A Quick Drink

[Jon Russo]

Jon walked up to the door, and entered the Empty Glass bar. He was a regular here the bartenders all knew him, and it was sort of sad that they knew what he liked to drink. "I'll have-," he began but was shortly cut off by the bartender. "Yeah, yeah I know what you drink here," he said trying not to be too rude and getting out a glass and pouring in some Sam Adams. He handed the glass over to Jon, and waited for the payment for the glass. "I'll pay when I decide to leave, ok," he asked the bartender.

The bartender looked a little annoyed, since this is how Jon usually got away with a free beer or two. "Sorry man, I can't let you do that anymore," he said and again asked to be paid. Jon reached into his pocket and grabbed his wallet. He pulled out a wrinklly ten dollar bill, and proceded to hand it to him. The bartend thanked him and handed him back three dollars and fifty cents. Jon did what he always did with the change change, he put in the tip jar. He then went to drinking his beer, in the smoke filled bar.

[Vince]

Vince walked in the door of his home and sat down on the couch, next to the phone and answering machine. He already knew who the message was left by, and he really didn't want to hear it right now. He was actually having a good day. A few minutes later he just figured he'd listen regardless, as he had little else to do. Edging his finger lazily over to the play button, he edged down on it.

''You have...one message; left Friday at 8:00 PM.'' Beeeeep. ''Vince, I don't know who you think you are lately ignoring me like this. Just because we broke up doesn't mean I don't want to be heard. I know you'll be going to that bar tonight, so i've got a friend I want you to meet. His name's Rick, and i'm sure he'll be real glad to kick your ass and lighten your mood.'' Beeeeep.

Vince just let out a little chuckle at the harsh bitch of an ex-girlfriend's message. He stood up and walked to the mirror, checking how he looked in his casual clothes. He grabbed his keys from the hangar and went outside, locking the door behind him. He walked to his pickup and unlocked the door, then edged inside to the driver's seat and shoved the key in the ignition, twisting it and bringing the vehicle to life. He pulled out of his driveway and drove slowly down the street, thinking about what kind of miracle man Kathy had brought along to try and rough him up.

He saw the bar down the street as he got to a red light, and just smiled at some kids making faces at him in the car to the left in the backseat. He just looked back forward, watching the light as he let out a bored yawn. The light switched to green and he gunned through it, then made a left turn into the parking lot and parked near the front, stepping out of his vehicle. He walked in and was greeted with a wink from a barfly, and Kathy and Rick were nowhere in sight whatsoever. He just shrugged and had a seat next to a fella that was drinking a Sam Adams. The guy didn't look too good.

''Hey, barkeep. Gimme a Bud and another Sam Adams for this fella here.'' Vince smiled. He slid the money across the counter and got his beer and gave the Sam Adams to the guy next to him. ''So, you alright there bud? You don't look too good tonight. By the way, the name's Vince.'' He extended a hand toward him slowly.

[Jon Russo]

Jon looked over at the new face that joined him. He heard him buy him a drink and was perplexed. He heard his name and saw his hand extend. Jon thought it would only be right to shake it or what not. He extended his hand reaching towards his and replied, "Names Jon, most call me Shooter though." He had also heard about him asking why he seemed so down. Obviously it wasn't any of the fellows buisness, but hell he could at least answer the man's question.

"Always like this when I come here, sometimes it's worse after i shoot someone," he said truthfully. He then grabbed the glass and drank it down in about a minute flat. His head ached either from drinking that Sam Adams down too fast, or it just ached because he was diving into his past. His past that he would sooner forget existed, the one where he was stabbed in the back. The room became even more heavily covered with smoke. Jon thought it would be alright to light up since others already did, so he pulled out a cigerette, put the bud in his mouth, and proceeded to puff on it.

When he pulled the cigerette out fo his mouth he coughed a small cough. If his job didn't get him killed quickly it would be either the drinking or the smoking. He then looked up to the TV screen and saw that some stupid reality show was on, of all the times to have it on. "Hey, change the channel away from that crap," he called to the barkeep who just shrugged his shoulders and put on some boxing.

[Vince]

Being in a friendly mood, Vince soon had that ruined. After taking a good few swigs of his beer, he saw her...the bitch among bitches in his life. Kathy. She strolled into the bar like she owned the place, with tight black jeans, a studded belt, a tanktop revealing a bit too much of an unmentioned place that was up to her bellybutton, and sunglasses on the top of her head. Usual wardrobe. The little guy that she brought along was pretty average looking, but Vince didn't pay any attention to what he wore. He shrugged off a glare from Kathy and continued on with his beer, watching the TV. Some guy got clocked and was just K.O.'d entirely...a one-hit wonder.

Vince heard the clocking of Kathy's heels as she sat down next to him, obviously trying to make him jealous. ''So what are you doing here? If we're over it's over. Quit trying to ruin a good time.'' He simply said quietly. Kathy just smiled at him, obviously playing dumb. ''Oh, but i'm just sitting here with Rick. You can't hold that against me, can you?'' She was practically all over this guy. Vince sighed at her stupidity and took another swig of his bud.

''There's a lot more bar stools where you're out of my view. How about you just go away and leave me be? I don't want anything to do with you anymore. I thought I made that clear. You're just a spoiled little child. Grow the hell up.'' Vince said, glaring at her. Suddenly Rick stood up, cracking his knuckles. ''What, you wanna take this outside or something? You're heading for a beating.'' Vince just laughed in the guy's face. ''Alright, pal. Your funeral. I'm afraid Kathy won't be all over you much longer...i'm gonna put you in your place: a hospital bed.'' Vince replied, standing up and cracking his neck. He looked back to Jon. ''Care to watch? This should be funny.''

[Jon Russo]

Jon saw the knock out and squinted. "Ouch, that had to hurt like a monkey," he said not really having an anology for that time. He then looked voer at Vince and saw that a woman was glaring at him. He must've either pissed ehr off or she pissed him off, he thought.

He finished his drink by the time that Vince asked him to come and watch this guy get beat up. He shrugged his shoulders and thought what the hell might be interesting. He stood up and walked outside waiting for the others to get out there. But, there was a diffrent reason why he was out there first. He took out his S&W and took the saftey off, never know when ya might need it. He put it in it's holster and hid it from view. He then proceeded to lean against the wall and wait for the others to get out.