Lessons learned

Chapter 31

We walked down the busy London street until we came across a shop at the end of the road. The lights were on inside and a flashing neon arrow was above the store directing us to the front door. We peered into the window, there was a young girl sitting on what looked like a dentist chair in tears.

I turned to Abby full of excitement, her eyes widened before nodding. 'You want to get a tattoo?' She asked.

'Nah, it's not a tattoo that I want.' I pointed to a piece of paper stuck carelessly on the window, she bent forward to read the print.

'Peircings?' Her eyebrow raised as I brought my finger up and patted the side of my nose, she shook her head.

'No, why would you want to get your nose pierced?'

I hadn't expected her to say no honestly, but that didn't matter I was going to do it anyway.

'Because Peter said that he didn't want me to pierce my nose, so that's exactly what I'm going to do.' I told her before quickly entering the shop before she could stop me.

I heard her groan as she followed me in. 'We have to be drunk to do shit like this.' she moaned closing the door behind her.

I pulled on her arm and dragged her over to the counter where a bold man with fat hanging over his tight trousers stood. He was covered in tattoos, even his head was covered with them.

'What can I do for you ladies?' He chuckled and scanned his eyes over our bodies. He not so subtly licked his lips catching his overhanging mustache.

I cringed immediately missing Zack from back home.

'I'd like to get a nose piercing please.'

He looked at me deep in thought before leaning over the counter and placing his greasy hands on both sides of my face. He tilted my head to the sides before running his dirty thumb over my cheek, distressed I reached up and ripped his hands away.

'That'll be fifty pounds then.'

'Fifty pounds!' I exclaimed.

'This is London Princess.' He muttered rubbing his sweaty palms together.

'Do us a deal.' Abby pipped up. He moved his shit coloured eyes over to her before nodding in approval as his eyes landed on her breasts.

'Show us your tits and I'll only charge you twenty.' He snickered.

'Dale, what are you doing?' A woman dressed in leather asked as she walked towards the man.

'Just serving a customer.'

'How can I help you girls?' The woman said turning to look at us.

'I just want a nose piercing.' I tell her shyly.

'Okay, that'll be twenty pounds.' I look up at the man and she shrugs before licking his lips again and patting his stomach. He walked away behind some leather curtains and I breathed out in relief.

'Sorry about him.'

'It's fine.' Abby told her and reached into her purse.

'What are you doing?' I said my hand reaching out to stop her. 'Paying for your nose piercing.'

'I don't think so.'

'And how are you going to pay for it?'

I brought my hand up to my bra and pulled out two notes, a fifty and a twenty. Delicately I handed over the twenty and put back the fifty.

'Always bring emergency money.' I winked at Abby before following the woman into one of the rooms.

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