An Ink Hidden Heart

Chapter 3

    When I got home the house was still standing so I was happy. Jax was still pretending to be Peter Pan. Renn told me she stopped him from jumping off his bed in hopes to fly. My sweet boy. When I tucked him in he said, "Warriors never sleep." I said, "Well when their mothers tell them to they do!" Tickling him. "That means you're Wendy so you have to sing the song!" He said through a fit of giggles. So I did and then he was out like a light. I removed his hat and tucked Bubba under his arm and placed his hat in it's designated spot. Kissing his head I walked out and said goodnight to Renn.
The Next Day
I couldn't stop thinking about seeing Zayn and meeting back up with the boys. And I just get angry all over again. I shake my head and focus again on the task I'm working on. Currently I'm tattooing a wolf on this man's chest, he's 23, has a wife and a kid. He's a sweetheart. Aidan walks in and says, "AJ." I pause looking up. "There's two girls out here asking for you." He says. I nod. "Tell them I will be there when I'm finished. Maybe fifteen minutes." I say, wondering who they could be. Aidan nods and sashays back down the hallway. When I'm finish up with my client, I follow him out and he thanks me again, assuring me he loves it. Then I see who the girls are. It's Kirstie and Penelope. Well shit. I walk over and clear my throat. They look up and stand. "Hello, AJ." Kirstie says. I smile weakly. "Hello. Did you need something?" I ask. They look at each other, and Penelope answers. "We just wanted to apologize for yesterday the way we acted. So we want to get to know you and we wanted to know if you would like to go to lunch with us?" I thought about it for a second, "Aidan, I'm going out for lunch. I'll be back. Hold down the fort would ya?" He salutes me mockingly. I slap the back of his head as I walk by to get my purse. "Hey! That is assault!" He griped. "Who you gonna tell? The boss? Oh wait...that's me!" I say shrugging. He glares at me and pouts at me when I went out the door with the girls. They said it was just down the street and we could walk. When we were seated, the waitress got our orders and our drinks. "So your place is really wonderful." Kirstie says. Penelope agrees with her. "Thank you." I say sipping my water. "We're sorry about what happened with Lily yesterday, but she wasn't having the best of days. The media can be a real bitch and they have been releasing a bunch of shit lately and you just didn't catch her in the best mood." Penelope says. I scoff. "Still, that's no reason to diss me and my job just because I'm a tattoo artist and happen to have a shit load of tattoos. Every guy in the band except James has tattoos. It's not like she's offended by it." They just kind of look at each other. I sigh. "If you like her fine. But I don't and I'm not gonna act like it just to please you. So if you can't handle me, I might as well just leave." They glance at each other again and nod, smiling. Phew. "So I hear you're a concert pianist?" I say changing the subject. Penelope laughs and says yes. "So what d'you do Kirstie?" I say chuckling. "I'm a model. Same as Lily." She says quietly. My eyes widen a bit. "I'm sorry! If I offended you yesterday with what I said. I was so angry and I tend to say things I don't mean." I rushed out. "No, no! It's fine. I totally understand..." She was cut off by the sound of my phone going off. It's "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC. And that is the ringtone Renn set for school. Greeat. I answer. "Hello?" "Ms. Danes. I have Renn up here with me in the office. I'm gonna need you to come and fill out the necessary paperwork." "Again?" I groan. "I'm afraid so." He sighs. "Just give me a minute. I'll be there." I hang up. "I'm so sorry." I say standing up, getting my purse. "What is it?" They ask. "It's uhm, a uh, work thing at one of my other shops. I gotta run. But thank you and I hope maybe we can do this again?" I say and rush out the door.

An Hour Earlier

Renn's P.O.V.

