Old Friend. New Love. (Happy Lowman story)

Part 1

She didn't know the reason for her arrival at the MC. All she knew was that she wanted to catch up with her old mate, he was the only person in her life that ever listened. Meeting in a war zone probably isn't the best setting but it just happened. Filip never asked too many questions, she liked that. So when she got discharged and left without much explanation, he didn't question it.

She never  expected much from life; living off her motorcycle and out of an old rucksack did that to her.

Coming to a halt, cutting the engine and hopping off the bike drew attention. Especially when it's an unknown bike. Peering eyes, she could practically hear their thoughts from where she stood. The stomping of her worn out combat boots against flooring made all notice turn to her way.

"Well hello miss. What can I do you for?" A man flirts, his hair unruly and eyes that seemingly caught the perfect resemblance of the ocean; black leather hung on his tall stature, patches haphazardly sewn onto the front. He leant over the bar that stood in the corner of the room.

"Nothing that concerns you. I'm looking for somebody." She states, looking round the clubhouse in hopes of finding him.

"Since you're in my club, it does concern me. Who are you looking for?" He asked, verging on demanded, again. His gaze hardening, almost warning her to not test him.

"Filip."

The man, whose names she still hadn't learned, chuckled.

"Was he that bad in bed? Like to file a formal complaint?" He seemed to find a lot of humour in his comment, the one-sided laughter not dying out as he spoke. She scoffed in return, "Far from it. Old friend."

"I see. He's not here, but I'm sure we can pass the time together. My room?" He placed his hand on the small of her back, his arm extended in the direction as if to lead her to what she guessed was the back rooms. 'He has some balls' she'll give him that.

"I'd rather not," She walked out of his presence and sat at the stool at the bar. "Whisky." Telling the man behind the bar, expecting the man to back off. He didn't. Instead he walked up right behind her and leant down to whisper in her ear. Just as he was about to breathe out another pick up line, she heard a deep grumble from other side of the bar.

"Leave off her. Tig. She's obviously not interested." Glancing at the man, she was pleasantly surprised. Tall, dark eyes, tattoos as far as the eye could see. Her type.

"It speaks!" Tig mocked back at the man. She didn't break her stare as she hears the bartender place her drink down. She couldn't.

"What you lookin' at, little girl?" His regard never leaving his beer. She felt her mouth dry.

Just as she was about to think of a witty comeback, she heard an accent she hadn't heard in years.

"Em? What you doing here!" Turning herself in her chair to face him, elbows resting on the bar. Filip was startled by her appearance. He thought that he'd never see her again. By now, Em's attention had fully dropped from the grumpy man at the end of the bar and was solely on her old friend, running at him and launching into his arms.

"Filip! Am I not allowed to visit my buddies once in a while?" Her speech was muffled by his chest. Their embrace lasted for what seemed like eternity, yet in reality was only a minute or so.

"Yes of course, lass, but I haven't spoken to you in years." At first, Filip thought that she wanted something. It'd make sense seeing as her clothes looked like they hadn't been washed in over a week.

"I just wanted to catch up. Promise." He was skeptical at first but went along with it

As the pair of them drank into the night, and the reminiscing died out, she looked over to where the man from earlier sat. A drink in his hand, staring into the distance.

"You've been looking at Happy an awful lot tonight.." Filip smirked at her, raising a beer to his lips and saying nothing else.

"Who?" She didn't know his name, just his voice. She knew what Filip was getting at and completely ignored it. She doesn't do relationships.

"Happy's the man you've been drooling over. He's single." Filip knew that she doesn't like being tied down but a guy could be good for her. He always did worry about her over the years, all alone. And knowing that Happy was a decent enough guy calmed him, not wanting her to fall for a total dickhead.

"Don't get your hopes up. You know I don't care for that sort of thing." She brought her drink up to her lips, taking a gulp before placing it back down on the table. As much as she likes the sight and sound of Happy, she couldn't let him hurt her. She shook her head, standing up and started heading towards her bike.

"I'll see you later, Filip. Gotta get my beauty sleep, I'll come round tomorrow." Strapping on her helmet, she rode off in hopes of finding somewhere to sleep.