Chapter 37
ANASTASIA
I feel refreshed after my shower and since I don’t have any of my own body wash with me, I smell like the broody man that has taken over my mind as of late.
With a towel wrapped around my chest and another wrapped around my hair, I raid Eryx’s closet.
I wasn’t planning of sleeping over or coming here to this place at all, so I don’t have fresh clothes to change into.
I don’t even have clean underwear and I have to decide if I want to go bare or steal a pair of boxers along with one of the band tees that’s hanging.
Bare it is, I’m feeling like trouble today.
Let’s see, who should we wear today? Arctic Monkeys? Nothing But Thieves?
I place both towels in his hamper and finger comb my hair. He wasn’t here when I woke up and I haven’t heard anyone up and about so I decide to snoop around. I’m hella nosey after all.
I exit his room and take a left. The first two rooms seem to be guest rooms, or I guess the rooms for Caine and Roman when they stay over.
I open the third room and I’m greeted with another set of floor to ceiling windows and a massive bookshelf along the wall.
There’s a very cozy looking lounger chair in the corner and a lamp that hangs over top.
It’s like I’ve died and gone to heaven.
I walk over and study the books on the shelf. A lot are like the ones in Eryx’s dorm, classics. But I see there’s a lot of romance novels? Let me find out my classical literature loving man, is into the dark and depraved like yours truly.
There’s everything from cowboy, to mafia, to hockey and taboo romance books lining the shelves. I get on my tippy toes to grab one with a green spine, but I don’t quite reach. And because everyone around here towers me, there’s no stool for me to stand on.
I’m about to climb the shelves when from behind me I feel a warm body. A hint of tobacco wraps around me, softened by leather and the lingering spice of his cologne. His fingers brush up my arm and reach towards the book I was reaching for, and brings it down for me. I turn around to meet his gaze.
“Reaching for this?” His honey eyes already locked on mine, and it makes my breath hitch.
He’s a sight to be seen. His inky hair falls over his eyes, two silver chains around his neck, leather jacket and another band tee.
He’s always in band tees when not at school.
Dark jeans with rips on the knees, some chains adorn his belt loops too and he has on his Doc Martin boots, with the laces slightly undone.
If I had any panties on right now, they would be soaked.
“Yes, thank you.” I take the book from his hand. I look down at the cover of the book, it has a dark hooded figure with green smoke around him.
“It’s about a stalker, obsessed with a girl, and he sneaks through her window at night to watch her sleep.” He tells me.
Well, that’s oddly similar to a certain someone I know. A certain someone standing in front of me right now. Crowding my space.
“Read this one before? I didn’t take you for the dark romance type. Quite the collection you have here.”
He smiles down at me. “I might have read this one, once or twice. But no, this isn’t my collection. You have your bestie to thank for it.”
His eyes rake down my body, “You look good in my clothes Vorona.” He tilts my chin up and leans down to place a kiss on my lips.
I can taste the mint from the gum he was chewing.
I grab on to his jacket to bring him closer and deepen the kiss.
His hand goes to my throat applying the pressure he knows I love, the other traces up my thigh, under the hem of the shirt and grabs my ass.
“Mm, you’re playing a dangerous game not wearing anything underneath here baby. What’s to stop me from flipping you around and bending you over to fu—” but he gets interrupted.
“Princess!” Caine sing songs like he did last night. “Ready for our big da— Oh, am I interrupting you two love birds right now?”
I clear my throat and Eryx and I go to answer him at the same time.
“Yes.”
“No,” I say, before stepping away from his hold. “Is it time to go?”
“Go?” He asks.
Caine answers him this time. “Yes, princess and I have a date.”
A murderous look crosses his face as he steps towards his best friend. “I’m sorry, I might be having a stroke, you want to run that by me again?”
That makes me laugh out loud, “You should see your face right now!”
“A friend date, you psycho, chill out,” Caine hangs his arm over my shoulder. He’s really testing those waters with him right now. “Taking her to The Black Veil, Arlo is setting her up with Lesley.”
“You’re getting a piercing?” He asks me, his eyebrows raising with his question.
