Under the Bridge

chapter seventeen- "no girl can resist me"

THIS SAME TIME LAST YEAR, if you asked me where I was on a Saturday night, the last place possible was a trendy bar downtown full of kids with tattoos. I smelled pot the second I entered, which put a completely new meaning to the term high school. Everything around me was illuminated by the yellow-toned lights hanging from the ceiling. Drinks were served in mason jars, the bartender had a man bun, and they served vegan food. It was the most Portland-esque place I've been inside in awhile. Another reason I want to leave for Chicago. 

There was a stage near the back, with a large curtain behind it. I assumed that the band was back there. 

I didn't care enough to dress too nicely, but I did throw on some light colored skinny jeans and a black tee shirt just because I didn't want to stand out. I fell asleep in two french braids so my long hair was in waves that stopped at my mid-back. To pull my hair out of my face, I threw on a black headband. I threw on a little mascara, but overall, I still looked like I didn't care. 

Thankfully, the no-shiz attitude really helps you blend in around hipsters. 

"Haven't seen you around here before." A distinctly male voice filled my ears, and I turned around to see an east Asian guy around my age with hair an inch above his shoulders and a nose piercing. He smirked. "I'm Sam."  

I shrug. "Olivia." I reply, quietly. 

"Well Olivia, you know I'm in the band." He brags, raising his eyebrows a little. 

Is he flirting with me? Boys normally don't do that. He is good looking, his jaw and cheekbones are defined, and his shoulders are broad. I can't really tell, so I just continue the conversation awkwardly and shove my hands in my pockets so he can't tell they're shaking. 

"What do you play?" I ask, my voice is soft and shy, and I am very, very surprised at the fact that I can speak right now. It must be the mascara. It's a miracle liquid. 

Another voice surprises me from the side. "He plays the fucking violin, don't even listen to him." Liam jumped in, with a cheeky smile on his face. He was a good inch and a half taller than Sam, and knowing his record, he could probably take him in a fight. "I see you've met Sam." 

"I see you can't go without stealing every hot girl I see." Sam says, partially joking.

I blush at the comment. I wouldn't go so far as to call myself hot, I was more...lukewarm. 

"Stop trying to fuck my friends and go tune your strings." Liam insists, slapping his shoulder and taking his place across from me. "Sam's a fuckwad, I love the guy, but you should stay away from him." 

I shrug. "I'm fine, Liam." 

"I'm just saying that everyone in my band is a horrible person, myself included." He explains, shooting me a bit of a sly smile. 

"So does that mean I should stay away from you?" I ask, holding back a smile. 

Liam rolls his eyes. "I would but I know better. No girl can resist me." He says.

"Yo Liam, get over here!" Andrea, the girl I think he's dating, is standing on the stage adjusting a microphone.

He smiles at me before leaving to go set everything up.

After about five minutes, the lights shift to the band in the corner, where Andrea is standing behind the microphone dressed in a little torn up black dress.

Liam is holding a vintage red guitar, which matches his tight shirt and tattoo clad arms. He looks like the Liam I first met, expressionless, yet he still oozes confidence and power. Everyone is staring at him, he has this presence that draws each set of eyes in and doesn't let them go.