Page 2 of Axel

The sounds of a heavy metal band blasted through the speakers, which hung above me, drowning out the conversations taking place. The sudden noise startled me back to reality. Thankfully, the loud thumping base from a Metallica song hid the growing beating of my heart, which I felt would jump out of my chest at any moment.

“Hey, perk up,” a voice carries over the loud music, jolting me from my own thoughts.

“Huh?” I asked, turning to face my best friend Lacy.

“You look like you are either about to faint or kill someone,” she teases, as she takes in the scene before us.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “I am just taking it all in.”

Well, at least that part was true. My best friend Lacy had been begging me to try out this new bar with her and after becoming frustrated with listening to her whining, I decided to go. “Let’s go get a drink,” Lacy said as she began to walk back through the crowd again. In my own daze, I hadn’t even seen her approach me and just as fast as she had arrived, she was gone again.

“Get your ass over here,” Lacy yelled, as she patted the empty barstool next to hers. “Ivy Allan, don’t make me drag you here myself,” she finished with a smirk.

Sucking in a heavy breath, I forced myself to walk further into this smoky bar.

I wasn’t sure why I had agreed to come with Lacy tonight. I normally spent my nights at home in the apartment we shared near campus. I was a twenty-one-year-old college student and as straight-laced as they come. I was the good kid, the girl who never disobeyed, never skipped a curfew in high school or drank alcohol or smoked or tried drugs. I was the opposite of Lacy, who in her younger years had pushed every boundary placed in front of her. Or at least that’s what she had told me. The only reason we became friends was that we were forced together our freshman year of college as roommates in our small dorm. We shared a hatred of the dorms and of most the girls living around us. We had decided to rent an apartment together the next year and had been friends ever since. I had hidden myself behind my books and the crowds of girls at the private prep school I had attended high school. I was always afraid to push myself to be the center of the stage. Somehow, Lacy saw in me something she liked and our friendship had only flourished over the last few years.

As I made my way up to the bar, I pushed past several sweaty guys that smelled like whiskey and leather. Finally walking over to Lacy, I sighed.

Seeing me, Lacy smiled. “This place is awesome,” Lacy beamed. “I really like the music and the bartender said the band is supposed to be epic,” she said.

Standing in the center of the crowded room, I watched as a band began to set up the stage for live music. The loud, hard rock music blared around us and I hoped the band would be better than whatever was playing now.

“How did you hear about the band?” I asked. I realized at that moment that I had never asked her where she learned about this place. It wasn’t the typical college bar where we usuallyhung out and it was far from campus, located on the far north side of town.

Taking another sip of her drink, Lacy tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. Her blue eyes sparkling as she glanced from the stage and then back to me. “Funny story,” she began and I groaned out loud. “A guy in my Sociology class gave me a flier for the band. I guess he knows the drummer,” she shrugged. “Plus, they do like wrestling matches or something, too. It sounds like a lot of fun!” She smiled brightly at me.

“So, you dragged me clear across town on a Thursday night because some guy gave you a flier?” I asked.

I knew my voice sounded shrill, but I couldn’t help it. I grew up with strict rules and upscale standards. Never in my life had I ventured into a place like this.

Suddenly, everything seemed more exciting. Realizing that my parents would absolutely hate this place made me start to love it.

“Yes, just relax and have fun,” Lacy stated, playfully shoving my arm.

With a smile now forming on my face, I decided to just go with the flow and enjoy the night. Grabbing her drink out of her hand, I took a big gulp

“That’s my girl,” Lacy cheered, as I allowed the alcohol to take effect.

“We have no business being here,” I screamed over the loud music.

“Relax,” Lacy said, waving off my worry. She was watching the bartender fill shot glasses with more whiskey and I rolledmy eyes as she winked when he caught her staring. Lacy’s confidence was either going to get her laid or us killed—I wasn’t sure which tonight.

“Lacy, this is a biker bar. We don’t drive motorcycles and we are so far from campus, I have no idea where we are exactly,” I whined. Even though I felt excited about being here, the logical side of my brain was still screaming for us to get the hell out of here.

I knew I was getting on her nerves, but I didn’t care. She had forced me to come with her and I knew she needed to hear how terrible and dangerous this idea was. For Lacy, she loved to push the boundaries and explore the world around her.

“You just need a drink of your own. There are some hot guys in here,” she said, waving her arms around the room.

Grabbing her hand, I tried to stop her. “Are you crazy? Everyone in here is already looking at us like we are insane. Pleasestop drawing more attention to us,” I yelled. “Besides, when have you ever been into guys with tattoos?” I asked.

The bartender chuckled as he watched us. “You girls have never been to a biker bar before, have you?” he asked, leaning his arms on the dark, cherry wood bar.

“No, but I like what I see,” Lacy said, biting her bottom lip while leaning closer to him, her boobs threatening to pop out of her tight shirt.

“What’s your name?” the bartender asked. His leather vest was open, revealing a rock-hard set of abs underneath. Tattoos snaked down his arms and a fierce beard covered his strong face. I had to admit, he wasn’t my type but he was hot.

“Lacy. What’s yours,” she asked, swirling the tiny black straw around in her drink.

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