Juilliard or Else

by Reese, Nichele

  We took a cab to Jett Black's Tattoo and Piercing in record time. My hair was still wet from my shower. I refused to let Tucker in the bathroom with me while I got ready and when I was done, I let him shower. I couldn't find a shirt in time, so I just pulled on Tucker's gray hoodie.

  I knew deep down, Tucker and I would have to talk about what Ethan said last night. Of course Tucker had been with other girls. Sharing them turned my stomach, but I focused on my breathing. I focused on Tucker's hand holding mine as we walked in through the front door. First thing I heard was loud buzzing sounds remembering the shop from when Jade got her first tattoo was different in the daytime.

  My phone vibrated in the middle of Tucker's instructions from his clients and what they wanted. I rolled my eyes at the sight of Carol's name showing across my screen.

  "Abigail?"

  "Yes, Carol?" I answered into the phone

  "I need you to meet me for lunch today, the hotel plaza, two o'clock."

  I turned to watch as Tucker leaned over his client to get a better view of his back and the placement of the stencil. The guy approved and lay down on the table; that's when the buzzing sounded. I left the room so Carol didn't question where I was.

  "Why?"

  "Please just meet me." Then she hung up. I grunted, and stuffed my phone back into Tucker's gray hoodie I was wearing. I leaned on the door frame to watch Tucker do what he loves, tattooing. His strong arms rippling from the vibration of the tattoo machine, black gloves on, his hair in his face. He was hot to watch.

  Sometimes, I could even see his tongue pressing on the inside of his cheek, like he was concentrating so hard on not messing up. He never did mess up. His work was so beautiful and real looking. He was that good. Even as just an apprentice, his client list was growing. Jett had to start telling people no because as an apprentice, Tucker could only do so much tattooing. Jett was even considering hiring another tattoo artist because he couldn't keep up.

  "Alright man. You're finished," I watched as Tucker cleaned up the guy's back, wiping it over and over again until only the ink that was left etched in the guy's skin. I walked over to get a better look.

  "What do you think Gabs?" Tucker asked as the guy got up from the table.

  I loved it. There were three black skulls on his back. The biggest skull was in the center, with two smaller one on his shoulder blades. Black swirled smoke was in the back ground, making the skulls pop clear out of the guy's skin. Almost as if the skulls were 3D looking; it was awesome looking. Tucker's work was beautiful. He was so proud to give that person exactly what they wanted. The man then explained that he was the biggest skull and his two daughters were the smaller ones. He kept looking in the mirror and telling Tucker it came out better than what he thought. He also gave Tucker a generous tip and told him he's the only one allowed to touch him with needle and ink. I wanted that; I wanted something from him too. To always remember something I was proud of myself for doing. I knew just the thing too.

  "Tucker." He looked up from cleaning his tattoo machine and putting the ink away.

  "Baby girl," his voice serious.

  "Would you give me a tattoo?" Now that had his full attention.

  "You want a tat? I thought you couldn't get one because of your perfect ballerina body. You got in trouble for having strings out right?" He moved over to the sink and started washing his hands. I know he was trying his best to talk me out of it; he didn't want me to get in trouble. He already felt guilty enough about me not getting the part in Swan Lake

  "What if we pick a spot where it stays hidden?"

  Tucker faced me and crossed his arms. "I'll give you one if you really want one."

  "I do and I want you to do it."

  He pulled out the ink, put new needles on his machine. Now, here I was, lying on my back on the tattoo table. My shirt was up, my jeans unbuttoned, my hip exposed.

  Breathe Abigail. I kept telling myself.

  Could you blame me? Needles were going into my skin for a long amount of time. I'm crazy. Tucker's gloves snapped on his skin as he pulled them on. He poured more ink into the little cups and his machine went off. I jumped at the sound; it seemed nosier now that I was its victim.

  "Okay Gabs, you ready?"

  I let out a big breath through my mouth and nodded.

  "It's not big and shouldn't take long, okay?"

  "Yep."

  "Love you."

  All I could do was smile at him. I loved hearing those words come out of his mouth. He loved me, only me.

