Her Bucket List [completed]

❥3

Bucket List - #4 - I want to get a tattoo. Even if I am scared of big needles. Maybe a small heart? I don't know, but I want one.

**If anything is in italics it's either met to be stressed or emphasized or it's a flashback or memory**

"Hey, Ethan. What brings you here?" Paul said. He was the manager of a local tattoo parlor. He looks like one of those "bad-ass" dudes. If looks could kill i'm pretty sure Paul would be a murderer. He looks intimidating but he's really nice.

"Just want to get a tattoo in memory of Alex." I said, looking down. "Don't show weakness, Ethan." I thought to myself but how couldn't I show weakness? My girlfriend just died.

"Oh, right. Sorry for your loss. I couldn't attend the funeral but I paid my respects at her grave yesterday." Paul said, wiping his hands off with a towel. I, personally, still hadn't visited Alex. I probably will in the future but for now.. for now I would just like to get my mind off of her death.

"So, about that tattoo." Paul said, sitting down. "What do you want to do?"

"Well, I want a heart with her initials engraved in it." I said, mumbling the last few words of the sentence. Paul nodded and patted the chair. "Where do you want it?" Paul asked.

"My neck, if that's okay with you. I want it medium-sized. Not too big, not too small."

"Alright, well, let's get started."

--

"Needles? I don't like needles, Ethan." Alex said, sighing. She was in the doctors office to get her yearly flu shot and maybe some other things done. Ethan was there to support Alex because Alex hated needles and her parents were at work.

"It's just a pinch, I promise." Ethan said, smiling. Alex just pouted and crossed her arms. "You know I don't like needles, Ethan." Alex said. As if right on cue the nurse walked in with a needle.

"Alex?" She asked, putting the needles beside Alex. "Y-yes." Alex stuttered, glaring at the needles. Alex felt as if she was going to faint. Literally.

"it'll only be a pinch." The nurse said, wiping up Alex's upper area in her left arm. "Personally, looking away helps." The nurse said, smiling. She could tell that Alex was scared because she was shaking uncontrollably.

The nurse inserted the needle and Alex bit her lip. "There you go." The nurse said, bandaging the pricked wound. "See, all better."

"Will it hurt afterwards?" Alex asked. The nurse nodded. "Just a bit. It'll feel like something is stuck inside but it'll go away."

"O-Okay." Alex said, hopping off the seat. The nurse smiled and left the room, shtuting the door. "You did well, Alex." Ethan said, looking down. "Sorry, I forgot to hold your hand."

"Douche." Alex said, slapping his arm playfully.

"Forgive me?" He said giving her puppy dog eyes.

"Only if you buy me food." Alex said, walking out of the doctors office.

"Deal?"

"Deal."

--

 I admired the tattoo on my neck. Even though I couldn't see it since it was bandaged I can still see the mere lines on my neck. I traced over the bandage and smiled.

"So how much?" I asked, taking out my card but Paul waved it away. "It's on the house. You're a loyal customer and I just can't take the money from you this time. Espcially since she passed. It wouldn't be right."

"Thank you, Paul." I said. "She would've loved it that way." I mumbled, giving him a hug. I held on a little longer than usual.

"If you ever do need anything, you can call me." Paul said, smiling. I could see tears brimming his eyes.

Paul only saw Alex once when I got the yin and yang tattoo on my wrist. Paul loved Alex, I could tell. Even thought he didn't really know her as well as some other people might know Alex, he loved her. I think Paul thinks of Alex like a daughter. The daughter that he never had.

--

"What tattoo are you getting this time?" Alex asks, turning her attention towards Ethan. Ethan was getting a tattoo that day but he didn't know what. All he knew is that he wanted it on his wrist.

"I don't know. Maybe your name?" Ethan said, smiling. "M-My name? No, no, no." Alex complained. "Not yet, at least. I don't want you to get a tattoo with my name and then we break up the next week- tattoos are permanent, right?"

"Yeah, it's permanent. Like us." Ethan said, grasping her hand. "I"m just joking with you, anyways. I would love to get a tattoo with your name inked in my skin but not today. I think i'll just go with the yin and yang sign. My Mom loves it."

"I love it, too." Alex said, resting her head on Ethan's shoulder.

"Ethan!" Paul said, embracing Ethan in a hug. "Who's this lovely girl?" Paul asked, extending his arm to shake Alex's hand. "My girlfriend, Alex. Alex, this is Paul, the tattoo parlor manager."

"Nice to meet you." Alex said, shaking Paul's hand. Paul smiled and motioned for Ethan to sit down on the seat. "So, what are you getting this time?"

"A yin and yang symbol on my wrist,  please." Ethan said, looking at Alex. "All right. Let me get that-"

"NEEDLES!" Alex screamed, jumping out of her seat next to Ethan.

"Alex-"

"Ethan, t-those are-"

"Shh.. Alex.. it's fine." Ethan said, trying to relax his nervous girlfriend. "I've done this before a million times- i'll be okay."

"B-but-"

"I assure you, Alex, they don't hurt that much." Paul said, smiling at the girl. Alex nodded and took her seat next to Ethan.

"You wouldn't mind if I looked away while you get punctured with those awful needles, right?" Alex asked, shivering.

"No, but you'll still hold my hand, right?"

"Of course. I'll always hold you hand." Alex said, smirking. "Remember when you asked to hold my hand in the movies the other night? Remember that scary movie-"

"LA-LA-LA." Ethan said, covering his ears.

"Wuss." Alex said, chuckling.

--