"...and it's all because of Emma."
Jack just sat there.
He turned his head towards me and I noticed he had tears in his eyes. He shook his head a bit before wrapping me in a hug.
I rested my head on his shoulder and he set his chin on my head and squeezed me tight, rubbing my back.
"I'm sorry, J. You deserved none of that. Dammit, I can't believe I'm dating that bitch."
I broke away from the hug and stared him in the eyes.
"You're what?" I deadpanned.
"I'm dating her, but not for long."
I smiled a bit.
"Hey Jena?"
"Yeah?"
"I have a plan," he said while smiling devilishly.
"Let's hear it," I smiled.
~}|{~}|{~}|{~
Step one.
"Okay, are you ready to see?"
"I think so," I stuttered, nervous to see how it turned out.
"Alright!"
The stylist turned me around and I gasped. The effect was stunning.
My hair was purple; dark at the top, light at the bottom.
I squealed and said, "I love it! Thank you so much, Rachel! Jack, you are a genius!"
He smirked.
"Tell me something I don't know"
I giggled and said, "Alright, Rachel, how much do I owe you?"
"A friend of Jack's is a friend of mine; it's on the house, honey," the brunette smiled.
"At least let me tip you! Five dollars?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Fine," she sighed as she accepted the money.
"Thanks again, Rachel!" Jack said.
"No problemo, chicas!"
I laughed loudly as Jack started sputtering.
"Excuse you, I am a man! Want me to prove it? I have a di-"
"JACKSON BASSAM BARAKAT DO NOT FINISH THAT SENTENCE!" I scolded.
"Oh, so my name is Jackson now, huh Jenaffer?"
"Oh, God," I laughed.
"HEY HEY HEY JENA BY THE WAY!"
I sighed. "Yes, Jack?"
"-CK."
"JACK I TOLD YOU NOT TO FINISH THAT SENTENCE!" I scolded again.
"Oh, whatever." He smirked," Now, on to Step Two."
~}|{~}|{~}|{~
Step two.
"Alright, are you sure that's where you want it?"
"Positive," I said with a nervous grin.
"Alright, you'll feel a pinch and then I'm going to slide it in."
"Alright," I began to feel butterflies.
It was something I'd wanted to do for years, but I never had the courage.
Jack squeezed my hand quick, and then there was a pinch.
"Ouch ouch ouch OUCH!" I squealed.
"Alright.... done!" the man exclaimed.
I grabbed the mirror and looked.
I gasped and stared at myself. It was a simple nose ring, but it made me look so... so...
"Woah! It makes me look so.. so..."
"Badass?" Jack offered.
"Yes! I look so badass with this!" I grinned.
"Alright that'll be ten dollars."
"What? I thought it was more than that."
"You're Jack's friend; discount," Tim explained.
I sighed. "Okay..."
I searched my wallet and pulled out a five and put it on top of a twenty and handed it to him before he realized how much I gave him.
Jack followed me outside, holding in his laughter. After a few seconds we heard 'that little buttmuncher!' murmured through the open window.
Jack laughed and looked at me before we said, "Step Three?" in sync.
~}|{~}|{~}|{~
Step three.
"Your total will be $783.92," the clerk said in a monotone voice.
Jack didn't even blink as he swiped his credit card, much to my dismay.
I tried to make him let me pay, but he took my card and slid it away from the checkout right as I was about to swipe it, giving him the chance to pay for the shitload of clothes.
I sighed loudly as I grabbed as many bags as I could, leaving about three for Jack to take.
"You didn't have to do that, Jack!"
"Ah, but I wanted to. And this is part of MY plan, remember?"
I scoffed but didn't respond.
"Now on to Step Four."
~}|{~}|{~}|{~
Step four.
I gritted my teeth as I heard the buzzing start up. I soon felt the sting of the needle on my collarbone.
Jack squeezed my hand as it started the pain faded to a dull scratching, leaving throbbing outlines in its wake.
I was getting my first tattoo.
'Soar with the eagles' was being engraved on my clavicle in flowy script with the date '3-16-14' underneath it, as a tribute to my grandmother (a/n: actual tattoo I want.)
Soon enough it was over and I was left with a breathtaking tattoo. I gaped at it in the mirror before turning to the full body mirror, marveling in how much I've changed. I was wearing a strapless black dress that came to my upper thighs and was covered in white skull print, light-wash skinny jeans, and black stilettos.
Jack situated a simple black beanie on my head and said, " Step Five, introduce 'you' to Emma."
He chuckled and grinned before dialing some numbers on his phone; Alex.
~}|{~}|{~}|{~
YOU ARE READING
Under A Paper Moon
Fiksi PenggemarWhen 21 year old Jena September Stella Johnson moves to Baltimore, Maryland, she lives in happy routine until she wanders into a record store advertising it's need for employees. Sure, she like music, but what really mattered was that she needed a j...