He still wasn't sure about Paul's advice, so he figured he'd better stick with lunch and a walk, but a text from Liz that evening threw that out the window.

Hey, just heard from Paul that we're all going to hear some music, that sounds like so much fun. See you tomorrow ;)

He'd wanted to punch Paul, but of course the jerk wasn't around. Instead he called to chew him out.

"Hey, Levi, so I guess you heard about tomorrow? You're welcome."

"What? What do you mean 'you're welcome?' Why'd you go around my back like that?"

"Seriously? Behind your back? You said you'd think about it. Like I said, just trust me on this. She'll have the time of her life and she'll be hooked."

"I really don't want her to be 'hooked' I just like her."

"Man, you seriously are hopeless. But no problem, I can call her and tell her it fell through."

"No," Levi hesitated. He really wanted to make a good impression on their first real date, and she had sounded excited. "No, we'll go. Just promise me we won't get arrested or anything?"

"Arrested? What do you think we'll be doing? We're just going to hear some good music, that's it."

"Alright," he said with a sigh. "I'll see you then."

"Cool, I'll text the address. We'll meet out front around six. See ya."

###

Levi met Liz at her bus stop and they walked to the address Paul had given them. Paul was already there, a blonde on his arm.

"Hey, glad you guys came, this is going to be great. These are my friends Liz and Levi and this is Amy, she uh likes music too."

"Yeah, some of my faves are playing tonight. Paul said he could get me in and I was like cool. So I figured I'd give him a shot."

"Hey that's all I need. You guys ready for some fun?"

"So," said Levi, "you can get us in right?" He'd been having second thoughts from the start, but the last thing he needed was to get kicked out of a bar for his first date. He could see it, some big rough looking guy would toss him out while everyone laughed. Well, at least that was the dream he'd woken up from last night. Still, it seemed real.

"Hey, like I said, I've got a friend who works here. It'll be no sweat. Just relax and enjoy a night of music with your girl."

Levi jumped at 'your girl.' It sounded good, but he didn't think they were anywhere close to, well anything. He glanced at Liz to see if she'd caught Paul's comment, but if she had she didn't show it, she was too busy looking in the window.

"Ooh, look there's a stage and everything. This is gonna be fun."

Paul gave him a wink, then led Amy through the heavy wooden double doors into the dimly lit interior. Liz grabbed Levi's arm, pulling him in behind.

Inside, the guy at the door wasn't big, or scary looking, he was just another college kid who gave Paul a nod when he saw him.

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"Hey, Aaron."

"Hey, Paul, these your friends?"

"Yeah, thanks for hooking me up. I owe you."

"Yeah, yeah you do. But seriously, just don't cause a scene or anything. My boss is in tonight and he doesn't ask, but it'd be my job if anyone found out a'right?"

"A'right. Don't worry, we're just here for the music."

"Yeah, of course you are. Catch you later."

Then they were in, with Paul leading them to an empty booth near the back. They slid in, with Paul draping his arm around Amy who promptly flagged a server and ordered a beer.

"Make that two. You guys want something?" Paul asked.

"What? Uh, I'll just have a lemonade or something."

"Yeah, that sounds good, you have one with strawberries?" Liz asked.

Paul shook his head as the server left. "Strawberry lemonade huh?"

Levi just shrugged, burying himself in the menu.

They eventually got their food and he began to relax. Liz seemed to be having fun, though the bands hadn't started yet. He looked up at the clock, it was almost seven, weren't they supposed to start soon? Even if Liz was enjoying herself, he still regretted going along with this. Paul and Amy had each had a couple drinks and were getting way too comfortable with each other. Also, Paul was grabbing the spotlight with stories of his crazy roommates. He'd always been fun to hang with, but now Levi really wished he weren't there. The way things were going he doubted he'd have a moment alone with Liz the whole night.

Right at seven the manager got up on the stage to get things started. The stage itself was a small affair, barely big enough for a couple mics and the drum set.

"Hello everyone, I know what you're all waiting for, tonight we've got some wilder stuff planned with our local retro grunge scene. And now, it's time for some noise."

"Grunge?" Levi mouthed at Paul, since the screams and cat calls lighting up the bar made it too hard to talk. Paul shrugged before turning back to Amy, who was screaming with the rest as the first group got up on stage.

It was as bad as it sounds. The music was bad and loud, and the audience kept getting louder and louder as the drinks kept flowing. Levi couldn't tell what Liz thought, but as crazy as things were, he was ready to bolt for the door.

Some hunter I'd be if I can't even handle this. While he was trying to figure out how to excuse Liz and himself, a big guy with bicked head and sleeve tattoos shoved himself into the booth next to Liz, cutting them off.

"Hey," he yelled, in Liz's face. Even Levi could smell the alcohol on his breath. He was wasted. Why hadn't he been cut off already?

"What'r you doin with these kids honey? You wanna hang with a real man?"

"Uh, no that's alright." Liz said, looking surprised.

"Oh, com'mon, what's they got that's so great?"

"That's enough of that." Said Paul, rising part way as he spoke. "I think you've had too much to drink. You should probably get back to your friends."

Instead of answering, the man swung at Paul. He never hit though. He fell short, losing his balance and sprawling on the table in their leftovers. He hauled himself up, ready to have a second go, but instead turned and spewed all over Liz.

The rest happened fast. Paul went for the drunk, shoving him away, while Liz screamed. The drunk fell back, smashing into the table behind him. The guys at the table jumped on him, while the drunk’s friends leapt in to help. The rest was chaos.

Levi was out of the booth with Liz when Paul grabbed him, yelling in his ear. "We've gotta get out of here, this is way out of control.”

Paul led the way, dodging between tables and drunk rioters as the music screamed in the background. Levi was bumped and jostled, trying to keep between Liz and the worst of the brawling. Through the kitchen they went, and out into an alleyway. They stood there a moment, catching their breath. Levi did his best to help clean Liz up, but she was wet all down her front. He kept apologizing over and over. Paul helped out as best he could till he stopped suddenly.

"Of all the, I've lost Amy." He smacked his head with his palm. "Oh well, she looked like she was having fun. I'm sure she can handle herself."

"What? You're just leaving her in there?" Levi asked.

"Sure. Only reason she came along in the first place was to hear that rubbish. I don't think she'd come even if I went back and asked her. Besides, she's a bit too crazy for me. I like more calm and predictable."

"Calm and predictable? Really?"

"Yep, come on."

"Come on where?"

"I'll drive you both home, sorry for the disaster. But," and here he stopped, a grin on his face and a blossoming black eye. “That'll be some story to tell back home."