Stockholm Syndrome

16. Tattoos, Club and... Lexi.

I woke up in J's bed the next morning, he must have carried me in. I look at our naked bodies next to each other, I would have never thought my life would end up like this. "Good morning," I greet J noticing he's up before more. "Morning," he yawns. "I've been thinking and I want to talk to my parents. Can I please use your phone to call them?" He looks at me quickly. "Woah, woah, woah. No way. They can see my number and try to find you," he says worriedly. "I can block the number," I suggest. "No, they'll call the police and track down my phone. I can't let you, I'm sorry," he shakes his head. "Okay," I reply sadly. I really thought it was going to work but I guess not. I really want to hear my mom and dad's voice, I miss them. "You know what I want?" I sit up. "Oh no, what?" He seems worried about what I'm about to say, I don't blame him because of all the time I've been here I've said some pretty crazy things. "I want another tattoo," I bite my lip. "Another tattoo?" He seems surprised. I nod quickly. "I don't knooooow," he laughs slightly like I'm crazy. "Just a couple more, please," I beg. "Like what?" He asks curiously. "I want a J on my wrist," I look at him shyly. "You want a J? Like my name?" He makes eye contact with me. "Yeah." For the first time I watch him bite his bottom lip, it was sexy! "You probably shouldn't get a name," he explains while telling me it's risky and a bad idea. "Technically it's just a letter," I giggle. He shakes his head and laughs slightly. "I also want my parents' names just like you have, but I want it on the back of my neck." I hear him sigh. "Fine I suppose we'll go." He puts on his boxers under the covers and gets up. "Really!?" I'm excited. I didn't think he'd actually agree!

We drive, for the second time, to the tattoo parlor. "I guess since it's only fair, I'll get your name on my wrist as well," J says making me smile just before we get there.

"Morning, J, nice to see you again. More tattoos?" The nice tattoo artist greets. "Morning, Oliver. Yeah we're gonna get a couple tattoos today," J speaks to the man, Oliver. "Have a seat and I'll fix you 2 up," he smiles getting his materials ready. Oliver goes to do J's tattoo first because he's only getting one and I'm getting three. "I'm gonna get her name right here," he points to his left wrist. He picks out the font that he wants my name in, it's a pretty cursive font. "Okay, sounds good," Oliver begins the tattoo. I smile and watch over his shoulder as he gets it. "Like it so far?" He asks. I say yes. "Me too," he smiles while getting it.

