by Scott Kujawa
“No,” Raven spoke up as she saw her friends glee. “You can't cover her with ink.” Alex laughed then and even more so as she heard, “And you. Are you crazy? Saying that to her? She'll have you covered before you can get her to stop!”
Giving a sad sigh, Robin wagged her finger at her friend. “You never let me have any fun.”
“I know, but you still love me.”
“There is that.” Robin turned to look at Alex. “As for you, shirt off.”
“Oh… right.” Alex felt her blush return, she had focused on that part of what she had to do but at least it was night, and no one else was in the shop.
“She's cute when blushes at the drop of a hat and so deeply.”
“I agree.”
Alex's muffled voice came from beneath the shirt that was half over her head. “Stop it! Or I'll never stop blushing.”
More laughter was the only answer to those words, and after some time passed, Alex had her shirt off, which Raven took from her and placed in her lap as she sat down in the second chair that was near the one where Alex was sitting.
“Those are awesome!” Alex said, repeating the words she had said about a dozen times already while she watched everything that happened with the temporary tattoos. When the two of them were placed, Alex smiled towards Robin. It took a bit of finagling to get her shirt back on, but once she was covered, Alex stepped up to Robin and wrapped her arms around her for a quick hug.
“If I get a real tattoo, you'll be the only one I'd come to.”
“Excellent. I love a tattoo virgin and how the needle causes the noises they make.”
“She loves that,” Raven added while the three of them laughed since the three of them kept up a little more of the banter they started with each other. “What do you say, Alex? Is the date over or are you interested in spending a little more time together?”
“Oh,” Alex said, giving Raven a long look. “I don't know. I'm wired still from coming here and seeing how much work would go into getting a real tattoo even though I only have these temporary ones. And I've had a real good time tonight, and I have no plans tomorrow. So … I'm open to spending more time together.”
“Great.” Raven turned to look at Robin. “What about you? Want to join us? I planned on taking Alex someplace where we can do some dancing, or maybe drinking, or maybe both.”
“I'll join you if it's okay with Alex? I don't want to force myself into your date?”
“Ah, no, no. It's fine. I don't mind. Dancing and some drinking sounds like a great way to finish the night.”
As the three of them discussed, they hit one or two dance clubs, giving Alex plenty chances to get out onto the dance floor with Raven, or Robin, or both, or with some other women that decided they wanted to have a dance with the blonde. Alex kept the drinks to a minimum this time, not wanting to spend the weekend hugging the toilet or feeling the pounding headache that too much alcohol always gave her.
When the last place they were at called the last call, Alex was a little sweaty from dancing for the last two or three hours. She returned to the hugs that Raven and Robin gave her before the three of them headed to their homes. She also promised that she would keep in touch when Raven insisted that the two of them had to do that. Alex, for once, wasn't lying about doing just that because she enjoyed herself a lot tonight. Tonight's date had gone pretty well; she thought as she stepped into her home and dropped her clothing to the floor along the way to her bedroom. As soon as her head hit the pillow, Alex slipped into deep sleep.
*****
“Alexandria!” she, heard her sister call as she walked by, causing Alex to grin to herself and give a soft laugh. She wore a top that was sleeveless that showed off what she did last night since she knew Melody could not withhold any comments once she saw the tattoos that Alex got last night during her date.
“Alex! I'm talking to -”
She grinned further while ignoring Melody and stepping into her office. A few snickers could be heard coming from behind her as the others that were here on the weekend and this morning looked up and watched.
“Dammit, Alex! Stop!”
Turning to face her doorway once she was in her office, Alex grabbed one a chair and relaxed into it. She had only managed just to sit down when Melody barreled into Alex's office and stared at her sister.
“What. Did. You. Do?”
“I don't know what you mean. Would you care to tell me what you're talking about?” Alex tried to keep her grin off her face, but that wasn't something she could manage as she looked at Melody and saw how her sister was reacting.
“Those!” Melody stated with a sharp tone as she pointed at Alex's upper arm. “And I don't know what is so funny! Look at what you did!”
“Melody, it's only a tattoo. Besides, I have one somewhere else where you can't see it.”
“What? Are you kidding me?”
“No,” Alex said, still grinning but now laughing a little more. “The date I had last night talked me into getting them. Aren't they cool? I might also remind you it was your idea for me to use the internet to go out on some dates. So these tattoos are your fault, in a round about way.”
“Alexandria! I will kill you! There is no way it's my fault you got artwork on your arm or that other place that is hidden! Now, what in the world possessed you to do something like that?!”
Laughing, Alex continued to tease her sister while Melody went off on the rant she was going on. During that time, Alex also said, “They're fake, Mellie.”
“Dammit, you know the dress code we agreed upon for our business. Wait? What?”
“Oh, so that got you to end your rant?” Alex said while she continued to laugh some and grin at Melody. “But if I get a real tattoo, that is also my choice. However, yes, Mellie, theses are fake. They wear off in a week or two, I was told.”
“Oh. Well. Okay then.”
“Now it's my turn to tell you something. You need to take a vacation. You're wound way too tight lately.”
