Within the next hour and a half, Miss Catherine will become a free woman for the next two days. One that is able to run amok on the field for hours and no one will attempt to stop her. Whether or not she will decide to do such a thing is another question but it seems very unlikely, for Miss Catherine enjoys taking part in much more casual activities during her free time. Perhaps read a book at a coffee shop. Watch the latest movie with her friends. Perhaps tickle the idea on how to get a boyfriend. A girl her age can become quite lonely. Twenty-eight and never managed to score one while the rest of her friends may very well be on their fourth or fifth attempt at keeping a stable romantic relationship, and it's certain that a good number of people Miss Catherine went to school with are married by now.

But for the next hour and a half, Miss Catherine will continue to tend the bar known as "The First Base". Found in an alleyway known for its tech stores and obscure merchandise shops within the modern metropolis. Despite the presence of the night, the sun is not necessary for the lights from the various buildings, store signs, and vehicles shine in such a fashion that it seems the city does not ever take a rest. Many stores, restaurants, and services are 24/7 and Miss Catherine plans to reward herself with some pub activity after the hour and a half. A good friend from high school will be waiting for her, ready to catch up for all the lost time.

The First Base closes in an hour. Afterwards, Miss Catherine will partake in closing duties for half an hour right after that. As she mentally prepares herself for the least favorite task of her job she has done for the past year or so, she can't help but feel a sense of pride in doing her work. Being a bartender at The First Base has been a rather positive experience for Miss Catherine. Talking to the many different customers and hearing fantastic stories while serving drinks the best she can offer has been something that wasn't quite expected when she first took the job. Of course there are some bad apples that appear from time to time. Dealing with them was not the hardest thing in Miss Catherine's world. She looks around the establishment from behind the bar. Concrete walls lit by neon signs of various alcohol brands. Empty seats and stools left untouched during the slower hour. A quiet pool table waiting for its time of need. Simply soaking in the peace The First Base gets to experience from time to time. As long as it is like this, things should be easy.

But it seems like there will be some company for the remainder of the time as the door found directly across the bar has been disturbed. The door swung violently revealing the two rowdy men who had welcomed themselves to the premises. The one on the left, shorter of the two, had an olive green flight jacket that could be found in military surplus stores. Didn't seem to keep his appearance in complete check when you take his messy hair and unkempt stubble into account. The one on the right, the taller of the two sported a strange black leather trench coat that went down to his knees. Looks as though he's a man of high importance. Someone that can knock the wind out of you if you talk ill of. Truth be told, people of that caliber tend to dress normally and do not stand out unless it's due to their muscles as Miss Catherine has figured and the only reason the man does look like he can dodge bullets is because of the eccentric coat. This man's hair was kept short and resembled a crew cut like the ones in the army. Miss Catherine tried to see if he packed any muscle but it was hard to see through his coat.

"Look, Carl. I just need help with the movie. I'll give you back the money in a few months. It'll be awesome," the taller man said to the shorter man, Carl as they were fast approaching towards the bar.

"Okay! Okay! On one condition," Carl replied. "I get to be in the movie in the scenes with the gun shooting. I always wanted to shoot guns. Oh, and the restaurant scene. You're paying for the food, right?"

The two men have now sat down at the bar and made themselves comfortable although they didn't stop their heated discussion. Miss Catherine was not sure whether she should interrupt and ask them for their orders.

"Come on, Mark! Spaghetti in the restaurant scene is not difficult," Carl nagged at the taller man named Mark.

Mark replied, "The spaghetti there costs like $28. I just want a moody scene for the movie. Not have an actual dinner there."

"Then why would I want to be in the movie when I can go to the arcade and play in the ball pit with Phil?"

"Dude, you're twenty-nine and Phil is like fifty. You're two grown men who still play in the ball pit?"

"Ball pits are fun. Why should age have anything to do with it?"

"Ahem!" Miss Catherine has made her presence noticed. "What would you two like?"

Carl shifted his attention towards the bartender. "I'll get a gin and tonic."

Mark does the same as he points his index finger up as though he's attempting to emit a vibe of significance. "Let me get a Cosmopolitan."

Miss Catherine nods as she brings out the necessary glasses for the drinks. A rocks glass for Carl's drink and a cocktail glass for Mark's.

"Hey, bartender," Mark strikes a friendly conversation starter.

"It's Catherine," Miss Catherine corrects as she pours the necessary amount of alcohol into the jigger in her hand and straight into the cocktail shaker. Following the necessary steps to mix a Cosmopolitan like she has done many times before, but not usually for men. Cosmopolitan is known to be a very feminine drink and Miss Catherine knew that. In fact, many people who drink will, or should, know that.

"Miss Catherine, I think you're really beautiful." It wasn't uncommon for Miss Catherine to be hit on by her customers but she had suspicions for men who ordered Cosmopolitans and hit on her.

"Wait," Carl butted in. "Mark, weren't you gay?"

"What? No! What are you talking about?"