Before we know it our tattoos are done. I have a J on my left wrist and on my neck I have the names Anne and Joshua, my parents. "Anne and Joshua Miller, huh?" J asks while driving, but not back to his house. "Yeah," I confirm. "Where are we going?" I ask. "To a club," he says. "To a club? It's 2 o'clock, it's too early," I explain. "It's never to early to go to a club," he laughs. "I'm not even dressed properly," I tell him but he only shrugs. I can't help but laugh. I notice my smile disappear once I see the club. "I've been to this club before," I say softly trying to remember the club. "I know, this is where I found you." I look at him. "Why did you bring me to this club?" I'm a bit upset. I really don't like remembering the night he took me. He ignores me and gets out of the car, he opens my door and keeps a hand on my waist while guiding me inside. We sneak in without ID. "You're just like my friend, she gets away with everything," I laugh and shake my head. We make our way to the bar and J orders us both a drink. I thank him for my drink. "Why are we here, J?" I ask again. "This is the closest club around and I wanted a drink," he tells me. "Then you're letting me drive home," I look at him. He looks back at me quickly, "No way, I'm not letting you drive MY car," he takes a drink. "Fine, but please don't get drunk." He agrees not to get drunk, but for some reason I don't think he'll stick to that agreement. I'm only having maybe 2 drinks tonight, just in case J does get drunk. I sit close to him, feeling him place his hand on my upper thigh. I take his hand and move it down to my lower thigh, he looks at me and I just smirk. "Can I get a shot of... I don't know, bar tender's choice please," I hear a familiar voice. I look next to me to see a girl with short blonde hair and a skinny body sitting a couple chairs down from me, there is only one person I know who looks like that and it's Lexi. Lexi never drinks unless she's with people, she's not like Tonya, she's the most cautious one out of all my friends. J feels me tense up as I stare at her. "What's wrong?" He taps my thigh. "Lext, that's Lexi, she's my best friend," I whisper loud enough for just him to hear. "Well, you stay here, don't talk to her," he demands. I shake my head and make no eye contact with him. Lexi doesn't look the same, she looks depressed, maybe it's because I've been gone for so long. I don't even know how long I've been gone to be honest, at least a month I'm guessing, I don't really pay attention. I get up, "Emily?" J calls. I walk over to her, "Hi there," I smile and greet Lexi. I look at J, only to see him with an angered look on his face. I'm going to get in so much trouble but I don't even care right now. "Hello," Lexi greets back, she's always been so polite. She gets her shot and downs it down her throat quickly ordering more to drink. "Excuse my drinking, I'm Lexi," she apologizes. "That's fine," I almost forget my name I remember it quickly, "I'm Caroline," I sit next to her. She drinks a bottle of beer quickly, kind of like how J does. "Look, I'm not lesbian," she states. "Neither am I," I laugh. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that, you just seemed like... yeah," she apologizes again. "No that's fine," I laugh, "I have a boyfriend actually," I point to J who is drinking a beer. "Oh nice," she says. "You seem sad," I say straight out. "Wow, you sound just like my friend, she always knew when someone was sad," she shakes her head and tears up quickly. Did I say something wrong? Oh no. "I'm sorry, I didn't say anything wrong did I?" I question quickly. "No, sorry, I just miss her. I've come to this club everyday since she's been gone," she takes a drink, "I don't know where she is! Her name is Emily Miller, have you seen her?" She questions. She misses me, I can't tell her it's me, I'd put both of us in danger. "I've heard about it on the news but I haven't seen her, I'm sorry," I feel so bad. "We think she's been kidnapped," a tear falls, "but there are no signs. The only other prediction is that she's dead and I hate the thought of that, that's why I'm drinking... Excuse me."' Lexi leaves me. I wanted to break down right then and there but I knew I couldn't. My family and friends think that I could be dead. I was standing right in front of her and she couldn't tell it was me!? Why does it have to be the way? Lexi, come back! It's me, I'm here, I've been kidnapped and I want to go home! Please take me home, I miss everyone! I feel like screaming back to Lexi. Once again I was so close... so close to being found. I order a small drink that has a nice kick to it to block out the pain. I look to my left and notice that J isn't sitting where he was anymore. Damn it, J! Where the hell are you? I walk around the club taking sips of my drink and try to find him. "J!" I call out.

After about 5 minutes of searching the big club I finally find him... kissing some girl. Really? I finish my drink and set it on the table, I want to cry. I watch J and the strange girl who is a lot prettier and sexier than me dance. She grinds on him and he guides her through the whole dirty dancing process. "Come on, J, we're leaving!" I grab his arm and drag him outside. "Come on, you're ruining my fun!" He pouts. He's obviously drunk. The way he can get drunk so quickly baffles me. "Why were kissing that other girl?" I ask sadly. "Because she was sexy, duh," he laughs and walks to his car. I'm surprised he even knows which one it was. "I thought me and you... y'know," I bite my lip to stop my tears. He gets inside the driver's spot while I sit in the passenger side. "I told you before we're not dating, I can do anything I want. You only do whatever I tell you, but now, because of you, I'll never get to screw that girl," his words are slurred terribly and he is unable to make eye contact with me properly. He starts his car. "You're drunk, I'm not letting you drive. Get on this side," I demand. He laughs and shakes his head, he pulls out of his parking space quickly causing me to throw my head back. "Ow," I mumble. "You think I'm all yours and I'm not, so you have to get over that," he speeds. "Yeah, I get that," I really don't. "J, can you slow down please?" I ask politely. He ignores me. "This is why I can't do relationships, Emily!" He honks his horn as he punches it. I jump, this is ridiculous, it's nearly 5 o'clock and he's already drunk. "You need stop drinking so early," I warn him. He doesn't answer me. I look at him and watch him speed more. "You're going to get a ticket, slow down," I say with a stern voice. "Does it look like I care!?" He laughs with that slurred voice of his. I hold onto my seat belt, "J, there's a semi in front of us, slow down!" I yell. "Watch me pass him," he laughs. I shake my head quickly and beg him to stop. He pushes on the gas to pass the semi, the semi turns on his signal lights to turn right and slows down. "J!" I scream and grab his arm. I hear him yell and everything goes black. We just got into a terrible accident.