Diamonds and Why Men Buy Them [Mike Fuentes]

12. What's My Age Again?

I wake up the next afternoon to pressure on top of me. I open my eyes to see Mike sitting on top of me, grinning his shit-eating grin. I groan and try to push him off but he doesn't budge. I pull the blanket over my head. "Why are you even awake?" I mumble.

"It's like 5pm and if you haven't noticed yet, I don't sleep much. Now get up."

I uncover my head and look at him. "Remember how I said I don't care what you do?"

"Mhm!" He answers over-enthusiastically.

"That should work both ways. Therefore, get the fuck off of me and let me sleep." He gets off of me, but then tears my blanket off of me and starts violently shaking me. I begin to scream and when he lets go I roll onto the floor. I stand up and charge him, hitting him in the stomach. I look up and he just smirks. That's when I realize I'm not wearing a bra or a shirt, just underwear. I gasp and cover my boobs. I glare at him. "Get out."

"Not until you agree to go somewhere with me today."

I roll my eyes and sigh. "Take me shopping and you have a deal."

"I guess I can deal with that. 10 minutes." He walks out and closes my door.

I grab my bra and put it on quickly in case I get another unexpected visit. I grab a new shirt from a box and put it on. Mike told me I could wear them because they were given to him by their management because they didn't want them. I pull on the pair of Mike's shorts I wore the day before. I still haven't went shopping because there isn't a bus that goes to the mall and I don't want to ask for Mike's car. I did end up putting the $1000 in a bank account and left $400 in a checking account to spend. I've bought a towel, tooth brush, shower shit, and some underwear so I have plenty for clothes.

I leave my bedroom and Mike is standing by the door, ready to leave. We walk to the parking garage and get in his car.

"So," I start as he starts up the car, "Where are we headed first?"

"I have a tattoo appointment with an old friend, and then I guess I will take you to the mall."

"Take me to the mall? Huh-uh, you're going in with me. Shopping for a whole new wardrobe is way too overwhelming for one person."

"But I don't even shop for my own clothes!" He whines.

"Tough shit. You're my only friend so until I get more friends, you're going shopping with me."

He shoots me a look of sympathy. "Okay." he responds in defeat.

We continue small talk until we get to a tattoo shop called 'Painful Pleasures' which is apparently ran by his friend Hannah who does most of his tattoos. We walk inside to a red lobby with a bright red tile floor and black walls with a big red velvet couch next to a glass counter full of body jewelry. No one is at the counter and the only sound heard is the soft buzzing of a tattoo needle and quiet Blink 182 coming from wall speakers. Mike walks up to the counter and starts obnoxiously hitting the customer bell until we both hear the needle stop and yelling from down a hallway.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP MICHAEL FUENTES AND GIVE ME ONE GODDAMN SECOND."

We both laugh and sit on the couch until the needle stops for good and two people come out, one being a man with a fresh tattoo on his arm and the other being Hannah, with long dredded brown hair and tattoos from head to toe. She walks over and gives Mike a hug, greeting him before checking out the man with the new tattoo.

"Okay." She says while taking a deep breath. "Come on back, fucker." I stay seated on the couch until she stops walking and looks back at me. "You too." She smiles.

I return the smile and get up to follow her. We go into a room and Mike plops himself stomach first onto the table. "Do me up, Hanners."

She rolls her eyes at him and motions for me to sit down next to her. "What are you getting, Mike?" I ask.

He shrugs as she cleans off her equipment. "I basically just let her do what she wants. I told her I wanted a new tattoo, something simple and she drew it up for me and now we're here."

Hannah glances at me. "So you're the new roommate, huh?" I nod. "Are you guys fucking?"

My eyes go wide. "Uh, no."

Mike laughs and she smirks as she starts the tattoo on the back of his calf. "Hey, just wondering. Are you guys friends then?"

Mike nods. "Yup! We've been friends for a while. We just met up with each other again after a while."

She glances over again and stops to look at the ship tattoo on my right arm. "That's pretty cool, who did that?"

"Just an old friend further north in my old neighborhood. I drew it up and she tattooed it."

"No shit!" she exclaims. "You drew that? Do you have anymore?"

I nod. "I drew all of them. I have four total, all ocean themed." I grin.

"Hey, you didn't include that in the list of things that you like! And you said you weren't talented!" Mike retorts.

I just stare at him. "What kind of job that you could find me with ocean life that doesn't include cooking them? And just because I can draw up my own tattoo doesn't make drawing a talent. "

"Sea World?" Hannah jokingly answers and we all laugh. "But seriously, have you ever tattooed anyone? Because that really is talent."

I shake my head. "I don't like causing pain to people." I smirk.

"Hey, I see it as adding permanent art to a living canvas, not causing pain. I mean, it is painful but hell this place is called 'Painful Pleasures' for a reason." By that time, Mike's new tattoo is done. It's a small four-leaf clover. She wipes it off. "You need the luck with all the crazy shit you do, so there's a permanent good luck charm." She smiles.

He gets up, looks at it in the mirror, and then gives her a hug. "Thanks Hannah, what do I owe you?"

She waves her hand. "It's on the house, but don't think this is going to be an everytime thing." She warns, and then laughs. "It was good to meet you, uh." She stops. "I never asked your name because I suck."

I laugh. "Mickey. Nice to meet you too."

"Well I'll see you guys around."

"Yup!" Mike answers as we walks out of the shop.

I grin. "You know what time it is now?"

He rolls his eyes. "Let's go, but we're going to the bar afterwards."

I link arms with him and we make our way to the car.