by M. A. Lee
“Yeah well, it sucks,” I stated through clenched teeth.
I wasn’t going to cry. This was nothing. Just a tiny needle going through my flesh. Shit, this was miserable. I didn’t understand, I get tattoos all of the fucking time. That never hurts like this.
Freddy stood in the corner of the small hospital room, looking like he was about to be sick.
“Should I call Cole and Isaac?” he asked as he paced the small space nervously.
For a guy who looked like a bad-ass, Freddy was a complete baby.
“Nah, this isn’t anything serious. Isaac wouldn’t come anyway, he’s probably with Lauren and you know Cole and Melanie are still on their trip to California,” I added.
Ever since I was a kid, the only family I had ever known were my friends; Freddy, Cole, Isaac, and Smalls. We had grown up in the same shit neighborhood with parents who didn’t care what we did or where we were. We had gotten our asses kicked by the same jerks until we had grown and were able to fight back. We had also shared one dark night a few years ago that changed us forever. Sometimes I think about that night and wonder where I would be if not for the events that had transpired. We were out of control. Pissed off at the world and just looking for some fun. Instead, what we got was a rude awakening to the meaning of life. I tried to erase those memories from my thoughts, I was changed now. No sense in bringing up painful memoriesWe learned to watch out for one another. Freddy was good at drawing. No, he was insanely talented. It was his ticket to a better life and he didn’t hesitate to take it. He started getting ink when we were sixteen and then started working at our friend Isaac’s tattoo shop after we turned eighteen. For me, I was only good at one thing; fixing engines. I had watched enough guys in the neighborhood work on their car, truck, and bike engines enough that I felt like I could take one apart and put it back together in my sleep. I started working for a few guys in the neighborhood then I started to get a reputation for myself. Now, I work at a shop downtown and I get to work on bikes that cost more than the house I grew up in.
“You need to hold still,” the doctor grumbled as I moved my hand.
Trying to get my mind off the fact that I wanted to punch this nice doctor right now, I tried to start up a conversation. “So, who was that girl you were talking to when you got here?” I asked.
I took my eyes off of my hand and tried to focus on Freddy. He kept checking his phone and I wasn’t sure if he was getting hit up by some chick he was sleeping with or if it was something else.
“Her name is Tatum. When I came running in here, I ran right into her friend,” he said as he looked down.
I laughed at that and I caused the doctor to lose his grip on my hand. I mumbled an apology as I tried not to scream from the pain. Damn, I wish he would hurry and finish this. I needed a stiff drink and some good pain pills.
“Aww, were you worried about me?” I teased.
The doctor slightly chuckled as he pretended not to listen in to our conversation.
“Hell yeah, I was,” Freddy smirked. “If my best friend and wingman was out of commission, what would I do?” he joked back.
“Well, I should be back to work on Monday,” I said as I looked at the doctor for confirmation.
Nodding his head, he finished up and then told us to sit tight until they had my paperwork ready to discharge me.
When the doctor left, I noticed that Freddy was still checking his phone.
“So, do you have a hot date or something?” I asked annoyed that he wasn’t focusing on me.
Ok, that sounds stupid, but I’m the one in the hospital right?
“Maybe,” Freddy said as he looked up. “That Tatum chick was sexy as hell,” he smiled again.
Damn, I hadn’t seen Freddy like this before.
“Her friend was kind of a tough girl, but she was just pissed that I knocked her down. Shit, I feel really bad about that,” he admitted.
I thought back a minute and realized that I had seen the girls. However, I only saw one girl. It must have been her friend.
“What was her friend’s name?” I asked like I didn’t really care.
“I think it was Lila,” Freddy replied.
I thought back to when we came in. Everything was chaotic and I was in so much fucking pain I could barely think straight, but I did remember seeing a beautiful girl with long, brown hair. She was beautiful, but my eyes didn’t focus too long on her. The blood kind of took over.
