The young bus boy, known to most as Sticks, spent the rest of his evening in silence. He was the best at his job, though no one seemed to notice the fact. He mopped spills, cleaned dishes, scrubbed tables, and refilled salt shakers. Throughout the evening, he kept busy and quiet, going largely unnoticed, which gave him the chance to observe patrons in the bar.<br/><br/>Mostly, what he saw was the average crowd... though there were a few that were out of the ordinary. He kept his eye on the waitress as he worked, always aware of her location. He didn't know why , but the plaid clad man, who he thought of as Big Ben, and the one in the corner, who he thought of as the Shade, both made him uneasy. He didn't want to see something bad happen to his coworker, so he watched, and worked. Even after Big Ben and the Shade left, Ben first and the Shade an hour later, he still kept an eye out.<br/><br/>*****<br/><br/>The man in plaid kicked his mud-caked boots against the tire of his old 4x4 before climbing into the cab. The cab smelled of engine grease and dirt, a smell that was comforting to him. The drink sitting in the cup holder was long empty, so he pulled the straw out and stuck it in his mouth. Chewing on the straw quietly, he turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot.<br/><br/>It was hours later when his truck returned to the long empty parking lot. Only the cars of the employees and a few straggling drunks remained. Just as he was about to climb out of the cab, he noticed the young girl who'd bumped into him earlier exit the building. He sat, hestating until he'd driven away. Slowly, he pulled his car from the tree he'd seen her disappear behind, to the door of the bar, then back again, indecision in his eyes. Which direction to go?