The bell rang signaling the end of 5th period. I gathered my stuff head to Mr. Brooks' class. He hates me, but he loves that bitch Jennifer Andrews. She's hated me ever since she met me. And I've never done a thing to her. And her mom hates my mom. The whole family is a nutcase. I'm pulled from my train of thought when my books and papers go flying everywhere. "Watch where you're going, dumbass!" Oh great. It's her. Ugh, I bend down to pick up the papers and a foot comes in contact with my ass sending me tumbling on the ground. A bunch of people laugh, and a couple look sorry for me but don't help me. I gather my papers, and books and walk to class. I made it just in time before the bell rang. Some freshman was in my seat and I glared at her really hard and she scurried to another desk. My seat. Mine! About halfway through his lesson I stop listening and prop my feet up on the desk across the aisle from me and put in my headphones. Not even ten minutes later the headphones are ripped from my ears and my iPod taken into the hands of Mr. Douche himself. I go to speak and he points at the door. I sigh and let my feet drop to the floor loudly. "Oh, c'mon. Can't we just let this.." "NOW!" He interrupts. "Okay, okay. I know the drill. I'll give it to the principle..again." He hands me my iPod and I grab my bag and go up to the office. Upon entering I say hello to Mrs. Brenda at the front desk and the nurse Ms. Leah and the assistant principle Mr. Amos. They all shake their heads, knowing the routine. I'm in here a lot...oh well? I waltz into the office and plop down in the chair. Reggie sighs. "Renn. What am I going to do with you?" I shrug. "Murder me?" He smiles grimly. "Can we pleasssee let this one go? It's the third time this week!" I whine. "I have to call your mother." I groan throwing myself back into my chair. "You're killing me Reggie! You're killing me!" I say. "Renn. You need to stop doing this. Three times in a week is not good." "Okay, okay! But can we speed this up? Cause I gotta be at practice today." I say tapping my wrist. "Renn." "Reggie." I retort. "Stop, calling me Reggie." "Okay, Mr. Reggie then." He sighs..again. He does that a lot when I come in here...I wonder why. "C'mon Reggie!" I burst out. "No one likes snitches! You don't have to call her every time!" He gives me the look. "Snitches end up in ditches, Reggie! Ditch-es!" I press. He picks up the phone, looking me straight in the eyes. "Ms. Danes.."

Present Hour

AJ P.O.V.

I walked into the principle's office and sighed, sitting down in the chair next to Renn. "Is she suspended, ISS, Detention? Which one, and how long?" I say getting to the point. "ISS tomorrow, all day. She can go to soccer practice seeing's how she's got a game Saturday." Renn blew out a breath of relief. "Just sign this and she can get back to class." I nod, saying I'll walk her. We walk out of the office after she grabs her stuff. "Renn. This is the third time." She groans. "I know! I'm sorry but it was Mr. Brooks. You know he hates me and he can't teach anyway!" "Renn. Mr. Reggie is being nice but if you keep it up he's going to have to treat you like everyone else. Three times? That should've been an automatic suspension from the game Saturday." She drops her head. "Can we ask if I can switch teachers? It's only his class I get in trouble in anyway. He hates me. But if Jen did something like that he wouldn't care." She says bitterly. I stop walking. "I'll ask for you okay? I'll take care of it before I leave. And by the way, speaking of Jen. Did she do anything today?" I say tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "She knocked my books out of my hands and then someone kicked me in the arse when I bent to pick up my books and sent me tumbling." My jaw locked. "Get to class. I'll pick you up from practice after I get Jax, okay?" She nods and walks to her class. I turn on my heel and march straight back to the office. This is going too far. This girl has tormented her ever since I've been here. It's ridiculous. Renn could kick her ass any day but then she would get in trouble. I just walk into his office and close the door. "I need you to get my daughter out of Mr. Brooks' class. He treats her unfairly and treats Jennifer Andrews like she's the Queen of all the living. I also need you to separate the two in every class. No classes together at all. Jennifer has done nothing but hate Renn since she started going to school here and her mother does nothing. I can try to talk to her again if I need to but I don't think it'll do much good. I appreciate what you do for my daughter. You help her out and are patient. She's doing so well and I don't need a snobby, stuck up child sending her snowballing back down that hill. So if you would kindly follow my requests we can continue to be friends." I say smiling at him as he looks dumbfounded. I get up and walk out hearing him sputter out an "I'll see what I can do."