Bright Lights That Cast A Shadow

We had spent hours going to every bar and club in the city looking for Bob. We had even called Mikey and had him come from New York to help us search. Bar after bar, we would ask if anyone had seen him, and bar after bar we had struck out. Being worried about Bob had even brought me out of my sulky bad mood.
"Maybe he's just getting laid or something?" Frank tried suggesting hopefully. The tone of his voice though showed that even he didn't believe what he had said.
"Maybe," I mumbled, hanging my head. We had just left our seventh bar for the night and were heading to the strip club next door. We paused in front of the building with its brightly lit up neon signs advertising topless women and pole dancers.
"Why do we have to go to this one?" Frank complained under his breath. As bad as the situation was, it made me laugh slightly. Frank glared at me. "What?" He demanded, still upset with the prospect of having to go inside.
"It's just it's rare to hear a guy complain about having to go into a place packed with boobs on display," I explained with a weak smile. "Your gay is definitely showing." He put his hands and his hips and cocked them to the side, just to look extra sassy.
"As it should be." He turned around and walked determinedly through the club doors. I sighed and braced myself. Here goes nothing.
~~~
We were hit immediately with the smell of sweaty bodies and booze. There was a stage set up in the front with multiple women "performing" for a crowd of horny men who were all clambering over one another trying to get closer. I saw some men being pulled away by even more girls towards the back. I shuddered and pulled myself closer towards Frank.
"Let's just make this quick okay?" He nodded vigorously in agreement. We began the walk in the direction of the bar. We didn't make it far though before one of the girls sauntered up to us.
"Hey boys," She licked her lips, I guess trying to be seductive. She latched onto Frank's neck and pulled herself close, rubbing and grinding herself against him. I stared at her in unmasked disgust. She was wearing only a bikini bottom and high heels, leaving the rest of her uncovered and on show. I tried not to judge her too badly. I mean she might hate what she was doing, but maybe she was doing it cause it was a way to survive. Still I felt a strong wave of resent as she flirted with Frank. "You wanna come back with me and have some fun? For the right price I can make you feel real good." She winked and bit her lip. Without warning she reached down and grabbed Frank's junk through his jeans.
"Gah!" He squeaked and jumped away from her and huddled into me. She looked at us confused.
"Are you guys together?" She asked in a whiny voice, losing the seductive tone that she had a second ago. She didn't even wait for our reply. "Faggots," She sneered walking off in search of another man.
"Gee I really don't like it here," Frank mumbled, his head still buried in my chest. I didn't either. I didn't understand why men were attracted to these places. It all just seemed so slutty and disgusting.
We continued to push our way up to the bar. Getting there we plopped down into two empty seats. The bartender was already busy with other customers so we had to wait. I took the time to go into my own thoughts. Since when did I like Frank this much? I mean sure I had liked him all along, but now those feelings had grown in the space of a day. I get jealous and annoyed every time someone tries to hit on him. I feel hurt when he says he doesn't want to date me. Hell, I had even basically told myself that if he hadn't rejected me I would've eventually asked him out. I just kept on giving myself reasons of why it was okay. I could protect him from Lindsey easier. I hadn't bit him yet so chances are it might not happen. I would feel better. The list went on and on.
"Gee!" Frank yelled. I jumped in surprise.
"What?" I shook off my thoughts and returned to the real world fully, giving him my attention.
"I said the bartenders done. We can talk to him now." Frank apparently repeated.
"Oh okay." We waved the bartender over. He walked over, drying his hands on a towel.
"What can I get you?" He asked, not in a rude form, but in a way that told us that he was kinda busy and needed to get to other customers.
"Actually we just wanted some information," I explained. I pulled out my phone and pulled up the picture of Bob that Ray had sent to me. I held the phone up so that he could get a good look at the photo. "Our friend is missing and we're trying to find him. So uh," I leaned forward so that I could read his name tag "Pete. Have you seen him recently?" He studied the picture for a moment.
"Yeah, yeah I think I have actually." We sat up in surprise, listening intently. "He was in here the other day with some woman. Not one of ours. She had like black hair, skinny, pretty hot. Anyway they were talking for a couple of minutes. It looked like he knew her. Then they walked out the back door together. I only remember him because some of the girls mentioned him being loaded into an ambulance about an hour after he left. That was after my shift though so I didn't hear about it until the next day."
Me and Frank both visibly paled. Lindsey. Bob had been with Lindsey, and now he was in the hospital for a unknown reason. We had to get there as soon as possible. We both jumped up from our seats.
"Thanks Pete!" I called over my shoulder as I ran with Frank towards the doors of the club.
"You're welcome!" He called back. I barely heard him over the sound of the club. "I hope your friends okay!" We raced out to the car. I jumped in the front seat while Frank clambered into the passenger seat. I
"Call Ray and Mikey," I instructed tossing him my phone since he didn't have Mikey's number. He nodded and began pressing buttons. I zoned out as he explained the situation to Ray first, and then Mikey. Why would Bob be with Lindsey? I mean I didn't have any pictures of her, but I had given them a pretty good description of her. And Pete had said that it looked like they knew each other. It was all very confusing. I hoped he was alright though. Time to get to the hospital and get some answers.

Notes

Thanks Pete
Sorry but I had to do it. I saw the opportunity and I took it

Okay this chapter was really fun to write. Like just imagine Frank and Gerard walking into a strip club and being all awkward because its only women. I don't know but it was fun to write.

Okay finally I want to say thank you because this has almost fifty subscriptions and lots of comments. Thank you for sticking with this story even threw the more boring parts. Coffee cupcakes unicorns and puppies for all cause you're awesome! :D