Page 6 of The Tattoo Artist

“I’m surprised I did,” I reply with a wry grin, taking one cigarette before tossing the packet back to her. In a fluid motion, she throws me a lighter, and I delicately rest the cigarette between my lips, the tip glowing orange as I attempt to light it. After a small shake, I try again, the flame finally catching and illuminating the night with its flickering glow.

“Did they bring up the Johnson family?” I nod, inhaling the tobacco.

“They sure did.” I whisper, a moment passes by.

“What’s going on?” I glance up at her, hesitating to speak my mind.

“What do you mean?”

“I can tell you’re hiding something.”

“It’s just a weird feeling I’ve been having…” Catherine settles down onto her wooden chair and kicks her feet up.

“Explain.”

“I-I feel like something in my life is missing…I keep having these weird dreams? Maybe it was because of my head injury or something.”

“Alex, I know what’s missing from your life.” Catherine speaks.

“What’s that?”

“You need to have sex.” I roll my eyes, flicking the ashes.

“That’s always on your mind, you know I’m not allowed until I’m married. I am a good Christian woman.”

Catherine gasps and grabs her heart. “And I’m not?”

“Shut up Cathy.” She stands up, leaning her arm against the banister.

“I’m being serious, God will forgive you and I don’t understand why pleasure is considered a sin?”

“It-”

“Actually, I have been meaning to ask if you can come with me to the tattoo shop tomorrow?” I raise a brow, “please Alex! I don’t want to go alone again.”

“You know I can’t be seen there; my parents hate tattoos.”

“Oh, come on, what happened to wanting to experience life? At this point, you might as well rot in your room.” I bite my lips. “Please.” She begs.

“Catherine.”

“I never beg, so please-please come with me.” She presses her hands together. “Don’t make me get on one knee, Alex.”

“Fine. I’ll come.” She claps her hand with excitement, I shake my head from her reaction as I throw the cigarette over the balcony. “I was supposed to go to the museum.”

“Go another day, I am sure they will not miss you.”

CHAPTER TWO

ALEXANDRA JONES

SUDDENLY EVERY PASSING CAR SEEMS TO RESEMBLE MY FATHERS.

Anxiety gripped me tightly, causing me to clutch my sketchbooks tight against my chest. The fear of my parents discovering my presence in this part of town consumed my thoughts. I should have just went to the library, what if they find out I’m lying? What would they do?

“Come on, Alex, stop being a baby,” Cathy said, rolling her eyes at my hesitation. I shook my head in distress, scanning the busy streets around us. She doesn’t understand what it’s like to have strict parents, her parents lets her do whatever she likes. I think that Cathy doesn’t seem to understand that we are different.

“It isn’t about being a baby, it’s about getting caught!”

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