This story is the sequel to "Keeping Secrets"... Which is the sequel to "Country Mouse, City Mouse". Start from the beginning :) I hope you enjoy! Leave me some feedback if you do!
Part 1
"I can't believe your wedding is only a month away," Jenn said as she flipped through a bridal magazine at Ravyn's kitchen table.
"I'm more excited about your birthday tomorrow!" Ravyn laughed. "It's about time you got tattooed!"
"I'm a little nervous," Jenn admitted.
"Don't be," Ravyn told her. "It's not that bad. And you still haven't even told me what you're getting."
Jenn blushed. "It's a surprise! No one can know but Shane," Jenn said referring to Shannon's head tattoo artist at the shop.
"You're killing me," Ravyn joked. "What are we doing after the shop?"
Jenn thought for a moment. "What about bowling? We're all really bad so we can't be embarrassed!"
"I'm proud of how badly I bowl!" Ravyn laughed. "Good plan, drinks and bowling it is!"
"Alright friend," Jenn said standing up. "I have to go finish up some stuff at the office. I'll see you at the shop tomorrow."
"I can't wait!" Ravyn said as she walked her friend to the door.
Ravyn worked on her wedding plans until Shannon got home from the Gas Chamber a few hours later. He came in to find her still at the table, doodling in her notebook. He walked up behind her and rested his chin on top of her head to look at her plans. He laughed when he saw that there were no plans, just sketches.
"What are you wearing for the wedding?" she asked tapping her pen on the table.
"Shorts and a straw hat," he joked.
She giggled at the mental image. "You're ridiculous," she said shaking her head. "Do we at least have a color theme?"
"I like black," he shrugged.
She kissed his cheek, "How do you feel about grey and purple?"
"Perfect," he nodded. "Now that we have that settled, let's go sit in the hot tub."
They went and got changed, leaving the empty book of plans on the table. The hot tub was exactly what they both needed. Shannon lounged up against the wall with Ravyn in his arms. He softly kissed her neck and worked his way up to her earlobe. She shivered as he took it between his teeth and gently pulled. She spun around to straddle his legs and face him. He smirked, knowing he was making her crazy. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. It didn't take long for them to end up back in their bedroom.
*****
Shannon pushed a chunk of hair out of Ravyn's face as they got dressed after their post-gym shower the next morning. She looked up and kissed him before pushing him onto the bed and running out of the room. He got up quickly and chased after her. She ran into the livingroom and leapt over the couch, laying on the seat to hid behind the back cushions. He pretended like he didn't know where she was and tossed a pillow at her. A moment later it came flying back at him. He hurdled the couch to pin her to the cushions. He started tickling her until she managed to squirm free.
She was almost out of breath, "If we don't go open the shop Jenn will be pissed."
"It's my shop," he laughed. "I can open it when I want to!"
Ravyn tapped her chin, "Well played, sir."
He stood up grinning and kissed her before agreeing that they had to leave. She held up the keys to the Hummer and they were on their way to the shop. She was so happy to have moved back to North Carolina. Meeting Shannon was the best thing that had ever happened to her. And it was an added bonus that he was already friends with her brother and best friend. A few minutes later they pulled into the strip mall where Gas Chamber Ink was located. Shannon unlocked the doors and they worked on setting up for the day. An hour later Shane Watkins appeared. He waved to them as he headed to his station to finish Jenn's stencil. Ravyn tried to sneak a look at it, but Shane shooed her away. Jenn and Jeff arrived not long after Shane.
"Happy Birthday, friend!" Ravyn said hugging Jenn. "You ready?"
Jenn nodded nervously, "Yup. Let's do it."
As Jenn settled into the booth with Shane, Ravyn and Jeff argued about who was better at pinball. The tattoo machine started up and Jeff challenged Ravyn to a pinball contest. Never one to back down from a challenge, especially from Jeff, Ravyn agreed. Jenn tried hard not to laugh while the two of them argued over the pinball machine. By the time Jenn was finished Jeff had almost tied Ravyn's high score.
"Jenn, it's so cute!" Ravyn squealed, causing Jeff to look away from his game, losing the ball.
"You think so?" Jenn grinned. She stood up and used the hand mirror to look at the four pink stars on her shoulder. Each a different size, all outlined in black.
"Really," Ravyn promised. "It's perfect."
The guys all agreed that it was the perfect first tattoo for Jenn. Jeff kissed her softly after admiring her new piece of art. Then he looked over at Ravyn, "That wasn't fair. You distracted me from beating you!"
"No way, Hardy," Ravyn scoffed. "Why don't you just accept that I'm the pinball master."
