Music of the Soul 1, 2, & 3 Starter Bundle

by Erik Schubach

  One of our favorite rundowns at the Ballyhoo was what we had deemed 'The Bruiser'. We'd sit on opposite sides of the bar and I would complain to the hottest girl around me, pointing out Bev and warning the girl to stay away from her. That we had hooked up one night last week and she wouldn't stop after I lost count of the orgasms and passed out, and that I'd been bruised down below all week because of that night. All that pleasure just wasn't worth it. We'd time it to see just how quickly the girl would wind up by her side, buying her a drink.

  The straight bars were even easier since guys are such horn dogs. She'd just sit suggestively close to me giving me adoring looks, usually with her hand resting on my arm, stroking it, cooing in my ear. We'd be swarmed with men almost instantly and I could basically have my pick of the litter. God, we were bad girls.

  Though the past year it had been almost pure Ballyhoo until Bev found Lori; I've just gotten tired of the whole hookup scene. Maybe I'm maturing, but I've sort of been wanting a real relationship lately, and the clubs are not a place to find something other than a one night stand. I've NEVER made it past a second date before. But on the same token, I'm also in no real hurry to find someone. I'm pretty satisfied with the way my life is going right now.

  An hour later we both strutted out of our rooms and appraised each other. She was decked out to the nines, in a sassy short red dress that made for easy access. I didn't see any panty line. That's it, my best friend is a certified slut. Her four inch red stilettos and thigh high black lace, nylon stockings were a perfect compliment to the 'please do me' dress.

  Her delicate dangling earring and necklace brought your attention to her face. As usual her eyes were made up all smoky and seductive and she had clear lip gloss adoring her lips in case a kissing emergency came up. Better to not leave a mark if kissing a girl who doesn't wear your shade. About thirty two trillion bangle bracelets adorned each wrist to complete the look.

  I was in pretty much my everyday clothes, a tight pair of low cut capri jeans that ended half way down my calf. Simple black socks with my black and white converse on my feet. My white midriff tank tee showed off a teasing amount of my flat stomach. Just a hint of eye and lip makeup and my hair up in my ever present, sloppy high ponytail with locks of escaped hair drifting across my dual color eyes to finish my look.

  This was our practiced Ballyhoo look, always making sure we both looked nice, but with my tall (even taller in her heels) best friend looking more stunning and refined. Ensuring that all the action would go her way. This both freed me from the endless turndowns with the explanation I was straight (unless we were doing a rundown), and assured her a hookup.

  “Ten.” I said in smiling appraisal and nodding up at her.

  “Nine.” she responded with a smile of her own down to me.

  With that ritual completed, we shared a chuckle and locked arms then marched out the door to the car for the short ride across Lake Washington into Seattle.

  Chapter 2 – The Ballyhoo

  After parking a block away, we marched up to the Ballyhoo. The line stretched half way down the block and we went straight past it right up to the heavyset woman sitting on a stool manning the door, Minnie. She was tough looking; but still managed to ooze more femininity than someone of her stature should. Bev and I have always liked her. She was a genuine nice lady.

  I placed my hand gently on her arm and she turned to me with a huge smile.

  “Crystal! Beverly! Oh my God, I haven't seen you two since forever!” she said in a gravelly smoker's voice.

  I smiled and idly rubbed my thumb on her surprisingly muscular arm as I responded, “Yeah Bevi here got herself in a real relationship so we've been a little scarce. But now, we're here to mend her broken heart, or at least give it a cardio workout.” She chuckled at that.

  Minnie reached over and gave Bev a quick reassuring squeeze on her arm. “Don't worry hon, you'll find someone.” Then she turned to me, “Speaking of. Still straight?”

  I laughed. “Far as I can tell, sorry, Minnie.”

  She grinned back at me with eyes twinkling in humor. “Such a waste. Well you girls go in and have a fun time.”

  I bent down and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, Min. Talk to you later.”

