Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Blushing Or How I Finally Got My Anchor Tattoo

Hi guys, I'm at home for the rest of the week with not much to do, so I am just catching up on all the amazing ideas I have in my head. I hope you like this chapter. All the love, Summer xxx

Harry parked the car in front of the tattoo parlor and quickly walked around the car to open the door for me. After putting on my sunglasses, just in case we were seen, I let Harry help me out of the car and followed him into the parlor. Slightly nervous, I looked around and took in the atmosphere of the shop. A girl behind the counter gave me a friendly smile and immediately made me feel at ease. Harry, who had seemed to notice my nervousness, placed a hand on my lower back and gently pushed me forwards. "Hi Dee, how are doing?" She grinned at him and her eyes wandered over to me and then back to him. "Very well, what about you, Styles?" She smirked at him and he grinned. "Not bad, not bad. Dee, this is my friend Claire, Claire this is Dee. She's a bit of a weirdo, just like you, so you two should get along very well." I glared up at him and he laughed and tapped my nose. "You know that I still love you." 

My stomach flipped at his words, but I tried not to let them get to me. "Oh shut up Styles." I stepped away from his comforting touch and Dee, who had been watching our exchange with an amused smile on her face laughed. "Are you sure you two aren't dating?" I blushed deeply and helplessly looked up at Harry, unsure whether or not I could tell her about Louis and me and was surprised to detect the hint of a blush on his cheeks, as well. He smiled down at me and barely visibly shook his head, before looking back up to Dee. "No, we're just very good friends. She's dating one of my best mates." he explained and Dee nodded. "Ah, I see, well I'm sure you two aren't just here to chat to me, are you?" Harry chuckled and shook his head. "Actually, we're here to see Derek?" Dee nodded and held up her finger. "Give me one sec, I'll be right back." 

About half a minute later he returned with a guy who was maybe in his late twenties. His whole face lit up when he saw Harry standing in front of the counter. "Harry, my man, how are you doing, mate?" Did they this manly hug sort of thing and then he held out his hand for me to shake, which I immediately did. "And you must be Claire, Harry's friend. It's nice to meet you in person, Claire." I smiled up at him and then looked over to Harry who was watching us with a fond smile on his face. "Nice to meet you, too, Derek. Thank you for doing this." He returned my smile, before he replied. "No problem, love, any friend of Harry is a friend of mine."

With these words, he guided us into a back room and closed the door behind us. Immediately, the smell of disinfection and other sterilising equipment hit me and I excitedly looked around. "So, Claire, is this you first tattoo?" Derek asked and I shook my head and walked over to the table where he had already sat down. There was only one other chair and after Harry and I exchanged a look, he sat down and patted his thighs. Slightly hesitant, I carefully sat down at the very edge of his legs, however he pulled me closer to his body, making me sit a bit more comfortable on his lab. "This will be my second. I got my first one about two years ago." I explained to him and rummaged through my bag to show him my sketches and ideas. "Would you mind showing me the first one, just so that I know what kind of style you like?" Derek asked and I blushed a bit and climbed off Harry's lab. "Sure."

I pulled my jumper up and quickly unhooked my bra, pushing it to the side to make my tattoo visible. "That's a beautiful tattoo, love." Derek complimented me and I smiled, while awkwardly trying to close my bra again. "Here, let me help you." Harry said and got up. He walked behind me and I felt his fingers gently push mine out of the way, successfully closing my bra within seconds. "Thanks." I thanked him quietly, my face slightly red and reluctantly sat back down on his lab. 

"Um, I have some designs that I found online here." I handed Derek a couple of papers, including the one I had drawn yesterday. He picked it up and took a closer look at it. "Oh, I like this one. Who drew that?" I looked down at my hands, my cheeks burning like fire. "Me." I admitted and he looked up, clearly surprised. "That's amazing. I would love to use your design if you don't mind and add some small bits and pieces if that's okay with you?" I nodded excitedly and he spend the next five minutes bent over his scratch book, while Harry and I admired his art which was displayed on the walls around us.

"Finished." Derek exclaimed and I excitedly leaned forward, Harry's head poking over my shoulder, distracting me a little bit. "Wow, that's beautiful, I love it! And it's got the perfect size as well." I beamed up at Harry who seemed glad I was getting along so well with his friend. Derek was obviously relieved that I liked his work so much and got up. "Shall we do this then?" he asked me and I nodded. "Um, I'll just take off my top." I said shyly, my face now definitely resembling a tomato, and turned away from the two men. I pulled the jumper over my head and when I turned around to face them, they were both openly starring at me. 

I cleared my throat and their eyes snapped up. "My face is up here." I reminded them, half amused, half embarrassed. Harry cleared his throat and followed me over to the lounger where I sat down. Derek walked over to us with a mirror in his hand and told me to look into the mirror next to the lounge so that I could tell him exactly where I wanted the anchor. "Sort of at between my shoulder blades? Yes, there, a bit more to the middle, yes, perfect." Derek quickly traced the edges of the tattoo on my back, while Harry held the mirror for me and then asked me to lie down and to unhook my bra. 

I got comfortable and Harry sat down on a chair on my left side, taking my small hand into his big one. "I will crush your fingers." I warned him again, but he only chuckled and gently brushed a couple of loose strands out of my face. "I'll be fine, love, don't worry about me." Behind me, Derek had everything prepared. "You ready, Claire?" he asked me and I gave him thumbs up with the hand that Harry wasn't holding. "As ready as I'll ever be."