"Don't be in such a rush to figure everything out. Embrace the unknown and let your life surprise you."
-
"Did everyone remember their masks?" Zippy asks as he barges down the stairs into Alessia's basement were everyone else is seated.
Everyone raises their mask at once as a form of acknowledgement. During one of the first all night adventures the group had shared Robert had suggested that they buy masks. Chantel's is a fox. Zippy's is a zebra. Olivia's is a sheep. Roberts is a tiger. And Alessia's is a bear.
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"Alright. As all of you know tonight at midnight Chantel turns 18. So as a birthday present I say we get tattoos." Olivia suggests. "Like you know how we always draw an alien on our index finger? We can just get that tattooed on."
"And it's easy to hide. Just put on a bandaid or ring." Robert pipes in.
"I'm in." Alessia says. "I mean, it's it pretty good idea."
A chorus or yeahs follow, and soon everyone is standing and heading upstairs and out the door.
-
They pull into the familiar tattoo parlor parking lot. Alessia was good friends with one of the artists and had gotten a tattoo there before. It was a small sail boat on her wrist.
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As the group go to exit the car Robert mutters under his breath "Shit."
Zippy looks up at him and says, "Dude, what's your deal?" As he pushes himself from the middle seat in the back to in between the driver and passengers side. "Fuck me." He mutters.
"What is everyone's problem?" Alessia asks.
"Nate Maloley seems to be getting a tattoo right now. And just so happens to be accompanied by Sammy, John, JJ and that new kid Jack Gilinsky from our English class." Olivia says starting to freak out a little. "What if they see us. They could ruin everything."
"Alright, it's okay Olivia. It's only, umm, ah it's only 11:47. We have thirteen minutes. They should be out by then. But until they leave we can just keep on our masks." Alessia says. Everyone nods their heads in agreement and put on their masks. "See. Problem solved. Plus were in Zippy's car so they won't recognize your car, Robert. Everything will be okay."
At exactly 12:03, Jack Gilinsky and his little group stumble out of the tattoo shop. Everyone in the car ducks down just incase they might see us. But it seems as though they are to busy to notice. So as they pull away Alessia and everyone else files out of the car and into the shop where the show the artist their I.D's and the drawing they want tattooed.
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After the tattoos are finished and payed for the group find them selves driving to their secret bonfire pit in the woods. They dance and roast s'mores until the wee hours of the morning, staying even after the fire burns out.
"Hey! It's almost time. Come on we have to go or we are going to miss it!" Chantel yells as we gather our stuff and run back to Zippy's car. Robert floors it and speeds is way to the small hill with the best view of the town. They make it just in time to lay on the front of the car and watch the sunrise together.
-
They all made it home just in time so their parents wouldn't notice and get ready for school.
As Alessia is walking down the hallway humming the chorus to the song she was writing she gets pulled into an empty classroom. Just as she's about to scream a hand gets clamped over her mouth. "Please don't scream it's just me, Jack." He says as he turns on the light to the classroom and removes his hand from Alessia's mouth.
"What do you want now? I really have nothing to say to you." She says sitting down on top of one of the empty desks. Staring aimlessly out the window to the empty and overgrown courtyard.
"I want to know your name. No one I ask seems to know who you are." Jack says leaning against the teachers desk at the front of the classroom crossing his arms and his legs at the ankle.
"Good, because I told you this I don't-" Jack cuts her off by moving I front of her. His arms on either side of her body on the desk and putting his face a few centimeters away from hers.
"Tell me your name." He says dangerously slow.
"Alessia." She breaths out. Not quite knowing how to feel about how close he is. She can't say she loves it but she doesn't hate it.
Jack nods in response as he just looks straight into her eyes. Very slowly his eyelids lower and his face moves closer. Alessia doesn't know how to respond. She has never been kissed or even kissed someone for the matter.
"Jack," she whispers as she puts her hand on his chest to stop him from getting any closer.
"Sorry, it's just, I, i don't know. I'm sorry." He says pulling away and turning around. He laces his hands through his and and says "God I'm just so stupid sometimes. I should have read the signs. I mean-"
"Jack, Jack!" Alessia yells, Jack turns around quickly to look at her. "Really it's not you. It's me and I'm not just saying that. Just trust me. Okay?" She says standing up and heading towards the door.
"So wait," he say grabbing her arm to stop her. "What your saying is I have a chance?" Jack says. She can see the hope in his eyes shimmering.
"Whatever makes you sleep at night." She says pulling away and turning into the hallway.
"I hope you know I'm taking that as a yes Alessia! I'll see you in English!" She hears Jack calling behind her. She doesn't turn around, but smiles to herself and looks down at her feet. She feels a certain way for Jack, there's no denying that.
