Idris

0.17

|| Part two ||

Three years later.

♤

"Idris my man", Ryder grinned, walking into the tattoo parlour.

Idris rolled his eyes before walking towards him, greeting each other with a handshake and man hug.

"What you doing here?", Idris asked, eyeing Ryder's arm half covered in designs.

"I thought you'd want to practice more on my arm", Ryder smirked, "Looks like this part", he points to the other half of his arm that's still bare, "Needs to be filled."

"Fucker, you're lucky I don't have an appointment until eleven", Idris shook his head in amusement, pushing him into one of their private rooms.

Idris met Ryder two years ago in art school. Ryder pretty much bulldozed his way into Idris's life and to his dismay, it worked. They've been inseparable ever since. Ryder being the party animal and womaniser of the two, he definitely kept Idris on his toes.

But he was grateful to have a good friend even if Ryder was a pain in the ass for the most part, he still stuck by him.

Idris decided to settle in San Diego falling in love with the people and buildings. He attended an art school where he studied for a year, eventually buying his own tattoo parlour which was thriving and bringing him more joy than he'd imagined.

He didn't realize he was any good at drawing until he walked into another tattoo parlor himself. He soon discovered his love. He was brilliant at it, actually he was fucking amazing at what he did.

He managed to push Carson far away from his thoughts and went on with his life. He was content with where he was, through therapy and rebuilding himself he knew their relationship was to fail but he was grateful for their time together. That was it. He left it there, in the past.

Even though he had failed with multiple girls since, he knew the right one would come, eventually.

Maybe.

For now he was fine with his friend and business.

Idris however did try to contact his mother two years ago to hopefully start over but she wanted none of it. She washed her hands with him a long time ago she had said, so he shook it off. Told himself he tried. He left for a good reason and he would never regret or apologize for that.

"Fuck I forgot how much it hurts", Ryder whined biting on his lip as Idris started to ink the other half of his arm.

Idris only laughed in reply, focusing on the artwork before him. He loved drawing stories onto people's body whether it meant something to them or not. He found every piece of drawing beautiful which is also why he got tattooed himself.

Both his arms were covered in beautiful designs, some meaning nothing and others meaning everything. His right leg was also covered along with his chest.

He looked different. He wanted to look different.

He was a new Idris after all, no longer bitter or angry.

Just Idris.

"Ouch ouch ouch", Ryder whined, his grey eyes open wide, squirming in his seat.

Idris slapped him on the head shushing him before going back to work.

Idiot.

♤♤♤♤

Four long hours of hearing Ryder's cries for help and Idris threatening to slit his throat, he was finally done with his arm.

"Oh I'll be getting even more ladies with this sleeve", Ryder whistled, admiring the art piece on his arm in the mirror.

Idris stared at his artwork, a wave of pride stirring inside him.

Dam he really was good at what he did.

"Thanks man, you're a legend", Ryder beamed, "Now I need to ask you a favour, I have a date tonight with some chick and she wants to bring her friend-", he went on eyeing Idris cautiously.

"No way, last time I went on a double date with you, the girl kept stroking my face", he cringed remembering that horrible night.

Never again.

"She was hot though", he defended, "Please man, I'll buy you coffee for the next month", he offered.

Fuck he couldn't say no to that. After he quit smoking, coffee soon became his right hand man.

"Deal", he agreed shaking hands with his friend, "What's the chicks name?", he asked, cleaning up his station.

"My girl is Alexis and the other one is Kelly or Callie, fuck I don't know", he shrugged fixing his blonde hair.

Idris hummed in response not looking forward to tonight.

That didn't change, he hated dates and still hated small talk.

Fuck me.