Section 9

Adrie, Nate, and Carter played ‘name that tune’ to one of the local radio stations the whole way to Downtown Chicago.  When they got there they found a guarded parking lot for 5 dollars in the Wicker Park area, and started to explore the city.  While walking down the streets of Chicago, Adrie found herself sandwiched between Nate and Carter.  She threw Nate a smile and linked her arm through his.  The streets were filled with young club goers strutting their stuff in the highest forms of fashion, and bums sleeping in the city’s alcoves.  They passed hundreds of people getting ready to party, Chicago style, and if Nate hadn’t been mistaken, he could have sworn he saw a woman that resembled the female cop that pulled him over.  He glanced back at the woman after she passed, but she was lost in the crowd.  They rolled up to The Flat Iron, a music venue and bar located on Milwaukee Avenue, around 10:30.  Nathaniel pulled out his cell phone and called up James Ludington, a friend from his undergraduate years at U of M.  When James secured that he could get all three of them into the venue, Nathaniel, Carter, and Adrie walked up to the line outside the club.  “So, do we wait in line,” Carter asked, a little nervous.  “Will you relax?  James said to just go on up to the bouncer and tell him we’re on the list and we’ll be in, no questions asked.  Like I said, his band is playing here tonight,” Nathaniel said, trying to calm Carter’s nerves.  Adrie stood close beside Nate, shivering.  “You cold, Adrie,” He asked, a bit concerned.  Adrie flashed Nate a sheepish grin, “A bit.  It’s my fault though, I should have brought a coat.”  “Well we should be inside soon, anyways.”  The three of them proceeded toward the bouncer.

            The man standing in front of them was severely intimidating.  Adrie and Nate were used to seeing extremely large men blocking the doors to the hottest Chicago nightclubs.  Carter, however, was starting to sweat.  Little beads of condensation sprouted on his forehead as he stood behind Nate and Adrie, letting them do all the talking.  “Hey, we’re on the list for The Heightened Impact,” Nate said, relaxed.  The bouncer pulled out his clipboard from the podium at the entrance, “What’s your names?”  “Nate, Adrie, and Carter,” Nate responded pointing to Adrie and Carter when he said their names.  The bouncer checked the list, “Okay, cover is ten bucks each.”  The three of them emptied their pockets, paying the cover.  “What time do they go on,” Nate asked as he fished through his pockets.  The bouncer checked his clipboard again, “Around 11:30.  They’re second on the stage tonight”.  The bouncer removed the red velvet rope that previously kept them out.  Nate, Adrie, and Carter walked on into the venue.  Both Carter and Nate shrugged off their jackets.  While Carter and Adrie went to grab a table, Nate immediately spotted James and went to say hello.