All I Need to Stay Sane {Lynn Gunn}

People Like Me, We Just Don't Play

{Unedited}

"Dane, let's do something crazy," I said, looking over at him as we drove down the street. It was the day before Lynn was supposed to visit, and I wanted to do something I had never done before. "Like what?" he laughed, looking back at me from the passenger seat.

"Let's go get my nipples pierced!" I yelled, rolling down my window. Dane choked beside me. "Good joke."

"I'm serious, damn it!" I exclaimed, smiling at him. I watched as it began to snow all around us, covering up the windshield. I turned on the wipers and glanced over at Dane who was bundled up in all his warm clothes, a grey beaning covering his hair. "Alright then. I know a place. Take a left here," he instructed, turning us around. I grinned to no one in particular, cruising down the street.

"Are you sure you actually want to do this?" Dane wondered, looking back at me after we had arrived at the tattoo/piercing parlor. I nodded my head and wrapped my arm around his, letting him lead us inside. 

A girl with a fully tattooed body along with several piercings came up to us, greeting us excitedly. "What can I do for you today?" she asked, walking behind the front counter. "Um, I was wondering if you guys could pierce...me," I muttered, blushing. I didn't want to talk too loudly, afraid that someone would hear me. "Uh, okay, where?" the girl pondered.

"Um.."

"She wants her nipples pierced," Dane butted in, rolling his eyes at me. "Oh, okay! We can do that for you. You want both?" she asked me curiously. I nodded my head yes and she smiled. "Wonderful. Okay, so you can pick out the jewelry you want in this counter. I'd recommend a bar since it's the most convenient. I'll come bring you guys back in just a minute."

"Thanks."

She left and Dane and I gazed at all the different jewelry she had given me to choose from. I picked out two silver bars, going with her words of advice. 

"Can you come back with me? I need to hold someone's hand," I begged, sitting down in a chair. Dane took a seat beside me and his face went straight. "Uhh..that would..I would...see your..um."

"I don't care, they're just boobs. No biggie," I shrugged, standing up once I saw the woman wave at me. Dane sighed and followed me as we walked into the back, my heart rate picking up quickly. "So, you guys dating?" the girl asked, gesturing for me to sit on the chair as she unwrapped all the tools. Dane choked and I laughed, shaking my head. "No, we're best friends. I have a girlfriend," I replied, taking off my shirt. "Oh, okay. Sorry for assuming. So I'm Amy, I'm going to be piercing you today. I just need you to take your bra off and then we can start marking where exactly you want the piercings. Are you familiar with the procedure?"

I just nodded my head. I knew enough about it and if something got screwed up then it was my own fault. I just talked to Dane like normal while Amy got everything set up and marked where I would be pierced with a marker. When the time came, I reached out my hand for Dane, squeezing his hand tightly. I took in a deep breath as the first needle went through, swearing under my breath. 

//

"I need something to eat, that was traumatic," Dane groaned, unlocking my car. I glared at him and slapped his arm, instantly regretting my decision. "Ow, my titties," I cried, raising my hands up to cover them. Dane rolled his eyes at me and got in the driver's seat, pulling out of the parking lot.

"Good thing it's holiday break cause there's no way in hell I'm wearing a bra for a while," I muttered, turning on the heater. I had goosebumps all over and needed warmth. "Alright then. You want McDonald's? I'll buy," Dane offered, adjusting the rear view mirror. "Hell yes. I could go for some fast food. This bitch needs her chicken nuggets," I exclaimed, giving him a cheesy smile. 

Dane pulled into the drive thru and ordered for both of us, listening to the radio while we waited for our food. After we got our "plague in a bag" as Dane called it, he drove out to our favorite spot. It was a little ways out of town, a pond surrounded by trees. Obviously the pond was frozen since it was the winter, but we always parked there and talked about life and everything in between.

We ate in silence for a while before I started asking Dane about his music. 

"Alexa and I have been writing a lot. We actually have enough songs for an EP..and we're thinking of putting it out. She knows a producer and all that shit. She's got a studio in her basement for us to record in. The only problem is getting a fan base, ya know? I mean we've only got like a hundred or so people listening as of right now. It's not nearly as many as we need to be able to make money and pay for all the shit we need," He explained, taking a sip of his soda as he put his feet up on the dashboard. 

"Well, why don't you guys play some shows around here? My friend Jenna has a band and they do local shows all the time at like festivals and shit. Oh, and make social media pages. Like I know y'all have Facebook but damn, making an Instagram and Twitter for Christ's sake. I can hook you up with Jenna and shit. Oh, and you could get Sam to photograph your band. Boom, bitch, done. Oh, and I can be like your number one fan. You're welcome," I smirked, shoving a chicken nugget in my mouth.

"Why the hell are you so good at this? I mean I know it's obvious crap that I could have thought of but God...Where the hell is my mind?"

I just shrugged, shaking my head as I swallowed my food.

"Do you think you could write a song with us? Do some of the vocals? I've always wanted to play music with you. I always thought you would be in a band and play like these huge ass arena shows or some cool shit like that," Dane admitted, eating some fries. I just chuckled, looking down at my hands. "I don't know. That's Lynn's thing. And yours. I've never been good at what I wanted to do. Hence, art school. I mean it wasn't my first choice but what else do I have, you know?" I wondered, smiling at him sadly.

"So what? That doesn't mean you can't do music. Pleaaaase, Lex. For me? Just one song?" Dane begged, shaking my shoulder. I looked over at him and immediately gave in. He just grinned at me before stuffing his trash into the paper bag our food had originally come in.

"Come on, I want to take some photos by the lake. I brought my camera," Dane exclaimed, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I groaned and opened my door, secretly happy that Dane had wanted me to write a song with him.

It made me happy knowing that I had other choices in life.