Chapter One
Honey
"Oh, lord. You have got to take a look at my next appointment. I've really lucked out this time. He's gorgeous."
Fili glanced over at his red headed friend, and fellow tattoo-artist, Tauriel. She had just been out into the lobby of the tattoo parlor, to greet her next guest, and now she was beginning to set up her work station with various inks and tattoo guns. Fili knew it was unnecessary to make the poor guy wait while she did so, but she would never miss a chance to brag to Fili about her good looking clientele.
"I'm sure he is," he replied, setting down the book that he had been reading. "And feel free to do all the flirting that you deem necessary, because I'm going to go on break."
Tauriel, with her long red hair, charcoal-lined doe eyes, slender frame, and multitude of tattoos and piercings, was usually able to snag any male that stepped foot into the shop. The problem was that her interest in the men usually dwindled to nothing by the end of her appointment, and she claimed that she was still waiting for Mr. Perfect to step foot through that door. Fili wasn't sure if such a man existed.
She shot him a pout. "You're only leaving so that you don't have to be subjected to my witty and charming conversations."
"Precisely," he nodded, standing up from his chair.
"What if he's horribly boring, though?" she questioned, worriedly. "What if he doesn't talk at all and it's awkward and quiet throughout the entire appointment? I need you here to provide conversation."
"And I don't have anyone booked for another hour and a half," he continued on, as if she hadn't spoken at all. "I'll see you then."
He left their shared work-space before she could say anything more, and made his way up towards the front desk, where Legolas was leaning with his chin sat solemnly on his hand, staring at a boy in the waiting area. Fili gave Tauriel's client a once-over, from his mahogany brown hair to his converse-clad feet, and couldn't help but silently agree with Tauriel about the guy's good looks, before turning to Legolas.
"Don't worry," Fili stated, patting the blonde on his shoulder, pulling him out of whatever thoughts he'd been dwelling on. "She'll come around soon enough."
Legolas sighed, flicking a few platinum locks over his shoulder, an annoyed look still plastered on his flawless face. "It's been eight years. She'll always think of me as just her friend, even if I do somehow convince her that I'm not gay."
Fili couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, which didn't exactly sate his friend's foul mood. Fili had been friends with Tauriel and Legolas since he was a freshman in High School, and the two had always been inseparable, but for the majority of the friendship, Legolas had been pining over the red head, completely head over heels. As far as Fili knew, she was completely oblivious. "Like I said, she'll come around."
Legolas just rolled his eyes.
"Well, I'm going on break," Fili continued. "Do you want anything?"
"Going to the coffee shop?"
"Most likely."
Legolas straightened and sent the waiting brunette one last glare. "I'll take the biggest Vanilla Latte they have, with whipped cream and four extra shots of espresso."
Fili lifted an eyebrow at his friend before running his hands through his hair and pulling his honey-blonde locks back into a ponytail, using a hair tie that had been on his wrist. The tattoo parlor was fairly cool, but one glance told him the same couldn't be said for the summer weather that awaited him outside, and since the coffee shop wasn't too far away, he planned on walking. "Is that it? Sure you don't need some heroin or maybe a small bit of cocaine? I'm sure I could make it happen."
"Ha. Ha. I'm going to need the sugar and caffeine if I want to make it through this day," Legolas retorted.
Fili shook his head, muttering something about white girls, which earned him a small slap to the back of his head as he turned to leave, chuckling all the way to the door. As he left, he gave the brunette one final glance, locking eyes with the boy for a moment, who was staring curiously up at him as he left. The stirring depths of the chestnut brown orbs that he was met with shocked him for a moment, but he just shook his head and pushed through the shop's door, the small bell attached to it tinkling as he did.