“Gwen, I realize that you’re right. I haven’t been totally honest with you, and you’ve been keeping things from me. You just laid it out there for me to see. I need to start telling you the truth and not hold things back. It really isn’t fair. I didn’t realize how determined you were to become a doctor. I didn’t know how you felt about sex, dating, honesty, and fidelity. Now I do.”
Just then, Charlotte rushed up to Steve. “Have you said anything to him? Did he say anything about me?”
Gwen gave Charlotte a puzzled look as Steve grinned. “Okay, so I’m a little desperate, Gwen. Steve probably told you already. I’m kind of, sort of, in a way, interested in Billy Marsh. I know he’s not exactly another Steve Hammer, but he’s a pretty good guy, comes from a good family, and I think he likes me, at least a little. We can’t all be beautiful, voluptuous sex goddesses like you, so don’t be making fun of me!”
“Charlotte! I like Billy. He’s a cool guy. I never knew that you two had anything going on, and Steve never mentioned it. I certainly won’t make fun of you. In fact, I’ll do whatever I can to help. Were you expecting Steve to do something to advance this budding romance?” asked a very surprised Gwen.
“I thought that the two of you would have a plan, or a scheme, or something like that by now. What the heck were you two talking about, if not my problems,” wondered Charlotte. “Don’t tell me that you’re working on your own romance! How selfish, Steve!”
“Charlotte, they’re getting ready to open the doors. Let me figure out something to get Billy moving. In the mean time, use that smoldering sexuality of yours to persuade the patrons to spend more money on games of chance,” finished Steve.
“Smoldering sexuality? Me? I like the sounds of that. What do you think, Gwen? Should I use my smoldering sexuality to lure some suckers into spending money in a good cause?”
“By all means,” laughed Gwen. “I see you have ‘your girls’ on display tonight, Charlotte. Don’t be giving me any crap about showing off my assets from now on. Just get out there and smolder!”
“We have to get ready for our part of the show, Steve, but you’ve got to tell me how this thing between Charlotte and Billy got started and your part in it. We can still dance together, can’t we, even if you decide that you want a different girlfriend?” asked a suddenly worried Gwen.
“No, Gwen! We can’t dance together if I get another girlfriend! I may not understand much about the fairer sex, but I do know that no girl on the planet will have the confidence and faith in me to let me hold you in my arms on a regular basis,” proclaimed Steve with certainty. “But I haven’t given up on you, so be warned.”
Gwen felt relief at Steve’s so-called warning, but disappointment that he did not confess his date with the redhead. She had made it pretty clear that she wasn’t going to have sex with him, yet she expected Steve to forsake other girls if they were going to be dating. She wondered if that was even possible. Girls everywhere fell all over Steve, and who could blame them? He was the epitome of what a girl looked for in a boyfriend, or a lover for that matter. Would Steve give up his chances with so many pretty girls for a pretty much platonic relationship with her? Would she be able to believe him if he said he would? She knew that she would not, at least until he disclosed that he was dating another woman. It was up to him to correct their relationship now. She had been completely honest and now it was his turn to do the same.
It was another night of firsts for the seniors. Perhaps the most surprising thing for many of the students working as the waiters and waitresses came as the evening wound down. A few kids from the local community college had shown up. It was obvious that they had been partying before they arrived. Every now and then one or two of them would leave the fire hall for a few minutes and then return. It seemed likely that they were outside drinking since they were not yet twenty one. They knew the firemen would never allow them to buy any drinks inside without proper ID.
One of the bigger college guys had targeted Charlotte. He constantly asked her for drinks and tried to chat her up. For her part, Charlotte made it clear that he needed ID and that she wasn’t interested in an inebriated community college party animal. Steve was talking with a couple EMT’s when Gwen rushed up to him.
“Steve! That dumb ass college kid is really bothering Charlotte. He just dragged her into the men’s room! You’ve got to help her!” urged Gwen.
Steve wasted no time rushing to the bathroom to help Charlotte. When he pushed through the doorway, he stopped in his tracks. Charlotte was standing by the sinks, holding the top of her dress up and sobbing softly. Across the room, Billy Marsh had her attacker pinned to the wall by the urinals with one hand. The other hand was pulled back in a fist. Quickly, Steve grabbed Billy’s fist and held it.
“Not here. Not now, Billy!” cautioned Steve. “He isn’t worth the trouble it’d cause. Let him go and let the firemen handle this. Charlotte needs your attention. Help her get out of here. Take care of Charlotte, Billy!”
It was obvious that Billy Marsh was in a rage. Steve knew from experience how difficult rational thought was at times like that. He held Billy’s fist and kept repeating that he needed to look after Charlotte. Reluctantly, Billy released the guy and made his way over to Charlotte. He gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her from the bathroom.
“Thanks, Steve,” spoke the EMT behind him. “That was close. I wouldn’t have blamed Billy if he clocked this bozo, but he’d probably be crying to his mom and lawyer before he hit the floor. Billy’s the one that would be in trouble. I told Kim to call the cops. They’ll be here pretty soon. I’ll handle it from here.”
Steve left the bathroom to see his classmates huddled around Billy and Charlotte. She was wearing Billy’s suit jacket and looked very small in it. Gwen gave Steve a big smile as he approached the group.
“Thanks, Steve. It sounds like you arrived just in time. Charlotte told us that Billy looked like he was going to kill that jerk. What a mess that would’ve been. I told Billy to take Charlotte home. I promised that you and I’d double as wait staff when we weren’t dancing. I don’t think you have to make any plans to get those two together. She won’t let go of him now!”
“Kids, we’re sorry about that situation. The police are outside talking to those college kids now. They won’t be any further problem,” promised Nancy Burns, the ambulance captain and best EMT on the squad. “Do you feel up to finishing the night with us? We have another half hour left, at least. That little bit of excitement has stirred the crowd up. We want to get every nickel we can tonight. Will you kids stick with us?”