“Something like that,” I bite the inside of my lip.
“Don’t worry, you’ll see when we get back,” Caine winks at him.
With that I follow him out, and we’re on our way.
The ride to the shop is pretty quick. I text the group chat on the way over, needing to talk to the girls. I’ve got some juicy chisme I know they’ll love.
Area 51
Me
Hey!
You guys know where The Black Veil is?
Barbie
Umm, hi, hello, where tf have you been?!
Knocked on your door last night
No answer
Called your phone
No answer
Me
Oh! Do I have the fucking story for you!
Jason locked me in the fucking closet in Mr. Roberts class !!
Barbie
Yeah, Zakk does all my work.
Why?
Code Gremlin
Oh shit, what are you getting?
Wait, WTF?
Barbie
Come tf again, Jason locked you in a closet?!
Me
Caines bringing me
Meet me there
Code Gremlin
Say less! Ro, meet me at the car I’m driving
Wait
Why is Caine the one taking you?
Me
Didn’t you hear?
Apparently, he and I are ‘besties’ now
Barbie
Damn, replacing us already?
Me
Yes! A freaking closet!!
Never! You bitches are stuck with me for life now
Barbie
And were not skipping over that Jason convo
I want all the details when we get there
Code Gremlin
See you in 5
As soon as you walk in, there’s a red neon sign on the left wall reading The Black Veil, a skull with a rose underneath it.
The walls are black and are accented with gold-trimmed picture frames.
There’s red velvet couches that line both walls and oak tables with portfolios placed on top.
We’re greeted by a girl in black shorts with fishnets, vans, and shop branded t-shirt that’s been cut and is falling over her right shoulder.
The sides of her head are shaved, the rest of her hair up in a messy bun and micro bangs.
Both arms have patch work black tattoos as well as her legs.
Her dimples are pierced, ears gauged and the bridge of her nose.
The complete aesthetic of a Tumblr model.
“Skelly!” She comes up to hug Caine. “Is this her?” She asks him.
Caine wraps his arm around my shoulder, bringing me in.
“Stassi, Arlo, Arlo, Stassi.” He introduces us.
I reach out my hand to her like the weirdo I am, “Hi, nice to meet you.”
She takes my hand and shakes it, “Nice to meet you girl. So, this one tells me you want a piercing.”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, and I’m ready for it.” I tell her.
“Alright, well let’s get started filling out the waiver. I’ve got a client coming in, but I’ll set you up with my girl Lesley. She’s my piercer and body mod specialist.” She walks behind the podium up front and hands me a paper and pen, “You got your ID on you?”
I pull my phone out and remove my ID from behind it. “Yes, here you go.” I hand it to her and begin filling out the waiver in front of me. She takes it and scans it before handing it back to me.
“Zakk here?” Caine asks.
“Yeah, should be out back.”
“Alright cool, see you in a few princess.” He winks at me and excuses himself before walking past Arlo and to the back of the shop.
“So, you and Caine?” She asks me once he’s out of earshot.
“Oh no, he’s just a … a new found friend?” I say like I’m unsure. But truthfully, I’ve grown close to him, and I really value our friendship. “Plus, I seem to be a masochist for a dark haired, brooding, no boundary having, ass—”
“Ahh, Eryx. I see it now.” We both laugh.
The bell on top of the front door dings and two familiar faces walk in.
“BITCH!” Ro screams at me.
“Hey, Ro, hey Shina.” I greet them both. “Is it okay that they go back with me?” I finish filling out the waiver and hand it back to her.
“Yeah, that’s fine by me. Here follow me, Lesley should be done setting up back there.”
We all follow her to the back of the shop. The piercing room is off to the right and its closed off with a curtain for privacy should the place ever be more crowded.
“Lesley, this is Stassi, make sure you take good care of her.” Arlo introduces us, then leaves to set up for her client. I can hear the buzz of a tattoo machine on the other side of the curtain, and Caines subtle laughter.
Once in the room, there’s a tray set up with wipes, a marker, a clamp and the jewelry. A back table is against the door with cling wrap on top to keep it sanitized.
