Page 39 of Hear Me Roar

Pixie, a long-time friend and ex-coworker, came barreling out from the piercing room with a clamp lodged in her gloved hand. Her short yet messy lavender hair spilled over her eyes as she smiled brightly. Blowing the wayward strands away, she inched toward the counter in her knee-high combatboots.

“Well, if it isn't Knox-motherfucking-Carr.”

“Sup, Pix. Busy?” I asked, motioning toward the clamp with mychin.

“Three tongues. Youngins with no other piercings. I don't know why I'm wasting my time. They're gonna rip them out the second their tonguesswell.”

“Fuck it, they're paying you. Let ’em blow themoney.”

She giggled and shrugged. “So, what are you doing on this side oftown?”

“I've got an appointment with Pun. Didn't you see theschedule?”

“I literally just got here maybe thirty minutes ago. I had fucking jury dutytoday.”

Sucking in a heap of air through my teeth, I cringed a little. “That sucksballs.”

“Sure does,” she agreed with a whine. “Alright, let me finish up with these chicks real quick. Make yourself at home. I'll let Big Pun know you'rehere.”

I flashed her a wink and went to sit on one of the black leather-studded couches laid around the front of the shop. Nothing had changed since the last time I'd been here. Literally nothing. The walls, although slightly faded, were the same deep red. The checkerboard floors were still intact, more scuffed in some places, but still intact. The display cases were the same, the art catalogues; everything was the fucking same. I chuckled to myself as memories of when I used to work here came rushingback.

Bang, bang,bang!

“Yo, Biggie,” Pixie belted out as she knocked her fist against Pun’s door. “Your next one ishere.”

“Send him to the other room. I'm almostdone.”

Pixie whistled and I knew that meant something along the lines ofget your ass over here, so I shot up to my feet and made my way around the counter to the back. When Pun had said the other room, I'd figured he meant the room I’d mentored in, but instead, Pixie led me to the room I never wanted to step foot inagain.

“Sit wherever you'd like. You know how this shit goes. I'll be right back,” she said, stepping aside to let mein.

The hairs at the nape of my neck rose to attention when I caught sight of the chair, a chair I was unfortunately very familiar with. I didn't say a word to Pixie as I begrudgingly fell into the seat and waited for Pun to pull me the fuck out of here. I could've cussed him out for throwing me in here in the first place, considering he knew damn well what went down in here, but I chose to keep my mouth shut. No point in arguing over something temporary. Sighing deeply, I let my eyes drift around the room, the distant buzz of Pun’s machine mellowing me out just a bit. The only thing that had changed in this godforsaken room was the black walls, now barely visible beneath the sea of sketches adorningthem.

“Well shit, I would never have thoughtyouwere my last client for the night, especially since you’ve been ignoring mytexts.”

Oh,hellno.

Inwardly cringing at the sound of her voice, I turned my head slowly as she sashayed toward me with a satisfied smirk playing on her lips and a file in herhands.

“I'mnot. I booked with Pun over a monthago.”

“Don't sound so happy to see me, baby. You know Pixie lurks. She might get the wrongidea.”

“Pixie knows damn well I'm here to see Pun,” I grittedout.

“Geez, what crawled up your ass?” she cooed, leaning back against the counter, which in turn inched up her tank top, exposing miles of ink-adornedcurves.

A purposeful move,obviously.

“You, that's what,” I deadpanned inresponse.

Brie scoffed a laugh and rolled her eyes behind her edgy glasses. “Um, I don't think so. If anything, it'd be you crawling up my ass with that big assdi-”

“Can you shut up and just get the hellout?”

“Actually, no, I can't. Pun sent me in here to prep you while he finishes up with hisclient.”

“You’re kidding me,right?”

---