PLAY THE PART | mileven

twenty four

she was so nervous, it almost felt like she was seconds away from throwing up.

it wasn't a bad type of nervous though, it was the exciting one that she felt. she's been wanting to have her own tattoo for a long while and now — she's probably minutes away from it happening.

mike and her woke up in the morning after hearing a repeated knock on her door. she almost shrieked in fear that it was her dad and ended up pushing mike under the covers as if that would make him look invisible somehow.

much to their luck, it wasn't her dad but max who was at the door. she creaked a slit open, whispering for them to switch rooms again.

mike clumsily got out of the bed in response, wearing his sweatpants back on but staying shirtless since el was wearing his.

once he left the room and max got in, she scrunched her nose at the crumbled bedsheets, el's undergarments being splattered on the floor and a towel laying next to them.

el's cheeks heated up in an instant and she moved to tidy the mess up and change her bedding.

it was hours later when mike and el excused themselves from everyone else and made their way towards the tattoo parlor.

it all started sinking in when they stood directly in front of it and her heart rate started increasing in an instant.

mike seemed to have noticed the slight shift on her, he reached out to take her hand between his and give it a comforting squeeze of 'i'm right here, there's nothing to be nervous about.'

she let a little breath out as they walked in together.

the sight of the interior design of the parlor made her tensed shoulders relax. instead of the stereotypical dark furniture and skulls - which she was expecting to see - the decor was very modern and light. there were even flowers on the receptionist desk.

there was a man sitting behind it and when the bell of the door chirped as they walked in, he tilted his head up with a curious look on his face. once he caught the frame of the boy next to her, a smile melted on his face.

"mike, how are you doing?" he instantly got up from his chair to walk towards him and pull him in a quick hug. "it's been so long but you seem great."

mike smiled. "thanks, benny. i'm doing well, how are you doing? the kids?"

"still sucking the life energy right out of me, i'm telling ya." he playfully rolled his eyes before patting against mike's arm and smiling. "it's truly great seeing you again."

especially because he was so concerned when mike bared his back to him for the first time. he didn't ask about what happened, he didn't give a single comment that might come off as insensitive but the sight truly bugged him.

he knew that whatever, whoever left those scars must've scarred him enough to be okay with enduring the pain of covering them up with ink.

every once in a while he'd think of mike, wondering if he's okay and escaped those demons. seeing him in front of him again after all those years, seeing how much better he looks than before was truly relieving.

"and you said the tattoo wasn't for you but for your girlfriend, correct?" he asked, turning to point at el.

"yes." she answered for him, stretching her hand in his direction. "i'm el, nice to meet you."

"i'm benny." he shook her hand before walking back to stand behind the desk. "do you have any design in mind, el?"

she pursed her lips, shaking her head. "not really."