*** 

“Oh! So, I was browsing the internet today for some new positions,” Mark blurted out all of a sudden. “Cause you know, I’m always looking to broaden my horizon.” 

“Is that supposed to be like a trade secret?” Alice asked sarcastically, her expression emotionless. “Porn is mailed to the room almost daily. You’re a rabid consumer of porn.” 

“What, I like porn!” Mark defended, his voice slightly rising in protest. 

“That’s like the understatement of the century.” Alice snickered, shaking her head in amusement. 

“Okay, so I’ve seen a lot of pornos in my day,” Mark replied honestly with a shrug of his shoulders. “I like porn, sue me.” 

“Mark, everyone likes porn.” Shane scoffed as she looked at her friend from over the brim of her glass. Placing the now empty glass on the table, “But what you do is unhealthy. Dude, you go through more tissues than a widow.” 

“Fuck you, Shane.” Mark ribbed back good-naturedly. 

“Yea, Mark.” Alice said trying to contain a snicker. “I mean, you’re twenty-two. Shouldn’t your hormones have finally balance out by now? If not, shit, shares in Kleenex are gonna take a dive when it does.” 

“You guys are assholes,” Mark shot back as he sank further into the leather cushions of the booth. “What is this, gang up on Mark night?” 

“Nah, that’s Tuesday nights.” Shane said with a wave of her hands, causing Alice to laugh some more. “You know that.” 

*** 

From behind the counter, where a few patrons silently ate their meals, Jenny halfheartedly wiped down the countertop as she whistled an unidentifiable tune. As she absentmindedly brushed crumbs off of the counter left from previous customers, her eyes fixed firmly on the three friends enjoying their third round of beers a short distance away. She hesitantly sidestepped as she wondered whether or not she should approach the close nit group of friends. Stepping around the counter, she cautiously approached the table, her feet shuffling on the floor as she slowly moved towards the small group of friends. Turning around, she started walking back towards the counter before spinning swiftly on the heel of her shoes and marching back over the edge of the table. Standing there, with her clenched fists raised up to her chest in a form of protection, the semi dirty wash cloth still grasped firmly between her hands as her beady brown eyes stared at the trio, she started to giggle.