Escape || Cole Walter

Twenty Three

"Ow! Holy shit." I whisper as I try to remember to breath. How do I know so many weak people with tattoos? This shit is not for the faint of heart.

"I told you you would regret it." Katherine tells me as she stands over the tattooing table watching the man's every move closely.

"Hey, I don't regret it at all." I fire back with a smile.

I decided on getting a small bumble bee. I've always loved bees, and my dad used to use bumble as a nickname for me. I've wanted this since I was almost thirteen.

"Can I leave now?" Cole asks his mom from a chair a couple feet away. I look over at him with a disappointed face and then smile shortly after. For as much as I was expecting to hate today, it's actually been extremely fun so far, so I am in an excellent mood. "It's not fair that she gets a tattoo and I don't."

"Cole, you literally want the Lightning McQueen 95." I blurt as I laugh loudly.

His mom looks over at him, crossing her arms. "I told you I wasn't being serious." He scolds me.

"Elle," Katherine says with an asking tone to figure out if I am lying or not.

"He was kidding." I reply, looking back down at the needles going in and out of my arm. He wasn't kidding, but I decide to cover his idiocy for this one time.

"No you can't leave, we need a ride." Katherine says, making her decision without even saying no.

He groans, closing his eyes as he sits back in his chair.

•••

"Okay, we are going to Marie's house. Getting ready, and then going to the skating rink!" Grace tells everyone, giving them the down low on the rest of the day. We are officially out of school and we can finally have a day to just be teenagers on a birthday.

Jackie, Kylie, my new ballet friend Marie, Skylar, Grace, and I are all going back to Marie's house, while all the other Walter boys go home and get ready there. Jackie really planned a whole ordeal. I had no idea if she knew who Marie was or not, but I guess it makes sense since they're in the same grade.

The whole day at school, after I was done with my tattoo during my free period, was filled with streamers and party poppers from all of my friends. I was shot like four times by everyone I know. Even Cole participated. I had no idea he liked the birthday thing so much.

"Dylan and I have got the hidden booze." Cole says in our large groups huddle.

My sister's eyebrows instantly fly together, his statement clearly upsetting her. "Hey who invited Dylan?" Jackie instantly asks, popping out her hand on her hip with attitude.

"I did." Cole says as if it's obvious. I smile, does he really think he has a say in this? When Jackie is planning something, no one, should disrupt that plan. I swear she gets ten times meaner for no reason.

"I thought you weren't even friends anymore cause his doucheyness about football?" She asks, splurging the info I told her.

"Things change New York Junior."

"Not at the party I planned." She says firmly, starring him down.

I stand up, coming between the two and push them back. "Since it's my birthday, I say he can come, he's got booze. As long as no one else in that stupid preppy group is invited." I decide.

Jackie rolls her eyes as Cole just smirks at me. The rest of the group stares at the three of us. "Anyways," I say, allowing Grace to keep talking.

"You guys are going to get everything ready at your house, and us gorgeous girls plus Skylar are gonna get ready." She bats her eyes at all of the boys who begin to groan and complain.