“Oh, whatever, Alex!”
Alex's laughter was loud and filled with mirth as she watched Melody stomp out of Alex's office and into her own. The sound of Melody's office door slamming shut caused Alex's laughter to increase while she shook her head at her older sister's antics. When she was finished with her jest and was pleased with how much she had gotten a drop on her sister, Alex tackled the work waiting for her, spending half the day in her office and helping those that had questions for her or needed answers since they knew to leave Melody alone due to her office door never opening while Alex stayed to get work accomplished.
“Are you that mad at me?”
“The silent treatment, huh?”
“Melody… come on… answer me.”
“Mellie. I know you're reading these texts.”
“Seriously, Melody Louvre Johnson, you're going to keep acting like this?”
Alexandria laughed at the way her sister was acting; it was like Melody had regressed to when they were teenagers, and her sister thought Alex had done something stupid. “Fine. I'll talk to you later. I want to let you know I'm going out for the rest of the day and I'll be gone for the night. I have a second date with Raven.”
*****
Once she got home, Alex laughed at the memory of how much her sister was acting like a child while Alex dug through her closet to find the pair of jeans she was looking for. She was also looking for the light blue shirt she knew was in there, somewhere. After finding what she was looking for, Alex headed into the shower and dressed once she was done.
“Hi,” she said when she saw Raven standing outside the tattoo shop where they had agreed to meet up.
“Hey, hey. Robin is finishing up, and she should be done shortly. You don't mind waiting until she's done, do you?”
“It's fine. Can we go in and watch though? I'm interested in seeing what it's like to get a real tattoo.”
Alex smiled back at Raven as she saw her wide smile. Then she let Raven take hold of her arm and
pull her into the tattoo shop. Once they two of them sat down nearby, Alex watched the man in the chair and all his expressions or listened to the sounds he made as Robin inked the tattoo into his bicep. The hum of the needle gun also was a constant sound.
“That doesn't look very pleasant.”
“It can be but it depends on the amount of pain you can handle and the rush of feeling that spreads through you.”
“Huh. So kind of like having orgasms?”
Raven stared at Alex for a moment before her laughter burst forth. It was only a few moments later before the man's laughter, and Robin joined in with their surprised laughter. Alex grinned at the three of them until she couldn't hold back her mirth at how much she had surprised them with those words.
“Hey lady, you're funny.”
“Thanks,” Alex answered, throwing a warm smile at the man sat in the chair. “So is that's what it feels like or not?” she asked Raven.
“Um… uh… I guess. It feels differently.”
“Huh. Well, maybe it's one of those things that no one can describe and it's something that someone has to experience for themselves.”
“Yea.”
Wandering around the shop a little since she was interested in looking at the artwork some more, Alex kept glancing at what was happening nearby. When it seemed like she could ask questions about what was happening, she did so, but she didn't want to distract Robin from where she was concentrating on what she was doing with the tattoo gun. During one the breaks that Robin said she need to take to rest her hands was when the three of them stepped into the main room of the tattoo shop and saw that Christie and Sunny were inside the shop.
Once the tattoo was finished and the shop was closed up, Alex agreed to ride with the two friends, leaving her car in the parking lot of the tattoo shop, which they would return for later. The first part of the plan for the rest of the day was to stop at a place for dinner. The three women fell into laughter, conversation, and more as they shared the booth in the back of the restaurant. They got a little more open and louder once they had a glass or two of alcohol in their systems but none of them had enough to drink they wouldn't be able to drive.
An hour or two later was when they became relaxed and let themselves enjoy the evening. Alex wasn't sure which one of the two friends it was that talked the others into hitting a part of the city that had music clubs and spending the rest of the night walking up and down the street that catered to anyone that came out to listen to the singers, musicians, and more that performed at almost every one of the clubs.
This part of the Rochester was where anyone went when they wanted to listen to different genes of music, songs, and more, that hadn't been played on the radio in years or modern music that could be heard on the radio every day.
Knowing she wasn't the only one of the three of them to break into song when hearing something that she liked or even dancing on the street or in a club when hearing the same thing, Alex loved what the three of them were doing. She wasn't paying attention to how much time they were together or how long the three of them kept together and moved from club to club. All she knew was she was having a great time and being out with some new friends was something she hadn't done in a while.
It was sometime past midnight when they called it a night, heading back to the tattoo shop so Alex could retrieve her car. Standing near the driver side door, Alex looked at Raven.
“So…”
Alex grinned. “I had a great time with the two of you.”
“Good. So…”
“Want to come back with me? Can have a late night drink or something more, maybe.”
Alex leaned against her car as her laughter burst forth after hearing the shouted, “I thought you wouldn't ask!”
Smiling at Raven before she laughed, Alex said, “I know that you were waiting for me to ask but I wanted to make you wait for it.”
“Horrible. You're horrible.”
