Painfully Ours

One. Woah

"That gloss is gorgeous." I gasped.

"Thank you. She was expensive but we love her." She put on her seatbelt.

"You should get your belly pierced."

"What is up with you wanting to alter my appearance?" I asked while pulling out of the driveway.

"You're so fine you'd rock something like that. Besides a piercing isn't permanent."

"Yeah, maybe."

And I listened to her scream her songs until we got there.

Oh to have her energy at 11 in the morning.

We walked in and waited until a man behind a booth came to the front.

He was very... very handsome.

His hair was dark and loose, tattoos framing his face and neck.

"Name?"

"Lia Elliot. And are walk ins acceptable for piercings?" She asked.

I elbowed her.

"I said maybe." I gritted through my teeth.

"Yes." He said and I noticed the accent with a slight lisp.

"Great. Eleanora Elliot please."

His eyes moved to me.

"ID?"

I reached in my purse and grabbed it.

I handed it to him.

He handed me a clipboard.

"Hale will take you in a few minutes. Take a seat." He grumbled out, walking away.

I signed everything I had to.

A man, nearly identical to the other walked toward us.

He had on black gloves. The only difference was that his jawline and sideburns didn't have tattoos. He didn't have neck tattoos, but his dark hair was buzzed off, tattoos lining his skull instead.

Both had the same face, same build, same burning blue eyes and mildly crooked nose.

"Lia."

She stood.

"When you're done come see me." She smiled.

I frowned, nervous.

The other one came out and I handed him the forms.

He left once again.

"Sign." He said and I signed in the bottom of the newly printed sheet and he kept it in a folder.

"Come with me." I followed him.

"What's being pierced?" He asked as we walked into a room.

"Naval."

"Top?"

"Hm?"

He studied me, understanding I didn't know what he was talking about.

He walked up to me, close. Very close.

"Can I touch?"

"Yes."

"Here? Or here?" He touched the top of my bellybutton versus my bottom. His hands were freezing to the touch.

"Isn't it usually on the top?" I asked.

"Typically."

"That."

He nodded.

"Nervous?"

"Yes."

He wore a hoodie, rolling up the sleeves, tattoos lining his arms and hands.

He washed his hands, putting on the same black gloves his brother wore.

"Stand relaxed."

I tried.

He grabbed a marker and put a mark on my stomach.

"Lie down." He said and I lied myself on the table.

"Does it hurt?"

"I wouldn't know."

I frowned.

The corners of his lips turned up.

"From what I hear, no."

I nodded.

He wiped my stomach off, doing whatever he had to.

"Eleanora. That's a long name." He whispered.

"My family calls you Ellie."

"That makes you sound 5."

"I know."

"How about Nora?"

"I don't think anyone's done that."

He hummed.

"Inhale."

I did, my body trembling with adrenaline.

"Relax. Exhale."

A pinch, I fisted my hands digging my nails into my palms.

"Good you're gonna feel movement." He said and I did but before I knew it the jewelry was in and done.

"Take a minute. Don't stand to quick."

He removed his gloves and grabbed a q-tip wiping around it.

"Not so bad." He said.

"Not at all." I sighed, relieved and light headed.

"No rush. Take a minute you look a bit pale." He said and walked out of the room.

He came back and I sat up slowly, standing.

I inspected myself in the full length mirror.

"It suits you." He said leaning against the doorway.

"Thank you. I appreciate you being patient with my over reaction." I smiled.

"It happens. The pain gets addictive you'll be back eventually."

"Yeah?"

"Usually."

"Is Lia your-"

"Sister."

"Gotcha. Well she's calling for you."

"I can pay you real quick."

He nodded and we went to the front. I handed him a $100 bill. "Keep the change as a tip."

"That's a $40 tip." He smirked.

"Yeah. I know." I nodded.

"Thank you, Nora." He said.

"You have a lisp. I don't mean that to be rude or anything but it's so small." I shouldn't have said that.

He smiled.

He stuck out his tongue and it was split down the middle, he gently moved them separate ways before shutting his mouth.

"That had to hurt."

"I can think of something a bit more painful. But yes. It did."

Woah.