Misconstructed

Chapter three

The week went slower than I had hoped and it's all because of the new teacher, my new teacher. She's a strawberry blond with mesmerizing emerald green eyes that just entice you to listen to her and frankly I feel like that's a bit much. Not to mention, she's also our history teacher, mine and Rex's.

Walking into "Last Resort", my preferred tattoo shop, I greet Gary, my artist. "So what'll it be today?" I've known Gary for a few years now. I met him when his brother Darren was having a party and he was giving out illegal tattoos to minors; me being one of them. Gary gave me what I like to call my wolf knot. It's nordic, but it feels like home on my wrist.

I've changed my mind so many times now that I go with the first thing that comes to mind, something symbolic for Poseidon. "I want Poseidon's trident on my left forearm."

"You got it." He tells me, going straight to work on the design. I take my seat as I know it's going to take some time for him to be ready. Rex, who's just happy to come along for the ride, takes a seat next to me.

Rex was right there next to me as I got my wolf knot. He's been there for all three of mine, to which I'm grateful for. I don't like inviting the guys to this mainly because I don't want them to see me in pain, because as much as I love to fight and what not, getting a tattoo is still really painful.

After about thirty minutes, Gary comes back with a beautiful design with waves behind it. I almost want to cry at how nice it is. "I love it." I confess to him.

Patting his chair, he indicates for me to sit down. "Do you want any alcohol?" He has a whole mini fridge of 'drinks' for his favorite customers.

Extending my lower lip, I shake my head as I don't want this to hurt more than it's going to. I did it for my wolf knot and my third tattoo because I forgot how painful it was. I'm not making that mistake again.

Rex stays behind but just knowing that he's around makes me feel that much better. "Pot?" Gary asks me, holding out a joint. I take it in between my fingers, and as I take a hit of it, my nerves instantly begin to relax, letting me know that it's doing its job.

I get on the chair and instantly he goes into it. "So how's life?" He asks as he places the outline on my forearm.

"Oh no." I roll my eyes and sigh.

"Hey, you know the deal, I tattoo you, you open up." It's true, the only reason he'll tattoo me is if I open up about myself. He says it's good for the soul to not be so closed up.

"Fine." I tell him with another sigh. He turns on his machine and I go into details about what's been going on since I last saw him a few months ago, but honestly, nothing's been going on except for the break ins, and I'm not going to tell him about that. "Nothing," He gives me a knowing look and I know he doesn't believe me. "Honestly, it's been really boring since I've been here. Life just isn't that interesting."

"Oh come on."

"No really." I try convincing him.

"You're a teenager." I shrug my shoulders as he gets ready to ink me. "Well what about that one girl you're seeing? What's her name?"

"Maddie? Yeah, she's cool. She's meeting us at Trevors party once we're done here." See, Gary's one of those people I don't mind opening up to. He's a guy that's been through some shit, some even I can't comprehend and that's how I know he understands me.

"Are you sure a party's a good idea after this?" WIth my second tattoo, we had someone come to Trevor's house, a paid professional that he got through the grapevine of his own friends.

The needle hits my skin and I'll admit, I wince at it, but I go back to thinking about my second tattoo and the party in which I almost messed up my tattoo thanks to a dumbass that just wanted to fight for no reason. "I promise nothing will happen to your precious design." I tell him and he chuckles a bit.

I try to focus my attention on the music instead of the pain. "Barb's been on me a bit about going to college."

"But you don't want to go to college." he says as he focuses on what's important. "Instead you want to work here under me."

"Yeah." I tell him, nodding my head. "She says that's not a way to make a living but I've shown her proof. She doesn't care though," I shrug my shoulders.

"Listen, sometimes you just have to listen, nod and let them go on about their business. Okay?"

"Yeah but she just keeps doing it."

"And you're just going to keep taking it because I know you and I know you like Barb." He's not wrong, I do like Barb but there's only so much I can take of the "college" talk. The only reason Gary hasn't put me under his wing yet is because I'm not eighteen yet. Or so he says.

I like the little talks that Gary and I have during our time together. He's been like a big brother to me for the past couple years and I couldn't be happier to confide in him.

As he finishes my trident, he wipes it off. It burns, turning as red as a cherry but I couldn't be happier with it. "Are you going to get it colored?"

"Oh hell no. I'm going to leave it against my skin." My olive skin that I think could be a little darker. Nodding his head, he shrugs his shoulders. "Eighty five dollars." He holds out his hand as he holds my wrap in his other hand.

"You always charge me so nicely." I tell him, reaching into my pocket for my wallet.

"Yeah, well you're going to be working for me soon. You'll have plenty of time to pay me back." He tells me, growing my confidence that I'll be just fine without CoLlEgE.

Handing him the bills, he begins wrapping my arm in what he calls 'second skin'. It's a transparent sticker that goes over the tattoo, keeping it nice and safe and you only need it for a couple of days. Two at most.

I walk back to Rex, who's on his phone waiting for me. "Ready?" I ask him.

"How was therapy?" He asks me, knowing this is the only way I can ease my frustrations.

"It was good." I tell him, leaving the store. The two of them say their goodbyes and I head for the sidewalk, ready to go to Trevor's party. Everyone should be there by now, but I don't expect it as maybe they would want to come later.

There's a good fifteen minute walk to Trevor's house from the shop since Barb won't let us use her car, giving us time to just talk. "So how was it?"

"You know, you could always try it and find out." I tell him, shrugging my shoulders.

"No thanks, I'd rather leave all the pain and self loathing to you." He tells me with a chuckle. I shrug my shoulders once again and take out my own joint from my pocket. I rolled it just before coming here.

Lighting the joint, I inhale as much as I can and then some, wanting to feel the burn in my lungs. It's almost what I live for some days. Exhaling, I start coughing my lungs out. "You okay, dude?" Rex asks me, patting my back. I shrug him off of me, letting him know that I don't need his help.

"I'm fine." I put my hands in my pockets, "I don't alway self loath, you know."

"Oh god, are you on that right now?" he asks, almost distraught. "It was only a joke." He tells me as if I wouldn't see this as gaslighting.

"Don't do that." I tell him, taking another hit of the joint to calm my nerves.

"Do what?" He asks as we make our way down the street. We're so close I can hear the music from down the road.

"Invalidate my feelings as if they're irrational."

"Listen, I'm sorry. But you know I was only joking."

"Yeah, well some jokes hurt." I tell him as we stand in front of the front yard as I take in the chaotic scene in front of me.