Chapter 4

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“You came! Oh wow, you came!” Matt was practically bouncing, slapping Kurt on the back and grinning like he'd won the lottery. “Hey, Shingo! He came!”

Shingo glared at Kurt from behind his beer glass. Kurt nodded back, figuring he hadn't made any friends in that direction by turning up. “Yeah, I came, kid. You going to buy me a drink so Shingo can spit in that, too? Seeing as his sister ain't here tonight.”

“Oh, man! Did Yoshiko really do that? I can't believe she did that! Did you drink it?” Kurt found himself led by the hand across the dance floor to the bar. “What are you drinking? Beer? Jack?”

“Neither.” Kurt made a sudden decision, and yanked Matt back by the hand. “How about we have this dance?”