The fluid motion of the lap dancer entranced Charlie for only seconds. What turned him off more than the arid smell of spilled beer and smokes was the dancer's unsightly tattoos that ranged from the demons that reach into her triangle of a g - string to the angels that danced happily from the very perky bosom of what can be deemed an experienced dancer. Save for her violet hair and exotic make up, Charlie tried not thinking about how it took her to hide bruises around her mouth with thick foundation.
He sat there. Just sitting. That is, he was in the middle of the act of sitting. For him, his purpose of life at that very moment was nothing more than knowing he sat.
Joe was wooing the lady in front of him. Sure she sang like a sailor after a few tequilas but darn it, her hard work at the lap dance made her a tad more appealing. Until he realized that Charlie was glazed over and seems more interested in looking further than the voluminous breasts that threaten to motor boat themselves on Charlie.
"Hey dude! having fun?"
Charlie snapped out of his trance and realized the woman was going to crush him with her breasts if he didn't do something about it. He smiled as best he could and gently nudged her by placing his hands on her hips. He tried not cringing as he felt her body paint smear and make his hands slide.
"Yeah man, this is fun." He swear he felt her thighs wrap around his legs like the Thing from that old black and white picture.
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Lattes with Joe was always a pleasant experience - save post date Cyndi Laser. These meetings oftern included the ritualistic please and thank you's of friends who have seen each other rarely. However, there were other days where one of the guys was in a terrible mood and hijacked the time in coffee dates where they described in vehement detail the frivolities of work that conspired to kill them. Other times, one guy would be in a sad mood - early on in their friendship, they came to realize how codependent they were naturally and just decided that those times of needing company can be satisfied with long coffee dates.
Thus Joe and Charlie friends for life. They were two guys that shared the same views in politics, the same type of taste in men and even the same kind of coffee experience: finely done, with enthusiasm and great aesthetics.
Other times they would party all night and go for coffee - completely hung over and anti social. But their need for company and mutual codependency has allowed both to go beyond human threshold to satisfy their obtuse need for attention.
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As they walked out of the strip bar, Joe was bopping on his heels and doing tight quick jerks - to avoid full out dancing - while singing off key about surviving so long as he knows how to love. Charlie couldn't help but chuckle and imitate Joe. Joe's camp was infectious. They walked from down town all the way to Joe's apartment tower. They kept up the singing and became more flamboyant in their movements and more off key with their singing.
Joe had a big broad smile on his face and the brightest eyes Charlie has seen in a while. He hugged Charlie tightly and wrapped himself close to Charlie - he secretly like how Charlie always used the same cologne no matter the location. "I'm sure your boyfriend is waiting for you Joe."
Happiness is a cruel master - Joe had shivers in his spine about how his boyfriend would be irritated that he wasn't out for boys night... again. "Yes he is. Wish me luck!"
With that, Charlie gave Joe another hug and walked off to his home. Where some saved shows beckoned his name - like if that couple he liked won the racing reality show he's been obsessively watching.