Michelle's eyes swept over the newest group of costumed patrons and groaned inwardly. No good tippers there. There were two girls who use Halloween as an excuse to wear as little clothing as possible. They probably wouldn't even buy a drink for themselves all night. A third girl dressed in a creative but dumpy looking dog in a purse costume was obviously the designated driver/ shoulder to cry on. She would buy her own drinks but her annoyance at having to buy her own drinks would make her a poor tipper.
Michelle really could use some good tippers tonight. Her tuition bill was due this week and she was more than a little short. Where was a hot air filled money bags who loved to throw bills around to impress women when you needed one?
"Hold your panties, ladies, the party is here!" announced a guy walking through the door. He was a good looking guy with wavy blond hair and bright blue eyes, but the smirk on his face was enough to make women simply roll their eyes and ignore whatever attractive features he possessed. His body was hidden behind an a-frame costume that he was wearing. It was carpeted and covered with condom wrappers, used condoms, and several pairs of women's panties. As he moved further into the room, Michelle could see that there was also a woman's stiletto shoe attached to the back of the billboard.
Michelle's attention was fixated on the door, not because the gods had answered her prayers for a good tipper, though she knew in Vince they had, but because he was often accompanied by the one man who had been a constant presence in her fantasies since the age of twelve when her family had moved next door to the Howards. She put the bar rag down and tried not to grin as a large version of the grim reaper walked in the door behind Vince. When he slipped the hood off his head and pushed the mask up, Michelle knew she was grinning like an idiot. It was Jared, the perfect specimen of a man, in her view. Tall, muscular, blond and as sweet and nice as his younger brother was obnoxious. Unfortunately it was Vince who saw her first.
"Holy shit," Vinny said above the din of the crowd. "It's my number one girl. And what a sweet piece of ass you are."
"Hi Vinny," Michelle answered smiling despite his lewd behavior. She had spent enough time around him to have a high tolerance for his crudeness. Besides when she picked out the donkey ears and tail, she knew she was asking for just that type of comment.
"Is that you Shelby?" Jared asked joining his brother.
"In the flesh," she answered, hating the childhood nickname that Vinny had given her and everyone in her old hometown had picked up. "So what brings you guys out here tonight?"
"I was on the trail of a hot babe, picked up her scent a couple of miles away and I've obviously found her," Vinny said, laying it on thick as usual.
Michelle gave Vinny the customary eye roll. "Do you guys need something to drink?"
"I'll take a Hiene," Vinny answered his eyes dropping to her tail again.
Jared shook his head in mock disgust, then answered, "The same."
As the beer filled the glass mugs, Michelle thought that she would have no problem given Jared as much 'Hiene' as he wanted. She put the mugs on the counter in front of the guys and Vinny as expected smacked down a much larger bill then necessary. She put his change on the counter but he made no move to pick it up and she knew he wouldn't. The brothers had money and Vinny liked to spread it around.
"So how long have you been here in Albright?" Jared asked taking a quick sip of his beer.
"Starting my third year," she answered, refilling a customer's mug who had temporarily pushed in next to the brothers.
"No way," answered Vinny. "You're a junior and I've never seen you around campus?"
"I guess that sniffer doesn't work as well as you advertise," Michelle answered back. Vinny laughed loudly. Michelle pulled out a rag and wiped down a spot on the bar. "I've been taking courses at the community college for the last two years. This is my first year at the university."
Both men simply nodded. Neither would be able to understand the need for taking a cheaper route to a four year degree that taking courses at the community college had enabled her to do. A change of topics was in order.
"I like your costume, Jared," she said, "Never has death looked so appealing."