1Stripped

by: joshysgirl

Walking into the crowded room behind his friends, Charlie took a moment to soak in the

atmosphere. 'Happy Birthday to me,' he thought. He turned his head as a scantily clad girl passed him holding a tray of food. He continued to follow his friends to a table reserved right in front of the stage. 'Wow these guys really went all out for my birthday.' "Charlie," he heard a voice call out. Charlie snapped out of his spacing, and turned his head to look at his best friends, Adam and Guy. "What?" he questions. "Ummm, what do you want to drink?" replies Guy. "Oh! just a beer please?"

"So you ready for a fun-filled birthday, spazway?"

"Shut up Cake-eater, and yes I'm ready for some fun" he spots a blonde headed for the bar.

"Especially if it involves her." he points her out to the guys and everyone nods in agreement.

"Yowza, I'd like to bite me off a piece of that" says Guy.

"Man, Portman is gonna be mad he couldn't fly in from Chicago."fulton says.

Charlie nods, "yeah, well his loss, our gain."

"Alright Boys," their attention was brought to their waitress bringing back their drinks. "Here you

go." Once done, she holds her tray at her side and looks around at the boys. "What's the special occasion"?

"Oh it's his birthday." Fulton says pointing to Charlie.

She turns her gaze to him. "Really"? she says. She then starts to walk over towards him. She bends

down and whispers in his ear, "Well let me know how I can make it better." She gives him a seductive smile then stands up straight. "So how long have you known each other"?

"Well, some of us played hockey together since pee wees, and then the rest of us joined later for

team USA. Then we played together in High School" points out Charlie

"Oooh jocks, nice! So what do you all do now?" Charlie says, pointing to Guy, Adam, Fulton, and

himself.

"And the rest of us go to separate colleges." points Luis, referring to Averman, Goldberg, Russ, Ken,

Dwayne and himself.

"Yeah, but we are missing two guys, and two girls."says Adam.

"Wow, there are more of you, and you've stayed close friends still!"

"Yeah, once a duck, always a duck"says Charlie. Their waitress smiles, then she looks like she had

an idea.

"Oh, well then it's perfect you're here. We actually have a girl doing a set a little later, "hockey-

themed". I actually think she used to play herself."

"Really", "Cool", "Man She's gotta be hot". Everybody got excited.

"She'll probably be on after this next girl!"

As if on cue the lights dimmed, and fog covered their eyesight for a little while. And the song "I

Love Rock & Roll" starts to blare from the sound system. All eyes were transfixed on the girl, except for Adam and Charlie, who were sat still conversing.

"So Adam, how are things going with Julie?"

"Good, things are going great. 5 years next month."

"Good Heavens man, when are you finally gonna pop the question?"

"Uh, actually on our anniversary, I got the ring hidden in one of my locked boxes under the bed"

"Really? Well it's about damn time."

"I know, I'm so ready for her to be my wife."

"Good for you man."

"Now, we just need to find you a woman."

Charlie sighs and looks down. "Yeah, well I'm thinking I may never find that person. I mean I've

loved girls, but they don't ever want to love me back."

"Oh come on Charlie, your still young. Heck we're all still young. 25 is not that old, you've still got time man." In the background they heard the music end.

"Yeah, but everyone's getting married, or is married, or has been in a long time relationship."

"No, there's still Guy, Fulton, Kenny, and for all I know Jesse.

"And me."

"Yes, and You. Don't worry, man your gonna find the perfect girl for you. She's gonna be sweet, loving, and knowing you incredibly beautiful."

"Thanks man."

"No problem, cause it's the truth."

"Now why is it that Averman and Goldberg were the first to get married. Isn't there something

wrong with that. I mean come on! I am simply bamboozled!"

"I don 't know man, I think they find it bizarre too."

"We do" pipes in the duo.

Charlie and Adam snap their heads up, and offer an apologetic smile, "sorry" they replied.

"No, stop talking. We don't ever want to speak to you again! How could you say that to about us. Goldberg says dramatically, yet obviously sarcastic.

Everyone let's out a chuckle.

Suddenly Ken's head pops up in question, "Hey, so has anyone heard from Jesse, or Connie!"

"Umm, Jesse is in New York working at some big hot shot Record Company." says Adam. " I tried to call him to get him to come out, but I didn't get a response. His mom says he's really busy."

"And Connie?"

"Umm..."

"Umm..."

Everyone turns to look at Charlie and Guy, questioning.

"I have no clue."

"Me neither."

" I mean I ran into her like 3 years ago in Minnesota at Christmas. Didn't get to talk to her that

much."says Guy.

Everyone turns to look at Charlie and they see him staring into space with a little smile, but then it turns to a frown. "Charlie!" no answer. "Charlie!" still no answer. "Charlie!" guy waves his hand infront of his face.

"WHAT!"?he snaps his head up and sees everyone looking at him questioningly. "Oh sorry just

thinking about stuff"

Charlie's POV

Oh lord, I hope nobody is suspicious of me now. I don't want them to know I was thinking about

Connie. Truth is I haven't stopped thinking about her since we graduated. Yep I was in love with

her, pretty much all through High School, and maybe even before that.

"Umm, ok Charlie, but are you sure your ok?" says Adam.

"Yeah, I am"

"Ok"

Adam then turns back around and joins the conversation with the other guys. My mind drifts

to Connie again. Lord what I wouldn't do to see her again. She was also one of my best friends since birth along with Guy and Averman. So I miss her just being around as my friend. Which is what it always has been between us. She and Guy dated for awhile. I keep telling myself that's why I couldn't have her because she was my best friend's ex-girl, but they only dated for a year or so, then decided they were better off as friends.

"And now for your viewing pleasure, with a very sporty performance, Ms. Junie Goldman."

I was suddenly pulled out of my reverie by the announcement for the next dancer. I turned my gaze to the stage as Queen's, "We Will Rock You", pours out from the speakers. All of a sudden through the fog a girl come through gyrating and grinding on stage. She was wearing a Detroit Red Wings Jersey cut off at mid waist, and hot pants. You can't see her face because of a goalie's mask covering her face. Hoots and hollers could be heard all around the bar, especially from his friends.

'Man this girl is good. She's not too fake looking. That's a plus. She's got gorgeous long brunette

hair. Mmm, just what I need to stop thinking about Connie'

The girl starts to take off the hot pants, and is left in a thong, and the jersey. She goes over to

the pole and dances around it. Suddenly she whips off the mask, then the hockey Jersey, and is left in a bra, and her thong. She doesn't turn around. Not that you can see her face clearly because of the fog. She does some kind of hip hop/ballet move bringing her closer to the front. Then as the last part of the song comes, she slides straight to the front of the stage on her knees right in front of the ducks and pulls off her bra. By now you could see her face due to the fog clearing.

Everyone at my table gasps. "Oh, my God!"

'Oh, My God! is right. Un-fucking-believable.'

"Damn!" I breathe

I see her eyes widen when she sees us. Then Dwayne breaks the silence.

"Hey, Y'all that's Connie!"

I see her eyes widen even more then she gasps out a high pitch squeak. She quickly tries to cover

herself up and runs off stage.

I sit here speechless, not being able to move. Everyone just saw her half naked. She's probably

mortified. WAIT! She was half naked. I never thought that I would see Connie like that. I said it once, and I'll say it again.

"Damn!"