Miss Catherine has finished with the Cosmopolitan and has moved onto the creation of the gin and tonic with a concerned look on her face as the two would continue with another strange discussion.

"I mean, you did go to that gay bar to recruit the guys there for your movie," Carl pushed on.

"Jacked dudes go to that bar! If I wanted a cool, tough, ripped dude to play a part in the movie, I have to scout for them where they crowd the most." Mark did not budge.

"Yeah, but there was a gym like three blocks down the street and I'm certain they were a lot of straight guys who were just as ripped there."

"Guys!" Miss Catherine almost shrieked at the two, but was able to hold a majority of it back. "Here's your drinks." She put forth the completed Cosmopolitan and the gin and tonic to their respective drinkers.

"So, Miss Catherine. I really do think you're beautiful. And I'm not just saying that just to get Carl to not think I'm gay."

"Let's just put that aside. I believe you're not gay. And thank you. I always appreciate a compliment from my customers. A woman like me has to take care of herself."

"I mean, I'm a real ladies man, Miss Catherine. No joke."

Miss Catherine refrained from glaring at Mark. It would be rude to do such a thing to a customer even if they were being suspicious. Giving people such looks should be reserved outside of work. Carl was most definitely getting bored of being out of the equation. His head resting on the palm of his hand sipping the straw in his gin and tonic. Miss Catherine was certainly afraid of letting Mark continue to make an impression of sorts and had to do something before the silence stretched out and Mark took advantage of it.

"So what restaurant were you two planning to film at?" Miss Catherine asked the duo.

Carl lets go of his straw, ready to give an answer. "Luigi's Kitchen. They got the best spaghetti in the city! Price is high but it's one of those fancy places so I guess it's justified. But seriously, I can't go there often because it'll eat up my wallet up so I tried to convince Mark over here to pay for my meal." Carl gave a look to Mark as though Mark had done something wrong. The one where the wrongdoer denies that they've done any wrongdoing and the look giver will sneer towards their direction to give the impression to a third party that the wrongdoer really is in the wrong. Although in this situation, Miss Catherine is bothered by the fact that the matter is, to her, trivial regardless of Mark committing any wrongdoing. If there was any wrongdoing to be said.

"Look, Carl," Mark has started. "Every time you go there, you end up chewing my money out because you refuse to cover your own bill after ordering too much cheese."

"Come on, Mark. I live for cheese. Cheese is the best food the world's got to offer with spaghetti coming in second. You can't tell me to stop ordering cheese."

"I can when it becomes my problem."

"I'm sorry I just happened to like eating cheese. I'm sorry I can't stop ordering fucking cheese. I just want to live in the moment with cheese! I can't believe that's such a big problem for you. It's just cheese!"

"The problem to me is when you can't cover your own bill. I lost count how many times I had to cover your own fucking bill because you ordered too much cheese that it went over whatever you had in your wallet!"

"Oh. That's the problem? You should've just told me that."

"I have been trying to tell you that this whole time!"

"You're the one who offered to pay for the meal when we do the restaurant scene for the movie! You think I'm just not going to order cheese?"

Miss Catherine flung herself into the conversation before it escalated down any further. "Guys! Please deal with the movie situation some other time outside the bar. Carl, just pay for your own meal."

"Okay..."

"And Mark, just find somebody else to be in the movie if Carl's request is too much trouble. People are known to volunteer for this kind of shit. Go pick somebody up at a film school if you have to."

"Yeah..."

"Alright? Did that solve your problems?"

Mark and Carl looked at each other. It was clear from their eyes that there was no need for any discussion between the two for they had arrived at the same conclusion.

"No." They both said simultaneously, their eyes piercing right through Miss Catherine's.

Miss Catherine sighed. She didn't have the energy to deal with the situation any longer. She just wanted it all to end. Truth be told, Miss Catherine has dealt with a number of customers that caused a nuisance to her, but these two were most certainly at the top. How Miss Catherine wanted to kick these two out, but unfortunately for her, they have not broken any rules of the establishment that should warrant their kicking. Their conversation was simply annoying and painful to listen to. Listening to the terrible singing of a raspy old man that could shatter glass would be less painful than these two buffoons.

"Oh shit, what time is it?" Carl asked out of a sudden.

Mark shifts his focus on his wrist watch. "Goddammit, it's happy hour at the pub!"

"Shit! We got to get rolling!"

The pair gulps down what was left in their glasses at record speed. Clearly not the first time for the two. Before Miss Catherine realized it, they were already gone. Empty glasses left on the counter and the troubling duo not a problem any longer, Miss Catherine turns her head to see the digital clock on the wall. The red LED beamed 9:22 pm. The bar will not close until 10:00 pm. Miss Catherine can only pray that those two will never come back again. But for some reason, whether her sixth sense has been awakened for a brief moment or a single strange tingling sensation in the back of her head has told her, she knows they will be back. And when they do come back, she will make them pay for they have forgotten to do that before they left.

"Those two troublemakers," Miss Catherine snarls under her breath.

Oh, Miss Catherine. We hope you have a good night. We really do.