An Ink Hidden Heart

Chapter 2

    "AJ, what are you doing here? I thought you lived in L.A.?" Dakota said, in disbelief. I was still trying to figure out what was happening. "I did. I moved here about two years ago. Gosh, it's been a long time since I've seen you. You've gotten a shit load of tattoos." I said. He nods, still the same quiet, reserved little Dakota. "You've changed too! Your hair isn't pink, and you've gotten a couple new tattoos. Other than that you're still the same. The only reason I recognized you was because of your sleeve." I chuckle. "Yeah, that's the most prominent one. How's the band?" "We're fine. Hey, you wanna come with me and see the boys again? It's not too far, maybe a couple blocks?" He asks hopefully. "Let me pay for this stuff, and we can go." He nods putting his hands in his pockets and I turn to go and pay.

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      On the way there we act just like we used to. When he used to come to L.A. we'd go out for coffee, we went bowling once. It was never in a romantic way. It was a best friend kind of way. I mean I haven't seen him in a year or so but he was still the best thing I had. "I've met all the boys except one. He never came to see me." Dakota nods. "Yeah, Carter. He's a good mate, he's like our older brother." He smiles. "So how are you? Any relationships? Any of the other boys?" "Well, I'm engaged. Engaged to Penelope Hunter she's a concert pianist. William is dating Kirstie, Carter is dating Lily and Edward and James are still single. They're at the house too so you'll get to meet them. Carter and the girlfriends that is, cause you've met the rest of us." Dakota said. I nodded. He stopped short in front of a small flat about 5 blocks from the art store. The sound of laughter floated through the open window. I stood studying the building and he nudged me, I nudged him back both of us laughing and he shoved me softly then took off running, laughing I chased after him and he beat me to the door. "Sullivan!" I yelled and he made a mock scared face and opened the door piling in with me hot on his trail, both of us giggling uncontrollably. Everybody looked up and my laughs kinda ended with a "heh heh ahem" kinda thing. Dakota was still smiling and I felt very small all of a sudden. I haven't seen these people in who knows how long and most of the time it was when they were pissed drunk. The TV was by the door and the couch and a large, comfy lookin chair faced us. William and who must be Kirstie were on the floor with two controllers in hand, Edward, James and possibly Penelope were on the couch, and the last ones who must be Carter and Lily were cuddled in the comfy chair. "Guys this is Austin Jane." "I go by AJ." I added in quickly, playfully glaring at Dakota. "I really like your walls." I say looking around. Being the artist he is, his walls are spray painted. Every inch, but it doesn't look trashy it's actually got a sort of theme. It's abstract but it's beautiful. He mumbles a thank you. "How long did it take?" I ask. He shrugs. "3 weeks maybe, I was bored." I laugh and he smiles. Then I realize everyone is still staring at us. "It's good to see you guys sober!" I smile, trying to feel less awkward. "Yeah well, they're still immature sober or not." Dakota teases. "Yeah well I kinda already knew that." I laughed a little to myself. "Hey remember the first time we met? I don't think you guys remember, all of you where pissed drunk. Gosh, I think Will's first time was my favorite he was scared and wanted to pull out." Dakota points at me showing that he knew what I was talking about. Then he added,"You could hear him scream down the hall!" "And Edward bawled like a baby the whole time." "But I wasn't that bad." I turn my full body to look at Dakota. "Ha! Whatever! You were screaming too. Maybe not as loud as Will but you were up there." Dakota faked being shocked. "Hey at least I wasn't a baby like James and just watched." James turned his head real fast to look at me and Dakota who was still standing in the doorway to to the living room."I did what now?" He asked. "James, you just came and watched, never did anything. If I'm right you watched me do Will, Edward and Dakota. Right?" "Yeah I think that's right. You never did Carter though." I nod my head then turn to look at everyone. But I see all of them were already looking at me. Not in a very nice way. The girls looked like they were about to kill me or something. "I think I'm done listening to this." The girl that was sitting next to William said as she got up. "Wait Kirstie, I really have no clue to what that girl is talking about." That girl? Goodness that's cold.  "Or when Will fell off the chair halfway through!" Dakota adds giggling with me. "Dakota!" I hear a girl yell, I look and it's Penelope. She looks angry...why? Ha is she jealous? "Dakota." She repeats again. He looks confused too. "What?" He asks. "What do you mean what?" She asks through gritted teeth. "Babe, calm down, what have I done?" "You and everyone else but Carter and James have screwed around with this girl! James I'm ashamed, watching that mess! And Carter I applaud you for not going into this scheme. This slut's trap." Excuse me? Then Dakota and I realize. We look at each other and burst into hysterical laughter. She gets even angrier. "DAKOTA AARON SULLIVAN!" And we can't stop laughing. "Y-you think th-they slept with me?!" I stuttered out through fits of giggles. Dakota is leaning against the wall holding his stomach tears streaming down his face. "Honey, I'm a, heh heh, I'm a tattoo artist. I have given all these boys except James and Carter some of their tattoos. I didn't sleep with them." I say wiping my eyes and then she looks at me, and looks embarrassed. "I...I uhm..." I wave my hand. "It's fine, I guess if you don't know what we're talking about it could sound pretty bad." She nods, looking very put out. "You want anything AJ? A beer, water?" Dakota asks heading towards the fridge. "Um, no I'm good thank you." He grabs himself a water and sits next to Penelope on the couch. I set my purse by the door with my bag of art supplies and take a seat on the floor diagonal from the chair. You could hear a pin drop. I sit there looking around and silently drumming my fingers on my knee. "So, AJ.." Someone says. I look up, it's James. "You're a tattoo artist?" He asks. "Yes, I am." I answer. "Do you have a parlor here, Austin?" Carter asks. "It's AJ, and yes I do. It's not too far from here, maybe a couple streets over. It's called "Across the Pond" Tattoo Parlor." I say. "I've heard of it. So, Austin. How many years have you lived here?" I glare at him. He knows it's AJ. Ass. "Carter, why do you care? She's a tattoo artist. What kind of job is that?" "What do you do Lily?" I ask, starting to feel a bit peeved. "I'm a model." She says with a flick of her hair. I resist rolling my eyes. "Really? Hmm, posing in underwear for the whole world to see sounds interesting. Compared to little old me I mean. Y'know with the whole tattoo artist thing? It's not like I put beautiful, meaningful, permanent art on people's bodies. And to answer your question Carter. I've been here two years and had the parlor for one and a half. I actually own five across London and, they all have different themes from around the world. You might look them up sometime, I think they're pretty cool." I ramble. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't talk to my girlfriend like that." He says, face blank but his eyes held silent fury. "Well, I don't appreciate your girlfriend criticizing me for what I do, when she has only just met me."  I snap. They make my blood boil. "What is the theme in the one where you work?" Will asks, stopping the argument. "L.A., seeing as how that's where I'm from." "AJ, we're all going to dinner on Friday. Do you want to come and hang out?" Dakota asks. I think for a moment. "Yeah, I guess so. What time?" "Around 7." I nod. "Okay, I'll come. Just text me where we're going when you figure it out." Dakota nods. "Well, I have to go to the store and it's getting late. So I'll see you Friday at seven." I say, standing up and Dakota says he'll walk me out. I grab my things and open the door walking out. "Bye, Austin." Carter calls, mockingly. I turn and see him smirk and Lily smiles devilishly. I walk out and Dakota shuts the door behind me.  He walks me to the sidewalk. "Sorry, about them. I don't really like Lily but Carter really does so we all kinda put up with her." I sigh. "I'm tired of being judged solely, on the fact that I have tattoos, and I run a shop. It's an honest living, and I'm a good person and I don't need stuck up models telling me I'm not good enough. I've had my fill of that shit and I don't need it from her." I fume. Dakota gives me that lopsided smile. "What?" I huff. "She really gets under your skin doesn't she?" I glare at him. "Yes. And you of all people should know why." He nods, still smiling. "I'll see you Friday, AJ." He says pulling me into a hug. "Yep, you will. Bye, Dakota." With that I walk back to the art store and drive home.