  We heard girls in the line grumbling about us getting in before them and I caught Minnie's smile turn to a frown as she admonished the people in line. Bev laughed when she heard the commotion and said, “I have no clue how you get away with all that teasing with her, sis. But not complaining, I hate waiting in line.”

  I rolled my eyes. “It's all in the delivery. And hey, you know just as well as I do that she's a nice lady!” Bev just smiled and said, “True dat.” I winced, “Never say that again.”

  We quickly made our way through the sea of women, and the occasional man, toward the bar as was our custom. Drinks first, poach a table second. With those two prerequisites procured then it is dancing, having a good time, and getting Bev a hookup. I was happy to see all eyes were on her as we passed, letting us know my dress-down was working, as always.

  Just as we were reaching the bar, Bev shot me a look in our silent communication, flickering her eyes toward a couple girls at a table gathering their purses. Like a well oiled machine we peeled off in two directions. She stood at the table as they left and slid into a seat just as I arrived at the bar. Bam! That's how it's done folks!

  I raised a hand and got the attention of Maggie, the bartender. She smiled and rushed over to the complaint of some of the girls that were there before me and said, “Hey Crystal! Long time no see! The usual?” I nodded with a smile.

  Maggie was great, she was a wizard behind the bar and as straight as they came. But the clientele didn't mind because she was just a naturally flirtatious girl who made sure to never lead anyone on. She was just a very likeable person, period.

  I glanced around for possible targets for Bev. I got a couple appraising looks and one shy smile from some of the girls at the bar myself as I waited.

  Maggie slid a couple vodka shots and beer chasers over to me, and entered it on her tablet computer under my account.

  She smiled as she said, “Have a great time! Have Bev come say hi when she's not too busy making girls walk funny, okay?” I nodded with a laugh as I could actually visualize what she had just described.

  “Will do Mags!” I said cheerfully as I skillfully balanced the glasses as I wandered over to Bev, who had already turned away a couple girls who had tried to sit with her.

  “I forgot how much of a meat market this place is!” She shouted over the music with her lopsided smile.

  We both knocked back our shots and chugged half our beer and smacked them on the table with a satisfying clunk, causing the golden liquid in them to slosh around. I smirked at her comment and leaned in. “Well they're not here to talk! Oh, and don't forget to say hi to Maggie tonight sometime!” I yelled. She smiled and nodded in understanding.

  We both looked around as we laid our light jackets and hung our purses on the backs of our chairs, claiming the table. Then we relaxed away from each other and limited eye contact so the ladies would know that we were not together. As was our custom, we did a cursory scan of the club looking for any obvious targets for Bev.

  On the other side of the dance floor, I caught a striking brunette looking our way. Even from this distance I could tell that her eyes were dark pools of chocolate brown. She had a look of laid back confident interest. The girl has charisma, that's for sure! She was dressed much the same as I was but she definitely made the look work better than me. I tilted my head and toyed with the end of my ponytail as I saw her gracefully turn down a girl who had approached her table. I mentally tagged her to point out to Bev, since the brunette was showing obvious interest in her.

  There was the usual mix in attendance tonight. Some girls were there simply for dancing and a good time, some looking for a hookup, straight girls who are in the curious and experimental stage, and the occasional guy. Most of the ladies tolerated the g
uys in here so long as they didn't try hitting on anyone. They had to be accompanied by a girl when they came in or they would be turned away at the door.

  Most guys usually came with a lesbian friend just for moral support and sometimes for the dancing. If they were just looking to 'score', thinking they could 'turn' a lesbian because they had just 'never been with a real man', they'd find themselves thrown out on their butt by Minnie or one of the two male bouncers (the only men that worked here). The girl that brought the guy would be banned from the club. I had never personally seen this happen but from what I hear, it is a pretty funny sight.

  I saw a couple more potential girls to point out to Bev as the band started into a kick ass hip hop cover. Bevi and I smiled at each other and headed for the dance floor. God I love dancing! I just bopped my head to the beat and swayed my arms over my head, swiveling my hips and singing at the top of my lungs. Bev followed suit, but she would occasionally turn and grind suggestively with random girls around her without breaking eye contact with me.

