"Uh, I-I dont know..." he stuttered.
"Wow, um Jessica? You might want to think about that first." Spencer said.
"Ive thought about it all week, Spencer." I turned to face Liam. "Dont worry. If I go, Ill pay for all of it. Even if I have to pay extra for last minute seating."
He looked at me long and hard.
"Okay Jessica. You can go back to Doncaster with me." I wanted to shout to the whole world that I was free. Free from all the stares and nasty comments. I was finally free! I spent that night packing all of my things. Spencer just watched me. He didnt try to help me, he just stood in my doorway and watched me. I spent the next night with Spencer. He had done so much for me.
"Thanks Spencer." I said to him.
"Whatever for?" he asked.
"What do you mean 'whatever for?'" I laughed. "You took me in, sheltered me when no one else would. Ive never had a friend like you." I sat close, but it seemed so far. He looked at me, and I looked at him. I was scared. He leaned in.
Oh God, I thought. Hes going to kiss me. I knew how bad he wanted to, but I wouldnt let him. After what happened with Edward, I wouldnt let anyone ever touch me again. I put my head down. I wouldnt do it.
"C'mon Jessica. What are you so afraid of? I wont hurt you like Edward."
"I just dont think I can let anyone in after what happened. I just dont think I can."
"Okay. I respect that. You just take your time. Im not going to force you to do anything." I looked at him. I rested my head on his shoulder. He really loved me that much? Wow, he really would always be there for me. The next day, Liam and I left for Doncaster. I cried as I left Spencer's embrace. I dont know why, but I rested my head on Liams shoulder. He put his arm around me and rubbed my back. I could tell he was there to support me. I fell asleep. I awoke with a start, my head hitting Liam's.
"Whats wrong?"
"I just had another nightmare. I dont really want to talk about it."
"Oh, um... okay." We just sat there in an awkward silence. Finally, I pulled out my phone and started listening to my music. I listened until we got off the plane. We got into a silver car, apparently, Liam had parked it here six months ago at the start of the semester.
"Nice ride."
"Thanks. My parents bought it for me."
"Really? Well, your parents must be pretty wealthy."
"Well, kinda. They took stock in a lot of companies."
"Cool." We drove around for a bit, when he asked me,
"So, would you like to stay at my flat tonight? Or would you prefer a hotel?"
"Well, I think Ill take the hotel. I dont want to intrude."
"No, no! You wouldnt be intruding at all! I thought you might want to stay in like a homier place than a hotel." he blushed. Homier? That one was pretty good.
"Well, if you want me to, then I guess Ill stay at your place." he nodded. When we got to his place, iimmediately saw that it was smaller than my first. It only had one bedroom and one bathroom. Just big enough for him.
"Well, c'mon. We'd better get your bed set up." he led me to his bedroom. underneath his bed, was a metal frame with a small matress on it. It was covered it a flowery sheet, and a purple comforter.
"Um, if I may ask. Why do you have this?"
"I bought it for my girlfriend. But she dumped me as soon as she found out I was going to America."
"Oh, okay.Sorry about that Liam." I said with a slight frown.
"No, it alright. So you can either sleep on this, or you can sleep with me. Ive got a king." I looked at his bed, and then looked at the tiny twin sized.
"Well, you might have yourself someone to sleep with tonight Liam!" he smiled. I coud tell that he hadnt had anyone to sleep with in awhile.
"Well, okay! But just one thing... you drool in your sleep." I hit him playfully on the arm and chased him around the apartment. We fell on the couch and just laughed.
"Okay okay! I surrender!" he shouted. Finally, I had made a real friend.
Louis
By now I had found my own place, learned to cook, and live by myself. I didnt know what I really wanted to do, until I saw a sign at a place called the Little Bird tattoo parlor. They needed workers. So I walked in, and instead of giving me the job straight up, they gave me a mentor. His name was Harry Styles. He was quite good at tatooing. I knew I had wanted one for quite awhile, so I asked him to give me a tattoo.
"So Lou, what would ya like?" I thought about it for awhile. Then finally, I came up with something.
"Id like STAY SRONG, BE PROUD written straight across my right wrist."
ny particular reson?"
"Id rather not share."
"Alright then. Lets get started." It hurt pretty bad, but I didnt complain considering his entire arm was covered in ink. By the time he was done, I thought it looked pretty cool. But once I had my first, I wanted more. The next one he gave me was a flock of birds on my right shoulder, and the next was the face of a tiger on my left forearm, and finally, my mom's name in arabic on my left ankle.I was pretty excited with the way they all looked. Harry was incredible with a needle. I soon learned how to be just about as good as him. Customers came in and out, some even personally asking for Styles. Then one day, she walked in.
Jessica
"Jessica... Jessica wake up." I thought I heard Liam, but I wasnt really sure.
"JESSICA!"
"What?"
"Get up and get dressed, Ive got osmewhere to take you!"
"Yeah! But not before you scare the shit out of me!" I walked to the bathroom, and got completely ready. Liam practically threw me in his car, and we began speeding down the road. Fianlly, we came to a small building with a sign that said,
LITTLE BIRD
by appoinment only
"Dont look so scared Jessica, your getting your first tattoo!"
Thanks Spencer. You just had to tell Liam.
We walked into the building and Liam led me down a staircase that seemed to go underground. We walked up to the fron tcounter ad there sat a boy. He looked to be quite younger than me, but his arms were covered in tattoos, and his face was covered with peircings.
"We have an appointment with Styles?" The boy pressed a button of some kind, and said,
"Styles, you 10oclock is here." he turned to us. "Down that hall, last door on your right."
"Thanks. You want me to go in there with you?" Liam asked.
"No thanks. Ill be fine." I moved myself out of his grasp, and walked down the hallway. I knocked on the door label 'Styles' and let myself in. There at a table, sat two boys. One looked to be in his early 20's, but the other looked to be about as old as I was.
"Hello! You must be Jessica. Liam set up your appointment?"
"Yeah, he did." I said, nodding slightly.
"He's a good kid. We've actually done all of his tattoos. So, do you have any idea what you want?"
"Yeah, I think I do. I want STAY STRONG, BE PROUD written straight across my wrist." I saw the younger looking one make a face. Styles said,
"Well okay then. Louis's best with the words, so I'll have him do this one, if you dont mind."
"So," he said. "Lets get started." He cleaned off my arm, and then went to work. We talked as he was doing it, so I didnt really feel the pain. When he was done, he said,
"Ya know, I find this appointment quite interesting."
"Why?"
"Because I have the exact same tattoo, and the exact same wrist." he held up his hand to show me his tattoo.
"It was my very first tattoo. Ya know, you seem pretty interesting. Maybe you want to hang out later?"
"Sure," I said. "I guess if you want to hang out with me, you have to call Liam."
"Okay then. Ill call him. See ya later!"
-
"So? How'd it go? Are you alright?" Liam asked me.
"Yeah it went pretty good. But shit, I didnt realize how much these things actually hurt!" I pulled back the wrapping to show him.
"Wow. Um, doesnt Louis have that same tattoo on his wrist?" I nodded.
"Yep, he says he wants to hang out sometime. Apparently he has your number." We climbed back into the car. This one boy, may just turn my life around for the better.