Hiding In The Background

Chapter Two:Papi Joe and Tattoos

Holly Madison's P.O.V
Chapter Two: Papi Joe and Tattoos

****

I opened the door to the tattoo shop and held it open for Gavin.

"Is that you, Elize?" A gruff voice called.

"No, I'm a duck." I chuckled.

I heard Gavin chuckle, too.

"That sign only says humans are welcome. No ducks." The familiar man popped up from behind the front counter. "Wait. Don't tell me you got ducks again, Elize."

Elize. That's what he used to call me.

Now let me introduce you to Old Papi Joe. I met him when I was a junior. I was at a party. Had drunk friends. Started walking. Got lost. And somehow I wound up here and got my first tattoo. It actually came out pretty well. It says 'I love you' in spanish, but it really says 'Te amo'. And Old Papi Joe only calls be Elize because...um...I don't even remember why. Just kidding. I know why. My brother used to call me Elize and after that night, when my brother picked me up we all became pretty close.

"No," I looked at Gavin. "You're not a duck, right?"

We all laughed.

"Alright, Elize. Another tattoo?" Papi Joe asked.

"No, I was just showing Gavin where your shop was at."

Papi Joe burst into fits of laughter. And I knew why. Gavin. His social status. His wealth. I knew exactly what Papi Joe was laughing at. He was laughing at Gavin. Gavin's dad had came to ask Papi Joe to sell his shop to him to rent out room for another one of his factories. Of course, Papi Joe refused.

"I'm not like my dad." Gavin said a bit stern.

He knew about his dad

His sentence made Papi Joe stop.
"How do I know that, boy? Prove it."

"How?"

I felt a challenge coming on.

"I saw your daddy ain't got no tattoos and since that's my specialty, why not?"

Oh, I wanted to correct his grammar so much.

"I don't see why not." Gavin shrugged.

Thank the gods someone still knows how to talk with good grammar.

"Alright, what kind would ya' like?"

"I don't know." He shrugged.

"Alright then, where do you want it?"

"My wrist."

"Ah, the most visible place."

Gavin nodded.

"Okay. Holly, I'm gonna need you for this. Your gonna give Gavin here his tattoo."

Yes!