Page 18 of Greased

I look around and take in the re-designed room. There is a massive California king bed centred in the room. The sheets are a light grey with a few coloured pillows for decoration. One of the walls is practically all window letting in the beautifully Californian sun. A long seat stretches underneath with a few of the same coloured pillows from the bed scattered across it. The room is fairly bare leaving it for me toget creative with how I want to decorate. There is a second door that I assume leads to an ensuite.

“I love it, Rhodes. You guys did a good job.” I smile up at my brother.

“Don’t give me too much credit. A few of the old ladies came over and decorated it for you.” I smile at that.

“I will give you a bit of time to settle in and unpack. Tonight, I want to take you out to Pinks’ and I guess reintroduce you to everyone. I think Dad is planning on having a big meeting with everyone in the next couple of days, but I thought it would be good to give you a chance to warm up a bit before you are just thrown to the vultures.”

With that he comes over and gives me a hug. I’m surprised at the gesture for a moment before I wrap my arms around him. “I don’t think I’m ever going to stop saying it but I’m so glad you are home, Scar.”

“I’m so happy to be home.”

Rhodes eventually lets me go before he turns around and shuts the door to the room, leaving me to the silence. I let out a breath and start to unpack the boxes of stuff that flew over earlier in the week.

Rhodes eventually knocks on my door, startling me from my unpacking and gives me an hour's warning before we leave to go to Pinks’.

I jump in and give myself a quick shower and wash my hair. This bathroom is nearly as big as my entire room back in Australia. It's obvious that no expense was spared when building the house. I’m grateful but it's absolutely unnecessary. Although that’s not going to stop me from absolutely spoiling myself to a little pamper session.

With no idea what kind of dress code Pinks’ Lounge has, I opt for a pair of light wash Mum jeans, a long sleeve crop top and a pair of converse. Simple but as I look in the mirror I smile, happy with how cute I feel.

I give my hair a quick curl and decide to do a full face of makeup. I’ve never been able to successfully master the effortlessness that is a swish of mascara and lip gloss. Props to the girls that can. But me? It's a full face of makeup or nothingat all.

I meet Rhodes in the garage. He’s standing beside a Harley with two helmets in his hands. The sight of the bike makes me miss my own even more. Would it be too far if I asked Noah for photos of my bike? Like some kind of fucked up divorced parent situation. Rhodes hands me a helmet and I chuck it on quickly and jump on behind him.

God only knows how he rides so I make sure to hold onto him tight. Last time I made the mistake of not holding on properly, I sailed off the end of my mate Locky’s bike. Something I don’t want to relive any time soon. I don’t feel like adding more scars to my collection.

How appropriate, Scar who is covered in scars. Punny.

As we ride through the streets, I try to take note of where everything is. Thank God the little community is small, but I would at least prefer to not look like an absolute wanker and get lost.

I hear a rumble coming our way and look down the street. Five bikes drive in formation and I take them all in.

Two, of whom I assume are guys, are driving Harleys like Rhodes’ bike. The third guy is riding an all-black Ducati Panigale with the fourth riding a Ducati Xdiavel.

Holy. Fucking. Drool.

But what really gets my attention is a brand-new Kawasaki KX450. The green of the bike stands out amongst the other blacked out bikes. My jaw drops. I’m sure a little bit of that previous drool would be swinging behind me in the breeze if it wasn’t for my helmet. I’ve had my eye on that bike for such a long time and to finally see it in the flesh thrills me.

I try to take in as much as I can of the five guys riding the bikes, but the visors don’t give anything away.

Shit, for all I know they could be wrinkly old dudes under those helmets. Normally, those three types of bikes would never ride along together. I don’t know why, but I assume it's some kind of bike culture bullshit. But these guys are and, fuck me, it suits them.

As we pass each other, all the guys give Rhodes a nod of respect in which he returns. I swear I can feel their eyes burning into my skin as they try to work out who is on the back of his bike. My own visor hides my identity, only my clothes and hair blowing out under the helmet give away anything about me. I kind of like holding onto the anonymous illusion. At least for as long as I can.

My mind stays back on the five mysterious men on the bikes even as we pull up to Pinks’ Lounge. I have to physically shake myself out of my daydream, like I’m still lost in the mystery of who they were. Rhodes gives me a funny look as we get off his bike and take off the helmets.

He laughs a little as I try to fix my hair that’s now all over the place.

I give him a death stare watching as all it takes to sort his helmet hair is a little shake of his head and a comb through with his fingers.

Fucking men.

“Come on Scar, let’s head in. Shelly will just be dying to see you.”

We head into the club and I’m instantly overwhelmed. Being told that Pinks’ is a gentlemen’s club, I instantly thought of just a normal strip club like the ones back home. While there is nothing at all wrong with them and their vibe, Pinks’ is completely different.

The lingerie the ladies are wearing is classy. Yes, it is essentially underwear but there’s just something extra that gives it a level of elegance and pure sex appeal. Goddamn, these women are making me want tobend a little which is saying something considering dick is all it has ever been for me.

The mood lighting is set dim. There is a large stage at the back of the room. Band equipment is set up towards the side of the back of the stage, not to interfere too much with the runway that leads to a lone pole sitting in the middle of the room. A red head with the most beautiful curly hair is currently spinning around on the pole whilePour it Upplays in the background.

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