"Ah, no thanks." The scotch and soda was smooth and went down quickly. Crystal found a certain amount of comfort in the woman's bar, the guard she normally kept up to protect herself from men not needed here. She was certain a simple no would keep the would-be Romeos at bay.

"Yeah, I don't dance much either," Alex said, scooting her chair closer. "So what do you do for a living?"

"I'm a d" Crystal stopped herself, realizing her normal answer of dancer wasn't a goodi.e.after turning the woman next to her down. "uh" She looked at the bar full of rowdy lesbians. I don't think telling the truth is a good i.e.either. There had been enough comments and catcalls at the ball park without them knowing she was a stripper. Shit, think quickly. The bartender arrived at that moment with Carmen's drink. "A bartender," she blurted. "Downtown."

"Oh, that's interesting," Alex said, letting her hand rest on the bar only centimeters from Crystal's. "The Falcon is downtown. That's the bar I hang out at. I think Esther is looking for someone to help out on the weekends. You should go by there tonight and check it out."

"I'm working tonight," she said, thinking only of giving an excuse not to go to the lesbian bar.

"Oh yeah? Maybe I could stop by and say hi. Where?"

"Uh" Fuck, fuck, fuck. Trapped in her own web of lies, Crystal panicked and took the first escape offered. "You know Carmen, I think I will take you up on your offer." I can do this, I can dance with a woman, she told herself as the now happy Carmen stood up and took her hand. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she said to Alex, feeling a twinge of guilt over the crestfallen expression on the shortstop's face. As she was led through the crowd to the dance floor, Crystal began to have second thoughts. Multi-colored lights bounced off the disco ball and the dance floor was divided into different colored panels that lit up in time with the music. The dance area was raised higher than the rest of the bar, allowing it to double as a stage from time to time. Ameilia's bar had been built in the late seventies and apparently the owner saw no reason to update it. At least the disc jockey knew what decade it was and kept the women entertained with the latest dance hits.

When Carmen led them to a spot near the front of the stage, Crystal lost her nerve and started to walk away. "No no no, Sweetie. Where are you going?" Carmen asked, reached out and stopping her with a tanned hand on her arm.

"I can't do this."

"Of course you can, Sweetie." The Cuban woman took Crystal's hands in hers and began swaying to the music, moving their arms to the same rhythm. It was a song the blonde woman was familiar with and she reluctantly admitted that Carmen was a good dancer. Of their own volition, Crystal's hips and legs joined in. "You see, my dear? I knew you could do this," the pitcher said, releasing her hands. They danced through two more songs before Crystal finally managed to beg off and leave the multi-colored floor.

The pool tables were between the dance floor and bar, making it easy for Crystal to solve the problem of Alex by sitting down at Laura's table. "Hi." "Hi yourself," the writer said, setting a coaster down in front of Crystal. "You want a drink?"

"Yeah, scotch and soda, strong."

"Four bucks." Crystal reached into her pocket and pulled out her small wad of bills. She had enough to buy herself one more drink. Better nurse it, she thought to herself. She handed a five dollar bill over and watched Jenny approach, cue stick in hand.

"Oh, so you decided to come down from the dance floor after all? I thought you were going to dance with the girls all night long," the brown haired woman teased.

"I don't know why I did that. I've never danced with a woman before."

"Well, you looked like you were having a good time up there. I didn't see Carmen twisting your arm to keep you there." Jenny sat in the adjacent chair and picked up her beer. "Laura's driving," she offered before taking a pull from the longneck bottle. "So was she?"

"Was she what?"

"Twisting your arm to keep you up on the dance floor?"

"No. I just"

"You dance good for a straight girl."

"Thanks a lot, Doc," Crystal said sarcastically. "You know some of these women are as bad as guys? I get more attention here than in a real bar." "This is a real bar," Jenny corrected.

"You know what I mean. It's weird, that's all." She looked toward the dance floor, spotting Carmen dancing with two other women. "Did you have fun?"

"Well, it" Crystal unbuttoned her shirt sleeved shirt. "Damn, it's hot in here."

"I'm glad you didn't do that on the dance floor," Jenny said. "You caused enough damage at the ball game. If Alex had been playing pool she probably would have knocked the ball through a window." They both laughed at the image. "So answer the question. Did you have fun dancing?"

"Yes. It was different."

"Different from what? Dancing with men?" At Crystal's nod, she continued. "How?"

"I don't know, it just was."

"That's a copout. Try looking at your feelings. What is it about dancing with a woman that's different from a man?"

"I don't know," Crystal began, fidgeting in her seat. "I didn't have to worry about anything but dancing with her." She shook her head, certain that her words didn't make any sense.

"You worry a lot, don't you?" Jenny prodded gently.

"Sometimes," the stripper admitted without looking up. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking comfort in the familiar. "You wouldn't understand." She shook her head. "No one does."

"You'd be surprised at what I understand," Jenny said. "I understand what it's like to spend today worrying about yesterday and being afraid of tomorrow. I understand that a wounded child can't heal if she's never given love."

At Jenny's words Crystal's expression changed. The relaxed posture was gone, replaced by the gruff exterior that showed the day Jenny gave her a ride to the liquor store. "Too late for that, Doc." Laura arrived at that moment, giving Crystal what she so desperately needed at that moment. She drained half the glass before putting it down on the table. This conversation is over, she thought to herself, agitated at how easily Jenny seemed to read her. "Hey Laura, wanna play pool?"

"You have to put your name on the board but I can see if the next person wants to play partners." Without waiting for a reply, Laura looked around. "Hey Kelly, you want to play partners?"

