Page 13 of Stevie
This is why no one takes females in this industry seriously.
If it was so bad of a place to work, why not leave? No one forced you to stay.
Man, imagine being her mentor and just getting thrown under the bus like this.
Like… spoiled much? No one gets paid to apprentice. Get over yourself.
Staring at my laptop screen, I bite on my thumbnail. It’s a nervous tick of mine, no other nail, just my left thumbnail. The comments aren’t too bad today, the public ones anyway. The private messages are talking about my weight, my voice, that I deserved what I got. I even have other piercers sending me death threats. I made one video talking about the apprentice-mentor relationship and the abuse that often happens, and I’ve become public enemy number one overnight.
Sighing, I set my laptop on the coffee table before sliding to the floor and turning on the camera. Maybe if I make another video explaining that I meant no harm to the community, that I was just trying to shed some light on a topic that needs to be addressed, maybe they will calm down, and everything can return to normal.
Once I hit the record button, I give my best smile to the camera.
“Hi, guys,” I breathe out. “For those of you that don’t know, I’m Stevie, and… boy, I gotta tell you, I didn’t expect the video I posted to blow up the way it has. This is both a positive and negative thing. So, a little about me - as stated in my previous video, I was in an unhealthy relationship with my mentor while apprenticing. Unfortunately, my story is not an uncommon one. After a piercing and tattoo convention I attended last year, I saw many apprentices, especially female or fem presenting, were still not being paid, were being sexually harassed, abused, and more. So, I wanted to speak about it.” I take a long breath, trying to gather my strength. I am a people pleaser to a fault, and having thousands of people angry at me, well, it’s wearing on my mental health.
“I wanted to start with this,” holding my hands out to know where to insert the screenshot later in editing. “This is the Fitzgerald Act, and I would implore you all to get well acquainted with it. The Fitzgerald Act states that it is illegal not to pay your apprentices. Sometimes, though, it’s expected they work seven days a week with no pay and no medical benefits, and it leads to them becoming dependent upon the mentor more often than not. This can leave them open to abuse.” Rubbing the back of my neck, I sigh and blink slowly.
“If I have somehow upset anyone, I apolo–” I freeze when I hear my words, staring at the camera. I shake my head and laugh lightly when I realize I am about to apologize for upsetting the very people who are the abusers. “Wow, after all these years, I still find myself apologizing for things that aren’t my fault. So, you know what? No, I’m not sorry. At all. Fuck you predators out there taking advantage of us. Fuck you to the people stalking me in my life, and a very special fuck you to Vincent.” I end the video with a middle finger, and I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my body. For a second, I contemplate possibly sleeping on this and looking at the video with fresh eyes in the morning.
“Fuck that,” I mutter, going to the fridge and pulling out my bottle of wine. I walk back to the coffee table and sit down, preparing to edit the video.
* * *
I jump at the knock on my door, having just uploaded my video. I am about to get up when the door opens. Brooks stands in the doorway, momentarily frozen with what looks like irritation on his face. I watch as he runs his tongue over his lips. Yep, that’s irritation.
“So help me god, Stevie, you keep these fucking doors locked. What if someone just walked on in here?”
“Someone did.” I roll my eyes as I take another sip of my wine. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m checking to make sure everything is safe and locked up. Which it’s not.” I give him a shrug.
“Leave now, and I’ll lock it, scout’s honor.” He snorts while handing me a brown bag. I look in the bag and…
“Shut up,” I gasp, pulling out the gourmet gelato container. “If this is tiramisu.” He chuckles lightly while sitting on the couch.
“Of course, it is Peaches,” I squeal when I see that it is indeed tiramisu gelato. It’s my favorite gelato, and only one place in our area makes it.
“Oh my god,” I moan between mouthfuls. “This is so good. I don’t even care what the catch is. It’s worth it.”
“No catch, Peaches. I just wanted to make you smile when I came here to check on everything.”Oh, that’s… fuck, that’s sweet.“How are you doing with the comments?” Shrugging, I take another spoonful of the gelato before answering.
“Fine, I’m used to hateful comments about my physical appearance. I just wish I could get them to see that I’m not trying to hurt anyone. I’m trying to help bring awareness to improve this industry. I don’t want others to have to go through what I did.” I trail off, looking down at the container.
“I know,” he lets out a sigh before standing up. “Peaches, I know your heart is in the right place. I just worry you’re going to get hurt trying to prove a point.” I give him a small smile.
“Don’t you have enough clients to worry about? You don’t need to add me.” He gives me a long look as he opens my door.
“Baby, my clients are my job. I don’t worry about them. I only worry about the people I care about.”
Brooks
CHAPTER SIX
Rubbing my temples, I shake my head as I sit in an empty chair at Hel’s Ink, waiting for the stubborn fucking brat with turquoise hair to show up.Why?Is all my overly annoyed mind can think of as I watch Stevie’s newly uploaded and second very viral video on my tablet for the fifteenth time today. She sticks her middle finger up and I toss the tablet on the station. This is it, I’m going to have to sit on her. I see no other option. This woman is quite literally going to give me a goddamn aneurysm.
The worst part? She must’ve done this either just before or just after my visit last night. Meaning, either way, she tainted my gelato. Oh yeah, there is deceit in that frozen dessert now and I’ll be goddamned if I ever get her another one… maybe. At least not for a month.
Fox scoffs as he throws a water bottle to Derek before sitting down in his chair. “Stevie’s balls are definitely becoming more pronounced.”
