Tattoo | Nicholas Ruffilo story

Who Are You

A few days had gone by, and just like Nick said, the stencil was still on my wrist. So much so that it even caught Diane's attention.

"I think you should get it," she said. I could smell the stale cigarettes from her smoking break on her breath. "I'd love to get me a few more, but I'm starting to sag a little bit." She giggled her arms, which featured a faded cross and butterfly tattoo on her upper arm. 

"I don't know, Diane," I sighed, "it would last forever. I'm not sure about that."

"Nothing lasts forever, Lisa," she let out a heavy wheeze and cough before correcting herself, "--Leah. Even if it did, it fades away. Just look at my ex-husband. Just fading away on the recliner with a six pack of Bud and some racy paper-view movies."

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her. For an assistant store manager, Diane had absolutely no filter.

"My knees are killing me so I'm putting you on stock duty," she pulled her turquoise glasses down from the top of her head. "Aisle 4 and 5 need to be replenished. A group of kids came in last night and mixed it all up. Think they stole a few things, too. Just make it look nice."

I nodded and let her get behind the register.

I went to the back room and grabbed the boxes of merchandise to stock ailes 4 and 5 with. It wasn't heavy, thankfully it was just feminine hygiene products and packets of disposable underwear.

To make the time go by quicker, I started singing along to the store stereo. "Iris" had already played, so judging by the rotation, I knew Rob Thomas' "Streetcorner Symphony" would be playing next. Then Sheryl Crow. Then Jewel.

"Didn't picture you as a singer," I heard a deep voice say playfully. Startled, I hit my head on the shelf, knocking down the boxes of tampons I had just restocked. "And I'm starting to think you need a helmet," I looked up and realized who it was. "You good?"

"Y-yeah," I said, trying not to look him in the eyes. "We just got a new shipment of Aquaphor," I added, hoping to get him away from me as quickly as possible.

"Don't need it today," he shrugged. "Here to uh, pick up a few things." He picked up one of the boxes of tampons that had fallen to the ground in his basket. "Sisters, you know?"

I nodded. Before I could get another word in, an incredibly tall and slender guy appeared behind Nick. "I got the goods," the guy said, holding up a box of condoms. I swore I could see Nick's face go red. "And you must be Walgreens chick!"

Walgreens chick? "Uh, I go by Leah most days," I chuckled, finally standing up from the floor.

"You weren't kidding, Nick. You might need to get a few boxes of these bad boys for yourself," the guy said. He had piercings on his cheek and his hair was that of any emo boy.

"We're uh, we're pranking our friend Folio," he said nervously, scratching the back of his neck. The chuckled and tossed a box of the condoms in Nick's basket.

"You might need these for yourself," his friend teased, patting him on the shoulder before walking off.

I couldn't help but chuckle. I could see a little flush in Nick's face. "Please excuse Noah, he's an asshole," he said.

"I don't judge customer purchases," I promised. He nodded and stared at my arm for a moment.

"I see a bit of the stencil is still there," he smirked, "what did you think of it?"

"I told her to get it," yelled Diane, who was riding a motorized cart by us an aisle over. I rolled my eyes. It was on brand of her to eavesdrop...and take a joy ride on the motorized cart.