“Hey, I’m Lesley,” she gives me her elbow to tap, as to not contaminate her sterile gloved hands. “You nervous?”
“Only a little, but I’m ready for this.”
“Alright, hop on up and pull your top down for me please.”
I do as she asks, and listen as she goes through some expectations with me.
“Alright, spill. What the fuck happened with Jason?” Shina asks.
I start going through the story as Lesley makes the marks on my breast and makes sure the dots are even on both sides.
“You left your phone there?” Ro asks.
“Well, it's not like I did it on purpose.”
Lesley clamps my left nipple and tells me to take a deep breath.
“Wait, how does he even know that stuff about you?” Shina asks this time. “Its not like any of that is public knowledge, everything on your past is sealed.”
We all pause and look at her.
“What?” She plays innocent, “I was curious when you first arrived.”
“That’s the thing, I don’t—FwAuckK,” a sharp pinch, “I don’t know,” I finish, before taking a few deep breaths. “Then, when I tried to leave, he grabbed me and forced me into the closet that’s in Mr. Roberts class.”
She grabs the jewelry for the first one and feeds it through, then cleans around the jewelry.
“Well, that’s one done, ready for the next?”
“Fuck, yes lets just get it done,” I tell her.
She clamps down on my right one, tells me to take another deep breath and without warning this time pierces through my right.
I let out another fuck, and wait as she passes through the jewelry and helps me up to go look in the mirror.
They look amazing, hurt like a bitch, but so worth it.
I’m slowly feeling like myself, like who I was always meant to be without anyone or anything holding me back.
“Simple bars for now while you heal. I’d give it about six months minimum before you switch them out.
” Lesley continues to go over aftercare instructions.
I slip the shirt all the way on again and thank her.
She starts cleaning up her station but turns to me, “I hope you’re not leaving without finishing that story. ”
The curtain separating us, with where Caine is getting work done slides open. “Uhh, yeah! I’m a little invested here.” The guy tattooing him says. “How did you get out? Did you kick his ass?”
I turn towards them, Caine is sitting in a chair getting something on his forearm shaded.
The one tattooing him is in ripped jeans and a Chucky shirt with the sleeves cut off.
The bit of leg that peeks through the rip in his jeans shows off the horror themed tattoos he has. “Oh, I’m Zakk by the way.”
“I’m Stassi, nice to meet you. And uhh someone found me. Not sure how long I would have been stuck there if he never came along.”
“Eryx found her.” He says with the biggest smirk on his face.
“Oh so this, Jason guy is dead then I take it?” They both laugh.
Ro and Shina join in with the laughter. “Oh yeah, Jason is definitely dead.”
“No, why would he—” The dots start connecting. Him not being there when I woke up, the bruised knuckles. “Wait, is that why his knuckles were all bruised? Did Eryx kill Jason.” There’s a slight panic in my voice. I never wanted Eryx getting involved or putting himself at risk of anything for me.
“Nah, don’t worry, he’s very much alive. Roman stopped him before it got there. But let’s just say he won’t be bothering you anymore.” Caine reassures me.
Zakk finishes up the shading and turns to us. “So who’s next?”
“Princess, you ready for your first one?” Caine turns to me.
I look at him dumbfounded. “Me? Are you crazy?”
“Come on, we can finish up our bestie tattoos.”
“What bestie tattoos?”
That’s when I take a closer look at what he was just getting done.
There clear as day on his arm, is a small crown.
I bring my hand to my face pinching the bridge of my nose.
“Seriously, Caine?” I give him a playful smile.
Zakk pats the just cleaned chair Caine was sitting on.
“I’m very good, come on. You can get whatever you want.
” An idea comes to mind, and I walk over to Zakk and whisper in his ear.
“Oh fuck yes, let’s do it.”
Ten minutes later we’re done, but before Zakk wraps me up, I stride over to Caine. “Well, its official, guess we’re besties now.” I raise my arm for him to see the outline of a small skull in the same spot he has his princess crown.
“Damn, you make me feel special princess. First tattoo, and it’s for me?” He has a cheesy grin on his face. “Not worried about Mr. Possessive?”
“Nah, he’ll get over it.”