“We are talking now. I want to take Tatum and her friend out to apologize for rushing in. Plus, I want to see Tatum again. That girl was so damn hot.”
I chuckled at his comment. I guess this meant I would be tagging along too.
Freddy and I left the hospital around midnight, but I wasn’t ready to go out anymore. I wanted to get home and crash in my bed. As I lay alone in my bed, I couldn’t help but think about Lila. I had only caught a small glimpse of her, but fuck me, if it wasn’t enough to cause me to remember the way her hair swayed as she walked.
What was I doing? I didn’t think about girls or the way they moved. No, I fucked them then never talked to them again. Maybe these pain meds are getting to me. Yeah, that’s what it is.
3
Lila
“Lila? Lila? Can you hear me?” I woke to the bright sunlight filtering through my window and Tatum’s annoyingly cheerful voice waking me from my sound sleep.
It was the next morning, and I needed to get myself out of bed.
“Yes, I can hear you,” I groaned as I threw my pillow at Lila.
Laughing, she dodged the blow and skipped back to her bedroom. As roommates, we seemed to share everything and that included our class schedules.
“Did you finish the English homework from Monday?” she asked with a sigh. From her tone, I could tell she hadn’t.
“Yes, I will let you see my notes,” I yelled back to her.
“Thanks, you are a life saver,” she said in her normal cheerful voice.
Smiling to myself, I rolled my eyes. Tatum relied on me for school work, but I relied on her for everything else.
If it wasn’t for Tatum, I’m not sure what I would do. Everyone else had written me off after my ‘accident’ as my parents liked to call it. Well, everyone except for Tatum. She had stood by me and refused to leave my side. She was a true friend and I loved her for it.
Even though my parents were financially able to pay for my college tuition and my living expenses, I refused to take their money. They wanted me to live at home so they could monitor my erratic behavior as my mom called it. Refusing, I had decided to be my own persona. I had to work to pay for my half of our rent, but I loved what I did. I had found a great internship at a company that did editing for large-scale producers and screenwriters. I could read the dialogue between characters without feeling intrusive or like I was doing something wrong. We reviewed their scripts and sent back any necessary changes needed. Tatum however, only worked when she was absolutely forced. She only worked occasionally, for the discounts of course. Her parents paid her portion of our rent for the apartment as a way to bribe her to stay in Kentucky.
“Get your ass out of bed before you make us late to class,” Tatum yelled again.
Throwing my blankets off my body, I scrambled to pull on a pair of jeans and a Wonder Woman t-shirt.
My phone chimed with an alert of a text message. As I glanced down at my phone sitting on my bed, I saw Joel’s name appear.
Joel: Hey, will you please call me?
I rolled my eyes as I walked out into the hallway carrying my phone in my hands.
“What’s wrong?” Tatum asked as she noticed my frustration.
I held my phone up as I powered it off.
“Is it Joel again?” Tatum asked with anger lacing her voice.
Nodding my head yes, I threw my phone into my backpack and pointed to the door. “Let’s go, I don’t want to talk about him right now,” I stated.
We rushed out of the apartment with only minutes to spare before we
would be late for class.
LATER THAT EVENING as I sat reviewing my notes from my Psychology class, I heard Tatum tip-toe down the hall. This wasn’t good.
“So remember that guy Freddy?” Tatum asked as she stood in my doorway.
“The one who almost killed me,” I said sarcastically. “Yes, I think I remember him,” I added.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Tatum yelled as she threw her arms up in the air. “Anyway, we’ve been texting back and forth and then he called me today,” she said with a smile.
“Great,” I said as I turned back to my notes.
Not happy with my response or my lack of care for her story, Tatum continued.
“Well, he called and asked me out tonight.” She said, winding a strand of her beautiful hair around her finger.
“Fun,” I said,
Tatum walked further into my room and now stood by my desk.
“Well,” she began. “He asked if I wanted to go out tonight.” She said, smiling at me. I could tell by her tone she was up to something.
