hey rockstar

ninety nine ; tattoos & talking

Kevin tucks himself into the pool house, shading himself and his equipment while he sets up. Calum settles in the doorway watching and talking to him about the ideas I have. I could hear the conversation for a few minutes before I retreated into the kitchen finding something to drink. My nerves begin to get the better of me.

My hands shake slightly as I mix a jug of lemonade, tossing some lemons in it as I watch the window. Calum has disappeared and Kevin is working with an iPad quietly. Calum appears in the kitchen pursing his lip at me softly.

"Nervous?"

"Starting to yep."

"I'll sit with you, you can hold my hands. I gave him your ideas, and the pictures you sent me he's working on making it a little bit more unique," a pause and he sighs softly. "Have you had something to eat yet today?"

"Yeah I had breakfast..."

"Have some fruit. You need something in your system, trust me."

I roll my eyes pulling a bowl of washed fruit from the fridge. He smiles, grabbing the jug of juice and some glasses. Ushering me out the door slowly. His arm rests against mine as we walk across the yard. My throat feels tight as I step into the room seeing different equipment and ink needles packed away in a second box.

"It won't be that bad, I promise,'' I nod and sit on the couch. I watch as they interact, not really listening as he prints off a sheet of paper with the different pieces I had wanted on it. He shows it to Cal who nods before holding it up to me.

"How's that look?"

"Amazing," I smile and he smiles back, cutting them out.

"Do you want to go first or have Cal go?" I shrug, standing up and stretching slightly. The boys laugh and instruct me on what to do. I sit down and wait for the pain to begin but it is just a pressure bearing down into my skin.

CALUM

I sit with Tenley's hand in mine as she gets the different pieces of work tattooed into her skin. She hardly even flinches. I watch as Kevin finishes up the last piece of her neck and he smiles. Hold out her phone to take a picture of it, wrapping it in SecondSkin.

"Holy shit, I didn't think you would sit that good. How are you feeling?"

"Strangely enough, super tired," she laughs as she sits up, slowly forcing a yawn out. "How do they look?'

He passes her phone to her and she seems in awe, thanking him a hundred times before she gets off the table. She doesn't say anything as we trade places. Kevin and I chat softly to one another while Tenley scrolls along on her phone. Kevin watches, pauses what he's doing as Tenley steps back into the house - holding her phone to her ear with a smile on her face.

"So that's the girl?" I nod, a smile on my lips and he chuckles. "She seems sweet, not exactly what I would have thought you would go for actually."

"'What do you mean?" I try not to take offense right away, Tenley is someone I love and admire, someone I can't imagine having in my life.

"She's very down to earth, soft. I mean she's adorable but you're a rockstar and everyone always imagines a rockstar would have this killer girlfriend with an attitude. But I think she's perfect for you."

"Me too."

"I'm proud of you Call. You deserve to be happy."

"Thanks man."

"Am I invited to the wedding?"

"If everything goes as planned, I hope so. This whole thing is starting to slow down and subside, I think a wedding is starting to seem more realistic."

"Weird huh? Months of the world halting and not understanding what's going on until suddenly it stops and everyone can be safe again. The whole pandemic is a joke, something in the past we'll talk about in a decade."

"I never even thought of that. I mean, I guess I did a little about how we've spent months tied up alone and isolated and people scared for their lives I mean...T got sick there for a little while and we were so scared because she's compromised. And she was okay but I could tell..."

"I know, I know. And all the people acting like they weren't at risk and they wouldn't get sick. Such a bizarre year."

"I'm glad it's over though."

"Me too," a pause as he continues to press the needle into my skin. "SO what's next for you two? Packing up and going home?"