  "I love you." I whispered out.

  Then the buzz of the machine started. He stretch and pulled at my skin on my hip. The sting hurt at first, but slowly faded and went completely numb. Jett and Jade came into the little room and watched Tucker work. Jade grabbed my phone and took a picture of my face all scrunched up. She also made a little video.

  "How you feeling Gabs." I held my breath as Jade put the phone right in my face. "Say cheese." She laughed. "Just think, it's like a little souvenir. Never know when you'll want to watch it."

  "Come on you." Jett pulled Jade out of the tiny room of pain.

  I heard a muffled chuckle from Tucker as the buzzing of the machine continued. He pressed harder in some areas and then wiped my skin. He was right, it didn't take long and before I knew it, I was done.

  "Okay baby girl, all done. Sit up slowly and go look in the mirror."

  I stood in front of the mirror stunned as I stared at my hip. It wasn't something big, nothing flashy, but so perfect that it brought tears to my eyes. The script was beautiful and the little surprise he put at the end, it made it that much better.

  It was absolutely beautiful; the ballet slippers he added in gave it just the right touch. Something I would always remember, that I accomplished a dream to be a Juilliard Ballerina. I flung my arms around Tucker's neck.

  "I love it Tucker."

  I walked into the Waldorf Astoria to meet Carol, like I said I would. My hip hurt as my jeans rubbed on it. Tucker placed some gauze and told me how to clean it and should be as good as new in a couple of weeks. My first tattoo. I didn't feel any different, but it will always be something special that I did. Plus, Tucker did it too. That was just a bonus. I found Carol at a table, talking to someone and their back to me. The closer I got I wondered who it was, but didn't have to guess more than three times.

  "Abigail." Carol greeted me in a happy tone that I wasn't used to. The person that was sitting with her was Alex. He stood up, wearing a black suit, white pressed shirt and red tie. His hair was styled just right, spiky and standing up in all the right places, and his teeth were perfectly white and straight as he smiled at me. He was a very good looking guy, but I knew someone that was better and he just marked my body. I giggled to myself at that one.

  "Abigail, nice to see you again." Alex stuck his hand out for me to shake it.

  "Hey there Alex." I greeted back and Carol huffed under her breath. I was in too good of mood to be taking her huffing crap. I was in love with Tucker; we proved it one another twice last night and once today. Nothing was going to ruin my fabulous day.

  We sat, had drinks and talked of nothing that was important. And when I say we talked, I mean Alex and Carol. They chatted like it was no one's business. Carol didn't acknowledge me at all to join the conversation; I didn't care really, and my mind was elsewhere. Thinking about a long brown haired, blue eyed guy that did killer tattoos. My mind slipped to Tucker's hands on my body from the experience, his hands on my hip as he pulled and stretched my skin. Just the thought made my body quiver and I wanted him again. I couldn't get enough; I was addicted to him. I had to go to him. My body craved only him.

  Interrupting their conversation, which they clearly were enjoying without me anyways, I pulled out my phone to check the time. Hoping Tucker will still be at the shop by the time I got back. "I'm sorry, but I have to go." Standing up from the chair.

  "Alright, Abigail sweetie. Remember that Thanksgiving is next week and you are invited
to dinner." Carol said with nothing but a huge grin and sweet baby talk voice.

  What the…This is really getting weird.

  "Okay. Bye." I rushed out of the hotel as if it was up in flames and had to make a quick exit. I took a cab back to Jett's tattoo shop, and Tucker was still there still tattooing. I walked in the crowded waiting room. Some girls that I passed rolled their eyes as I made my way to the back and into Tucker's corner. He was doing a giant back piece on a girl; it was full of flowers, popping with color. It was gorgeous. He stopped long enough to give me a kiss, dip the tip back in the ink then start up again. I was just happy right where I was and that was with Tucker. It felt right to be right here.

  When he was done with his long wait of clients, we grabbed some take out and went back to my place. I tried seeing if Tucker would take me to his, but he just gave me that one look. You know, the one look where the answer is automatically no. Rachel and Jade were curled up together on the couch when we walked in.

