see him with another woman all night.

  “Our two lovely ladies behind the bar have already started and have just finished making out” he tells them all. “Did it do anything for you Brooke?” He asks turning to me.

  I glare down at Tucker before I reply “No”

  “Maybe you didn’t do it right?” he asks

  “Are you implying I’m a bad kisser?” I ask a little offended but after thinking it through, maybe that’s why I didn’t get turned on. Maybe that’s why Tucker didn’t want to kiss me and boyfriends never stay around long enough for me to decide weather or not I want to have sex with them. I put my face in my hands and groan “Oh god I am a bad kisser”

  “No, that’s not what I’m saying, I’ve kissed you remember, so I would know” he reassures me but I don’t quite believe him.

  “What are you saying then?” I ask still not convinced.

  “I’m saying that maybe you just aren’t attracted to Lucy” he says “Sorry Luce” he apologizes down to her with a wince.

  “No that’s not it, I’m just not attracted to anyone with breasts” I admit. “I’ve already solved my problem anyway, so I don’t need your help anymore” I inform him.

  “And what conclusion did you come to?” he asks cocking his head to the side and regarding me curiously.

  “To buy a new vibrator. But enough about my sex life, how’s yours?” I ask taking the attention on from me.

  “Mine’s mighty fine” he says grinning and then winks at a group of women.

  “Oh” I say putting disappointment into my voice.

  “Why what did you have in mind?” he asks turning back to face me.

  “Only that if you were lonely I could …lend you a video” I wink at him

  “What video?”

  I put my mic down on the bar and walk over to him and whisper up in his ear “You’re brother lent me a video … of someone … in the bath … singing … and … shaving his legs” as soon as I have said the last word I take a few steps back laughing as he shouts “I’ll kill him” he takes a step towards me

  “Where is it Brooke?” he says threateningly.

  “What’s it worth?” I tease.

  “What do you want?”

  “Now there a loaded question” I smirk

  “Have you watched it?” he asks

  “Of course. I like the soundtrack” I try to say but not sure it comes out through my laughing. I try to stop laughing so much, I really do but it’s not happening. My chest starts hurting and I’m finding it hard to breathe. I sit down and start hyperventilating. Lucy starts rubbing my back and once I’m calm enough she passes me a glass of water. While I’ve been having a laughing fit, Andrew has been over to DJ and handed him his phone. I look up amazed as all the screens in the club turn to a drunken me dressed up as a police woman. I shrink slightly into the bar as the drunken me on video starts talking.

  “Come on, lets go find someone I can put under arrest” I beg to the camera.

  “You do know you’re not a real police officer, right?” Andrew asks laughing and Mel and Jess are laughing in the background.

  “Are you really going to argue with me when I have this?” I say threateningly and pull out a water gun on him.

  “What are you going to do when you find someone to arrest?” he asks me clearly amused.

  “Uh handcuff them” I say slowly as if he’s stupid.

  “Right, do you have any handcuffs on you?” he asks just as slowly.

  I rummage around in my outfit and my purse; I even check my bra “Shit I think I left them on my headboard” I pout.

  “And why are they on your headboard?” he asks laughing.

  I seem to be thinking this over and then all of a sudden my face drops and I look horrified, I start stumbling/running away from the camera down the road.

  He runs after me laughing “What’s wrong Brooke? What did you do?”

  “I left Lewis handcuffed to my bed! Shit I can get arrested for this!”

  The TV goes back to music videos and everyone is laughing, even the DJ. I cringe as I remember Lewis, my then boyfriend, we had only been going out for a month and he left me after I un-cuffed him, understandably since we were going out fancy dress for his birthday.

  “And I have plenty more videos like that, if you want to play that game with me Brooke?” he says walking up to me still laughing.

  “I can think of a different kind of game I’d like to play with you” I grumble as I walk away from him and join the band.

  “How’s it going Officer Brooke? Have we been bad boys?” Cam teases as I sit on the bar stool next in between him and Derek.

  “I thought you were my friend” I complain to him.

  “We are, its just too funny not to” Derek says ruffling my hair.

  “I don’t think I’ve met Lewis have I?” Jamie asks grinning.

  “No I was going out with him for a month, that night we were all going out as fancy dress for his birthday and I hand cuffed him to my bed messing about and kind of forgot about him, I got home, un-cuffed him and he left. I haven’t seen him since”

  “Nice” Cam says chucking.

  “I hate that everyone can make fun of my embarrassing moments. I’m taking a stand!” I announce moving from the table.

  After making arrangements with the DJ I climb up onto the bar with my mic ready and waiting, as soon as the crowd has turned their attention back to me I wave at them all and smile widely at Andrew.

  “Now I apologize in advance but I’m going to sing … a few of you will remember the first time I lost a bet and had to sing for you all but now I’m going to sing for just one special person. For those of you who haven’t heard me sing before I just hope you’re drunk enough to block it out” I nod at the DJ and watch Andrews face fall as the first few notes of Christ
ina Aguilera’s Fighter come on.

  This is the song he was singing in the bath on that video and only he and I know it. “This one’s for you baby” I wink at him and start singing and dancing. The crowd clap along and a dance among themselves. Lucy is cheering for me along with the band. “I laugh through the chorus and have to turn my eyes away from Andrew’s scowl or I’ll never finish the song. Pull Lucy up on the bar and start singing at her as we dance together.

  The whole club join in with the last chorus and cheer and clap as the song ends. I take an exaggerated bow and laugh when I see Andrew charging towards me. I jump down off the bar before he reaches it and run around him to join the bands table again hoping for safety.

  “I didn’t know you could sing Brooke” Cam says as I sit next to him. I shrug and take a drink of my beer.

  “If we ever get fed up of Tucker we’ll come find you” he winks at me.

  “At least someone appreciates me” I poke my tongue out at Tucker who just rolls his eyes at me.

  “A word Brooke?” Andrew asks standing behind my chair.

  “Umm actually I’m a bit busy right now” I say not looking at him.

  “Okay then I guess I’ll just have to have another video put on the screens, how about the one with the bottle?” He asks too sweetly.

  “You wouldn’t!” I gasp spinning around to look at him.

  “Oh, I would trust me” He nods at me.

  “What happened with the bottle?” Derek asks.

  “Well it involves Brooke, a beer bottle and a condom”

  “Fine” I snap getting up and following him through the club as the guys shout after us asking more about the video.

  “Brooke…” he starts when we enter the storeroom.

  “Look Andrew, I was just kidding, I don’t actually have the video your brother does. We were over his watching films one night and that video of you got put in on accident. I wouldn’t show anyone it. I’m not that cruel” I cut him with my explanation before he lecture me.

  “That’s not what I wanted a word with you about” he shakes his head at me and his expression is serious, I then notice that he’s hold a CD.