GOOD GIRL [COCO CRUZ] - ON HOLD

2: the clubhouse

Isabella's high heel hit the dirt as she climbed off of Angel's bike instantly feeling uncomfortable as she looked around. There were guys everywhere, smoking and drinking, dressed in skinny jeans and leather jackets. Half-naked girls were hanging off of their arms, and Isabella instantly felt over dressed in her smart business attire.
"Not what you're used to?" EZ winked at her as she stood awkwardly holding her handbag, suddenly feeling conscious that the bag even looked too expensive to be here.

"Uh, not exactly." She said as she noticed two guys walking quickly towards the three of them. The guy in front looked her up and down, and she studied him right back. He had a cigarette in his mouth, and his face was shaped into a scowl. Just like everyone else, he was covered in tattoos. He wore a white t-shirt and had a Mayans cut on, so Isabella knew straight away that he was part of the club, too. His dark hair was hidden under a hat, placed backwards on his head, but she could see that he had longish hair.

"Who's the rich bitch?" He nodded in Isabella's direction. Straight away, she was shocked at his bluntness and she shot him a glare, before quickly looking back down at the floor. Isabella was the type of girl who could hold her own, but being here intimated her, and she was struggling to stay confident. On the other hand, Coco was one of the most protective members of the club, and he didn't like anyone different sniffing around - Isabella worked that out straight away.

"Hey." Angel said as he looked at her apologetically. "This is Isabella. She's an old friend."

"I didn't know you hung with people like that." He spat his words, and Isabella could tell how unwanted her presence was around him.

"Fuck off, dude." Angel said.

"I'm Gilly." The other guy stood opposite said, as he smiled at Isabella, already more welcoming than the first guy.

"Hey. Nice to meet you." She smiled back at him and then looked at Coco. She looked him up and down, as he had done to her, and then turned away, refusing to acknowledge him. He shook his head and walked away. "What's his problem?" Isabella raised her eyebrows and the other guys chuckled.

"That's Coco. You just gotta get used to him." Angel explained.

"Right. That sounds like it'll be easy." Isabella breathed as Angel signalled for her to follow him.

They walked along, further into the clubhouse. Isabella looked around her to see a cage with two guys fighting in it, and people scattered around the outside of the fence, cheering and shouting.
"Jesus." She looked away quickly. She wasn't used to this kind of setting, and it definitely wasn't her normal scene.

"Sorry about that. It's all fun though." Angel said as they continued to walk until they reached a table outside the clubhouse, and he nodded for her to sit.

"Definitely looks it." EZ and Gilly had joined them at the table and Isabella noticed that Coco was already sat down. Angel appeared back next to her with a beer.

"Thanks, I guess this is all there is for me to drink, huh?" She already missed fancy cocktails and glasses of Pinot Grigio, which was the norm at home.

"So uh, how come you ended up here, anyway?" Coco was watching Isabella from the other side of the table as he spoke to her. He took another cigarette from the packet and extended it over to her.

"Oh, uh, no thanks." Isabella put her hand up and shook her head. Coco almost rolled his eyes at the fact she didn't smoke.

"Isabella and I were friends once upon a time." Angel spoke and Isabella smiled. "We used to hang out down at the Padre Scrapyard."

"I bumped into Angel and EZ today. Haven't been down in here in years. But hey, at least I finally got to ride on that bike of yours." She winked at Angel and he laughed. "I gotta say, I never thought you'd use that thing when you first bought it."

"It's like his baby now." EZ said.

"Don't live in Santo Padre then?" Coco asked.

"No, but I'm not far out. It's about a half hours drive." She tried smiling at him, but his scowl remained permanently in place. She was already working out that he wasn't an easy one to crack.

"Lemme guess, Daddy's got a huge house?"
Isabella shuffled in her chair at the sound of Coco's harsh words. "Uh, yes, I do live with my father. And my mother."
Coco scoffed.

"Look, I don't know why you're sitting there looking at me like that, just because I'm not what you're used to. You don't even know me." Isabella spoke sternly before grabbing her beer from the wooden table and pushing her chair out from behind her. She walked towards the clubhouse and slumped down on the steps. Not knowing how she was supposed to get home, Isabella cursed herself for not leaving with Penelope earlier, or at least forcing her to come here with too - right now all she wanted was to leave and go back home.

"Hey." A short girl with black hair and tiny denim shorts came and sat herself down next to Isabella. "Sorry about my Dad, he can be a bit full on sometimes."
Shocked, Isabella looked back over to where she had just been sitting, and then back to the girl. "Your dad?"

"I know, it looks like it doesn't make sense, doesn't it?" She laughed and Isabella agreed with her. "To be honest, I only just found out he's my dad. It's a long story."

"I won't pry, don't worry." Isabella smiled softly.

"I'm Letty." The girl said.

"Hey. I'm Isabella."

"So I'm guessing you know Angel and EZ?" Letty opened a beer up and lounged back on the porch steps.

"I knew Angel, a long time ago. It's funny, last time I saw him, he told me we were too different. I guess he was right." She pointed at herself and Letty laughed. "Look at me! Sat here in my pant suit and designer heels." She sighed, but Letty still smiled kindly at her.

"If that's why my dad was being a dick, seriously, don't worry. He's just protective - he wants everyone to be safe, that's all. When people turn up that he doesn't know, he gets a bit - questioning."

"I can understand that."

"I'll see you around." Letty smiled as she got up and walked away, and Isabella wondered if she actually would ever see her again. She stood up and headed back over to Angel, sitting down next to him. Coco was sat there with a girl on his lap, their faces almost touching. His hand was grazing her legs and his scowl had turned into a smirk. Isabella felt like she hated the guy, but something inside of her didn't like what she was seeing. She almost felt angry standing there watching him.
Coco looked over to Isabella. He had a girl on his lap, but he was more focused on the dark haired, slightly freckled girl standing next to Angel. He didn't want her hanging around there, but he also felt too focused on her, the reason for this unknown to Coco. He shook her from his thoughts and turned his attention back to the blonde on his lap.

"I'm sorry about him earlier." Angel pointed over to Coco.

"Oh don't worry, he's protective. I get it." Isabella nodded and Angel looked relieved that she wasn't mad. She watched as Coco got up and was lead away by the girl, knowing what they were going to do. She forced herself to keep her attention on Angel. "Listen, I hate to sound like I'm complaining, but I actually have no way home right now, and I-" Angel cut her off by putting his hand up.

"Take the trailer. I'll get you home in the morning. It's the one with the door open over there."
Isabella stood up, looking at Angel and remembering the last time she saw him.

"Thanks. And Angel? I'm so sorry. I hope you knew I didn't mean it." They stared at each other for a few seconds before Isabella walked away.