Born Inked

Chapter One

JAMES

"James....earth to James!" Kel waved her hands around in front of my face for a few seconds as several people were rushing around the hallway like chickens with their heads cut off. I was in the HWM room, which is split into two sections - hair and makeup with clothes racks on the back wall, it was a small space, but I loved it. Right now the racks had plaid and solid color ¾ sleeve button-downs. I had been here for half the day and I still had a few pieces of the fall line to work on. It all started at 4 in the morning with a phone call from Joey..."Hey James, sorry to bother you, would you be willing to come in this morning? It would only be for a few hours for the new line." A few hours my ass.

It was always like this on my day off from Google, Boga called me in early in the morning after a long night of working on the end of the week reports for my division at Google as an Analytical Lead. While he knows that I'm one of the "favorites," he doesn't get the concept of time very well. The fans love my match tattoo which is a Carina Nebula. I love modeling too, obviously, if I didn't I wouldn't be doing it, but I also love sleep, it's healthy. I've tried to go to a polyphasic sleep schedule but gave up three weeks into it. I always have to be quiet in the morning too; Lennon works weird hours at the hospital, but I still try to be quiet when moving around. I usually get ready in about five minutes, thankfully I have my own bathroom in the apartment.

Since starting at Boga, I've learned how to take one-minute showers even though I hate not having time to relax under the hot spray of the water. I moved into a two bedroom - two bathroom apartment almost two years ago and Lennon moved in about 9 months ago. My room is technically the master bedroom so I have my own bathroom inside my room. I originally started out at Google, Boga, and Balini - modeling for menswear for "the Bs" on the weekends. Eventually, I got promoted at Google and decide it was in best interest for me to drop Balini if I ever wanted to sleep. It was a hard decision, but it was the right thing to do.

"Yeah, sorry Kel. I'm just tired, didn't get much sleep last night, the usual. I also probably woke Lennon up, I'm really surprised she hasn't left me yet." I roll my eyes with her, knowing that she understands what I go through being my hair stylist and being called in at the same time this morning. Corbin and Kel always get called in with me - Kel for hair and Corbin for makeup. It's been like this for almost seven years at Boga. We have been together from day one and have made a great team. I wish that I had met them when I was still a teenager in high school, we would have been best friends all the way through, same for Lennon, my roommate.

"She understands, I mean you guys have been living together for almost a year already. And if she doesn't then I don't know what is wrong with her, she works weird shifts too. Anyways moving on to a new topic, what color are you thinking for your next hair color? I mean I like the silver, but you would be great in aqua or mint green. Trust me, I'm a hair stylist." She winks at me through the mirror and is yelling for me to hear her over the hair dryer in her hand, but thankfully I have had years of practice. I racked my brain for few moments before answering.

"I'm not sure yet, I've had this color for about a month now. I really like it, silver goes great with my complexion, don't you think." I wink at her, knowing she could care less about my color of skin and would rather talk hair and only hair. "I also don't want to ruin my hair, that's like the worst sin ever." When I first started dying my hair at 16 I completely ruined it going ham with different colors and bleaching several times within two months. I learned from then on to actually follow the box instructions and eventually I starting going to Menz Room. Jaclyn and Jimmy have been taking care of my hair since then.

"James Benjamin, you ready for makeup?" Corbin pops his head around the corner, looking between me and Kel. I look up at Kel, it's really her decision. He seems in a good mood this morning, maybe he actually had his coffee this morning.