Saturday, January Nineteenth, 6:12

It was well past the time the bus was supposed to pick me up in a town that was seventy miles from here. I don’t know which band is supposed to be the ones to finally get me home, but I hoped that they would wait for me, or maybe Ricky had called to tell them they should be on the lookout.

It would be a long walk to journey, but if I talked to a person who was in this church, they could get me to Goldfield quickly.

I pushed open the doors. Handprints smattered the glass, a sign that janitors hadn’t been here to clean it in some time. I stepped onto the carpet. My feet were aching and my ankle throbbed. I stooped to itch at the bandage before standing straight again.

Rowdy conversations drifted from down a hall. With light steps, I approached double doors. A bright room illuminated the hall. Lights flickered absentmindedly, as if they couldn’t decide to be on or off. Peering through a tiny glass pane, I witnessed thirty or more bikers all decked out in their gear and tattoos. I didn’t see him.

Pushing through the doors, I felt lost amongst the sea of men and woman all in their tough skin and gritty laughs. Everyone was gathered around tables or huddled in corners. My eyes scanned the room, but everyone was staring at the newcomer: me.

The room fell quiet. Hushed whispers pierced the veil of silence. The stares of sixty eyes clawed away at my confidence until I was stripped bare. I was a skeleton strung up in the trees, bones rattling and creaking out of fear.

“Orion?” A voice wafted from the corner. I turned to the voice. A man pushed past his friends and came forward. I sighed as I saw it was Grey. His grin was infectious. I waved weakly. Grey trotted up in front of everybody. His arm slung around my shoulders.

“Hello, Grey.” I whispered to him. He gave me a tight hug which I gladly returned. It was nice to see a friendly face. His smoky eyes seemed cheery. The murmurs died down and it was completely quiet.

“I didn’t think I’d see you again, Rory! What a surprise, and you kept the jacket! You still look great in it.” He chuckled, tugging at my sleeve. I blushed and looked down.

“Thanks, Grey.” I stared down at his inked hands, trying to focus my attention on something other than the fact that literally everyone was watching us in the middle of the room.

“Who is this, Greyson? And why does she have a Screaming Angels jacket? I don’t recall seeing her.” An older man said. I saw Regency and Howler, the other two Angels I had met, smile and nod to me in the corner. The older man that questioned Grey was staring at us not unkindly, but with curiosity in his eyes. Other chorused with the same question. Grey moved his hold on me down to my hip, keeping me close to him. He must’ve sensed my nervousness.

“This is Orion and she is the girl I was telling you about. I gave her my other jacket.” Grey announced proudly. I blushed harder and leaned into his side, giving my injured ankle a rest. At the moment that Grey said he gave me his other jacket, many of the guys around his age whistled and hollered. The girls all chuckled and grinned.

“You sure know how to pick ‘em.” The same man hollered. Grey was now a dark pink. The heat rose to the tips of his ears. I looked at him curiously as the conversation resumed to normal. Some girls came up towards Grey and turned to me. I shied back into his arms.

“So you’re Orion. It’s nice to meet you.” One held out her hand. She looked a little older than Grey. Both of them did. They could’ve been sisters.

“You as well.” I returned shyly as I shook her hand. The girls had two matching tattoos on their shoulders, just peeking out beneath their jackets.

“I’m Whirl and this is Wind. We’re from the Nevada division of the Screaming Angels.” The girl named Whirl announced cheerily. Their green eyes seemed to read my soul. My mouth went numb. I had no clue what to say to them. I’m not a biker! I don’t know how to talk bikes with them!

“Oh Grey! She’s so shy and adorable! She looks good in your jacket” Wind chuckled and winked at the man. Grey let go of me, mumbling an excuse to go talk to Howler. Once again, I was skin and bones quaking in fear.

“Um, I’m a little confused. Why is it such a big deal to have his jacket?” I asked softly. Whirl and Wind both chuckled. Their eyes shining bright. Wind twirled, showing off the logo on the back of the jacket. When she turned to face me again, she tapped a little stitched name on the side right breast pocket.

“Guys give their extra jackets to girls who caught their eye. Grey keeps telling the story over and over about how he met this girl who was just absolutely stunning, absolutely breathtaking, and he just absolutely had to find her again, but he would just wait for when she had the time to call him up. He keeps saying that you seemed anxious to get to some place and he would wait as long as you needed until you wanted to come and see him again. Grey speaks very highly of you.” Whirl explained. I couldn’t help but stare at my worn shoes and smile slowly. Grey really was a very handsome and caring man.

“He was telling me that he gave you his jacket because he not only wanted you to remember him, but your first motorcycle ride as well. Grey was honored he could give it to you.” Wind continued. I looked up to the twins. They were awing at their own jackets as they explained. Wind’s jacket had Ryker and Whirl’s had the name Pisces.I nearly jumped in excitement as I read the constellation’s name.

“Hey! I know that name! It’s the name of a zodiac sign, a constellation! It’s a fish, right?” I asked. Whirl’s eyes brightened. She nodded happily.

“Yeah! That’s my boyfriend’s Zodiac sign, so that’s why he chose the biker name. He loves constellations and astronomy. Orion is a constellation, right?” She asked. I nodded, growing in excitement and comfort.

“Yeah, it is! Who is Ryker, if I may ask?” I asked Wind, trying to make conversation. She blushed and shoved her hands deeper into her pockets.

