The Taste of Chaos

2

Soft rock plays in the background, almost an ice breaker if it were a different circumstance. It’s half full, people sit respectively in their booth or table. It smells of alcohol and burning incense. Nothing at all like the way it smells outside. Deeper into the room, a stage is set, with dance poles installed. Chairs are set in front with red velvet rope blocking the area away from the common section as if it’s a VIP area.

I suck in a breath, fighting away anxiety that wants me to run away, and forget all about it because I don't belong here. But then I see him.

He’s smiling, a silver ring curled around his lip, matching with the silver studded bar in his eyebrow. His piercings aren't the only new thing, I immediately take in as much of his inked skin as I possibly can. When and how did he get all these? I knew he always had a few hidden, but this. . .

He looks like a bad boy. I hardly recognize him. It’s a change. I’m so used to him in flared jeans and a t-shirt. I’m used to normal Richie, not this wicked boy. I don’t know him anymore, and I frown.

He sits at a table, all covered in tattoos and piercings that weren't there before. It looks like he belongs. Like he’s himself and I’m less sad. He doesn’t notice me yet, I don’t know how long I stand in the doorway.

“Are you okay? Do you want to go?” Jake is eager, he’s just waiting for the words and he will bolt out.

I don’t blame him, Jake’s strong, but he’s nothing compared to the other men in the bar, neither of us were. He would be pummeled.

Where I stand lean and slim with c-cup breasts and wide hips, I have little to no muscles. Jake stands a head taller than me, and although he worked out, his muscles look pathetic if I compared them to anyone else inside.

“I’m okay.” I bite my lip, pushing away my doubt and I make my way to his table, not caring if Jake follows or not. Halfway there, Richie sees me. Our eyes connect and my nerves skyrocket when I reach him.

“What are you doing here, Jessica?” He crosses his arms over his chest, and all conversation at the nearby tables stop.

He stares at me, and then at Jake behind me, and I’m trying my best to ignore his friends and I can feel all my courage drain into liquid. It’s so hard though. They all stare at me, glare over my shoulder at Jake behind me, and I wonder, has he ran away yet?

I peak over my shoulder, try to look casual but I can see the closest guy to me smirk and I shiver. Jake is still there.

“And with him?” Richie asks.

I bite my lip to hide my disappointment, don't know why I expected a hug, I should know better. We're in front of his - I glance at the posse at his table, the three guys and one girl with bright pink hair.

I cringe, maybe bringing Jake with me is a bad idea. I step beside Richie, away from the man who stares at me with such cold blue eyes that he could freeze me into place, and insecurely glance at everyone else at his table. They're covered in some tattoos and piercings I take in the one who sits too close to Richie, his curly hair frames his face and his green eyes sparkle at me. The piercing in his nose makes him rebellious - tempting. I recognize him from one of Richies ** posts, his best friend, Luc.

“Jessica?” He asks, he raises a thick eyebrow. His voice sends a shiver down my spine, the sound of gravel, something wicked. Not the sweet baritones of the men in Hill hedge. I can see why the women up there are drawn to these boys.

“Wait,” A girl with bubblegum hair speaks up from where she sits across from him, “This is your sister?” She sneers at me. She eyes me up and down, and I feel her clear hostility. I fear Richie said nothing but bad things about me to them. My shoulders shrink.

“No wonder you wanted to escape Hill Hedge, look at the way she’s dressed.” Bubblegum girl snorts, leaning forward into the table, and for a moment, she reminds me of a pink pig. The thought makes me smile.

The others chuckle with her, and I’m awkward in my clothes.

“Is this what you wore before?” The man beside the Green-eyed one speaks, a devious smirk on his handsome face. His brown eyes may have been black, matching his black styled hair. “Damn,” He shakes his head, “That’s just torcher.”

“Nikki, you’ve seen him dressed like that before. And you were all over him then too.” The man sitting beside Bubblegum girl, well, more she sits on his lap, says. I can’t find it in myself to look away from him. The one with Ice as eyes.

His brown hair is pulled back into a ponytail. “But you make a fair point.” He crosses his tattooed arms over his chest. His dark eyes fell on me and a chill ran down my spine. “We know first hand how," He pauses and as if he could see through the fabric, he took in my figure with slow eyes, "Deceiving clothes can be."

“I beg your pardon?” I frown at him.

“I’m sitting right here.” Bubblegum girl hisses out and slaps his defined arm. Why was his shirt missing sleeves?

I stare at the sinful man. I stare at his tattoos, one, in particular, catching my eye. It’s the Grim Reaper holding his scythe over a dying little girl. Death is protecting her soul from the demons that surrounded them.

He’s gruff, something of a man I’ve never seen in Hill Hedge, and I can't help but compare to how different he is from Jake. How they all are.

Before this, Jake was the toughest guy I knew, but now as I stand in the Lion's den, Jake is nothing more than less.

I squirm under his gaze.