CHAPTER THREE:
"I've got the outline all done, babe. I just got to add the details," he gently pats my stomach, "You're doing great for your first time."
"Thank you," I smile at him.
"Do you want a cup of water? We can take a break," offers Ashton.
"A cup of water sounds great right now," I exhale.
"Mike, you mind getting her a cup of water in the front?" Ashton asks.
"Why can't you get it? You're a bum!" Michael rolls his eyes. Ashton purses his lips and widens his eyes at him.
"What? Oh - okay, yeah. I'll be right back," Michael gets up from his spot next to me and walks of of the room, which I noticed Luke and Calum weren't in.
"So, it's just you and I. Alone," Ashton smirks.
"Was that supposed to make me feel intimidated?" I ask.
"No - yes. I mean, on a scale of one to ten out intimidating am I?" he asks.
"I say you're a solid twenty," I laugh.
"A twenty, huh?"
"Uh-huh, but I'm enjoying it," I smile.
"Are you now?"
"Are you just going to keep asking me questions?"
"I don't know; am I?" he bursts out into laughter. I've noticed his laughter is highly contagious and I can't help but join in on it.
I catch my breath and smile, "You have an amazing laugh."
He immediately stops laughing, "No, don't say that. I hate my laugh."
"Well, I love it. It's so contagious."
"Thank you," grins Ashton, "I like your laugh too and your voice. Both are very light."
"Thanks," my eyes light up even more after ever word that comes out of this lovely boy's mouth. He must have left his golden halo at home because he is an angel.
"Here's your water, K!" Michael hands me the plastic cup of water and I graciously down the whole thing.
"Thirsty, much?" Michael asks.
I glance at Ashton then back to Michael, "Yeah, something like that."
"Let's get back to this tattoo. It's almost done," says Ashton. Ashton prepares all the equipment and gets to work. The smaller detailing hurts less than the outline and I'm so thankful for that.
I begin to watch Ashton at work again. I cannot help but admire every piece of him. When I said he compares to a Greek god, I did not over exaggerate in anyway. It's the fact that he doesn't look like any of the guys at school. He has such an edgy and mysterious exterior, but I bet his interior is warm, fuzzy, and cute.
"And you're all done!" Ashton backs away and admires his work. The three other boys come into the room and look closely at the tattoo.
"Shits nice, Ash," Calum pats Ashton on the back.
"It looks great. It's different than your usual work," compliments Michael.
"How was your first tattoo experience?" asks Luke.
"Well, I can't answer that until I see it," I say as Ashton helps me up from the lounge chair. I limp a bit towards the full-length mirror.
I turn to my side and check out the ink at my hipbone. It's not too big or too small. It was different than any other tattoo I've seen.
There were three small symbols blended slightly on top of each other in the shape of a upside down triangle. The left top was a flower, the right top was sun, and the bottom point was a yin and yang symbol. I was a bit confused as of why Ashton picked these three symbols. They were completely different and random, but they somehow came together perfectly.
"It's beautiful.What do they represent?" I ask Ashton.
"Everything on this piece is what I believe you are. The three symbols represent a characteristic trait I see you having. Though I barely know you, you give off such a strong vibe that I was a able to think up your persona," Ashton explains.
"So you're saying that this tattoo is you're visualized character of me?"
"Yes, I consider it a 'first impression'."
"That's a really different artistic path, I love it actually," I compliment.
"Thank you," grins Ashton.
"No thank you for this amazing tattoo!" I give a small hug. Damn, he's muscular and warm.
"Maybe one day I'll tell you exactly what the symbols represent," he whispers into my ear sending a shiver throughout my body.
"Maybe I can prove if the symbols you've visualized are correct or not," I flirt.
"Hmm, maybe. Let's get you wrapped up," Ashton preps my fresh tattoo and wraps it in clear film.
"How much, Ash?" Michael asks taking out his wallet. I snatch his wallet and shove it back into his butt pocket.
"Don't even think about it," I warn my best friend.
"Too bad I am thinking about it. Remember that one time you let me borrow a hundred dollars for books? Well, I used that to get a tattoo," reveals Michael. My eyes go wide in shock.
"Really, you asshole?" I roll my eyes. He looks to the ground and nods, earning a pinch to the stomach.
"I should have known you weren't going to buy books. Books, really? How dumb of me," I say pinching the bridge of my nose, "Damn right you're paying for this tattoo."
"No he's not," interrupts Ashton, "You are."
"What?" Michael and I say simultaneously.
"You're paying for it," the Greek god points to me.
"But--"
"The tattoo is free," he says.
"What, no way!" Michael gasps.
Ashton looks to his friend, "You can leave now."
Michael scoffs the word 'dick' under is breath as he walks out of the room.
"The tattoo is free if you take yourself up on your own offer of showing me if my tattoos are right or not," Ashton explains.
"So a date?" I ask.
"Dates."
I smirk and nod slowly, "You've got a deal."
Ashton walks me out of the parlor where the rest of the boys are. Michael and Luke are crowded around Calum who seems to be having trouble with lighting his cigarette. I watch him try to shake his lighter and swear at it.
"Dammit, I just bought this lighter yesterday," Calum groaned throwing his lighter into the trash can next to him.
"Here, use mine," I dig out my black BIC lighter from my purse and hand it to him.
"You smoke?" mumbles Calum with a cigarette between his lips. The lighter sparks a small flame, illuminating the three boys' eyes in a quick light.
"Not cigarettes," I grab my lighter from Calum's extended arm.
"Hm, hardcore. So what do you smoke?" asks Luke.
"Not like crack or meth if that's what you're thinking," I eye the tall blonde.
"No, you don't seem like the type to do those drugs," Luke says.
"Because I'm a girl?" I joke and Luke shakes his head and laughs.
"Weed," I start, "I smoke weed."
Calum, Ashton, and Luke's jaws drop momentarily. Did I say something wrong?
"What?" I look at them.
"How old are you?" questions Ashton.
"Seventeen," I answer, "I have a medical card for it."
"But you're a minor, I thought you had to be 18?"
"My parents are big shots in medical. A few forged signatures and paperwork was all I needed to get it," I explain.
"That's sick! That means you get all the good stuff," Luke says.
"I guess," I shrug.
"No she won't get you guys weed," Michael says, "Let's get you home."
"Yeah cool," I say my farewells and Michael walks me away. I hear someone call out my name and I look back to see Ashton jogging towards me.
"My business card. In case, uh, you want a new tattoo?" Ashton hands me the small card and I look it over only to see it being an index card with his number on it.
"I'll be in touch," I wink and put the card into my purse.
//
this chapter was long over due hahaha