If I'm There - A Noah Sebastian Story

Chapter Two - Moonlight

KAT'S POV
The next morning I took my first few clients, and got steady from there. Everyone seemed to opt for the typical small flash sheet tattoos, something that was small and cheap, but good for the memory. Well, so long as they take care of it. After a few hours of awkward sitting and terrible posture, there was a knock on the door and then it opened. I looked up from the tattoo that I was finishing up and was met with Noah staring at me, two cups of coffee in hand.

"Hey, handsome, give me ten minutes and I'll be with you." I started back on my highlights, then sprayed it down all while Noah watched over my shoulder.

"That's amazing, the colors are so vibrant. You're pretty bad ass," Noah complimented. I wrapped it up and gave the client a list of care instructions, then sent them out. Noah handed me a cup of coffee, and I instantly took a sip.

"Mm, I needed this. Bad." He smiled and leaned against the counter.

"I figured you'd be pretty busy today. Are you going to catch our set later today?" He asked as I finished cleaning up. I went over to my appointment book and flipped through pages. He leaned over, looking over my shoulder again as I looked at my schedule.

"I should be done at about 8pm, what time do you go on?" I asked, still looking down.

"8pm. Maybe you can make it to the last part of the set? Just stand next to the stage, I'm sure they will let you through."

"Oh, I doubt it. I'll see if I can make it, though. For sure." Noah smiled and crossed his arms.

"If it was in Motionless in White I'd get a definite yes wouldn't I?" He joked. I shook my head and smiled to myself.

"No," I informed him, "I'd still have to finish up tattoos. No matter the band or performer. How about you meet me on the balcony that connects our rooms after the show?" I suggested. He shrugged.

"Alright, bet. I'll be there, it's a date." He held out his fist for a fist bump, and I accepted. Noah made his way out, intercepting Chris as he came through the door. Noah said something quietly to Chris, and he let out a small laugh and walked completely in.

"Noah said he has dibs, I gotta respect it." Chris disclosed as he hopped up on the chair. I rolled my eyes and Chris gave me a cheesy smile.

"Dibs or not, I'm not interested. In anyone. I'm focusing on myself now anyways. I have some healing to do." Chris offered me a warm smile and leaned forward.

"Well, when you decide you need someone to heal with you should call Noah. We're human, we can't do everything on our own." Chris was right, healing is sometimes easier with two people. "I gotta go, I have a business call to take, but I'll be around." Chris bolted out of the door, almost knocking down my next client, but she was too starstruck to care. I let out a small laugh to myself and started preparing her stencil, then placed it on her arm.
My day was whirlwind from there, and before I knew it the clock read 9:30 P.M.. Fuck, I forgot about Noah. I started to hastily put stuff up and clean up, and as I did so I heard the door chime.

"I thought you'd be here," Noah said as he walked in, two drinks in hand. "I got you a margarita. I didn't know how large these things were, my bad." I grabbed my bag and the shop key, then we walked out locking the door behind us. Noah handed me the rather large margarita that was in a skooner as large as a fish bowl with gummy sharks floating in it. We started to walk back to our rooms, but wound up just settling on sitting on one of the other decks closer to the bar. He sat across from me at a small table, his head resting on his singularly gloved hand.

"You haven't changed yet?" I asked him, taking a sip of my margarita. He shook his head.

"Well, I was going to, but I got caught up waiting for you."

"Noah, I'm so sorry. I just lost track of time." I apologize again. He smiled and shook his head, then removed the glove.

"You could have just said you don't like me, you didn't have to stand me up," I knew he was joking, but part of me still felt terrible about being late. "It's okay, Kat. I don't mind waiting on you." Oh? What was that supposed to mean? And why was I blushing? I took a long sip of my drink, maybe I could blame it on the alcohol. "So, any kids?"

"God no," I said as I shook my head. "Never wanted any. My husband did, but he respected that I didn't want to go through that."

"When did you get married?" Was this twenty questions now?

"I was 19 years old, he was my high school sweetheart. We got married right before his first deployment. Very typical. Most the men in his squadron had gotten married right before deployment. Including his best friend." Noah looked down at the table, almost as though he felt bad for asking, as if it brought up memories for me. Which it did, but they were pleasant memories. Memories from a simpler time. "What about you? Did you ever consider getting married? Were you ever married?" I figured I'd turn the table, and ask him questions.

"Me? Oh, god, no. Maybe at one moment I considered getting married, but we just fell apart. It was a hard time for me. I was finding my place in the industry, and I guess I didn't pay close enough attention to see that we were breaking right there." Noah's voice was soft, no anger or remorse behind it. It was more of acceptance. I could tell his shell wasn't hard, but in fact, just as soft as his voice. Oh, how I'd love to be that way.
Before I knew it we had both gone through two margaritas, and were laughing about the many drunken idiots around, as if we weren't part of them. We watched as one struck out time and time again with every chick he came up to, and then he made his way to us.

"What about you, pretty lady? Could I take you out?" The drunken bearded man asked as he pulled a chair up. I laughed a little, then shook my head.

"I'm sorry, I'm not interested," I let him know politely. He kept insisting, as if Noah wasn't sitting right there. I told him no again, and he grabbed my wrist.

"Just one date, pretty lady. One date is all it would take." I pulled my wrist away his rather tight grip and backed up.

"And I said no, I don't want to go out with you. I'm not interested in men that are old enough to be my grandfather." The man looked me up and down, then stood up, and spit on me. Noah quickly pushed his seat back, and stepped up to the large bearded man.

"I suggest you get fucking lost," Noah's soft exterior had suddenly hardened.

"The fuck are you gonna do about it?" They were inches away from each other, and a security guard finally intervened.

"Hey, both of you, back up and go back to your rooms. I won't tolerate any fights." He separated the guys, and Noah and I turned to walk away. But I couldn't just leave it be.

"Hey, ass hole!" I shouted. The bearded man turned to face us, and I uppercut him in the jaw. He was about to retaliate when Noah pulled me back by my arm, and started to run. We ran all the way to the elevator and he quickly pushed the button for our floor, then began to catch his breath. After a moment of heavy breathing, the laughter began.

"Kat, where the hell did you learn to throw a punch like that!" He asked in between breaths of air. I continued to laugh and leaned against the wall. Our laughter died, and he put his hands in his pockets. The elevator reached our floor, and we both stepped out. Noah walked to my room with me, and we hesitated outside the door. "I, uh," he rubbed his neck nervously, "I don't really want this night to end. I'm having a great time with you." I smiled, and could feel myself blush again. Why do I keep doing that?
"I mean, it's only 12:00a.m., does it really have to end just because I punched someone?" Noah chuckled and shook his head, and I opened my door. I tossed my purse on the bed, and made my way out to the balcony. I leaned against the railing, and watched the waves around the ship, admiring as the moonlight danced on the water. Noah leaned next to me, also looking out, then looked over at me and smiled.  I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the moonlight, but before I knew it, I was leaning into his kiss, our lips interlocking.