Turn Me Bad

Chapter 2

It was the following day when, returning home from work, the yearnings of the previous night grew strong in Violet again and there was the real urge to do something out of character. Regardless that Abby had seemed to talk sense about Caitlin being in the wrong, there was the need to be looked at differently the next time she walked through the door. She didn’t expect to have a man on her arm or anything like that, but just a little something out of the ordinary would do. A small victory, like staying out later than usual, might be enough to wind her brother’s girl up and have her wondering.

It was Friday night and staying out was hardly unusual. There was a bar Violet walked passed on the edge of town, just around the corner from her business, that she had occasionally thought about going into. Or wished she was in company so that she could do so and not be alone. It looked like a fun place, maybe slightly boisterous. Not enough to put you off if you were in company, but just enough to see her hold back from going in alone.

Despite her yearning, Violet thought this evening might go the same way and see her walk past. However, there was a sudden observation that caused her to slow down and take a better look inside. There was some kind of mini music festival going on in the bar. The place was bustling, and she could just make out what looked like the top of a stage peeking out over the fencing. Before that, she hadn’t even been sure that those grounds had been part of the bar’s decor, but there were twice as many people as usual, and the bar inside clearly was doing great business.

Violet didn’t recognize any of the band names listed on the billboard, and, as she hadn’t seen anything about the festival advertised locally, she imagined the music fans present must have occupied a particular niche and been present through word of mouth. What was more important to her was that they didn’t appear to be embracing a particular trend; if everyone present had been dressed as a goth or a metal-head, then she would have felt a little out of place. Whatever the draw happened to be, the dress was fairly casual and so she found herself daring to head on inside.

With so many present, Violet felt she could blend in easily without looking like she was a piece of meat standing at the bar. Especially if there was to be music in a short while and a crowd of people all with their attention focused on the stage.

It was perfect, she thought. She could have a few drinks and cause Jeremy and Caitlin to wonder where she had gone to. Though deep down she had a desire to be more outgoing and perhaps even meet someone special, Violet was still treating this as far-fetched considering that no guy had struck up a conversation with her for so long. Mostly she thought about turning up at home a little tipsy and at least look like there was the distant possibility that she might have been having a good time. She happened to know that both of them had poured all their resources into a trip to New York next month and so were saving up their spending money by taking it easy.

The biggest barrier to overcome was the walk through all the parked cars to step inside and approach the bar itself. Once she had a drink in her hand (and perhaps half of it inside her), she thought she might stop worrying about feeling out of place.

She did her best not to look shy or out of place as she headed towards the entrance, putting her sunglasses on in thinking they might help her to give nothing away. Her intention was to walk purposefully, not to break her stride until standing at the bar, but her curiosity got the better of her when she was passing by the final line of cars and heard an altogether different mode of transport approaching.

The roar of an engine turned more heads than hers alone, and she turned to see the crowd give way to the oncoming biker. He wasn’t messing around in finding a space like the other cars doing circles; instead, he made straight for the entrance and where she was standing. Even if the bands had started playing, it was likely that everyone would have noticed his arrival, and Violet couldn’t help but wonder where such confidence came from, in that he did not flinch or appear sheepish at all in pulling up with everyone looking his way. Neither did he look at all ruffled when turning the engine off and taking off his helmet, even though he was young and clean-shaven.

Violet did not know enough about bikes to know whether he was driving a Harley-Davidson, or whether it was a model of similar style. If it was the former, then she was surprised not to find a big 70s-style moustache under the helmet – though he did have heavily-tattooed arms. From what little she knew, she had always assumed Harley riders to be the more mature bikers and to ride around in groups. This guy was young, turned up alone, and, if you gave him a change of clothes, he could have been one of her work colleagues or college mates. It was a bold getup for a young guy to adopt, especially if he was a stranger here, and she thought she could do with bottling up some of his brashness considering how tentative her own silent approach had been.

It was while all these reflections were going through her mind that she realized something very unexpected; the biker boy was looking at her.

It was her own fault really. Taken aback as she was by his entrance, Violet had stopped in her tracks and was staring right at him, even as he pulled up but a few feet away. Perhaps she didn’t account for the likelihood that he might take any note of her at all, but he was staring at her alright, almost as if she stood out as much as he did.

The whole thing made her feel paranoid about what she really looked like. Breaking the link and seeking to regain her composure, Violet headed through the wide open double doors before any second thoughts about being there at all once again caused her to doubt herself.

In doing so, she was surprised to find she got served almost immediately. The bar was actually thinning out a little as the crowd was beginning to flock towards the stage area, meaning the first act must have been getting underway. This proved ideal for getting a vodka and orange inside her quickly, but then it also proved disconcerting when, as she waited for her drink, a pair of leather gloves was placed down on the bar alongside her.

In sudden close proximity, Violet couldn’t help but glance to her left and catch his eyes. When he said “Hi” to her, she almost felt her heart jump out of her chest, and, expecting he must have been talking to someone else even though he had looked at her, she managed a brief but aloof smile just in case he really meant her.

For his part, the biker looked neither put out nor hesitant that no greater acknowledgement came, turning casually to the barman, as her very own vodka and orange was set down, and ordering a double whisky straight.

Violet could have just taken her drink then and disappeared, but the truth was that she had nowhere else to go and the bar was a convenient place to start the evening while the crowd’s attention was becoming fixed elsewhere. It was absurd to even attempt a conversation with someone so confident as this biker boy. He was Caitlin fodder and would surely draw the fastest and giddiest blonde in the place as soon as she could accidentally bump into him and spill her drink. At the same time, it really didn’t look like he had said “Hi” to the barman and a little voice inside her head seemed to be saying, go on say something to him. It was certainly a convenient time to do so and she surprised herself by chirping up:

”Do you enjoy riding that bike?”

”It’s OK,“ he replied. ”Sometimes I’d prefer a nice soft top so I can stretch back and relax, but the bike helps me get through the busy traffic and out of the city. It’s a bit more convenient.”