On the mild summer Saturday night, Bodhi stood beside the gate and path leading up to the warehouse. He leaned against the wall, a cigarette in his mouth. He waited for Holly, flicking through his texts and passing the time. Around 20 minutes later, he saw her walking down the street. As she got closer, he smiled and opened his arms. They smiled and exchanged hugs. "Nice outfit. Going for that early English Punk look?" He said, smiling. "Thank you, are you sure it looks okay?" She said nervously. "Yeahh, you look great." He said confidently. He opened his bag, revealing a few bottles of alcohol. He took two bottles out, opening them with a bottle opener and reaching one out to Holly. She hesitated, thinking about her decision, then took it. "It doesn't start for a bit, so I thought it'd get some pre-party drinks. This is Corona; Tequila-beer. Give it a taste." He said, taking a large swig from his bottle and wiping his mouth afterwards. She took a sip, making a bitter face as she swallowed it. He saw her reaction to it, laughing. "Yeah, doesn't taste the best huh?" He said. "Quick tip for you, the larger the amount you drink of it in one go, the easier it'll go down." She nodded, taking a larger drink but still slightly shuddering. They chatted for a while about what Holly had researched, then Bodhi checked the time on his phone and said "Right, let's head up." He put his finished bottle down, scaling the metal fence with ease. Holly looked at it curiously. "Just put your foot in the hole bit, swing your leg over, then jump down on the other side." Bodhi said, smiling. She climbed up it, sitting on the top. "Jump and I'll catch you." He said, holding his arms out. She took a deep breath and threw herself off, Bodhi bracing himself and catching her in his arms. They smiled at each other, lingering in that moment briefly. He put her down, and they continued to walk up the path. They got closer and closer to the warehouse, eventually reaching a large hole in the wall where the sound of music and smell of smoke and weed seeped to the outside. Bodhi took a confident step through the hole, stepping on a crumpled wire fence. The gate crunched beneath his weight as he stepped off it, looking around. Holly cautiously followed him, taking in the sights. The worn brick walls were covered in graffiti, and a large crowd of people could be seen talking and listening to the various songs blasting from a set of tall speakers. As they walked a few feet into the building, a rugged man with a painted leather jacket, ripped jeans and big black boots approached them. "Nae way, wits happenin Bodhi!" He said, grinning. "Aw how's it goin' Haggis mate!" Bodhi said, shaking his hand firmly. "Aye I'm no bad man. Who's your pal?" He said, looking at Holly and smiling. "Haggis this is Holly, Holly this is Haggis." Holly smiled timidly, but Haggis hugged her, to her surprise. She could smell the sweat and alcohol from him, but she played along and hugged him briefly. "Nice tae meet ye." He said, smiling. "You too." Holly said, shyly smiling. "Right well, am away tae get pished!" He said happily, all of them laughing as he walked away. As he walked away, they continued to work further into the warehouse, Bodhi smiling at a still slightly shocked Holly. "He's a bit mental, but when he's your friend you can rely on him." Bodhi said, smiling. Holly nodded, and looked around the warehouse. They walked further in until they reached a crowd, chatting and dancing to music blaring from two giant speakers. They stood in the crowd for a few minutes, chatting and listening to sounds. As one song finished, another song came on, beginning with a short guitar intro before blasting into a heavy, loud sound. Holly listened, and Bodhi tapped her. "See my pal that's gonna give ye the board? He's the drummer in this band." Holly nodded her head to the beat. "I like them, but what genre is it?" She said curiously, trying her best to headbang slightly and listen to his response. "It's called Death Metal. It grew off heavy metal in the eighties and nineties, and this stuff is pretty similar to Autopsy and Death." Holly smiled. "You know your stuff, huh?" Bodhi grinned. "Damn straight." He moved his head in a gesture for Holly to follow him, and they walked through the crowd. They reached a battered folding table with an assortment of bottles, cartons and plastic cups on it. "Right, now that you've had your first beer, I'm gonna make you something a bit better tasting." Holly watched as he went to work, mixing a homemade concoction from a few bottles and cartons. He walked back to her with two drinks in his bands, smiling. He handed a cup to her, and she took a sip. She nodded, and coughed a little. "I might have made it a bit strong, but it tastes alright, right?" She smiled. "It's nice, strong but nice. What's in it?" She said. "A small bit of Tequila, Jack D, Vodka, pineapple and orange juice. Tastes nice and gets ya drunk pretty easily, but I've got your back so don't worry." She smiled, taking another drink. They both stood at the table, taking in the environment. Bodhi pointed over to the skaters on the other side of the hall, going up and down a makeshift wooden ramp, cheering and banging their boards when people landed tricks. "I think I can see Conor over there, you coming?" He said, looking at Holly. "Sure." She said, following him as they made their way across the hall. "Alright man!" Bodhi said, giving the long-haired skater a hug. "Hows it goin' Bodhi man?" Conor replied. "Aye I'm gonna man, yersel?"
"Good man, finally got heelflips down." Conor smiled. "Aw mate fuckin' show me!"
