My One Sided Love Story

Stick and Poke Tattoos (EDITED)

WARNING: if it makes you uncomfortable to read about or hear mentions of rape, skip this chapter.

I licked my piercing and sat down again, grabbing my almost empty beer bottle. I took a swig as Jack offered me another cigarette, his hand extended towards me. I gently took it from him and rested it between my lips. He lit it for me with a match. I breathed in the smoking and pushed it out, watching as the air got thick with it. Destiny coughed and shot me a glare. I smiled innocently and put the cigarette to my lips again, the smoke filled my lungs and fogged my mind, clogged my veins, making me feel slightly numb. "Okay, I think it would be best if we stopped playing truth or dare," Jack said. We all agreed. Jack grabbed my beer from beside me and took a swig. I swiped my hand at his head, smacking the back of it, his hair sticking up effectively. He scoffed at me then smoothed his hair back down. I laughed as he licked his hands then ran them through his curly hair. 

"You're welcome," I chimed. Before Jack could take my beer again, I finished it off. I let him take the empty bottle and I breathed in the smoke from my cigarette, let it fill me, warming my throat and the sensation spread through my limbs. "Who wants a stick and poke tattoo?" I asked. 

"Ooh, give me one," Jack said, springing up and scooting closer to me. 

"What do you want it of?" I asked him. He shrugged. 

"I'll give you creative freedom," he said, extending his arm for me to use. I let him lay his arm down on my leg as I grabbed my purse, which I had my supplies in. I got out everything I would need and pull his arm closer to me. I drew a little infinity sign on the inside of his wrist, making sure that the lines with the pen weren't sloppy or sketch-like. I flicked my light on and ran the tip of the sewing need through the small flame, making it flash red then cool off again. I dipped it into the ink then poked it into Jack's arm, forgetting to warn him. "Ow," she said calmly, flinching a tiny bit. Chuckling, I wiped the excess ink with the small towel. I repeated the process for another fifteen minutes. Once I was done, I scrubbed his arm of the extra ink, then I give Jack his arm back. I watched as he inspected the tattoo carefully, poking some parts of his skin that have started to bleed. He nodded and smiled at me, clearly happy with it.

"Who's next?" I asked, grinning triumphantly. Forest pushed Jack away from me and sat down, telling me he just wants a tree. I clean the needle again, sketch it out and start stabbing his arm. The tree took a little longer, about thirty minutes. But the time was worth it, he really loved how it turned out, and I did too. Destiny asked for one and I give her a really simple one on her wrist. It's a small heart, but it's really elegant and pretty when it's done. I admired it for its simplicity. Taylor finally sat by me and I started on his, which was a long snake on the inside of his right arm. The head was on his wrist and the tail was on the inside of his elbow. His only took around fifteen minutes. I started to feel proud of my abilities and Taylor was really happy with it, telling me just that as he examined all the little scales. Azalea was the last to request one. She wanted music notes on the inside of her ankle. After Azalea's I put all my things away. 

"I love what you gave me," Jack commented, giving me a small smile. I nodded and shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. 

"You should start a tattoo parlor," Azalea said. "You definitely have the skills for it." I smiled and shook my head.

"Thanks, but I don't think so. I don't know how to actually work all the professional machinery. I just do stick and pokes." I said, waving her off. Azalea rolled her eyes at me before crawling across Destiny and seating herself in Taylor's lap. Taylor wrapped his arms around her form, hugging her close. I wanted so desperately to do that with Jack, to have him close, to have his breath waving against the back of my neck, his arms my home, giving me warmth. But that can't happen, not while he's sober. "Who wants to skip school Monday?" I asked. We all raised our hands, grinning from ear to ear.