you're beautiful here

f o u r

Chapter 4

Alice hadn't expected much when she moved to Seattle. She wanted an escape—and that's just what she'd gotten. She'd finally escaped her parent's thumb and was able to do what she loved every day and make a living that way. What she hadn't expected, though, was what she was getting a whole year after arriving.

How was she to know that during the year she's been here—Felix was right across the intersection?

When she had first walked into the shop weeks ago, she didn't think anything of it. She was just trying to find cheaper coffee than the Starbucks she frequented before work. She didn't even like coffee that much. But since she'd met Felix, she couldn't get enough of the stuff.

Felix was a whole new world for her. She had had her share of boyfriends since she graduated, but someone always quickly lost interest. Alice hadn't always been the fun and free spirit she was when she met Felix. With the help of her parent's overbearing hand, she ended up very quiet and reserved. And utterly alone.

She looked up from her spot in her shop, through the window, and towards Mugz. Towards Felix.

"Can you stop being a cliché for, like, three minutes?" her friend, Beth, said.

"What are you talking about?" Alice had been setting up her piercing equipment to pierce Beth's nose.

Beth stuck a dramatic pose with her hand over her heart and face to the ceiling. "Oh, my sweet, sweet Felix. It's been a whole 3 hours since we've spoken. Even though I'm wearing your sweater and keep sniffing the sleeve, I miss you so. Woe is me." She draped her other hand over her face.

Alice's lips turned upward. "Okay, first off, not even close. Second off, you make me sound like a creep. And third, I literally just disinfected your nose and you just touched it. Do you want a disease? Because I'll find one to give to you." Alice was only half joking.

Beth had been giving her hell for 'leading the poor boy on.' Alice didn't see it like that. Alice thought she was being obvious with how much she liked Felix, but Beth said he wasn't getting the memo. Alice agreed. She wished she could be right for once.

"I'm sorry that you are no longer the only one receiving all my love and attention," she mockingly said as she rubbed the disinfectant back over the side of Beth's nose.

"Oh, shut up, lover girl." They both made a face. "Yeah, doesn't have the same ring as lover boy, but you get the gist."

"Yeah, yeah." She put on her black gloves and picked up her clamp. "Maybe I should just leave the clamp on a little longer than normal," she faux thought out loud.

"You wouldn't," Beth stared up at her with wide eyes. The clamp was the worst part.

"Oh, would I?" She wouldn't, but she did want Beth to wonder.

As soon as she pushed the hollow needle through Beth's nose, they heard a soft knock coming from the door. They looked at each other.

"Was that a knock?" Beth asked, wincing and muffled.

"I think so?" Alice, of course, couldn't go open the door. They were both very confused as to why someone would be knocking on the door to an open business.

Another knock sounded followed by the door slowly opening.

Felix softly walked in. Alice let out a quiet chuckle.

Of course, she thought, the only person who would knock on the door to a tattoo shop.

"Uh, Felix?" Alice called out. Beth looked at her with wide eyes. Alice knew she was thinking the same thing.