Lights (2019)

The North Star

"Blair, wake up."

I feel something tickling my nose, my face scrunches up distaste. I groan and turn over, burying my face in my pillow. A hand lightly shakes my shoulder and huff loudly into the pillow, jerking my shoulder away from the touch.

"All right, I've tried asking nicely." Harry clears his throat. "Blair, wake the fucking hell up--"

"Shhh," I say groggily, I press my index fingers to his lips and push him away. He takes my wrist in his hand and presses a kiss lightly to my hand. I sit up to see a smirking Harry. "How can you curse so much so early in the morning?"

"It's ten thirty."

"Fucking shit--" I leap out of bed and into the bathroom, taking my pills and using the new toothbrush Harry got for me. I wash my face and braid back my hair. I sit atop the bathroom counter doing my makeup.

Harry watches me as he leans against the doorframe. "What are your plans for today?"

"Nothing," I reply, splashing water on my face.

"Why are you in such a hurry then?"

"I don't like being around you when I have morning breath."

"You're silly," he chuckles, coming closer and kissing my temple. He buries his face into my neck. "Come to work with me today."

"Harry, I don't know. Those places make me uncomfortable--"

"I'll be there the whole time, Blair. Come on. Please?"

I sigh. "Okay."

Harry smiles. "Good thing you're almost done getting ready, cause I need to leave in like ten minutes."

"Ten minutes? Are you kidding!"

Harry laughs and goes downstairs, leaving me to change. I change into some jeans and a t-shirt. I look over to see Mockingjay dog-eared on Harry's nightstand. I frown. Did he not sleep last night?

"Harry," I call, walking into the kitchen. He looks up at me and slides me a bowl of cereal filled with milk already. I spoon some into my mouth, trying to eat as fast as I can. I sit at the counter across from him.

"Did you sleep last night?" I ask him.

He nods. "Very well."

"Are you lying?"

"No," he says defensively. "Why would you ask that?"

"I saw Mockingjay on your nightstand...dog-eared."

Harry looks down, almost as if he's embarrassed. "I woke up at nine this morning," he says. "And... I wanted something to talk about with you in the car." He avoids my gaze.

I break into a smile. "Really?"

"Yeah, all though I didn't get too far...I'm not a fast reader like you." He looks at the clock. "Are you done? We need to go?"

I follow Harry to his car smiling. He opens the door for me, before jogging to his side. He smiles at me, as he pulls out of the driveway. He reaches for my hand and squeezes it lightly. The drive is short, Harry is telling me that the tattoo shop was tucked in a small shopping center.

"So," I say as we drive along. "Anything I should know before we enter your workplace?"

"Yeah," Harry says. "Ed is a fucking douchebag."

"All right, noted." I laugh.

Harry smirks as we pull up to a dark looking place with a flickering neon "ED'S TATTOOS" sign on the front. A bell jingles as we walk in. A guy with pale skin and fiery red hair looks up at us. One of his arms is sleeved in tattoos. I cross my arms over my chest and look around. There is a tank full of koi fish, and different display cases of piercings. Walls filled with tattoo options, surround us.