  "Hey!" I greeted them, making my way into the kitchen to start getting all the food out.

  "Score! Gabs brought food!" Rachel screamed and came rushing into the kitchen then started pulling out plates. We gathered around the couch to watch whatever Jade and Rachel had on when we walked in. Tucker didn't say a word about the movie they had chosen. He did say if he ever saw this Jacob person in reality, he would tell him that he took his shirt off too much for a vampire movie. Us girls just laughed at him.

  When it was time for bed, I invited Tucker to stay the night. Of course, he's a guy and said yes. We curled up and spooned together.

  His body pressed against my back with an arm draped over me. "Tucker?" I started rubbing his arm and intertwining our fingers together.

  "Yeah." He kissed the back of my neck, cuddling me closer to his body.

  "Thanksgiving is next week. Do you want to come to my parents' house with me?"

  From his movement on the bed, I knew he was sitting up.

  "You want me to come meet your parents?"

  I sat up with him, "Yeah. My dad and Carol." I smiled. Tucker didn't even hesitate to kiss me back down into the soft sheets of my bed.

  I guess that's a yes.

  I paced back and forth in my living room, biting my thumb nail as I waited impatiently for Tucker to get here. I was taking him home to meet my dad and Carol today, on Thanksgiving. My heart felt like it was going to pound right out of my chest as the minutes ticked by.

  I went outside and smoked while waiting. It was becoming a habit, even without Jade, and when Tucker was with me, we both sat outside smoking together. I never pictured myself as a smoker; I didn't ever need to smoke but it's nice to know it's there for comfort. I left the balcony door open so I could hear that soft knock I've been waiting for the last hour. I ran back in, still holding on my cigarette as I answered the door to a very gorgeous Tucker.

  "Breaking your own rule I see." he nodded to the cigarette in my hand.

  "Crap!" I turned and went back outside, taking one more pull from it and then I stubbed it out in the ash tray. I went back into the apartment and stood back in front of Tucker. He looked so good in his outfit he'd chosen to wear. Black pants, black button up shirt, black tie with his black leather jacket—but his shoes were what made me giggle, he was wearing his converse.

  My hand stifled my laughter; he looked like he was dressed to go to a funeral. He placed his hands on my hips to bring me closer to his body and I continued to laugh in my hand.

  "What's so funny?" He smiled

  "You're all in black," he looked down at himself and shrugged.

  "Ah, so?"

  "You look like you're going to a funeral, Tucker."

  He raised a brow, "Maybe your dad will kill me for doing this to his daughter."

  He pulled me to him and kissed me hard on the mouth. So hard that I threw everything I had back into giving him this kiss. Our tongues clashed together while I moaned in his mouth. Tucker's hands moved down to my butt, pressing me closer to him while my hands tangled in his hair. He bit down on my bottom lip and sucked it into his mouth and my body shook at the sensation. I pushed his leather jacket off his shoulders and then loosened his tie, tugging him backwards to the hallway.

  All my nerves about him meeting my dad and Carol were suddenly gone. I had to have him right now.

  "Gabs, were gonna be late," he tried to tell me around my mouth, but I didn't care. I pulled back to look at his face, his lips were swollen from our passionate kisses, his hair that was slicked back was now disheveled and his tie was loose at the knot.

  Reaching down to the edge of my deep plum dress, I pulled on the hem, up and over it went then onto the floor. I stood there in my black lace panties and a matching bra. I was still in my heels and Tucker took a sharp intake of breath at the sight of me, making me smile. He suddenly attacked me, swinging my body over his shoulder and kicking off his shoes in the process. I screamed as he carried me down to my bedroom, smacking my butt in the process. I'm so happy that we are alone. We can be as loud as we want.

  He tossed me on my bed while he removed the rest of his clothes in a rush, then landing on top of me.

  Tucker kissed my worries away. This day was going to be just fine.

  I helped Tucker straighten his tie inside the cab. I could tell he was nervous; he kept on joking that my dad was really going to kill him now for having sex with me before Thanksgiving dinner in his home.

  "Knock it off. Just be the sweet Tucker I know you are," I kept repeating to him, then kissing him.

