18 Stoneybrook: Clubbing With Claudia

 Once again I would like to thank Julie Demers for helping me come up with the cool themes for each club they visit within this story. 

Clubbing With Claudia

The girls got ready to go out. To Claudia's disappointment, the girls were not going into the secret passage first. They were first going to go to the above-ground club district in downtown Stoneybrook. Their reasoning behind this was that things don't generally get into full swing in the passage until later in the night. Their first stop on the list was a little bar that had pool tables and food. The girls ate some burgers and fries and sat around chatting.

"Ricky said that he would meet us at 10:00." Said Karen.

They hadn't been there long when the waiters came up to them with a round of drinks they hadn't ordered. They were bottles of locally brewed beer and I opened them so they knew they were safe to drink. There was also a note written on a napkin.

"Go go Gryffindor!" It was read and signed by Bobby. The girls looked around and saw a slightly nerdy guy with a few of his friends over by the pool table. The girls invited him over to sit with them for a few minutes. His buddies at the pool table all whooped and hollered and cheered him on. "Hey ladies! What are you up to tonight?"

"We are showing Claudia around town!"

"Cool! Well, we will see you, ladies, later tonight at the Tavern!"

They went to a club called Good Sport next. It was owned by Charlie Thomas and was sports-themed. The dance floor looked like a basketball court and had actual basketball hoops on each side. Karen said there were different sports featured each night, but tonight was basketball night. You were assigned a locker along with each table to put your stuff in while you were out on the dance floor. There were big-screen TVs around the room with sports broadcast on them. It also served typical sports food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and buffalo wings. The girls ordered some beers and went out on the dance floor. The club played a lot of music that was popular at games and tailgate parties. Just as the girls were finishing up dancing to "We Are The Champions" with their arms around each other and swayed back and forth when a guy came up to take their picture. The girls smiled and posed and as the photographer was bringing his fancy camera back down from his face Claudia got a good look at who it was.

"Trevor? Omg, it's so good to see you!" Claudia gave him a big hug.

"Claudia! You look beautiful!" Said Trevor.

"What are you doing here," she asked.

"I do photography on the weekends for the Stoneybrook Gazette social and gossip sections of the paper. During the week I am a cameraman for the Stoneybrook News."

"That's so cool! I'm just visiting for the summer. I'm doing a few film projects while I am in town!"

"Very cool!"

A new song came on and Trevor asked Claudia if she wanted a drink. She said sure and headed back to their table.

Trevor returned and they talked for a while before heading back to the dance floor. Suddenly in the middle of the song, Claudia heard the charge song and a strobe light came on. The DJ started talking.

"Alright! It's time for hoops! Everyone line up at either basket and the first, second, and third person to make a basket gets a prize! The first prize is a Good Sports gift card!"A Good Sport waitress wearing an umpire uniform held up the gift card. " Second prize is a Good Sport t-shirt!' Another waiter held up a white t-shirt with a blue logo. "Third place prize is a Good Sport crazy cup!" Another waitress held up the cup that had LED lights and was used for sports drinks. "When we blow the whistle you can begin!" The whistle blew and one by one people started trying to make baskets. Claudia got in line and when it was her turn she focused on the basket and threw the ball. She made it in! She was so proud of herself!

"What's your name, ma'am," the DJ asked.

"Claudia Kishi," ma'am? Really? Thought Claudia.

Claudia and Trevor exchanged numbers and the girls headed to the next club. They passed a fancy-looking building with columns in the front and a sign that said Royales. Karen explained to Claudia that Royales was fancy and they wouldn't be going there that night because they have a very strict dress code. Claudia tried to look past the velvet ropes, but all she could see was a gigantic chandelier.

They headed further down the street to the club called Namaste. Claudia couldn't help but think about Dawn as they walked in. There were the 1960s beaded curtains at every entrance and doorway. There were old concert posters from the 60s on the wall of various artists. The club served fruity drinks like margaritas and daqueries and Bloody Marys and instead of tables and chairs, they had big bean bags and pillows to sit on around a wooden table that rotated similarly to lazy Susans. The music was varying from New Age, hipster, and eclectic music. In a separate room was a hookah bar.

After a while, they headed back to Karen's store. "And now, Claudia, the real fun is just beginning."