The Mentor

Chapter 13

The next morning I woke up in my own room. I don't really remember what happened the night before other than Sam being angry with me for seemingly no reason. Today was the day of our next elimination tattoo, wonderful. I was already so upset about Sam and now this. I called Kyle to get him up to get breakfast but he didn't answer the phone. I called again, no answer. I eventually walked down the hall to his room and knocked on the door a few times, and eventually he answered. Yikes, he looked rough.

"What on earth happened to you?" I asked, looking him up and down.

He was wearing the same clothes from the night before but his hair was a mess and he reeked of beer and disappointment. I eventually let myself into the room and sat down next to him on the bed.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"I don't know, Jamie. I got really drunk last night after you left cause you went ballistic over Sam, and I just feel so gross this morning. My head is killing me, I barely got any sleep." he muttered.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, rubbing his shoulder.

I got him some water and he thanked me, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

"I um...I don't mean to make things worse, but I don't think I can tattoo today, Jamie. My head hurts so bad." He mumbled softly.

"What?? What the fuck am I supposed to do? They'll send us home!" I gasped, standing up.

"No, they won't. As long as one is there to represent the other, it's fine, cause one of us will have work to show. You'll have to tattoo in my place, cause I am not coming in today, I'm going back to sleep." He groaned, pulling himself under the covers.

I was so incredibly frustrated with him, but I had no other choice. I let him go back to sleep before picking up breakfast for one, whoopie. I didn't see Sam on the way there or back, thankfully.

I decided to drive myself to the studio that day, I didn't take the bus. It felt too weird without Kyle. I met everyone else in the loft like normal and they all looked very confused.

"Where's your ball and chain?" Halo asked, a few people laughed.

"Very hungover and sick, He's not coming in today. I'll have to tattoo in his place, I guess." I muttered, burying my face in my hands.

Tatu baby came over and placed a hand on my back, handing me a small bottle of water.

"Everything's going to be okay, you can prove to Kyle that you don't need him all the time, you're a great artist on your own."

I thanked her and we eventually were ushered into the shop by Oliver. Chris and Dave were sitting in their respective spots, but there was one extra chair, and it wasn't for Oliver.

"Hello artists! Today we are doing another elimination tattoo. That means, one of you and your apprentice is going home...Uh...Jamie? Where's Kyle?" He asked, looking at me.

I looked up, I had been staring at the floor the whole time out of fear, knowing this would look bad for Kyle.

"He's uh, not coming today. He's got a pretty serious hangover...so..."

Chris and Oliver both looked at each other, they looked really worried, that was not good. Eventually Dave got up and all three of them huddled together.

"What're we gonna do with this?" I heard Oliver whisper

"I-I have no idea...we'll have to figure something out. I mean she has to try. Adaptability is this week's challenge. We've got to let her try to figure something out..." Chris whispered back.