Chapter 36: Rock Girl

New York, the largest city in the United States, stands as one of the world's most significant economic centers. Alongside Tokyo and London, it is among the top three global cities.

Known as the world's financial hub along with London and Hong Kong, New York often gets mistakenly thought of as the U.S. capital, but that's a common misconception.

In the early 20th century, New York represented a new world for immigrants, teeming with opportunities. Hence, the city earned its affectionate nickname, the Big Apple, symbolizing its allure and the desire people have to experience it.

New York is a city rich with iconic landmarks: Times Square, Wall Street, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and, of course, the world-famous Broadway. It's no wonder it's a top destination for tourists. (A/N: *Cough* *Cough* World Trade Center *Cough* *Cough*)

Evan Bell and his brother grew up in this city of steel and concrete. For Evan, Broadway holds a special place in his heart.

However, as a resident, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building were just part of the backdrop, much like how many longtime Beijing residents have never visited the Great Wall. Evan had never been to these landmarks, either.

Living in this city, the idea of sightseeing feels unnecessary. But with the looming memory of the September 11 attacks that would happen next year, destroying the World Trade Center. (A/N: Oof Never mind) 

Evan wondered if he should make time to visit the Twin Towers. As someone who studied architecture, the World Trade Center held a particular interest for him.

When night falls, the brightly lit New York reveals its unique charm. The bustling nightlife is intoxicating. Evan and his friends, Teddy Bell and Eden Hudson, decided to celebrate by going to a bar.

However, being under 21 meant they couldn't enter most bars legally. So, they sought out the Lotus Bar, hoping Evan's connections could get them in.

Not wanting to risk driving, the trio took the subway to the upscale bar—a unique experience in itself. By the time they arrived, it was already past ten, but the nightlife was just beginning.

As they approached the Lotus Bar, laughing and talking, they noticed a commotion across the street. The shouting was laced with swear words, making it hard to discern the argument's details.

But seeing two cars nearly bumper to bumper outside a parking space, it was clear they were fighting over it. Fighting for parking in New York is always a skillful endeavor. Remember, in such situations, reason rarely wins.

From a distance, they could make out three women on one side and two men on the other. Evan shouted across the street, "Hey, the cops are coming!" Instantly, both sides panicked. In New York, leaving your car parked illegally for too long can result in a hefty fine.

Watching both parties scramble to leave, Evan and Teddy burst into laughter, while Eden's eyes twinkled with amusement. This kind of prank never got old.

As the two men realized they had been duped, one of the women defiantly flipped them off, her middle finger prominent against the glow of the streetlights.

Clearly, she had a fiery temper. Evan and the others paid it no mind and continued toward the Lotus Bar, their laughter echoing in the night. Soon, they heard the men cursing again as the argument reignited.

Arriving at the Lotus Bar, they noticed a line forming, though it wasn't too long yet. Within ten minutes, the crowd would likely swell.

But the trio wasn't about to stand in line. Impatience aside, they lacked the necessary IDs. So, Evan approached the doorman, relying on his connections to get the inside scoop.

The Lotus Bar, owned by David Rabin, had connections on both sides of the law. If there were any police raids, they'd know in advance. Fortunately, Evan got the nod that tonight was clear.

Evan waved to Teddy and Eden, signaling they could go in. Just then, he noticed two groups approaching from behind—three women in front, followed by two tall men. They were probably the same people who had just been fighting over the parking spot. How they resolved the issue remained a mystery.

As Teddy and Eden arrived, Evan greeted the guard, who lifted the red velvet rope, allowing them entry. The people waiting in line grumbled, but the towering doorman ignored them, smiling at Evan and wishing him a good evening.

Inside, Evan felt right at home. Eden and Teddy, both handsome in their own right, quickly caught the attention of several women. Surprisingly, Teddy seemed reserved, almost uncomfortable around the attention, while Eden's aloof demeanor intrigued others, making him the target of many curious glances.

Evan was in the middle of whispering something to a beautiful Asian woman with dark hair when he felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket. Leaning in closer, he whispered in her ear, "I'll get you a drink, be right back." His warm breath caused her to blush, the sensitive skin of her ear betraying her.

Evan made his way to the restroom, and knocked on the innermost stall door until the occupant, swearing under his breath, vacated it. Unbothered, Evan stepped inside and answered the phone, "Hello, this is Bell."

"Wish Happy birthday to Teddy for me!" came Anne Hathaway's cheerful voice. "I just called him, but he didn't pick up. You guys at the Lotus Bar? Enjoy your night!"

Evan chuckled. "I'll pass along your message. How's L.A. treating you?" Anne had recently been cast as the lead in The Princess Diaries and was busy filming in Los Angeles.

Anne's excitement was palpable as she relayed the good news, even though it felt like just yesterday when she'd found out. In reality, she'd already been on set for more than three weeks.

Hearing Evan's words, Anne couldn't help but laugh into the phone, clearly in a great mood. "Everything's going well, everything's great!"

Evan could picture Anne's wide grin on the other end of the line. "Dear Anne, your smile's already big enough—don't overdo it," he teased, his voice playful.

As expected, Anne's indignant response followed. "How could you say something so rude to a lady?"

Evan couldn't hold back his laughter. "Lady Anne, are you sure that's the word you just used?" He was clearly enjoying himself. "Anne Hathaway, a lady? Are you sure the little girl with snot running down her nose and ice cream all over her face in my memory wasn't you?" This was the beauty of childhood friendships—there were always endless embarrassing stories to share.

Anne, who had been furious a moment ago, couldn't help but laugh as she recalled the scene Evan described. "Okay, fine. I guess I don't have any image left to maintain in front of you."

Anne's tomboyish nature meant Evan could joke with her like this. The two of them had grown up bickering, and this was just another round. "You go enjoy your night. I've got to get back to studying this damn script."

After hanging up, Evan still had a smile on his face. Even though the burly man at the door seemed ready to break it down, Evan strolled out of the bathroom, completely at ease.

No one was waiting outside the bathroom, likely because it wasn't peak time for people to need a break yet. But at the door, a tall, muscular man had a petite woman cornered against the wall.

Evan wasn't surprised—it was normal in a bar. Maybe they couldn't find privacy inside, so they'd taken it outside.

But before Evan could take another step, he heard the woman's voice, high-pitched and fierce: "Get off me!" followed by a string of profanities. Evan turned his head, somewhat surprised that such a loud voice came from such a small body.

The man didn't seem ready to back off. Normally, Evan wouldn't interfere—at most, he'd notify the bar's security.

But something about the woman's defiance intrigued him, so he patted the man on the shoulder and made a quick motion with his fist.

The man turned, seemingly ready to fight, but Evan glanced at the security guards by the bar. In a high-end place like the Lotus Bar, causing trouble was a quick way to get kicked out—or worse.

The man clenched his fists, but after a moment of hesitation, he left in a huff.

With the man gone, Evan could finally see the girl clearly. She wasn't a woman—more like fifteen or sixteen, with striking brown-gold hair streaked with pink and wine red.

Her heavy eye makeup accentuated her small face, and the red lipstick on her plump lips was slightly smeared, adding a touch of rebellious sexiness.

Evan raised an eyebrow in recognition. The girl standing before him was none other than Avril Lavigne.