“Ok, well have fun.”
“You are coming with me. He wants you there,” she said.
“Freddy wants me to join you on your date? What, is he into some weird threesome stuff?” I teased.
“No, eww!” Tatum yelled. “He said he feels bad for knocking you down. Let him take us out, please,” she begged.
Laughing, I watched her grow frustrated. Our silly banter never ended and I could only hope that when we are eighty we still give each other a hard time. It’s all in love and fun.
Walking past me, Tatum began to head to my closet.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Looking for something for you to wear,” she said, her back still to me as she continued to push around my outfits.
Arching my eyebrows, I looked at Tatum like she had lost her mind. “Why would I need to change?” I asked. I had no plans for the evening.
“You can’t go on a date wearing sweatpants.” Tatum sneered, pulling a black sequence tank top off one of my hangers. “Here, try this one,” she said as she threw the shirt at me. Taking the shirt, I quickly laid it down on the bed beside where I was sitting. Jumping up, I rushed over to Tatum who was now looking for a pair of jeans and pumps.
“I don’t think so,” I started, rushing in front of her so that I was blocking her view of my closet. “I am not going on a double date with two guys we don’t even know.” I hissed, standing my ground.
Pushing me aside, Tatum selected a pair of tight skinny jeans and then a pair of black heels I was pretty sure were hers. Tilting her head, Tatum offered me her pitiful pouty lips that usually won me over.
“Well, I am going on a date. You and Freddy’s friend are just going to be there too,” she said with a devilish grin. “Besides, it wouldn’t kill you to get out and put a smile on that pretty face,” she said as she tried t cup my face and squeeze my cheeks together as if I was a toddler.
Swatting her hands away, I stepped back, almost falling inside my closet. “You are insane,” I teased back. “You don’t need me there as a cock block,” I argued.
“Lila, please just come with me. What is the worst that could happen? You might get a free meal? You might have fun? You might even get laid,” she said with her hands firmly propped on her hips.
“Oh, come on. None of that will happen,” I said. “But...“ I stopped talking and stood there, making her think I was contemplating my next move. It was cruel, but I loved to see Tatum squirm. She had no patience at all.
“Please, Lila? I really want to go and I don’t want to show up alone. It will be fun. We will get free drinks and if you don’t like the guys, we will leave, I swear.” Tatum was smiling at me now; she could sense I was about to give in.
“I guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing I could do tonight,” I said slyly.
Jumping up and down, Tatum clapped as she listed all the things that needed to get done before we left. She really had waited until the last minute to spring this idea on me. We only had an hour before we had to meet the guys at a local campus bar. I wasn’t even sure if they were in college or not, but I guess that didn’t matter. I quickly showered and dried my hair, pulling my long, black colored locks into a high ponytail. Giving in, I put on a pair of dark, denim jeans that hugged my hips and a black tank top that was lace.
“What do you think?” Tatum asked as she showed off her outfit. Tatum was beautiful in anything she wore but the sparkly silver top and short jean skirt really showed off her figure. She had legs for days and beautiful blond waves that always looked perfectly styled. I grabbed my purse and cell phone then followed her out the door and to her silver Toyota Camry.
“I think tonight will be fun,” she said with a smile.
“Oh no. What is going on in that pretty little of mind of yours?” I asked as I noticed the glimmer of naughtiness in her eyes.
Smiling even wider, Tatum glanced at me. “Well, I had an idea. You know how you hate Joel?” she asked.
“Yes. My ass hat ex-boyfriend, Joel. I think I remember hating him,” I answered slowly and sarcastically as I wondered where this was heading.
“Well, I had a thought. What if you went out a few times with Jagger? Stay around campus, where its crowded and full of people we all know. You know Joel will see you with him and it will drive Joel insane. He still loves you, I know it. He talks about you at all of the parties and when he see’s you, he can’t help but stare. He just acts like a a cruel jerk because you dumped him and hurt his ego,” she said with a gruff.
