Ink ➳ Camren

Chapter Thirty Nine

All rights go to original author.

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Lauren was only one short block away from her apartment as she took another drag off the cigarette she had borrowed from Camila's pack on her way out the door of her dorm room. Lauren had been really good lately, having only smoked one time the week before and only twice over the weekend...maybe three times, but still. Ever since meeting Camila, Lauren's pledge to herself, but mostly to Taylor, to quit smoking had been harder and harder to keep. The brunette practically chain-smoked every time they went out.

The hit of nicotine was heaven in Lauren's body. The surprisingly spontaneous sex she had just had with her girlfriend amongst the trees was heaven on Earth. But the sweet words that made Lauren's heart leap inside her chest just as much now as they had when they rolled off Camila's tongue, I am so in love with you...those were Heaven with a capital H.

The green eyed girl couldn't suppress a grin as the words played on a loop in her head. Her smile quickly turned into one of delight as she noticed that one of her favorite songs was playing somewhere close by. As she kept walking, she scanned the cars that were within sight, thinking that one of them had the music playing. But as Lauren got nearer and nearer to her destination, the music went from a low hum to an all-out racket and its source became obvious.

Lauren approached the front steps of the shop with a look of intrigue mixed with confusion on her face and dropped her mostly finished cigarette on the concrete, crushing it out with her toe.

The speakers that hung in each of the corners of the tattoo parlor's front room were thumping and shaking, threatening to break free from their brackets. The door slowly opened and Lauren peeked in to check out the situation. Not seeing any customers waiting on the sofas, Lauren opened the door wider, stepping all the way into the room.

Lauren could only shake her head at the scene that played out in front of her. Lily was perched on top of the counter, laughing and throwing her head back as Ally pantomimed playing all the instruments used in the song, drums, guitar, keyboards, tambourine, all the while, singing along at the top of her lungs and using a lollipop as a microphone. The two were oblivious to Lauren's arrival.

Lauren walked straight up to the front counter, still unnoticed since Lily's back was to the door, and tried to get their attention. "Ally. Ally!" The goofy blonde heard her on the second shout and looked up. "A bit loud! Loud!" This was Lauren's hint for her to turn the blaring music down. Ally just nodded enthusiastically with a face-splitting smile, and gave Lauren a double thumbs-up.

Lauren couldn't help but laugh and shake her head again as she leaned over the counter and turned down the volume on the stereo; Lily's eyes were on her the entire time. Ally's face fell as the music faded, but she rebounded almost instantly. "Lauren! Thank you so much for calling off tonight! Lil and I have been havin' an awesome time minding the shop. Haven't we, Lil?" Ally looked from Lauren to Lily.

Lily gave Ally a wink and hopped off the countertop. As she walked over to the sofa against the wall, she threw a comment at Lauren over her shoulder. "You're home early."

Lauren glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's nearly half eleven."

Lily made no reply as she sat down and crossed her legs. Ally, now realizing the time, sprang to action. "Fuck, I've gotta go. My set starts at midnight and the girls get real miffed if their songs aren't queued up!"

When Ally had first gotten hired to DJ at an establishment she told them was called The Kandy Kat, Lauren had been curious and had inquired as to what kind of a place it was. Ally hadn't batted an eye as she informed them that it was a strip club. For some reason, Lauren hadn't been that surprised.