It All Started With His Nose Ring

As the phone rang yet again, I felt the impulse to not pick it up.

“Jess, the phone is ringing,” My boss Jeremy said. I sighed.

“I hear it, I just choose not to pick it up,” I called back.

“Answer, or I’m revoking your piercing rights for the week,” He yelled back. I huffed and picked it up.

“Insanity Ink,” I said in a very bored tone. Of course all they wanted was to waste my time with stupid questions. I’d rather book appointments. I pushed my glasses farther up my nose so they didn’t interfere with the stud in my nose. I used to have a ring in until I got my septum pierced, then I switched it out. I don’t even keep my septum showing, it’s always flipped in my nose. Luckily I finished with my papers and got around to bothering Jeremy about getting my tongue done.

                Just  before the end of the day, two guys walked in. They weren’t bad looking either.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“Yes, I want to get my nose pierced,” The dark haired one said. I handed him the papers and a pen. While they were arguing over who knows what, I got a really good look at them. AND Jeremy was out for the next half hour, meaning I got to do this one. I might be young, but I know what I’m doing when it comes to nose piercings. I’ve done a million. The one getting the needle had long brown hair, and brown eyes, and wasn’t too tall.  He handed me the clipboard back and I led him to the back.

“August!” I yelled. I heard her hum from the other side of the room. “Watch the place, I got a piercing.”

She was one of the few who believed I was capable. I tied back my blue hair quickly and looked at the paper. Hmmm, his name was David.

“So, is this your first piercing?” I asked him as he sat in the chair. I looked around for my sharpie.

“Yeah,” he said a little shakily. His blonde friend laughed. He wasn’t unattractive either.

“Which side?” I asked him.

“Left,” He replied.

“Ring or stud?”

“Ring,” He answered. I went out and got the jewelry and pushed play on my iPod. I came back and they were freaking out.

“Fans?” I asked with a laugh. The blonde one burst out in hysterics.

“That’s us,” David said. I disinfected him.

“I don’t believe you now sit still,” I told him. I put a mark on his nose. “Does it look good?”

“Yeah,” He replied. His friend burst out in the whole screaming part of the song.

“I still don’t believe you,” I pointed out. Then David started singing with it and it sounded identical.

“Oh my goodness, it is you,” I said in awe. They laughed. I had to shush David so he would sit still.

“Does it hurt?” He asked me.

“Nah, not as much as a septum or something,” I said.

“But you don’t have a septum ring,” The other one, who I now knew was Kevin, said. I took off the gloves and flipped it down.

“Clever,” David said. I put the gloves back on and popped out the ball for his ring.

“Here,” I said handing him a paper towel.

“What’s this for?” He asked.

“You’ll see,” I told him and got the receiving tube in his nose.

“Dude, do you want me to hold your hand?” Kevin said.

“Shut up,” David replied. I chuckled and got the needle.

“Okay, so I want you to take a deep breath and release it quickly when I tell you to, got it?” I asked.

“Yes,” He said really shaking. I took one last laugh as I positioned the needle.

“Ready?” I asked one last time.

“No, just do it,” He said.

“Breathe in,” I started. “And release.” And with that the needle slid through. His eyes started to water like everyone’s and I grabbed for the ring. I gave him some time to clean himself up though. I slipped the ring in easily and cleaned it one more time.

“Oh, nice ceiling,” he commented. Kevin and I laughed.

“See, now you’re officially a man David,” I told him.

“Call me Dave,” He said. I told him the whole cleaning and care crap and gave him to the paper. Just as we went out to the lobby again, Jeremy walked in.

“Nice work kid,” He told me.

“How old are you?” David asked me.

“You don’t need to know,” I said slyly.

“Do you want to do your tongue tonight?” Jeremy asked me.

“Oh, how about now?!” I said excitedly. He laughed.

“Sure,” And with that I turned back to David and Kevin.

“That’s 20 bucks,” I told them. They paid me but didn’t leave.

“Can we watch you get your tongue pierced?” Kevin asked.

“Sure, the name’s Jess,” I said and walked back. I picked out a barbell from the counter and went back with the boys. I prepped myself and waited for Jeremy with the sharpie and gloves. He marked me quickly.

“Will that hurt?” David asked.

“Only a lot,” Jeremy said. I glared at him. Before I knew it, he was pushing the needle through my tongue.

“Ahh! That looked painful,” Kevin said. I just had to sit there with a needle through my tongue while Jeremy fumbled with the barbell. Finally I got my tongue back.

“Ooo, I wanna see it,” I said and looked in the mirror. It looked great.

“Didn’t that hurt?” David asked.

“Like a bitch,” I told him. We walked back out. Before we kicked them out, David had one last thing to ask.

“Can I get your number?” He asked. I sighed with a smile and wrote it down with my first name.

“Aren’t you guys going on tour in like two days?” I asked as I handed him the paper.

“Yes, that’s why I’m doing this now,” He replied.

“Well, call me,” I said and they left. I took down my hair and played with the black ends.

“Good one Jess,” August said with a sly smile on her face.