Chapter 3
1610 Words
Natalia
Once I get to the handball court, I begin to jog lightly. I need to catch up with them. I do not want to be responsible for her things any longer.
I watch them crawl under a broken fence to leave the park. They cross the street. They walk into another gate, then they walk into the neighborhood's biker club, which is across the street from the park. There are so many motorcycles parked there. That reminds me of Blake and Drew. They would always talk about Drew's uncle, who taught them to ride his motorcycle. My brother always said he couldn't wait to buy his own bike.
That place is known for being big and dangerous.
Their front doors are red, and they have huge black skulls painted on the outside.
I follow behind.
Watching them walk in makes me realize the place isn't as big and dangerous as it seems. If Jace and his friends walked in, like nothing. I think about it for just a moment.
Eh, why the f*ck not. I make my way to the gate.
I open it and walk in. Maybe anyone is allowed in here? I look around, not sure why I feel guilty all of a sudden. I'm not a known daredevil. I don't go around breaking into places to return people's belongings. This is so unlike me.
I see the big buff man standing in front of the big red doors and my heart begins to race. He looks scary, but I live with David, and there's no way this man is worse than him.
I am not a people person, so I make the quick decision to just ignore him and walk past. Hopefully, by acting invisible, he won't disturb my goal of getting this back to its rightful owner.
"Okay red head, I know you are not just going to walk past me like I'm not standing here?" I laugh. This man is tall, and he looks like he lives in the gym part-time. His body is extra ripped, but his voice. Oh my goodness. His voice didn't catch up with his body. I have never seen such a big man with such a soft, squeaky voice. He scrunches his face and looks disturbed. I realize my mistake and get myself together.
"Hello, sir. I just need to get inside your establishment for a second. Jace, forgot this at the skate lot, and I am just making sure he gets it back. I heard him say how important it is to him," I don't even want to look at him. He will know I am full of it. What if he says no? I just look down at the ground and play with my shoe, hoping he doesn't ask me anything else. "Go ahead then sweetheart," he winks at me. I smile and walk towards the door. I don't know what I was even expecting, but it sure wasn't this be my first interaction here.
I walk in, and it's just a hallway with a carpet and a black curtain on the other end. There are random pictures of motorcycles and what look like posters of rock bands and certificates with a bunch of different names on them.
I don't want to get caught being curious, so I walk past the curtain. I do not expect to find so many pairs of eyes staring back at me when I do.
I sort of freeze.
It seems like everyone is frozen. No-one says anything for a moment.
I decide to break the awkward silence, so I can give this girl her belongings and leave.
I hold the bag up in the air. For some reason, I expect these random people to know that I am looking for Jace. I feel the heat crawling up my face. I am so dumb. I spot a familiar face though. The other guy who was with Jace smiles and walks over to me.
"Is that Mia's?" he asks me. I nod. "I got it back for her," I say. He smiles bigger.
"Hey, who's this random girl?" I watch an older version of this guy come over and stand next to us.
"Oh, I'm Natalia," I say. "I'm Michael, but my friends call me Mike," Jace's friend says. He extends his hand for me to shake. I suddenly feel self-conscious, because my hands are always sweaty. I don't want to be weird and not shake it either, so I just grab his hand, shake it and let it go as quickly as I can.
"And I am Billy, Michael's older brother. Nice to meet you random girl," he winks. What is up with these guys winking? At least this guy has a normal voice. "Nice to meet you," I say.
They are both very good-looking. I love their hairy eyebrows. They look like caterpillars. Their black hair looks like something out of a movie.
"Come with me, Natalia. The guys here let my friends and I keep the basement. We made it into our little cave. It's our space while they hang out here doing their stup1d biker sh1t. We normally hang out down there, and the guys are there now." He pulls me away, through a door and down some stairs.
As I walk down, I see Jace, trying to comfort the girl, Mia, but they both stop talking and stare when they hear us coming down.
I notice the moment Jace realizes who I am. His face turns a bright shade of red.
I get to the bottom stairs and step down.
I stand at the bottom and stare in awe. I turn, taking it all in.
"Wow, this place is amazing!" I say.
"Really? You like it?" Mia asks me and I nod.
"Yes. I wish I had a safe place like this," I say.
I realize the word I used. I also notice the look that passes through them. I could slap myself. I don't normally make mistakes like that. I don't use the wrong words. Mistakes like this can get me caught up.
"Oh, well, I decorated it. I mean, I did what I could with what I had to work with. I am the only girl in the group, so I have to fight with these two to make changes, but I think it looks cool so far," she sounds so excited to talk about her decorating skills.
"Pink and green glow in the dark curtains would look sick here, and the LED lights behind the TV are the perfect touch. Move this poster here, so this part of the wall isn't empty, and I think it will really level this place up," I say.
Another look passes between them, and I get that feeling again. It's as if something is sitting heavy on my throat. Like if I say the wrong thing, they won't like me, which is strange, because I have never cared about that, but the way Mike looked at me and the smiles he gave me. They made me feel something...different.
I shake my head. What are these thoughts? As long as David is around, it's best I don't have any friends. I don't need to get any funny ideas.
I stick my arm out, with her makeup bag.
"Well, this belongs to you," She stares at me with some kind of admiration, and that makes me feel even stranger. Mike elbows her when she doesn't take it. She chuckles nervously and grabs it from my hands. She just stares at it like she can't believe it's back in her possession.
"You really shouldn't let anyone bully you like that, especially someone like Monica," I say. Jace's eyes are wide.
"Natalia. I'm Jace. We have had classes together since freshman year," I smile.
"I know. Well, I just wanted you to get your stuff back. Next time, don't be afraid to punch her in the face," I tell her, and walk out of there, because I need to get home.
I rush back up the stairs and out through the curtain.
"Wait," I turn around.
"I didn't even get to say thank you... I'm Mia Gallardo, and this truly means so much to me. I really should do a better job at sticking up for myself, but those girls can be scary," I roll my eyes.
"They aren't scary. Next time someone tries to do or say something to you, tell them to go take it up with Natalia ," I tell her and walk out the big red doors. I have no idea why I even told her to do that. I am not trying to bring any attention to myself, but I feel sorry for her. I will defend her at school like I wish someone would defend me at home.
Mia
She walked out the front doors, yet here I stand, waving at the air like a lunatic.
I don't care!
"Did that really happen? Did one of the popular girls just come here and not only give me my stuffed back, but also say that I could tell a bully to take it up with her? Ahhhh!!!"
"Calm down, Mia," I hear Jace say, but my mind explodes with all the ideas of fun things I can do with my new friend. "I can't believe a popular girl wants to be my best friend," I say.
Micheal laughs and mumbles something about me being delusional, but I ignore him and go back to our cave.
"Where can I find glow in the dark curtains?" I ask them.
"Are those even a thing?" Jace asks.
I shrug.
Mike groans.
- Writer