“He’s my husband. We met a while ago and had a kid, named Stryke. He was a biker as well, but didn’t belong to any official clubs for a while. He’s a part of the Screaming Angels, but not really an active member. His name was Ryker, but his biker name was Stryke. Stryke is about twenty five now, I think. He’s in a club in California and he has a girlfriend. Her name is Arabelle, I believe.” Wind got lost in the moments talking about her husband. There was a faraway look in her eyes, like she and her partner had gone through trial and tragedy, but there was hope still lighting up in her eyes like distant flares.

Grey came up, pulling me away from the conversation. The sisters giggled and turned away. I looked back up at the biker. He seemed to have brushed off his nervousness and was ready to talk to me again. I couldn’t help but feel warmer in his jacket now that I knew the meaning.

“Hey, I had something to ask of you.” I started off. He tilted his head curiously as we stood in the corner of the room.

“Anything.”

“I kind of need a ride to a town that’s about seventy miles from here.” I blurted out, unable to contain myself. Grey’s eyebrow arched in curiosity.

“Um, why? Are you okay? Is everything alright?” He asked hurriedly. I shrugged, not really wanting to explain every single thing, but not really wanting to keep secrets from a sweet man. He tapped his foot against his heel, waiting for an answer.

“It is, but do you remember when I told you that I escaped some people, well, the situation changed. The people kind of turned good, but they’re kind of keeping me hostage because they think it’s dangerous and it’s all just a mess, but I have a ride coming to pick me up in Goldfield but it’s coming really, really soon and I really, really have to get there quickly because technically I’m already late, but I have a feeling their still there.” I rushed through. After I was done speaking, I was almost gasping for air. Grey just nodded and shrugged. He leaned against the wall, his face an emotionless blur. I waited for something to tell me he could or couldn’t help me out. I would understand if he couldn’t because well, he had already done so much for me.

“Can I ask who these people are?”

“Well, I want to tell you, but I don’t want to drag you into this situation because it’s kind of sticky and messy.” I shrugged and pleaded apologetically. The man just nodded slowly.

“I understand if you don’t want to tell me know, but I hope you’ll tell me sometime in the future, okay?” I nodded. He smiled hopefully. “We can leave tomorrow morning, since I’m dead tired and drowsy driving isn’t safe. Is that alright? Will we be there in time?” He questioned. I thought for a moment before nodding.

“It sounds fine. I really don’t want to rush you.” I held up my hands in surrender. He gently reached up and pushed them down to my side again. I looked down to my shoes.

“There’s no rush, Rory. Look, the meeting’s coming to an end. The church offered us some rooms to stay in. And if you have a hotel…wait, please tell me you didn’t walk here.” He looked me straight in the eye as he paused. I stared him down, not saying anything. He said not to tell him!

“Rory….”

“You said not to tell you!”

“Orion!” He cried out. I shrugged once again and he took my hand, leading me out of the hall as he grumbled that I must be the most physically fit person on earth to be walking this much. I giggled and he pushed open a door. Small beds had been moved in to accommodate the biker conference. A couch was pulled out and sheets piled onto it. Grey showed me to it and gently made me sit. He set his jacket on a bag. I kicked off my shoes and set them down next to the bed along with my own jacket. I couldn’t help but admire Grey’s name on the breast pocket. Grey took a blanket and started to sit on the floor when I stopped him.

“No, I’m not making you sleep on the floor.” I stated firmly. He looked at me and shook his head.

“You can have the bed, no worries.”

“No.”

“Rory…” He sighed, like he was tired. I crossed my arms over my chest, putting a stoic expression on.

“No. Come on. I don’t care as long as you don’t.” I gestured to the bed that was really only made for one person, maybe two small people. Grey was anything but small. He sighed and slowly rolled on. I climbed under the covers and waited for him to join me. I didn’t mind if we shared a bed mostly because I had shared a bed with some band member for the past four months. It almost felt weird to sleep alone.

“You sure you don’t mind?” He asked in the dim lights. I nodded, edging towards him. His arm wrapped around my waist. Was this cheating on Ricky? Not when we weren’t officially dating. I mean, was me leaving even a breakup? Again, not if we weren’t really dating. I wasn’t some ‘crush whore’ or some slut that slept around with men. I was falling in love and being ripped away each time. I don’t want Grey to be another casualty of it, but I had his number. I could always reconnect through calls.

But right now, I just needed comfort. I don’t need to think about relationships or messiness or anything of the sort. I need someone who cares and someone who would protect me. Who better than a biker?

Grey tenderly held me against his chest. I smelled him on his shirt. As I closed my eyes, I drifted on, feeling weightless and dreamy. I couldn’t help but think back to Wind and her husband Ryker. That’s who I need in my life; someone who would traverse the storms with me, who would be by my side during the harsh bumps on life’s road. I need someone who is willing to be by my side forever and always. I need someone like a Ryker in my life.

I just don’t know who that is yet.

Notes

RYKER AND WIND....ANYBODY RECOGNIZE THE NAME???

RYKER, AS IN RYKER FROM THE DEAR AUSTIN TRIO AND NOW HE APPEARS AGAIN!

He just never really dies, does he? If you have no clue what I'm talking about, go read Dear Austin and then the next couple of stories to know what i'm talking about.

It will then hit you in the face like a ton of bricks.

But for now, enjoy the revelation of meeting Ryker's wife and having awesome connections to another story....

*mic drop*