A/N: Finally catching up with what I have posted on Ao3. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think!
Chapter 5: Paradise City
She regretted her choice. David led the pack, but all the boys sped down the street, weaving in between each other and the other cars on the road. She clung tighter to David than she intended to. It only seemed to encourage him. It would have been one thing if she had a helmet, but all she could think about was the fact that if they crashed, they were dead at this speed.
She slapped her hand on David's back when they finally stopped and she stumbled off. Paul was there to catch her. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she hit him in the arm again.
"What's wrong Darcy?" he asked, grinning slightly at her.
"You're what's wrong! You want to risk your life, that's fine, but don't do that shit when I'm with you!"
"We wouldn't have let anything happen to you," Paul said, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"You can't promise that at 80mph." She looked around. "Where are we?"
"San Jose!" Marko called out.
"Come on, babe," Paul tried to steer her towards the building across the street. There were people mingling outside.
She pushed his arm off. "This better be what you promised."
"All that and more," David said as he lit a cigarette. He no longer looked amused though. Whatever. It wasn't her problem he had to suffer the consequences of his actions.
"Well? Let's go!"
It was the best experience she's had since she got here. She didn't have to worry about being hit on since the guys seemed to form a barricade around her. She stood out enough with her style and hair colour. There was no concern that someone would realize she came here alone. It wasn't like anyone would look for her if anything happened to her.
It was strange seeing the band. They were so much younger than she remembered and she didn't recognize all of them. It didn't matter. They still sounded fucking amazing. It was worth being sent back in time just for this.
The guys didn't hesitate to headbang with the music and while some of the songs were a little rough, they played several of her favourites. She got damn lucky. It was hell trying not to sing along though. She slipped up a few times, but it was loud enough that she doubted anyone heard her or even noticed. How could she not though when they played Sweet Child of Mine or and Don't Cry?
Concerts left her feeling high. It was the energy of the place, of everyone dancing and singing. People came to concerts to have a good time and left slightly exhausted but feeling great. Or at least, she did. It didn't even matter that the only reason she was here was due to the bikers who had apparently been following her around. She had to hand it to them, this went a long way to winning her over.
Paul shoved Marko as they left which led to him shoving back. Neither seemed concerned about the others around them. Dwayne stepped up next to her, keeping them from knocking her over.
"I'm starving," she glanced around. "Any chance I can grab food before we head back?"
"Whatever you want babe," Paul called out. "I could eat!" he started laughing until Marko shoved him again.
"What do you want Darcy?" David asked.
"The world," she answered automatically. "For now though, I'm good with pizza."
"Well boys, Darcy wants pizza."
"Come on," Dwayne motioned for her to lead the way. David fell into step on her other side and she heard Marko and Paul follow behind them. There was a line at the pizza place down the street but apparently, the bikers she was with didn't believe in waiting. She was pushed ahead to the front, the protests from the other customers falling silent as the men looked at them. It was an unusual experience and she wasn't entirely sure if she liked it or not. Being the centre of attention was..not uncommon but not exactly comfortable either.
She was shoved into a corner booth in between Marko and Paul while the others sat across from them. Paul threw an arm around her shoulders while Marko turned to face her slightly, his thigh pressing into hers.
"Um, what can I get you?"
Darcy looked up at the waitress. The woman glanced between them, shifting slightly as she held her notepad.
"What do you want, babe?" Marko asked.
"Can I just get a slice of like pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers?"
"Make it a large," David spoke up. "For the table."
"Get us a round of cokes too," Paul said. "Our girl likes it." He turned and winked at her.
"Your girl?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He just grinned back. "You wish."
"You know it, babe."
The waitress disappeared quickly and as Darcy looked around, she caught the other patrons casting them looks. She didn't know if it was their clothes or hair or something else. Maybe they all felt the same thing she did when she's under the men's focus. Like prey facing a predator. After all, they weren't the only ones that had come from the concert.
"How long you been in Santa Carla?" Marko asked. Paul lifted up a piece of her hair and seemed to be playing with it.
"Few weeks. You?"
"Feels like forever," he answered. She caught David's smirk while Paul laughed. "Where'd you come from? Before here?" Marko asked again.
"What's with all the questions?"
"Just curious."
"Just trying to get to know ya," Paul teased. "How often do we meet time travellers?"
"Then you should know I can't answer that," she quipped back. If they wanted to play on her last excuse, she was going to take it. "Might mess with the future."
"You don't strike me as a type to care," David cut in.
"I do if it affects me."
The waitress appeared with a tray of drinks. She placed one down in front of everyone and gave a nod when Darcy thanked her. She scuttled away fast.
"Are you being purposefully rude or is that your natural state?" Darcy looked over the boys. They didn't answer. David just gave another smirk, as if he was keeping a secret to himself. Paul laughed. She glanced around the restaurant again. A couple at the other table were glaring at them. She gave them the finger.
That made the guys laugh harder and Paul's arm tightened around her shoulders. It was an odd feeling to be encouraged, that they didn't just admonish her. She should have known better but she was far too used to people assuming the worst of her without any justification.
Something tapped on her forehead. She scowled automatically and shoved Paul away. "What?"
"Making sure you don't get lost in there babe."
"Jealous I'm not paying attention to you?"
"Always," he grinned.
A hand touched her thigh, drawing her attention to Marko. "You never answered our question."