"Hang on." The catcher turned and asked someone wearing a Falcon shirt, exchanging a few words before turning her attention back to Laura. "Sure, Carrie and me against you and who? Jenny?"

"No, Crystal."

"Sure. We'd be happy to kick your ass."

"Are you any good?" Laura asked quietly.

"I spend most of my life in bars and clubs. I can handle myself with a cue stick," Crystal replied. Feeling cocky, she called out to the grinning catcher. "Hey Kelly, you wanna put your money where your mouth is?"

"Where I'd like to put my mouth has nothing to do with money," the catcher replied. That garnered a few comments and hoots from the women around her. "How about a pitcher of beer?"

"Deal," Laura answered for the blushing Crystal. "You rack, we break."

The game progressed but not without several suggestive comments from Kelly and Carrie, especially when Crystal, her upper body covered only with a tank top, leaned over the table to make her shots. For the most part the stripper was able to fend off the innuendoes and occasionally found her roommate coming to her defense. It ended with Kelly sinking the eight ball out of turn, making Laura and Crystal the winners. The two women returned to their table to find fresh drinks waiting for them courtesy of Jenny. Moments later a pitcher of beer was delivered as per the bet made with Kelly. Crystal made quick work of her scotch and soda, her third of the evening, and reached for the pitcher. Laura just as quickly reached picked up a napkin to use as a makeshift coaster, lest any water sweat off the glass and onto the tabletop. The ever charming Carmen came along and talked Laura into joining her one the dance floor while Kelly pulled Jenny into a pool game. Now free to observe, Crystal watched several women slip out a side door. Ah hah. Making sure her lighter was in her pocket, the blonde woman crossed the room and exited through the door.

The side door led to the alley, still lit by the late day sun. Crystal saw the crowd standing on the far side of a dumpster. Most were wearing the red jerseys of the Falcons but two were Airhearts. A red cooler was sitting on the ground next to them, the lid open to reveal several cans of beer chilling oni.e.Jackpot. Beer and weed. "Got room for one more?" she asked.

"Sure," one of the women in red replied. "I'm Diane and this is Liz, Dawn, and Tracy."

"We met at the game," Tracy said as she held out the burning joint. "Crystal, isn't it?"

"Yeah," she replied, taking the offered joint. "Laura's new roommate."

"Oh yeah," Diane said. "The straight one." She took the joint from Crystal and took a long drag. "Well, you seem pretty cool anyway." Gee thanks, the stripper thought to herself. It's not like I have a disease or anything.

"Then again," Diane continued. "Anyone who can appreciate fine herb can't be all bad."

"Spoken like a true pothead," Dawn said. "Keep your eye on her, Crystal. Diane is notorious for plying women with wine and weed." "Yeah, any more notches on her belt and it'll fall apart," Tracy chimed in.

"Fuck you both," Diane joked back. "There's nothing wrong with having a joint or two on auspicious occasions."

"Yeah, like sunset," Crystal said, causing the group to burst into laughter.

"Oh, Blondie has a wit about her, eh? Well fuck you too."

Crystal used the tips of her fingernails to take the remaining end of the joint from Dawn. "Naw, you'd enjoy it too much." The women howled again. "She got you that time, Diane," Liz teased. "That's probably the first time I've seen you not have a comeback."

"You gonna hog it or pass it?" Diane growled good-naturedly. "And as for you," she turned to Crystal. "All I can say is once you've been with me, you'll never go back to a man."

"Amen to that," Dawn agreed. "But then again we can't all be perfect like you, Diane."

"Yup, that's her, all right," Liz said. "Practically perfect in every way. The lesbian Mary Poppins."

"Oh please," Diane said, rolling her eyes. "You see what I have to put up with?"

"Oh yeah, it's real torture," Tracy replied. "Stop griping and pass it around."

Crystal stayed in the alley with the women, smoking their pot and joining in on the jokes whenever she could. It was a sharp contrast to her druggie friends who preferred to spend their time indoors with rock music blasting. She leaned against the dumpster and let the heady feeling of the pot work its way through her body. She relaxed and let herself enjoy hanging out with a new group of people. By the time Jenny found her, Crystal's eyes were little slits and her gait resembled organized stumbling more than walking. Her new friends weren't any better, laughing at her and staggering about themselves.

"It's time to go," the therapist said, putting a hand on Crystal's shoulder.

"I'll give her a ride home," Liz offered.

"I think she wants to get home with all her clothes on," Tracy joked.

"I'll take her home," Jenny said firmly. "I think she's had enough fun for one day."

"Nice meeting you," Crystal said, waving her hand sluggishly. The combination of liquor, beer, and pot had the stripper totally under their control. She made no fuss when Jenny led her back into the bar and over to their table.

"Where'd you find her?" Laura asked, rising to her feet to help Jenny guide Crystal into a chair.

"Outside with Diane and her cronies."

"Yeah, she looks it. How'd she get hooked up with them?"

"I don't know. She must have figured out what they were doing and got herself invited, I guess."

"I've heard of gaydar but potdar?" The writer shook her head. "And you thought it'd be a goodi.e.for her to come out with us. She could have stayed home and gotten trashed or stoned or whatever they call it."

"Trashed looks like an accurate term," Jenny agreed, looking at the semi-conscious woman sitting on the chair before her. "I still think it was a positive experience for her. Come on, let's get her out to the car."

"How do you figure that?" Laura asked while putting an arm around the smaller woman. "Crystal

Crystal, it's time to go. Think you can stand up?"