  She could work the crowd like nobody's business, and look damn good doing it. I was happy to see that her smile was finally reaching her eyes again. I know it will take some time for her to really get over Lori, but at least we were getting her to forget about it for the night.

  I glanced over at the far table and that cute brunette was eyeballing Bev again with a hungry smile. Wow, the girl was even more striking with that smile on her face. I'll have to move her up on Bevi's priority list.

  We returned to the table when the song ended, laughing and feeling energized. I winked in conspiracy at Bev. “Okay, I'll mosey off for a bit to set the 'empty chair' bait for you at the table here and see if I can't go generate more interest for ya!” I yelled over the music. She offered her lopsided grin in understanding as I wandered off toward the bar.

  Remembering the brunette at the last second, I veered off and made my way around the dance floor toward her table. Maybe I could help speed things along for Bev. I caught Maggie's attention with a smile as I walked past and held up two fingers and pointed toward Bev. She nodded with a grin and started prepping more drinks to have delivered to our table. I was liking my gentle buzz and wasn't ready to loose it just yet.

  I approached the brunette who seemed to be watching me approach and I smiled big at her cute as hell grin. I got close and leaned in to yell above the music. “Hi! Mind if I sit?”

  She yelled, “Hi! I fucking love your eyes!” with a stunning smile as she motioned to the empty chair beside her.

  Smiling back, I took a seat and leaned in close to be heard over the music. “So I noticed you've been checking out my friend, Bev, over there! I just thought I'd let you know that we're not together, so you might wanna ask her to dance!”

  She looked at me with a 'that's just silly' kind of crooked smile, it was almost cartoon like, then she pursed her lips and yelled back. “I wasn't checking HER out.” Then she smiled a butterfly in the belly materializing smile at me.

  I blushed a little and dropped my eyes slightly. “Oh. I'm sorry. I'm straight. I just came to lend moral support for my best friend there. You know, do a little wingman thing? I didn't mean to lead you on or anyth...” I was cut off by her lips on mine. To my surprise I found myself returning the kiss. This is nice! It was absolutely nothing like kissing Bev and not at all like kissing a sister.

  My butterflies doubled as she broke the kiss, leaving me with my eyes closed. I don't even remember closing them.

  She shouted. “Sorry, it was the only thing I could think of to shut you up. You were babbling and not letting me cut in.”

  I opened my eyes and smiled warmly at her. “No worries, it was nice.”

  She raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow as she replied, obviously a little surprised that I didn't freak out. “Are you SURE you're straight?”

  I glanced at the dance floor and saw Bev out there almost having sex with a hot 'Barbie' blonde in the middle of it. This made me smile for her. I turned back to the girl still smiling and shouted, “Pretty sure, my best friend there and I tested the theory before, but it was like kissing my sister.” Then I extended my hand to her with a genuine smile. “Crystal, by the way!”

  She shook my hand and I swear an electric current passed between us. “Riley! Ahhh... forget I said that... everyone calls me Jane!” she shouted. Then she tilted her head a bit and got a curious look on her face. “So was kissing me like kissing your sister?”

  I had to seriously think on that as I shook my head slowly. “No. It was actually quite enjoyable.” She still seemed shocked that I seemed comfortable with my sexuality, no matter how ambiguous it was looking at that particular moment in time.

  “Crystal, you ever think that you felt like you were kissing your sister because you see your friend AS your sister?” She inquired.

  Hmm... Riley is full of good questions.

  I looked at her thoughtfully, really contemplating it. “You know, I never thought about that before. Huh. Who knows, I could be gay and just never knew because of that one experience.” I shrugged. “But I do think that I enjoy the company of men more.”

  She looked shocked at my truthfulness and I'm sure also about the fact that it didn't really seem to matter one way or the other to me. It doesn't. She smiled and asked, “Even after this epiphany?”

  I grinned at her and shrugged, seriously considering the question.

