CHAPTER 1: TEN SHOTS, BRIGHT LIGHTS, AND A PARKING TICKET

FRIDAY

10:30pm @ The Planet

“I’m about to throw the hell up… I’m downing more shots than I can take. Fuck.” Shane said under her breath, after another toss down of tequila.

“Well, you sure are. You owe me a hell lot for this Shane.” It was Joe, the Planet’s bartender, shaking his head at Shane, who groaned after he spoke.

“You heard me…?” she asked, without looking at the smiling bartender.

“Hell yeah. You sure you can drive back home? I can call some of your friends – have them fetch you here. Can’t have one of my younger customers get killed out there. You know what that means for business. You’re lucky I let you in every single time. Kit can fire me, you know.”

“Huh…?” Shane looked up at him. “Yeah, thanks. I know that. You worry way too much, Joe. You’ll only get to see me tonight and tomorrow. School starts next week. I can’t be drinking too much by that time.”

“Have it your way.” Joe smiled at her again – trying to assess whether he’d be amazed or repulsed at the way Shane spent her vacation. “You teenagers…”

Shane sat up straight the moment she heard the word teenagers, fixed her button-down long sleeved top, and gave him a rather condescending grin. “Ahh. Don’t start there, Joe. I know you.” She said, jokingly.

Joe laughed and figured, “What the hell – this one?” He put out the bottle of tequila and poured her another shot. “It’s on the house. The drill – don’t tell Kit. She’ll murder me.”

“Alright. Thanks a lot. Don’t mind preparing me some chaser. I can handle this.” She exclaimed, haughtily.

“Jesus. That’s your tenth. I’m wondering how you’ll be able to get up from your seat. Where are your buddies by the way? I don’t even see your girlfriends with you…” He asked Shane who just put down her glass.

“Uh, don’t you have other people to attend to? Why do you bother talking to a drunken mess like me?” Shane said, her eyes closed. “Oh shit. This is fucked up…”