Chapter 15

Outside Hit

The line into the club was only a few drunk women long now that it was after midnight. Candace was helping each lady into the back of the van before sliding the door closed. Bette was the last one to step off the curb and kept touching her mouth and looking at her fingers for any sign of fresh blood dripping from the wound inside her upper lip.

“Whoa, are you alright?” Candace asked when she noticed the swelling of Bette’s mouth.

It made Bette stop and look at her with wide eyes. “Why, is it bad?”

“It’s pretty swollen. Do you want me to grab you some ice real quick for the ride home?”

“No it’s fine. I don’t live too far from here. But thanks.” Bette answered with a smile at the doorkeeper’s kindness and concern. “It kinda hurts, but I’ll live.”

“Hmm,” Candace said still staring at Bette’s lips.

The rest of the girls were already buckled inside the van when Alice noticed the black limo that had pulled in with Third Wheel Crush still parked in the fire lane just in front of the club. The driver was standing outside on the curb smoking a cigarette.

“Is that limo rocking, or did I just get punched in the face so hard that I’m hallucinating?” Alice asked.

The other three passengers turned and looked out the window to where Alice was staring.

“Yup, I’d say the limo’s a-rockin.” Shane commented.

“Yeah. One of Third Wheel’s members is probably temporarily distracting herself with some chick.” Carmen said with bite. Shane just tossed an icy glare in her girlfriend’s direction.

“Damn, I can’t believe they were here tonight and we didn’t even get to meet them!” Alice whined.

Candace was still studying Bette’s busted lip. “You know what?”

“What?” Bette asked, afraid that her face looked a lot worse than it felt.

Candace leaned in and placed a light kiss on Bette’s lips leaving no time for Bette to object. Before she pulled away, the tip of her tongue slipped out and licked Bette’s fat lip. “Hope it feels better.”

Bette was left dumbfounded as the bouncer sauntered off back towards the waiting line of drunkards.

“Owww!” “Yeah baby!” came the catcalls and whistles from inside the van as they watched their friend turn bright red on the curb in front of the van entrance. She shook her head and climbed in.

Carmen leaned out the window and called out to Candace, who turned around. “Hey, in case you’re not working, this is where she’ll be next Friday.” She said as she tossed her last show flyer at the bouncer.

“Thanks,” Candace responded and folded up the flyer, sticking it in her back pocket. “See you there, sexy.” And with a wink at Bette, Candace returned to her post at the front of the line.

“Seriously, Carmen?” Bette turned to face her friend in the backseat, her face still crimson from the attention.

After giving the driver her address, Bette shut the passenger door. She looked out the window as the van began its journey and saw Tina standing just outside the front door of the bar staring directly at her. Her face dropped when she saw the beautiful blonde with a look of disgust on her face. The cab rolled past the stretch limousine and Bette lost sight of Tina.

“Wait, stop the van!” she said as she struggled to unbuckle her seatbelt and jump out of the passenger seat.