"Only because I was distracted," Jeff argued. "I demand a rematch!"
"You'll just lose again," Ravyn bragged.
"He probably will," Chad smirked as he walked into the shop. "But I won't."
"Prove it then," Ravyn said with hands on her hips.
And Chad did. The entire shop watched in amazement as Chad not only beat Ravyn's score, but obliterated it. "Told you, Princess," he boasted. "Now, if you don't mind, I've got some work to do." Chad walked away like it was no big deal as Ravyn and Jeff's jaws hung at the score. They agreed that neither of them could beat Chad's score and headed off on their next adventure.
The two couples headed off for a competitive round of miniature golf and then dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Shane and Matt joined them at the bowling alley around eleven o'clock that night. Shane brought his girlfriend Talia and Matt brought the new girl that he was seeing, Sarah. The eight of them tucked themselves into the darkest corner of the bowling alley to avoid being bombarded by the boys' fans. A DJ began playing music as the overhead neon lights dimmed and were replaced with black lights. The group was already well into a few rounds of drinks, and as the night wore on more drinking occurred. Jeff and Shane were the only ones staying sober. Jenn and Ravyn were laughing with Talia as Matt and Shane fought over something silly. Sarah walked back from taking her turn and hung herself off of Matt, giggling drunkly. Matt smirked and brushed her off as he went to go bowl his turn. The three girls watched as Sarah left to go to the bathroom.
"She's kind of annoying," Ravyn said bluntly.
"Really annoying,"Jenn concurred.
"Oh man. I hope you guys didn't used to talk about me like this," Talia laughed.
"You couldn't even try to be that annoying," Jenn promised her.
Ravyn smiled, "Besides, you're dating my brother. You have to be pretty special to put up with all that nonsense."
Talia grinned, loving that she was part of their little group. Shannon walked up and wrapped his arms around Ravyn's waist, kissing her cheek. "I'm going to get drinks," he informed them. "Refills?" The girls nodded and watched him walk towards the bar.
"I'm so glad you guys aren't having a traditional wedding," Talia said.
"We aren't really traditional people," Ravyn grinned. "What are you guys coming as?"
"I think Shane's got me wrapped up in some super hero gimmick," Talia smiled.
"Jeff is doing Doctor Horrible," Jenn started. "I think I'm going to be Penny."
Ravyn nodded, happy that everyone was going to dress up. Jenn turned to look towards the bar where people were getting loud. The other girls followed her gaze to where Shannon was standing stock still holding two pitchers of beer high in the air. He shot Ravyn a panicked look as Sarah draped one arm over his shoulder and ran her other hand up his chest. Shannon tried to side step around her but she remained attached to him. Ravyn's eyes filled with rage, but before she could do anything Talia stepped in front of her. She tapped Shane's shoulder and clued him in to what was going on. He quickly made his way over to pry Sarah off of Shannon and was followed closely by Matt. Shannon and Shane returned to the group while Matt took Sarah outside. Shannon sat down between Ravyn and Jenn, looking completely shocked at what had just happened. Ravyn crawled into his lap possessively. He wrapped his arms around her, obviously nervous.
"I can't wait until Matt dumps her,"Jeff spoke up. "She's such a rat."
"Obviously," Ravyn huffed as she slid an arm around Shannon's neck. "She's lucky I didn't get there before Shane."
"So you guys know that wasn't my idea right?" Shannon was still worried.
The girls nodded. "I wish she wasn't going to be at the wedding," Ravyn stated.
"Too bad it's at Matt's," Jenn said what everyone else was thinking.
"If she starts shit we can just drown her in the hot tub," Talia suggested.
They watched Matt walk back in the front door of the alley. He came over the them and apologized. "I'm really sorry about that guys," he said sincerely. "We're going to catch a cab home."
No one was really sad that they were leaving. Sarah had made them all uncomfortable. But once the two of them left the night picked up. They ended up having a bowling battle of the sexes. Which the boys only won because Shane could bowl better than the rest of them combined. He was the only one out of the group to score over one hundred points. On their last game everyone just goofed off. No one took their own turns. Two or three balls would go flying down the lane at the same time. Shannon slipped and ended up almost halfway down the lane. As he tried to make it back to the group Shane and Jeff fired more balls at his feet, sending the girls into hysterics. Somehow Shannon managed to leap over the balls and remain on his feet. When he finally got back to the group Jeff and Shane double teamed him to take him to the ground. The play fight only lasted for a few moments, then the boys returned to their women. Shane and Talia went back to Southern Pines. Jenn and Jeff dropped their friends off before going home themselves.