  Walking in the front doors of my childhood home, nothing has changed since I've been gone. Maybe Carol got some new drapes in the piano room, but that was about it. The smell was the same as always; my heels clicked on the hardwood floor, servants busied themselves as we walked past them. I could hear my father on the phone in his study; I wanted to introduce Tucker to him before Carol. I knew my dad would like him, or so I hoped he would.

  Grabbing Tucker's hand to lead him in the direction of my dad's office, Tucker's steps were beginning to harden the closer we got to the study. Once we were outside the door and before I had a chance to knock on it, Tucker grabbed my hand and turned me towards him. His face was scared; I could even tell and when he spoke to me, his voice shook.

  "Gabs, what if he doesn't like me or approve of us?"

  I tilted my head to the side as his sapphire eyes looked at the ground.

  I placed my finger under his chin, "Hey, don't look down," reminding him what he always told me.

  "Tuck, you have nothing to worry about; he's gonna love you," I cupped his cheek and closed his eyes. "I love you and that's all that matters. We don't need their approval to be together."

  Tucker kissed me, but this kiss didn't turn heated. It was the type of kiss that was more of a comfort kiss. Kisses like this that Tucker gave me after a stressful day of school, or dealing with Carol.

  Oh, Carol.

  My stomach dropped at the thought of Tucker meeting and dealing with her; it made me more nervous than him meeting my dad. We broke apart when I heard my dad say goodbye and hang up the desk phone. I turned back to Tucker, "You ready?" He nodded. I knocked and waited.

  "Come in!"

  We emerged in my dad's office hand in hand. Tucker's hands tightened in mine and all I could do was wince at the slight pain shooting through my fingers as we approached my dad behind his oak desk.

  "Daddy," I squealed out, but I think it came out more like a grunt because my dad looked up in a panic and Tucker's hand loosened.

  "Abigail." He stood up from his desk and made his way around to me, hugging me in a tight bear hug. Tucker had a death grip on me as my dad rubbed my back.

  When he was done, I pulled on Tucker's arm so he would be at my side. "Daddy, this is Tucker. Tucker, this is my dad, David McCall."

  Tucker stuck out his hand ready to shake my dad's hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you sir," Tucker said. Surprisingly, his voice didn't shake at all.

  Waitin
g for my dad to shake his hand, but he ended up clapping Tucker on the shoulder, "Tucker, my boy. Welcome to our home." And he gave Tucker a side hug. I let out a breath; I knew my dad would like him. Now Carol, she's a different story.

  "You taking good care of my daughter?" My dad smiled at him.

  "Yes sir."

  My dad looked over the top of his glasses, "I already like you, because you call me sir, young man." My dad clapped his shoulder a couple more times before he let go.

  "Well, I have a few more things I have to finish up before dinner. Abigail, why don't you go find your mother?"

  I rolled my eyes at his statement of Carol being my mother. I showed Tucker around the rest of the house instead. He whistled in amazement every time we entered a different room, one being bigger than the next. I showed him my old room, which still screamed baby girl so I didn't linger in there for very long. We ended up in my old ballet studio; I was trying everything I could to keep Carol and Tucker away from each other, which was silly—I knew he could handle her if she got mean or something—but I couldn't handle her talking to him as if he were completely different from our family.

  "This is your studio?"

  I nodded, "Yep, it was a Christmas present to have it added onto the house."

  He whistled as he walked up to my barre. I watched his face reflect in the mirror as he looked around. "Some present to give someone."

  I shrugged, "Meh, I guess. It's always something big with Carol."

  His eyes met mine in the mirror, "Can you dance for me baby girl?"

  I bit my bottom lip and moved over to the stereo to turn on some classical music. He loved when I would dance for him; he always said how much it relaxed him as I moved quietly across the floor on my toes.

  I kicked off my heels, stretched my feet and slipped on a pair of old ballet shoes I kept in the corner closest. Tucker cringed at my feet being bent all up as I stretched my toes up on pointe before I started.

  "I can't believe that doesn't hurt you," he turned, leaning against the barre, crossing his arms, just watching me.