Chapter Three

Chapter Three

A few hours had passed since the meeting ended and I was just sitting in the corner of the club, watching everything that was going on. If there was any doubt before about what kind of ''club'' this was, there wasn't now.

Girls, half-naked, having sex with bikers... EVERYWHERE. Beer and spirit bottles covered every flat service available. This was so... seedy. I looked around, but I couldn't see Ron or Jemma, so I got up and decided to go and get some fresh air. I was sick of smelling stale beer, cigarette smoke, sweat...and pussy.

Walking out, the cool, fresh night air hit me in the face and I sighed, relieved, welcoming it. I went and sat down at one of the couple of picnic benches in the yard and rested my head on my hand, sighing loudly. I was surprised at how many stars I could see in the night sky, considering we were in the middle of a town.

'How are you finding club life?' Someone asked. I turned around and saw it was Jackson. He hopped up into the table and pulled out a packet of cigarettes.

'It's... different'. He chuckled.

'Yeah... yeah, I guess it is'. He put a smoke in his mouth and lit it before offering me one, but I shook my head.

'No thanks, i don't smoke'. He raised an eyebrow. 'What?'

'Nothing, just non-smokers are a rarity around here'.

'I'm beginning to realise that'. He took a long drag before blowing the smoke out between his perfectly plump lips.  We sat in silence until a few of the other guys came out. I recognised them as some of the ''main'' guys... or at least the ones that had been here all day and not just turned up for the party.

'Jackie-boy, are you monopolising our British guest?'

'Nah, just keeping her company s'all'. Now I wasn't scared for my life whenever I was around these guys, I was starting to see them for what they seemed to be... decent guys. Jackson was a nice guy for sure, a charmer, something tells me he does well with the ladies. The Scottish guy called Tommy seemed really nice too. It was just that curly-haired guy that I didn't trust so much.

We all talked amongst ourselves for a little while before Jackson and Tommy had to leave and headed back inside, leaving me and ‘’curls’’ alone. I could feel his gaze on me and didn't need to look at him to know it.

'You look like your mum'. His words caught my attention and I turned to look at him. Did he say what I thought he said? 'She was beautiful when she was your age'.

'You don't even know how old I am'. He shrugged.

'It doesn't matter...You look like her'. I smiled sadly. That was nice to know.

'Did you know my mum when she lived here in Pleasant-Tree-Ville?' I saw his expression changed, but he just simply nodded. 'Were you two friends?'

'No'. Ok. Blunt. Clearly a sore subject.

'Did you know her through Ron? Their affair?'

'No'.

'Do you say anything other than no?' He just looked at me, his expression was cold and I realised even though I was trying to be lighthearted, I had pissed him off.

'You should just go back home to mummy, little girl. You don't belong here'.

'My ''mummy'' died a few months ago, asshole'. I snapped, standing up and walked back into the club. I saw Ron and Jemma had reappeared, but I paid them no attention, I walked over and grabbed my bag off the floor and headed back outside again to leave.

'Hey?' I heard someone shout, but I ignored them. 'Hey, Harley? Wait!'. I stopped and faced him. 'Where are you going?' I could see the worried look on Ron’s face. Did he think I was doing a runner and leaving? I didn't want to cause more trouble, so decided not to tell him about what the dickhead had said.

'I'm just going to check into a motel or something, I figured there would be a cheap one around'.

'You can stay here'.

'What, between the toolbox and half-built motorbike?' He chuckled.

'No, there are a few apartments above the club. Soundproof, you won't be disturbed by the partying. I insist, Come on'. He put his hand out for me. Well, It would save me some money…Sure, why not. I took his hand and we walked back.

The apartment was small but nice. It had its own bathroom and a microwave. Ron told me there was a full kitchen in the club that I was free to use and then left me to get settled in. I dumped my bag down on the bed and sorted through it all. Folding my clothes, I put them away in the draws. I looked around the room and saw a board full of photos. 

Smiling to myself, I walked over to check them out.

It was mainly photos of the guys on their bikes, a few parties, and some other things and people I didn't recognise. It was sweet, in every photo, they were all smiling and super happy. What these people had was special.

I finished putting away my stuff and laid down on the bed. Today has been a very long and very interesting day. I wonder what tomorrow will bring...