The first time I saw him I was honestly scared of him. He was big, over six feet tall and I could tell from his build that he was well built. He was in all black the long sleeved shirt rolled up on his forearms showing black maze like tattoos. His chest was wide under the black button down that seemed to cling to his pecks. I followed the row of buttons up to his throat, which was covered by two rows of black bars on each side. His lips were very kissable, which is a very bad thought for me, but his bottom lip was pierced on the right side and a black steel ring running through the hole. Steely blue eyes studied me as I studied them and then I continued my way up. Over his right eyebrow there were two black steel studs that matched the plugs in his ears. His sandy blonde hair had been buzzed short on the sides but the top was long and gelled back into a fohawk.

"I hope you don't stare all of your customers down like that," he said with a smirk. I blushed and looked at the polished wood of the bar.

"What can I get you?" I said quietly.

"Whiskey neat, keep them coming and I'll make it worth the trouble, Stiff," He said. I nodded and grabbed a glass and fixed his drink. When I put it one the bar he took it and went and sat at the back corner table, watching the room. I told myself that the reason I kept looking at him was to make sure he wasn't running low on his drink. But the real reason was that I was curious. To me he was strange, I came from an old folks town and I had never seen that many tattoos or piercing on everyone in the town combined. Tattoos were frowned upon and ear piercing were the only acceptable ones.

Tonight was a decent night at the small bar I worked in. Busy enough for one bartender to fix drinks and the other could stock and work the room. We only had waitresses on weekend nights when it was really busy. I was paired with Rose tonight, we would trade off on the cleaning and stocking every hour.

After fixing four mixed drinks I looked over at the table where Mr. Tattoo was. He was getting low so I fixed him another drink and left the bar and worked through the room. I got a few catcalls from some of the rougher patrons and made sure they didn't try to grab me. My first night on the job some drunk old geezer had grabbed me and pulled me down in his lap and tried to stick his tongue in my ear.

"I didn't catch your name earlier," I heard when I set the drink down. I looked up into those steely eyes and gulped.

"Lilly," I answered. We all had fake names that we went by at work because the boss was paranoid about one of out local crazies looking us up in the phone book. So I, Tris Prior, became Lilly West.

The studded eyebrow went up as I was looked over again. I blushed as I felt his eyes on me. Our boss tried to get us to wear skimpier clothing but we compromised with tight ripped t-shirts with the bars name and logo on them and tight faded jeans and usually some type of boots. I watched as one of his long fingers ran around the rim of the glass he had just finished.

"You don't look like a Lilly to me." was all he said before returning his attention back to the room. I rolled my eyes and went back to the bar. I worked on stocking the bar for the upcoming weekend and making sure everything we needed to order was on the list when Rose came to me.

"It's almost ten so if you want to close your tabs then you can go home," she said. I smiled at her and nodded. Most of the other bartenders knew I didn't like to be out late if I couldn't help it. I had morning classes twice a week and I worked at a clothing store four other mornings until four in the afternoon. Usually I had enough time to get changed and grab something to eat before my seven to midnight shift at the bar where I worked usually five nights out of the weeks. I finishes cutting the last lime and closed the container and set them in the cooler. I looked over at my tabs and closed them out one by one until the last one was Mr. whiskey neat. I made him another drink and went over to his table.

"Thank you," he said once I set the drink down. I nodded and looked around.

"I'm trying to close up my book tonight, how many more drinks do you want?" I asked slowly. I received a smirk and then he threw back his drink.

"That's all," he said and then dug out his wallet. He stood up and we were almost chest to chest because he was so close. I was caught by his eyes again as I felt him take my hand and put money in it. "My name's Eric, by the way. I'll see you around Stiff." I let out the breath I was holding when he walked around me and left the bar. I collected his glass and went back to the bar and register to close out. I looked the crumpled bills in my hand for the first time and I saw that there were two bills. My mouth fell open when I was that they were two hundreds. Rose came up behind me and saw what I was staring at.

"Did he just give you a hundred sixty dollar tip?" I nodded still shocked. I was lucky if I brought this amount of tips home per week. That was almost half of my rent that I didn't have to worry about this month. I finished up on my tab quickly and counted my tips. Event without the added bonus of Eric's tip it ended up being a good night, bringing in over two hundred dollars in tips. Once I punched out I grabbed my bag and headed out. Our cars were parked in an ally behind the bar.

My poor car had seen its better days before I was even born. My car was a 1990 Hyundai Excel. I quickly unlocked my door and slid in the well worn seat and tried to start my car. The engine made a sick noise and then a high pitched squeal and that was it. I tried for five more minutes to coax my poor car to life but it was gone.

I sighed and grabbed my bag and the more important things out of the back seat and then got out and locked up. It was about twenty-five blocks to my apartment, I had made the hike before but never in the dark.

I had walked almost five blocks when I felt the hair on the back of my neck and my arms stood on end. A quick glance back told me that I was being followed by two scruffy and dirty men. I had seen them in the bar a few times and had to run them out a few more times because they grabbed a waitress or one of the bartenders. They were the rough type that really didn't like me since I threatened to call the cops on them the next time that they came into the bar.

