Flowers & Tattoos

Chapter two: Bad Memories

(picture above/right of what Louis looks like)

(Louis' POV)

''Leave me alone, you liar! I shout as a single tear ran down my face. You cheated on me twice Jack, I can't give you another chance!

Jack and I had been going out for three years. He was the best, he took me on amazing dates,always seemed to care about me and he always knew how to make me happy. Until he fucked it all up by sleeping with a girl named Eleanor. He said he was drunk and it was a 'mistake'. I forgave him because I was so madly in love with him that I didn't want to be without him. Until one day it happened again and this time he wasn't drunk and it wasn't a mistake and I just couldn't take it anymore. He tried to win me back with gifts and dates but it didn't work. He was an asshole and I couldn't ever forgive him. That was the last I saw of him, no more texts no more calls, no more Jack.''

'Hellooo?! I'm here to get my tattoo?' a high pitched voice says, followed by the door being slammed shut. I jerk my head up to see a woman with black hair, a tattoo sleeve and an outfit that just screamed 'goth' at you. Shit. I must of fallen asleep.
''Ah yes, I'll be right with you, just take a seat there, you can look at tattoo designs if you wanna" I said giving her a fake smile.
As soon as she was out of my sight, I ran to the customer toilet.What was that about? Why am I dreaming about my break up with Jack? Fuck.Thinking about Jack just brings back too many bad memories. I look in the mirror, I look dreadful, my hairs a mess and my cheeks are about the same colour as my hair. I sigh and walk back to the woman wanting the tattoo.
After 2 and a half hours, the woman finally left. She was so boring and only spoke if I asked her questions. She wanted a skull on her upper arm which is always popular. My business is as busy as ever, I don't even have a lot of time to design my own tattoos these days. It used to be my Dad's business but since he left I took over. As she was my last client, I could lock up for the day and do whatever I wanted to do for the rest of it.
I lock the door and tidy up all my equipment. I mop the black and whites tiles that run throughout my shop, even in the customer toilet. My tattoo parlour is called 'Rose & Anchor tattoo parlour' in Brighton town centre, the shop next to me used to be a vintage clothing store but it has been closed for like three years. The shop is now empty and the front is boarded up, it looks kinda creepy. I head upstairs and go straight into my room. It is pretty cool living upstairs because I don't have to go outside go to my work place, I literally work at home. I do get kinda lonely here on my own, but ever since Jack, I haven't fully trusted someone because I know someone will cheat on me again.
My room is quite big and painted black and red. My walls are full of band posters and my bed is king sized with a black duevet on it. I change out of my work clothes and put on comfier clothes on. I look in the mirror and sort my newly dyed red hair out. I still don't know if I like it yet, at least it isn't permanent I guess. Suddenly I hear a knock on the door, that's strange it shouldn't be a customer because I've locked up for the day. I run downstairs and unlock the door, my best friend Liam is stood on the doorstep. 'sup Louis, haven't seen you in a while' Liam says while smirking. 'I know man, its been ages since I've had any free time sorry'. Liam is clad in a red checkered t-shirt and tight black skinny jeans. He has more tattoos than he had when I saw him last. 'Hey, I could of given you these for free' I say with a laugh. He points to my hair with a puzzled look. 'I was just experimenting, anyway wanna come in instead of standing on the doorstep freezing your balls off?'
I say while opening the door.
'So have you spoke to Jack since, you know?' Liam questions. That's the trouble with Liam, he always wants to know everything about everyone. 'No I haven't, he's tried to talk to me but I never reply' I said with a sigh. Even though it was four months ago, I still get a little bit emotional just talking about it. I walk upstairs and I gesture to him to come follow me. I walk into the lounge slowly but Liam races and launches himself onto the massive bean bag on the floor. 'I call shot gun!' He shouts. 'Liam, you're not seven anymore you know' I say laughing.
He stayed for three hours and only had to leave because he had a date to get ready for.
Liam and I have been best friends ever since secondary school, we were on the same football team, went to parites together,we literally went everywhere together. But unfortunately we went to different colleges and universties so we only saw each other at weekends, if that. Now we live in the same area, we get to see each other most of the time. But now that my shop is becoming even more popular, we don't get a lot of time to see each other.

As I'm tidying up the lounge, I notice a silver ring on the floor. That's strange, I didn't see Liam wearing one but it looks strangely familiar, maybe it fell of when he jumped on the bean bag. I think nothing of it and put in on a shelf next to all my books. As I'm eating my dinner, my phone vibrates.

Jack:

''Hi. I've lost my silver ring you gave me for our one year anniversary, you haven't seen it at yours have you?''

Wow, this is just spooky.