  I noticed a guy walking past the table with some drinks I grabbed his shirt as he passed and pulled him down to my lips and kissed him similar to the way Riley had just kissed me. He almost dropped the drinks, his eyes wide.

  I let go of his shirt then yelled, “Shoo!” to him, making a dismissive motion with my hand and he wandered off to his original destination in smiling confusion. Riley looked half shocked and half amused.

  She was about to say something when I surprised her by grabbing her tank top and pulling her into another comparison kiss. She seemed to melt in this time, she tasted good. I melted a bit too if I'm to be completely honest with myself.

  I released her and licked my lips, leaving her gasping with wide eyes on mine. I thought hard for a second while she tried to form words, then I yelled, “I don't know. You are definitely a MUCH better kisser, and your lips are so soft, but I think I still like strength of a male against my lips. So I'd say it is a tossup, but men barely win. Unless of course all women kiss like you.”

  Her eyes were darting all over me I could see the wheels turning in her head. I broke eye contact for a second and caught a glimpse of Bevi dragging the blonde away toward the restroom. Score! I turned my attention back to Riley and for some reason, she seemed a LOT more interesting to me than she was before. She was definitely hot, any other straight girl would agree.

  She finally spoke with a mischievous grin, “Just as well, I'm sure you'd be a terrible date. All that straight confusion bouncing around in your head.”

  I took mock offense and defended myself, “Hey! Watch it! I give good date! A lot better than you could manage!” I winked playfully at her.

  She arched that perfectly sculpted eyebrow again. God her eyes were entrancing. “One of my dates and you'd be my bitch!” she challenged with a cute smirk.

  This girl intrigued me, and she was fun and confident. Let's knock her off her game.

  I smiled seductively. “Okay! Let's test your theory! I suggest a wager! We each get a chance to take the other on a date. Then whoever's date was the better date wins the bet and the loser has to stand on that bar and announce to the club that the other made her their bitch!” I finished by pointing at the bar, my eyebrow cocked in challenge, a slight smirk at the corner of my lip.

  She looked both surprised and excited about this prospect and prompted, “But you're straight! That would mean going on two dates with a girl!”

  I rolled my eyes with a playful grin. “I'm not that insecure about my sexuality. Are you? It's not like we're having sex or anything!”

  She just shot a stunning smile tha
t made me start fussing with the end of my ponytail and biting my lower lip as she yelled, “It's a bet!”

  I took her hand and shook it, holding on just a little too long, I really enjoyed the warmth of our contact.

  It was her turn to bite her lower lip, and I'd have to say it was one of the most adorable things I had ever seen. The band started a slow cover of 'We Shall' by Mandy Fay Harris. I love this song! Riley leaned in to my ear. “Seal it with a dance?”

  I nodded enthusiastically and allowed her to drag me to the dance floor. I had this sudden desire to be close to her.

  She was taller than me so she rested her arms on my shoulders as I rested mine on her hips. We didn't speak we just swayed and turned with the music. I wanted contact so I laid my head in the crook of her neck, our chests coming in contact. I heard her inhale sharply. I was all abuzz but relaxed at the same time. I felt her head rest gently on top of mine. I smiled. I like being short at times like this.

  As the song was winding down I noticed Bev dancing with her very content and satisfied looking blonde nearby. She was looking between Riley and I and mouthing, “Oh my God!” to me. I just smiled at her as Riley led me around in a final lazy circle.

  We stayed out on the floor for the next couple cover songs; one pop, the other hip hop, this band was kickin'. We laughed, smiled, and sang throughout it, just generally having a good time. I was pleasantly surprised that she could keep up with my moves. Her own moves were mesmerizing in their own right... I caught myself licking my lips on more than one occasion. Hmmm.

  When the next song started I grabbed her hand and dragged her to Bev at our table to catch our breath. I was having more fun than I have had in a long time. We sat with Bev and the blonde, then I caught the attention of a passing server, Amy, and just held up four fingers. She winked at me and ran off to the bar. It's good to know everyone here.