Putting holes in happiness

Tattoo

(May or may not look like Leonore >>)

The next night, Lexa, Noel, Alyssa, and I sneak out of the house on our way to the tattoo parlor. Evan catches us at the door. She's working on an absinthe-flavored lolly pop, and wearing those damned heart-shaped glasses.

"Where ya guys going?" she asks, smiling.

"Out," I say bluntly.

"Oh." she says, looking hurt,"well have fun." We walk past her, Alyssa and Noel giving her dirty looks. When we are out of her sight, we burst out laughing.

"Whore!!!" Noel yells. Then, we scamper off to Alyssa's car.

"SHOT GUN!!!" Lexa yells.

"I'm drivin'!" Noel says. Alyssa and I sit in the back, and fuck with her cell phone.

"You have to hear this ringtone, doesn't it just take you back to middle school?" she pushes a button, and "Going Away to college" by Blink-182 plays. I smile, remembering the song.

"I love them," I say. Noel turns right sharply, and we move with the car. I fall into Alyssa, as she parallel parks on the Sunset Strip. Noel stops the engine, pulls the keys out, and tosses them to Alyssa. We stumble out of the car, and link arms laughing. Noel and Alyssa light each others' cigarettes, and take hits. We walk together with our arms linked to Lexa's friend's tattoo parlor. Ronnie, the owner comes out all smiles.

"Darling, this is Ronnie," Lexa says, "he did Glenn's tattoo." She says, lovingly.

"Glenn?" Noel asks.

"Danzig." I say.

"Oh." Noel says in understanding.

"And, Ronnie this is Leonore," Lexa finishes. Ronnie and I shake hands.

"So, Leonore what are we looking for today?" Ronnie asks.

"I want to get my initials which are L.A.M. (A. is for Adele)wrapped in black roses." I say. I pull a picture out of my coffin purse, "Like this." Ronnie studies it, then nods.

"Kay, I can do this." he says. Noel and Alyssa interagate the poor guy about tattoos and the types of needles he uses for a half-an-hour. Finally, they say it's okay for me to sit down, and I lay on my belly on the table. He starts up the needle, and I listen to its humming, and try to block out the pain that it causes. 'Just think of how great it'll look when it's finished.' I think.I end up passing out, and Noel and Alyssa wake me up later. I check my watch, it's almost midnight.

"Come on!!!!" Lexa yells from the front of the shop,"I have a treat for you girls. You wanna meet rock stars?"

"Hell yeah!!!" Alyssa and Noel answer in unison.

We pay and he tells me to keep my tat out of water for a few days and to apply cream so that it doesn't scab over. Then, we leave. This time, Alyssa drives and Noel sits in the back with me while Lexa gives her directions.

"Lex, where are we going exactly?" I ask.

"To see Danzig," she says, "he called earlier and I told him about how you're getting a tattoo and he wants to see it."

"Fuck! You're serious!?! Hell yeah!! Danzig!!!!" I squeal happily. Lexa looks back smiling.

"I knew that'd make you happy."

I sit back against the seat, but then jump back because my back hurts too much. Fuck yeah, I'm going to meet Glenn Danzig!!! My mind screams at me...