Discovering Cassy: Chapter 4

After changing my clothes and telling my friends what I was doing, I met up with Erik. The show was coming to an end and they were about to announce the winner. I stood beside him by the stage as Daisy once more got behind the mic.

"I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight." She boomed in her cheery southern drawl.

"Did everyone have a good time?"

The crowd cheered and clapped their hands.

"Great! Ok, it's time to announce the winner. But, I think everyone did an outstandin job and to me your all winners!" she said as she began to clap again.

"This is how it's gonna work, I've had the girls count their tips and whoever's got the most wins. If your dissapointed with the outcome, then you should have tipped better!"

The crowd laughed, a couple held bills up. I'd gotten 100 bucks, far more than I ever thought I would get, but I knew that alot of the other girls had done a better job than me. I wasn't dissapointed. I'd had fun, my drinks were cheap and I had Erik by my side. The night couldn't get any better in my eyes.

"And the winner is... JENNA!!" Daisy exclaimed and the crowd including me clapped and yelled for my new friend. Jenna hopped onto the stage and took the mic.

"Thank you sooo much!" she said looking suprised and happy at the same time. She went on to tell everyone that we all deserved the prize money, but she would be happy to spend it. "I did this for my boyfriend Alex, his birthday is tommorow. I love you baby! Happy Birthday!"

The crowd cheered more and I got a glimpse of Alex who was grinning as guys came over to pat him on the back. He was good looking, with curly blond hair and a muscler built. Jenna got off stage after collecting her prize money and went to him. He grabbed her up and kissed her passionatly. They looked good together. I was happy that she had won.

"Are you ready to go?" Erik asked touching my shoulder.

"Yes." I replied with a smile.

He took me by the hand and led me out of the club. The cool night air felt good on my skin as we made our way to his car. He opend the door and I slid onto the leather seat. Glad to be out of the noisy, smoke filled atmosphere. He walked around the front of the car and I bent over and unlocked the door for him. "Thanks." he told me getting in and turning the engine on.

The radio came to life as soon as the engine roared and rock music filled the tiny space. Erik shut it off, "Sorry bout that." he said. "I think some peace and quiet would be nice after being in that loud mess for so long."

"I agree." I told him settling back into my seat. "So where are we going?"

"I was thinking chinese." he said pulling out of the parking lot. "I know a great place by the river."

"As long as cat isn't on the menu." I said jokingly.

"I'm pretty sure that it's not." he said with a laugh. "Now, I wouldn't say dog isn't."

I laughed enjoying how we were so comfortable with each other. It'd been awhile since I'd been on a date and this was starting off nicely. Our easy banter went with us all the way to Chong's Family Buffet. In the short time that I had known him, I could tell that Eric was someone I could easily fall for. He had it all, good looks, a sence of humor, he was smart, he made a decent living for himself and he didn't treat women like meat. I was suprised how much of a gentlemen he was knowing that he worked at a strip club. I was also suprised when he told me that he actually worked in construction and that he only worked at Strip Tease on occasion to help out the owners, his cousin James and his wife Melanie.

"Your not married are you?" I asked eyeing him.

He laughed, "No, Why do you ask that?"

"You just seem too good to be true."

"Well so do you." he said taking my hand and giving it a squeeze.

I wanted him to hold my hand all night, but a minute later we were at Chong's. He told me to wait there and he came around and opend the door for me. I told him thank you, thinking how rare it was to find someone who still opend your door.

Chong's was about medium sized, buffet tables taking up the middle of the room and seating areas in a half circle around it, with a smoking section in the back. It felt cheery with red walls and japense art throughout. The best part about it was the food smelled delicious. A good sign for any resturaunt.

We stood in the front waiting to be seated, my stomach rumbling loudly. "I haven't ate since breakfast." I told him putting a hand on my stomach hoping to scilence it.

"Well, let's get you something to eat." he said motioning for the stuerdess who was coming out of the kitchen.

We got seated in the smoking section, told our waitress that we wanted cokes and got up to pile our plates with food. I was so hungry that I didn't care if I looked like a pig or not as I filled my plate with lo mein, crab rangoon, stuffed mushrooms and other fattening delights. Sitting back down at our table I noticed Erik had a hefty plate of his own.

"I'm starving." I said taking a bite of crab rangoon.

"Me too. I'm glad I asked you out tonight." He replied with a smile.

We ate in comfortable silence untill our plates were empty. "Ready for desert?" I asked forgetting about my diet.

"Do you have to ask?" Erik said with a laugh. We filled another plate with desert and a few more tid bits from the dinner buffet. It was nice to be out with someone who didn't make me self concious. It was like going out with an old friend. One that I was attracted to.

We finished eating, Erik paid the tab and we headed back to the car. As he let me in I let out a yawn. My full stomach and the days activaties coming down on me like a brick and I felt about to drop.

"Back to your place?" he asked starting the car.

"Yes please, I'm beat." I told him stiffling another yawn.

I told him how to get to my apartment and before long we were there. I figured he would just drop me off, but he insisted on walking me up.

"I had a great time tonight." I told him before unlocking the door. "Do you want to come in for a minute?"

"I would, but you look like you could sleep for days." he said with a smile, brushing a fallen strand of hair away from my face.

"Your too sweet." I said looking up into his beautiful eyes. "And yes, I can hear my bed calling me from here."

He bent his head down close to mine. "I'll call you tommorow." he wispered.

"Ok.." I wispered back.

His lips touched mine in a feather light kiss. I closed my eyes savoring the breif contact. He stepped back and smiled. "Tommorow." he said softly, "Bye Cassy."

"Bye." I replied back watching him leave.

When I couldn't see him anymore I turned around and went inside. Sweet thoughts of the kiss we had shared lingering in my mind. I locked up and was heading towards my room when I heard something.

It sounded like a moan. I stopped and listened.

"Oh, yes."

Had Vanessa met someone and brought them back? I looked around for any signs and that's when I noticed something laying on the couch.

A man's black leather jacket. I scanned the living room more and I noticed a couple other articles of clothing.

Tip toeing towards Vanessa's room which was right beside my own I saw that the door was open slightly. Being daring I chanced a peek inside. And that's when I saw them.

Vanessa was laying entangled with a man on the bed and kneeling above her head...

was Jenna.