Inked

Chapter 6

Hey guys! This chapter's kind of short, too, and a bit more angsty :l The next one will be packed full of all of the sarcastic bickering we all know and love, so hang in there! (It's honestly not that bad, though) Hope you enjoy!

Tori wasn't surprised when Tris called out sick three weeks later. It was a Tobias day, she knew, and that meant Tris was taking this harder than she'd thought.

Her gaze scanned the screen before her again, a sour taste budding in her mouth. "Sparks Ink: Losing Its Spark," it said, as if that was some kind of clever name. She wondered how long he'd spent trying to come up with it. Probably all three weeks since he'd been here.

She exhaled deeply, shutting her computer and wiping her hands down her face, trying to ease away the disgust. Al was someone she'd seen in the shop often, always scheduled with Tris. He'd said hello to her a couple of times, and Tori never failed to notice the look in his eyes when he got to Tris's workstation.

So what could have led him to do this to her? She guessed he didn't really know Tris all that well, otherwise he would have thought twice about publishing this. He would have known how much it would destroy her. This shop was one of the only things she allowed herself to take pride in, and now she felt as if she'd done it wrong. As if she didn't deserve it.

Tori would be over at her house with White Castle sliders and red wine if Tris hadn't insisted on keeping the shop open today. She didn't want to make things worse, she'd said.

Tobias was Tris's only client today. The coloring was supposed to be finished by closing time, and that meant it would have taken her from five to nine. That was a lot of work she was canceling, but Tori assured her Tobias would understand completely.

Tori didn't have any clients today. It was a Wednesday, after all. She would leave at noon, like always, and head straight over to Tris's, usually.

But Tris wanted the place open as long as she'd have it open. She felt horrible asking Tori to do that, Tori knew, but Tori said she would. And not because Tris was her boss and she didn't have a choice.

No, other than wanting to make Tris feel better, Tori had an ulterior motive. One that wouldn't come in until five o'clock.

Although a selfish part of her wished he'd show up earlier again.

At four, she wasn't disappointed. Of course, Tobias noticed something was up right away. He glanced into Tris's workstation before coming into Tori's with a confused smile.

"Hey, Tori. Is Tris around?" It was the way he asked where she was, not an inquiry as to whether or not she was actually here. Of course she was... right? But when Tori shook her head sadly, Tobias's heart sank. Was she okay? "Where is she?"

Tori opened up her computer again and turned it around, gesturing for him to sit down so he could read. He did so, confused and intrigued but mainly concerned.

He felt his face heat up as he read the words, felt his hands clench into fists. "An unprofessional atmosphere?" he took in the criticism, "A shaky-handed, unstable owner?" What the fuck is wrong with these people?

And then he scrolled to the top of the screen. Read the name of the author. Albert Finch. His fists clenched tighter, and he could almost feel blood where his nails dug into his palms as he stood. Al.

"So... Tris called out sick. For the first time in three years." Tori sighed. Tobias could hear her voice, but he was only half-comprehending what she was saying. How could someone do this to her? After everything she'd done for that lowlife, he went around and burned her out of what...jealousy? It made Tobias sick, made his knuckles ache to be pounded against this guy's head...