Conor put his board down, concentrating. He shuffled his feet, gearing up then popping a perfect heelflip. "Yewww!" Bodhi shouted enthusiastically as he smacked his board on the ground. Conor grinned, picking his board back up like nothing happened. There was a brief moment of silence, before Bodhi said "So mate, I meant to ask, do you still have that old Creature deck?". Conor smiled, replying with "Aye man, what have you chipped yours already?" They laughed. "Nah man, I was just asking for my pal here. She wants to get into skating and needs a board." He gestured towards Holly, who smiled shyly at him. "No worries man, I'll text you at some point and we can meet so you can get it." He smiled at the both of them. "Thank you for that." Holly said, smiling at Conor. They shared a smile, before Bodhi burst out with "Alright love birds, let's split this up before-" he was interrupted by Conor shoving him jokingly. "Fuck off man, hahaha." Bodhi grinned, shrugging his shoulders and walking away, Holly waving goodbye to Conor and following Bodhi. "Isn't he a dreamboat?" Bodhi teased as they walked back to the centre of the hall. "He is a bit..." She said, looking at her shoes. "It's the hair, isn't it?" He said, continuing to smile. "Yeah, it's so long." She said, smiling slightly. They danced for a while, chatting and listening to music. All of a sudden, someone tapped Bodhi's shoulder. "Bodhiiii!" A girl's voice said happily. He turned around, revealing a small girl with messy ginger hair, a band vest with a denim vest over it, denim jeans, fishnet stockings and black boots. She grinned, lunging at him into a kiss. After she pulled back, she grinned, saying "it's so good to see you!", bouncing up and down slightly. Bodhi grinned, saying "Soho sweetie, how much cocainia have you had?". She sniffed a little, looking around and avoiding eye contact with him. "Oh you know, just a little bit..." He smiled at her, holding her face lightly with his hand. "Ya dafty." She smiled at him, then turned her attention to Holly. She grinned, pulling her into a hug, much to Holly's surprise. Before they could say anything, Bodhi spoke. "Ruby this is Holly, Holly this is Ruby." They smiled at each other, Holly recognising who she was as soon as she kissed Bodhi. "I love your outfit!" Ruby said, smiling enthusiastically. "Thank you, I love yours too." Holly said, trying her best not be nervous and grinning. "So how did you two meet?" Ruby said, looking between the both of them. Before Holly could reply, Bodhi said "I was walking down the street and she asked me about punk, and I told her to come to this party." He smiled, looking at Ruby. "Oh, lovely! Well you came to the right place. How about I introduce you to the other punk ladies?" Ruby said, grinning happily. "Uhh, sure." Holly said, smiling at Bodhi and walking away with her. Bodhi shrugged and turned to talk to some other people, before wandering up to the drinks table again. As he approached it, he noticed a familiar leather jacket. He grabbed on it's shoulder, laughing and trying to give the man a fright. Haggis jumped, turning around with raised fists and laughing. "Ya bastard man, almost spilled ma booze!" The pair laughed. "So mate, meant to ask ye. Got this green that Ruby gave me, fancy a bit?" Haggis said, grinning. "Aye man, defo." They walked away from the drinks table to a nearby wall of the warehouse, sitting down and slouching on it. Haggis took a long joint from his pocket, and Bodhi pulled out a battered silver Zippo lighter. He handed it to Haggis, who nodded and lit it. Haggis took a deep inhale of the joint, blowing a large puff of smoke out and smiling. "Shit's good man." He said, taking another draw and passing it to Bodhi. He took hold of it carefully, taking a large draw. He blew out a cloud of smoke, nodding. They looked around, passing it between them a few times. "So mate, I meant to ask you somethin'." Haggis said, turning to look at Bodhi with a serious face. Bodhi looked equally serious, taking a draw from the joint and holding it between his fingers. "Go for it man." He said. There was a long moment of silence between them, before Haggis spoke. "Hiv you got a 'hing for small lassies?" He said, grinning jokingly. Bodhi started to laugh and Haggis joined in. "Fuck man, hid me worried for a second there." Bodhi said, grinning and passing the joint back to Haggis. "I suppose I do mate, but I think it's the other way around. Cos I'm tall I attract wee-r lassies." Haggis nodded. "Aye, mibey." Bodhi gave the joint to Haggis, and he took a few final draws before flicking it away. "But nah man, that Holly's too young fur me. It was mental, she just decided to try and kiss me this one time." Haggis looked surprised, and grinned. "Kiss you mate? No chance, you're lyin'." Bodhi laughed. "It's true mate, I promise." They grinned at each other, standing back up and going back to the crowd once again. Holly followed Ruby into the other side of the warehouse, avoiding stepping on any puddles, spoons and needles that laid scattered on the ground. As they sat down on a tattered sofa in another hall, Holly looked around taking in her environment. There were four other girls, and they all greeted Holly warmly. Holly was starting to feel drunk, her head spinning slightly. Ruby turned to her, grinning. She leaned closer to her, noticeably a bit drugged out. "So, Holly..." Ruby whispered to her in a hushed, calm tone. "How many guys have you been with?" Holly looked down, smiling shyly and noticing Ruby's hand on her thigh. "I've... Only kissed one." Ruby smiled, leaning closer to her still. "Have you ever kissed a girl?" Ruby whispered, grinning slyly. Holly shook her head, smiling and looking into Ruby's eyes. Ruby held her face gently, not saying a word, and leaned in. Holly leaned into her, and the two began to kiss. They kissed passionately, Ruby showing Holly her experience. As they watched the situation, the other girls sitting around started to grin and cheer them on. They held hands for the rest of the night, chatting about music and their styles, their strange and funny stories, eventually falling asleep in the early Sunday morning as the majority of people made their way out the warehouse.
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