Still laughing, Alex opened the door and waited for Raven to climb inside before heading off. Even while she drove, Alex sometimes released a few smalls soft laughs as the memories of how she made Raven waited to be invited back to Alex's caused Alex to react the way she was while she drove. Taking Raven's hand into hers once they arrived at Alex's, she kept hold of the fingers she had entwined with hers until the two were inside. After pushing the door closed with her butt, Alex pulled Raven towards her and leaned in to place her mouth on Raven's.
Alex wasn't sure when, or how, they ended up on her couch, but that was where they were when they both stopped what they were doing and looked at each other. Alex's lips were tingling from the feel of Raven's lips or the same kisses that Alex felt on her lips. Her hands were resting on Raven's sides while the two of them had their limbs twined around each other. At the same time, Alex felt Raven's hands gliding up and down the length of Alex's back and spine.
“This wasn't what I had in mind when I invited you inside.” Alex's smile returned. “Don't misunderstand me, I like what we're doing, but it's not what I thought we would do when I extended the offer for you to come inside with me.”
“I'm glad you're enjoying making out with me. I've had fun on our two dates, and I like you, Alex.”
“Yea? Well, I like you. Our two dates have been fun, especially today. I want to say I don't mind we're making out but I'm not sure if I want to take it further than that yet.”
“I understand, and I'm good with making out. I'm even good with having a few more dates before we sleep together. I've had fun with you.”
“Good, good.”
Leaning close to Raven again, Alex pressed her mouth to Raven's some more. As she felt Raven return the gesture, Alex let out a few small sounds of how much she loved the make out session. That was until one of them decided that they needed to end what they were doing or things would get too far out of hand. It was Alex that pulled back for the second time and stared at Raven.
“Maybe it's time to call it a night before we break our word. Tomorrow is Sunday; maybe we can get together again during the day?”
“Even though I'd love too, I can't tomorrow. I have to spend the day getting ready for work on Monday. I'll be free Wednesday night though if you want to meet for dinner?”
“Oh, I understand.” Alex nodded even if she was a little disappointed that tomorrow wouldn't work. “Sure, dinner that night sounds good. Would it be okay if I text you during those other days?”
“You can do that. Just don't get upset if I don't answer right away, it only means I'm away from my phone, not ignoring you.”
“I understand, and I can say the same thing if you text me and I don't answer right away.”
Alex walked out with Raven until Raven was in her car. Alex returned the wave she saw come from Raven and stood outside until the tail lights of Raven's car could no longer be seen. Once she was alone, Alex went back inside and made sure that her house was locked up.
*****
The sound of her phone ringing woke her. Rolling onto her side, Alex kept her eyes closed while reaching outwards to search for her phone. “Um… huh… who… wha?” she mumbled into the phone once she answered the call.
“Alex?” came her sister's voice.
“Uh… um.”
“You aren't awake yet, are you?”
“Nah, huh.”
That brought laughter from Melody even as Alex rolled onto her back and kept her phone to her ear. Alex said nothing further, and if she had been asked, she would have said she had fallen back asleep until Melody's voice came again.
“I figured you would be awake by now since it's after ten in the morning. It seems you had a fun night last night though if you were still asleep when I called. Anyhow, get your lazy butt up and out of bed and come meet me for lunch.”
“Uh, um. Kay.”
“Don't fall back asleep, Alex! I know that you're still laying in bed. If you fell back asleep, I'll just keep calling until I annoy you enough you get up and come meet me at the restaurant we always go
to for our Sunday meet up.”
Swinging her feet out of bed and onto the floor, Alex sat up and grumbled, “Fine. I'm up; I'm up. I'll be there in about a half hour.”
True to her word, Alex was showered, dressed, and on time. Stepping into the restaurant, she saw that Melody was already there, which Alex figured would be the case. “Hey, sis,” Alex said as she slid into the booth across from Melody.
“Hey, yourself. I figured you would need coffee, so I already told the waitress to fill your mug once she saw you arrived.”
“Thanks,” Alex said with a smile and sure enough, the waitress was right there to pour the drink that Alex felt like she so needed.
After Alex doctored her coffee with some sugar and cream and had a few sips, Melody broke the silence that had descended for a few moments. “I'm sorry about yesterday. I acted like an asshat.”
“It's all right, Mellie. We both know we tease each other and sometimes we take things too far. I'm not upset but thank you for apologizing.”
“You're right, we do that with each other. So, tell me about her, if you want? I promise this time I won't throw a fit.”
Alex smiled at her sister and talked about the date on Friday night and what happened yesterday.
“So... it sounds like you like her. Or do you feel something more towards her?”
“I don't know, to be honest. I mean … so far Raven and I have had a good time, but I don't know how I feel about her or if I see myself being with her long term. All I can say is that I'm enjoying the time we are spending together, and it's kind of nice to be with someone that is younger and more daring. But long term? I don't know.”
Melody was quiet for a few minutes as she thought about what her sister said. The two of them also continued to eat now that their meals had been placed before them. At last she looked back at Alex.
“Alex, that you already know how you feel. You said it yourself a few minutes ago. You like being with her but you don't believe the two of you are in the same places in your lives. So all I can say is enjoy being with Raven while the two of you are together but try not to develop further feelings for Raven or you'll get hurt again.”