“I’m pretty sure you are wrong. Joel broke up with me. I am almost certain he cheated on me,” I said, even though we both knew I never had the evidence. My anxiety had kicked into high gear and I started accusing him of being with other girls. Joel would get so angry and we would fight- screaming at one another and saying horrible things.
“Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. Either way, you have to make him pay,” she said.
Tatum did have a point. But, could I really use someone like that? I hated how nervous I felt when I saw Joel. I hated how I would go into a world of darkness.
The light turned green, and we began driving again. Silence filled the small space between us as I struggled inside on what to say.
“I guess it couldn’t hurt,” I began as I decided to give her little game a try. What could it hurt anyway?
Squealing, Tatum pulled into the parking lot of a campus bar and club.
She threw an arm around my shoulder as we walked through the small parking lot. A bright neon light shone on top of the bar, screaming the name, ‘Wild Things.’ The patio was already packed, and as we got closer, I could hear the thumping of music from a live band playing in the back. We were standing outside in the cool summer air when suddenly a motorcycle revved so loud, I almost had to place my hands over my ears to drown out the sound. A guy wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt sat on top of a chrome goddess. It was a beautiful bike, even if I didn’t know anything about motorcycles. As he straddled the seat, he looked like a dark knight James Dean. I felt myself swoon until I realized who was getting off that bike. Maybe I was wrong, playing a game with Jagger might just hurt me after all.
“Is that...?” I began, but Tatum instantly spotted Freddy getting out of a large Ford truck and she took off toward him. Spotting us, Jagger took one look at Freddy and Tatum and shook his head. He continued walking toward me Sighing, I released a long breath as I almost stopped in my tracks at the sight of Jagger. He was gorgeous in that bad-boy-you-play-with-but-don’t-take-seriously-kind-of-way. It was clear by the way he was completely oblivious to every woman standing in his presence gawking at him and licking their lips, that he had no idea how desirable he really was. He stood with a confidence that made me jealous and as I tried not to stare at him, I could feel my cheeks grow red hot.
The dark hair and light eyes.
The tattoos peaking out from under his shirt sleeves.
The way he commande
d the attention of everyone around him, without he noticing.
Watching him move, I knew right then and there- Jagger would be a force I would have to fight away.
THE BAR, AS USUAL, was packed. When we walked in, Freddy and Isaac spotted a few guys they knew and waved a quick hello before leading us through the packed crowd to a small table near the pool tables and flat screen television.
I watched as Freddy pulled out the chair for Tatum before she sat. Smiling brightly at him, I could tell Tatum was already smittem by him.
Ignoring his friend’s act of chivalry, Jagger sat down next to Freddy and began sorting through the drink menu. I plopped down next to him and grabbed a menu too.
“I need a drink,” I mumbled to mysef. Laughing, Jagger looked over at me with amusemement sparking in his blue eyes.
“I knew I would like you,” he teased.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“A girl that likes to drink. You seem like someone I would like,” he explained, his eyes watching me carefully. The way his eyes lingered on my lips an then slowly moved down my body made me feel like he was drinking me in and doing things to my body that would drive even the naughtiest person wild.
“I’m not a girl many people like,” I remarked with a fake smile.
Tatum glared at me from across the table. I knew she was getting mad at me. I just couldn’t help it, sarcasm was part of my DNA.
“Glad to know,” Jagger smirked, as he began looking through a menu.
Hearing this, Freddy chimed in.
“Don’t worry, not many people like Jagger either. I guess you all have something in common,” he laughed.
Tatum watched the exchange and her eyes lit up like it was the fourth of July. Freddy had just made light of our conversation. I guess I could like him too.
As Jagger and I went back to our menus, Freddy and Tatum were immersed in a conversation as they sat closely, their chairs as far away from Jagger and me as they could get. It was nice seeing Tatum smile like that. I could tell Freddy was winning her over with his charm, and from what I could tell so far, his charm was genuine.