This is a story about the Scallions Brothers, Greg and Brett. I hope you enjoy reading it as much I enjoyed envisioning it in my head and then putting it on paper!
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It was a bustling Friday night at the Wind-n-Rain pub in Jackson, Tennessee, and the place was nearly packed. Amanda tucked her hair behind her ear, raced around the side of the bar and rested her foot on the ledge underneath it. She leaned forward and hollered at Steve, the bartender, to get on with her drinks. She had five tables and at three of them sat four hungry, thirsty, impatient men who had just gotten off work not too long ago.
"Steve!" She called. She could see he was busy, he was mixing drinks but they weren't hers. "Do I have to come around there and get them myself?" He glanced and her and tightened his lips. His hands were full or he would have flipped her the bird. She knew that look! "Okay, that's it. You get no tip." She said and hustled behind the bar. She grabbed four Millers out of the cooler and set them on a tray on the counter. She popped off the tops and then went over to the tap grabbing a couple of chilled pint glasses on the way. She set them under the tap and pulled the handle. When the glasses were filled with Red Ale, Amanda set them on the tray with the other bottles and headed back around the corner of the bar to her tables. She gave the four rowdy men their Millers and then headed over to the most calm table she had that night, occupied by two guys who were obviously brothers. Their features were similar (handsome) and they were both tall, slender, and blonde. One had short hair, the other, long and pulled back into a pony tail. The major difference Amanda could tell from talking to them briefly and taking their drink order was that one had blue eyes, the other brown. They even sounded the same when they spoke! She took the glasses off the tray and set them down in front of each of the guys. She then tucked the tray under her arm and pulled a pen out from behind her ear. One of the two brothers seized the beer before Amanda had even taken her hand off of it and swallowed most of it. She looked at him surprised then raised her eyebrows.
"Okay, uhhh you boys ready to order?" She asked and then looked down at the one with brown eyes. He glanced up at her and smiled.
"Did Ralph make chili today?" Brown eyes asked. She looked towards the kitchen and frowned.
"Not sure, you're the first one to ask. Hang on, I'll check." She said and zipped away before he could protest. He sat there with his mouth open and his finger in the air. Blue eyes laughed.
"Look at you ... hahahahaha ... She left you hanging!" Brown eyes glanced over at his brother and then back down at the menu.
"Fuck off Brett. She took off so fast I wasn't even sure she'd been here in the first place." Blue-eyed Brett ignored his brother and set the menu down on the table. He didn't need to look at it, he got the same thing every time he came here and he wasn't in the mood to try anything new now. He was tired, he was hungry, he was dirty, and he was sober. Speaking of which, he grabbed the glass from the counter and downed the rest of his drink. He turned his head expectantly towards the bar looking for the waitress. He saw her coming towards them, two more beers in her hand. He smiled. He liked her, she was a good waitress. She set the glasses down and then grabbed her pen again.
"Ok, Chili, yes. Is that what you'd like?" Brown-eyed Greg looked up at her again. She struck him as very pretty even though she looked harried and her hair stuck out from the clip it was in pressed to the back of her head. She opened her eyes wide and then raised her eyebrows at him. He smiled. "Hey! You want food or what here? You aren't the only table I have ..." He chuckled to himself and then said he wanted the chili. She turned to Brett. "Your turn big guy and hopefully you can talk a little faster than your brother!" Brett giggled. He liked her!
"How did you know we were brothers?" Greg asked curiously. He was sure he hadn't told her. She sighed and turned back to Greg.
"You don't have to hit me on the head with a brick to figure that one out handsome!" She said sarcastically. Brett cleared his throat.
"Umm I am going to have ..."
"No, wait, really! Is the resemblance that strong?" Amanda dropped her head to the side and said in her best, contemptuous California tone; "umm, like, I'm thinkin" Brett laughed out loud at Greg who narrowed his eyes and sneered at his brother.
"Later, shithead." Greg said pointing a threatening finger at Brett.
"Much later, boys, could you please finish telling me what you want?" Amanda said, anxious to put in the order and move on with her night.