"You never answered mine."
He just grinned at her. "Which one?"
"Precisely."
The waitress returned, placing a large pizza on the table. "Anything else?"
"We're good," Darcy waved her off. No need to stress the woman out sticking around with these men. Waitressing was a hard enough gig already.
She grabbed the slice in front of her and took a bite. It beat Boardwalk pizza and diner food by a mile. She ate faster than she intended. How long had it been since she ate today? Her need for...vengeance and then the excitement of the concert overrode her hunger. It all came rushing back as soon as she had food in front of her.
"That's quite the appetite you have," David said as she grabbed the second slice.
"Shove it, asshole," she took a bite and continued as soon as she swallowed. "God forbid a girl eat instead of starving herself."
"I like it," Paul leaned forward and tried to nuzzle his face against hers. She reached up and shoved him away from her. "Gotta love a girl who's soft."
"If you even start that stupid more cushion phrase, I will stab you." She still had the knife in her pocket. While she was boxed in, it wasn't impossible, but she had to get home. If she stabbed them, they might leave her here. She was just tired of hearing that phrase. People said it like it was an excuse, like they had to justify their attraction.
"Maybe we like a bit of violence," Paul grinned. "You can stab me anytime."
She snorted, somehow unsurprised by his comments. "Thanks for the permission," she said dryly. "You not eating?" A couple of them had taken slices after she got her first, but so far she was the only one really eating. Paul picked up his slice at her comment and started to shove it in his mouth.
"We'll get something later," David said with a smirk. "Enjoy the show?"
"It was great," she took a sip of the coke in front of her. "How'd you find out about it?"
"How'd you know the lyrics?"
She froze. "What?"
"The lyrics, Darcy. How did you know them?" David leaned forward slightly, staring at her intently.
"Hmm?" she raised her eyebrows.
"You were singing."
She shot a dark look towards Dwayne. "It's not that difficult to figure out the tune or the chorus to a song once it gets going."
"Maybe she knew them in the future," Paul teased.
"I am a time traveller, after all," she drawled. They laughed.
"Oh yeah? What am I like in the future?" Marko asked.
"How should I know? You think I came back in time to find you?" She took another sip of her drink.
"Like you can resist us," Paul said.
"I'll try to hold back."
"Don't," David said. He leaned forward slightly over the table, staring her down. "No fun if you hold back."
She swallowed tightly. The man was intense. All of them were when they wanted to be. She had never been told not to hold back though. That was interesting.
"Um, are you done?" The staredown was broken at the sound of a new voice. She looked up to see a busboy, offering to take the plates. He was looking at her, smiling hopefully.
"See something you like?" The guy turned at the sounds of David's voice. The man across from her was glaring at the busboy.
"No?" The guy's voice cracked as he said it.
"That sounds like a question. What do you think, boys?" David's tone had gone dark. It was almost as though he was attempting to match the oppressive air they were good at creating.
"Knock it off," Darcy cut in.
"Maybe he has an eye for beauty?" Marko suggested.
"Looked like he was looking at our girl," Paul had a vicious grin.
"Enough!" Darcy grabbed the fork and slammed it on the table, inches from where David's hand was. All of their eyes turned to her. She glared at them. "He didn't do anything. It's bad enough to be fucking working in a restaurant. They don't need you harassing them." David's eyes darkened as she spoke. "I want to go home."
"Darce," Marko tried to reason with her. "We're just having fun."
"It's not fun. Not for me and not for them. They get enough shit to deal with. We don't need to add to it. Let's pay and go." She turned and shoved Paul until he moved. The men all followed. She stopped to throw some money down on the table.
"We got it, babe," Paul said, wrapping his arm around her again. She shrugged him off and stormed out of the place.
She pulled out a cigarette and lit it, walking over to where their bikes were. She had little patience for people who were rude to those working in the service industry. It reminded her too much of being home and working as a waitress herself. The guys weren't far behind. Paul cheered as they saw her. "You gonna ride with me?"
She kept smoking and waited, watching as they all climbed onto their bikes. She dropped the cigarette and stomped it out, twisting her foot to ensure it was done. She went straight to Marko. He had pissed her off the least so far.
He grinned widely as she straddled the bike behind him. "Alright, Darce?"
"If you take me anywhere else but home, I'm never fucking speaking to any of you ever again. Got it?"
He didn't answer as David took off.
She half expected them to leave her at the boardwalk. Instead, as she leaned and rested her cheek against Marko's back, they all pulled up at her motel. The drive back was still insane, though Marko seemed to remember her comments to David when they got to the concert and hadn't done nearly as many death-defying leans near other cars.
She got off the bike and turned to face them. "Thanks. For the invite, the concert and the pizza. Despite the whole ending, I had a good time. And thanks for, y'know, not murdering me."
The men looked between each other.
"Now why would we do that, Darcy?" David asked.
"Yeah, how often we gonna find a time traveller?" Paul grinned like he was in on some joke she wasn't. Little did he know.
She glanced at each of them. Marko was leaning forward and grinning as he watched her. Paul was tapping on the front of his bike. David was pulling out a cigarette and Dwayne was watching her. She nodded to the latter. "Thanks for being my lookout." He nodded back. "Alright, night boys." She gave a wave and headed inside before they could try to convince her to do something else.
"Dream of us, babe!"
[tbc]