Basic

Chapter Five

We make our way through the bar, I recognise a few people from last night, but try to stop my eyes from wandering to people's heads that turn to watch us walk through the door. I guess the outfit is working, because with each head that turns to see who walked through the door, turns back just seconds after. Maybe it's just because of Harley's jacket, like Noah said it shows that I 'belong in the bar'. It still makes me feel on edge, some of them have nasty glares that make me want to turn and run back out the door.

However, Harley has hidden away this bright shine as soon as we stepped through the door, putting on his hard face that causes people to squirm in their seats. I can hear the beat of the music tonight; it must be louder because the chatter of people sounds the same. We make our way over to the bar, where I see Murphy talking to a woman with blonde highlights that look like zebra stripes, looks like he's taking her order.

"Murph!" Harley calls out to get his attention just as we reach the bar counter. Murphy is entirely pulled away from his customer and his familiar cheery grin shines back at us.

"That's four nights in a row I've seen you here, in love me or something Dean?" is that his last name? or is Harley a nickname for dean? I still don't believe that his name is a motorcycle brand. Murphy laughs heartily at his own joke as he slides a beer toward the woman who has perked up since Harley made himself known. Aren't you a little old for him? "And you're not alone, welcome back Miss Riley, are you a new regular of mine now?" he asks with a smile that I for some reason trust. He really is a shine of light in this bar.

"No, she isn't" Harley snaps quite sharply, his light-hearted attitude from the bike entirely wiped away. Murphy turns to him with a smile that seems like he knows something before Harley backtracks. "I mean I doubt she'd want to come here very often" he covers up. That was strange, does he really not want me around here that badly. "Is Pres here? he's still supposed to meet Amber"

"You don't know? Stanley's gone out of town for a few days, some meeting. Paul was just telling me about it. how come you aren't there?" Murphy's right, I mean Harley has on a Vice President badge, but he's not been going to any of these club meetings Stanley is making excuses with. Why?

"Ah shit, that was this week?" yeah shit. Even though I've never met the man, I came here to listen to his story. I wanted to know all the answers my father refuses to talk about. I'm trying here. He's not trying even a little bit, yet he's the one that supposedly wanted me here. This is just turning out to be a waste of my time. what am I doing? I'm doing exactly what my father wanted to keep me from. and i'm doing it for no reason. 

How stupid can I be? I've just been waltzing between two biker clubs. I don't think I've realised the danger I've put myself in. and for what? A man that obviously doesn't care to even try with me.

"Can you just take me home Harley?"

It comes out a lot quieter than I wanted it to, but luckily, he manages to hear me over the sea of laughter and glasses clinking. I feel small, so small. My hands clasp together in front of me when they start clamming up, I look down to them and my hair falls in front of my eyes. So small.

Suddenly I can feel everyone's eyes on me, piercing through my skin; my heart starts pumping faster and faster to the point that I can feel it in my sweating hands. The beat of the music is replaced by the thumping of my nerves and everyone stops dancing, as if the bar came to a standstill just to circle me.

I look up to meet none of their eyes, I thought they were glaring at me. They're all chattering amongst themselves, swaying and grinding to the music like when I walked in. They're completely oblivious to me and enjoying their evenings.

"Alright, let's get you out of this place" he nods a polite goodbye to Murphy, who's become quite concerned about my sudden behaviour, as am I. When my feet don't move, the sudden feeling of his hand spreads up my back so he can guide me out. I don't know how to explain it, the nerves of my surroundings blur away because now all I can think about is his palm pressing against the small of my back.

We make it outside without being noticed by the crowds of bikers. His hand drops away and my blood turns cold. I release the breath I'd been holding and try to shake the feeling off my body.

The door clasps shut, leaving the rest of the world in silence. The only sounds left are the quiet whirring of the generator on the side of the building and the electricity that's struggling to run through the flickering sign. The sun is long gone and has left us in darkness, meaning the flashing red sign is now our closest light source. I look up at Harley and the red light stroking the side of his face.

I only now notice the cold air washing over me creating goose bumps up my exposed legs. I think this might be the first time he's made real eye contact with me as his eyes search my face, I can see their true colour and inspect each detail of the green circle. "Are you alright?"

What just happened to me? I've not felt panic like that for years. I used to get panic attacks, when I was maybe fourteen. My parents said that it was just hormones. But that felt real, I could feel the fear in my veins, the weight on my chest dragging me to the ground. It made me want to scream to try and let the feeling escape. I know my cheeks must be blazing red because I can feel them burning.

"Why would he ask you to come find me if he doesn't want to talk to me? I'm trying here! I'm trying to understand him and he's not trying at all" It blurts out of my mouth, as I'm suddenly a lot more comfortable without being surrounded by drunken strangers. But now all I can feel are his eyes staring straight back into mine, only spreading my goose bumps until I can feel them prickling my back.

"He's just a busy guy, it's hard to keep up sometimes" I shrug with nothing else I can say, my eyes lose his and find the ground instead. That scared look on his face tells me he might not be too good dealing with a girl that's close to tears.

I'm not too good at dealing with emotional people either, I'm the awkward friend that doesn't know what to do when someone cries. When Hazel and Cole had their first argument over the summer, she was distraught thinking their friendship would be destroyed and our group with it. She sat hunched on my desk chair blubbering nonsense. I sat and listened of course, but in the silences between sobs, I had no idea what to say. Which led to me saying ridiculous things like; "Do you want to sit in my armchair?", "At least your mascara hasn't run", "I have some candy in the draw, but I did open it a week ago so it might taste like dust", "Where did you get that mascara from, I need it next time we go swimming".

"Why don't we go somewhere?" maybe I should've said that. I struggle to meet his eyes again; he has no trouble holding our eye contact, whereas I try to look at everything but his eyes.

"Where is somewhere?" I thought he'd just send me straight back home.

"You'll find out" his smile returns, and it's contagious as I now have the smile too. The grin on his cheeks makes it much easier to hold our eye contact, the weight on my chest floating away. He's obviously impressed with his own idea. I can't quite tell if that's a bad thing.

"So, I'm supposed to just trust you" he shrugs, and his smile deepens before he turns back to walk his motorcycle out of the line-up and practically throws the helmet at me. This is a guy I met on the street, a complete stranger, yet I'm now walking over to his bike fully prepared to follow this man wherever he wants to go.

"You might want to start, before it gets too late" once again I go against my father and clamber on to the back of the bike. I rush to fumble with the buckle as he revs the engine beneath me. is it weird to say it smells like him? Yep, definitely weird... I'll shut up now. I clutch my hands around his waist, he takes that as a signal to fly out of the parking lot and on to the streets. I have no idea where he's headed and I'm a little scared to find out.