Aftertaste [COMPLETED]

Chapter 26 :: Life Sucks

BERLINS P.O.V.

**

DAN WAS ABOUT TWELVE minutes into the tattoo, and every second of it had been spent in silence.

I was no stranger to awkward silence (as I'm sure you know by now) but I decided to attempt to ease the mood considering the fact that I was already in considerable physical pain—the tattoo, though not very big, hurt more than I'd anticipated—I didn't need "painfully awkward" in addition to that.

I cleared my throat. "This place is really nice. Everything's so...modern." Dan didn't look up. "Thanks."

I frowned at my failed attempt to conversate. "Can't say the same for the people here." I muttered under my breath.

This time, he did look up. "With a raised eyebrow he asked, 'Whats that?"

"Well, it's just that the people here seem very out of touch with the customers is all."

He looked at me with astonishment. He sat up straight and clicked the needle off, stopping mid-tat, giving me his full attention.

"How so?, he asked using his middle finger to push his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose,

"Well, it's just one would think that coming to work here everyday would be bearable at least, if not enjoyable. But the employees here...just going through the motions."

Hope he takes the hint.

"Yep," I pressed on, "someone should really tell the owner about the service here. Just saying."

He smiled ironically and exhaled in something of a laugh. He clicked the needle on again and went back to working on my tattoo.

"Noted."

That's an odd response.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He looked at me matter-of-factly.

"You're saying that the owner should hear about these complaints you have? And I'm saying that I hear you loud and clear."

I stitched my eyebrows together in thought.

"Wait, are you..?" He nodded his head with pursed lips. "In the flesh."

I was embarrassed for a moment, but mortification quickly turned to a deepened level of irritation.

"Well then why are you so freakin unhappy?"

"Unhappy?"

"You work here. You own this place. Yet when you found out you had to do my tattoo, you got all huffy. "

He opened his mouth ready to defend himself, but no sound escaped. After a moment he pursed his lips together and wrinkled his brow in thought.

"So close," he muttered, grabbing my wrist to continue his work.

I retracted my arm. "What?"

He exhaled deeply. "I've been here since five this morning. I finally get the chance to leave, and what do I do? I leave my keys on the counter. It really isn't anything personal, its just I've been juggling this place along with another place I have in Chigwell and my photography career...it's just been overwhelming is all."

He ran a hand across is hairline. I felt awful and suddenly I was the bad guy.

"Oh, well, that's understandable. Everyone gets overwhelmed sometimes."