Picking up my pace a bit I went to cross the street just as the two started whistling and yelling profanities at me. I broke into a run when I heard pounding footsteps behind me. A rough hand grabbed me around my upper arm and pulled me back.

"Now Lilly, you wouldn't be thinking about running away from me and good ole Frankie now would you? You know that we don't want nothing but to have fun. And tonight you're the fun we picked." hot breath blew into my ear and neck and I wanted to scream but I was frozen. We were still standing in the middle of the road and when a light flew around the corner I started to struggle. Tires squealed behind me and I heard a throaty engine idle for a moment before it was cut off and the bright light went off, leaving us in the streetlight again. The driver took his helmet off and I realized it was Eric.

"Eric, fuck man, didn't know you were in town. We were just going to have some late night fun with Miss Lilly." The man that had my arm said.

"Let her go," Eric growled slinging his leg over the frost white motorcycle. "If I ever catch you two anywhere near her or the places she works at I will personally end you. Do you understand?" He hissed stalking near us.

"S-sorry man, we didn't know she was yours." My arm was released and I ran to Eric.

"She is mine, let all of your pathetic friends know that," Eric said wrapping his arm around me protectively. "Put my jacket and helmet on, I'm taking you home," Eric said quietly looking down at me. I hesitated, torn for a moment. Did I want to get on a bike with a man that I had hardly known for an hour that had just threatened to kill two men or did I want to stay here with the two men who just admitted that they wanted rape me? I take choice one and grabbed the jacket that Eric was handing me. I slid my arms in the jacket and rolled up the sleeves twice because they were so long. I looked like I was wearing a bag on my top. The helmet was to big at first until I put my hair in a sloppy half bun to make the helmet fit right. Eric got on the bike first and then helped me on behind him.

"What street are you on?" Eric asked as I hesitantly wrapped my arms around his waist.

"1012 Magnolia," I answered. My voice sounded muffled from the full face helmet.

"Hold on tight," Eric said as he started the bike and revved the engine. I gripped him tighter feeling the hard ridges of muscles under my hands. I had never rode on a motorcycle before, I had barely looked at them because I preferred something with a closed cab and at least two doors. Eric knew where he was going and exactly how to handle the bike with a passenger on the back as he weaved in and out of the late night traffic. The ride that usually took me almost fifteen minutes took about ten minutes before we were in front of my apartment building. Eric cut the engine on the bike as I released my death grip on him. I slung my leg over the bike and almost lost my balance, only being saved when Eric's arm shot out and helped me steady myself.

"First time on a bike?" He asked smiling. I nodded after I took his helmet off and handed it back to him.

"That obvious?" I smiled back at him and then gave him the leather jacket back.

"So, do you usually walk home in the dark? Or did you just feel like getting fresh air in one of the most dangerous cities?"

"My car wouldn't start. I've made the walk before but never in the dark, I didn't have another option though, I needed to get home," I replied. Eric nodded and then grabbed my hand and reached in a pocket in his jacket.

"You need a ride, call me. I'm serious you can call me anytime day or night," Eric said as he pulled out a sharpie and wrote on the back of my hand.

"Thank you, that's really kind. But I'll figure something out."

"Come on Lilly, I may look scary and all but I'm not a danger to you," He said quietly. I took a step closer to him and being brave, kissed his cheek.

"Tris," I said and then turned and jogged across the street and went into my building. I looked back and saw Eric was still there, his hand on his cheek. He saw me looking at him and winked and then shoved his helmet on and drove off. I dug out my keys and unlocked my mailbox. When I was finished looking through my mail I went up the old spiral stairs to the third floor. I shared a floor with three other apartments.

The first tenant was Ms. Lowell, a widow that did nothing but complain about the government and anything else she could think of, the next tenant was Mr. John, a nice man in his mid sixties, he lived here for free as long as he acted the part of handy man for the building. The third tenant was Lucas, he lived across from me. He went to college and worked like I did but he was also know for having a new girl over a least twice a week. He was on thin ice with the building because he had set his apartment on fire when he fell asleep smoking pot. Our building was supposed to be drug free, alcohol was barely tolerated if you were seen bringing it in. I tip toed down the hall and then hurriedly unlocked my door and went into my apartment before Lucas could come out in the hall. He had been trying to get me to go on a date with him since I moved in over six months ago.

I set my bag on the table and turned on the lights. My apartment was cozy, the living room and dining room all flowing into the small kitchen. French doors led from the living room into the only bedroom and through my bedroom was my bathroom. I had decorated in blues, greens, tans, and soft whites. I went into my bedroom and took my boots off and grabbed my night clothes to change into. I started a hot shower to help me relax and wind down after my day. My mind wandered to Eric when I saw the black ink on the back of my hand. Maybe I should call him, I thought. But my courage was gone for the day along with my energy as I turned off the shower and went to bed.