"I am going to have the Irish Stew. I want some of that hot, crusty bread and tell Ralph to make sure there's lots of carrots in the stew. Thanks." Brett said bluntly and handed his menu to Amanda. She took it and, leaning down in front of Greg purposely she snatched the menu from in front of him, bopped him on the head with it lightly and then rushed away. Brett stifled a laugh at Greg who looked at him curiously.
"Why'd she do that?" He muttered and then took a long pull off his beer. Brett leaned back on his chair and slid his long legs out in front of him and crossed his feet at the ankles.
"Dunno, don't care. I just want to get drunk and get laid." He said looking around, making mental note of other patrons, particularly the ones of female persuasion. His eyes grazed over a woman who was bent over at the pool table, her breasts peeking out precariously from her shirt. She was laughing at something and he noticed how her breasts wiggled with every chuckle, her long, dark hair dangling down her arms and onto the table. He grunted. "Woof! Check that out!" He said to Greg nodding to the woman. Greg turned his head, looked and then turned back to the table.
"Un huh." He said unconcerned. Brett reached his arms up over his head and then folded them behind it and laced his fingers together.
"Oh yes, she will be mine." He growled and continued to stare. His hopes, however, diminished when the girl, noticing his lustful stare, stood up and raised her middle finger to him. His mouth dropped open and he sat bolt upright. "Did you see that?" He said, incredulous. "That bitch just flipped me off! Well, what the fuck!" He drained his glass and smacked it down on the table. "This night's going to hell on a sled!" Greg laughed softly at him and stared at his hands. He was tired, the day had been long and arduous, hell, the whole week had been a chore! The mill was busy and his boss was being a dick. Evidently his home life was bad and as the saying goes, shit rolls downhill ... Greg drained his glass and before he could even set it down on the table Amanda appeared with two more pints.
"You are good!" Brett said grinning at her. She winked at him and then she was off. "Dayum! I'm gonna take her home tonight!" Brett said watching her as she walked away.
"Leave her alone." Greg said and, when Brett snapped his head around to look at his brother, smiled slowly. Brett laughed.
"Ahhhh I see .... the waitress has caught your eye!" Greg sipped his beer and looked up at Brett.
"And if I play my cards right that's not all she's gonna catch." Brett took a drink and licked the foam off his upper lip.
"She'd rather have me and I'll prove it."
"We'll see." Was all Greg would say. He glanced around the noisy, smoke-filled room. There were a lot of pretty women dotted here and there and some whorish ones as well. Greg wasn't into this scene. He came to the Wind-n-Rain to relax and think, no matter the noise level and activity. Greg wasn't outspoken and arrogant like his brother but he did enjoy watching people and their interractions and he found it particularly amusing to watch Brett flirt and get rejected! Brett had a short temper and he always got so mad but it never stopped him from trying. Now and then he succeeded and it only fueled his egotistic attitude further. Tonight was going to be interesting. Amanda caught his eye and he watched her. She stood at the table with the four loud men and, after setting down their beers, placed her hand on her hip. She wasn't tall but she was slender. She was slender but not unshapely. The Wind-n-Rain "uniform" (dark blue pants and a magenta polo with the Wind-n-Rain logo above the right breast) that Jake, the owner, made all the waitresses wear hugged her body nicely and accentuated the curves of her breasts. He felt his pulse quicken and he looked away. She wouldn't go home with him tonight, he knew that and he was not going to even get his hopes up. He heard loud guffaws from the other table and looked over to see one of the guys reach up and pinch Amanda's nipple. She slapped his hand and walked away. He felt his cheeks flush angrily. "Fuckers." He muttered and watched as Amanda disappeared into the kitchen only to re-appear moments later with a tray full of food. She approached them and set Brett's stew down in front of him and then Greg's chili. She slid the wooden cutting board brimming with bread onto the table between the men.
"Anything else?" She asked breathlessly.
"Yeah, what are you doing after work?" Brett said, much too forward.
"Going home." She replied, matter-of-fact.
"With me." He said without a thought. She leaned down to him, her nose nearly touching his.
