"The class is over."
And then's when Piper lands back on Earth, after spending a whole hour lost in her thoughts. She can barely tell what the lesson was about.
She gathers her stuff, says hello to some of her friends and then starts to walk away from the building. She doesn't know what is keeping her mind off, but she feels so weird in these days. Uncomplete. Unsatisfied. There's nothing wrong in her life. She is taking the right classes, she has got so many friends. She hangs out a lot. She finds some cute guys to have fun with. She even has a nice relationship with her parents.
But she feels...weird. Like something is missing. Like all that perfection isn't enough. She doesn't know what she needs to feel whole.
Back at her appartment, after dropping the bag and jacket on a chair in the room, she jumps on the bed turning on her laptop.
She starts to surf the internet, goes on facebook to see what's up.
Then, she finds this beautiful picture of a tattoo. It's like the most incredible thing she has ever seen.
It's a mandala in black ink, on a woman's collarbone.
She has never been interested in tattoos or piercings but this one completely stole her attention.
She knows that getting a tattoo is a big deal and it's not the answer to her emptiness but all she can think about is how that tattoo would look on her.
Suddenly, she remembers about some cool tattooer in town that everyone talks about so she searches for the address. Once she got it, she is ready to go.
Finding the tattoo store wasn't hard, but going inside, yes, indeed it was. After feeling so sure about getting a tattoo, the moment she found the store, she felt stuck.
Fuck it, she thinks.
She goes inside. Starts to search around for this Alex tattooer. She has in her head an image of him. Like some bald guy with a moustache and arms fully covered by tattoes.
While looking around, she spots a red leather couch, with a small table near it and an ashtray full of cigarettes.
A desk with a laptop, papers, pens and pencils.
Then she spots behind a curtain, a tiny bed, like a doctor's bed.
The store seems empty. But it can't be closed, the door was open.
She starts to think no one is there when she hears some voices coming in the room.
And then, two women appears. One has red hair, not too tall but a nice smile. The other one, well that one is...tall.
A tall brunette with secretary glasses, a beautiful body with some tattooes on her arms.
Very tall, she thinks. The two seem a couple. They share a kiss and then the redhead leaves the store saying bye to the brunette and to Piper.
"Where can I find Alex?" - Piper asks to the brunette who is now looking at her.
"Depends on what you need from Alex." - it's the reply she gets.
"I've heard he's the best tattoer in town and I wanted to ask him advice."
"Then, I think the Alex you're looking for is a she."
"Oh. And where can I find her?" - Piper asks again, almost upset.
"You've found her." - says the tall woman in front of Piper.
"Oh, you're Alex?" - Piper is quite surprised. She expected a bald moustached guy. Not a tall, slim, gorgeous brunette.
"In the flesh." - the brunette says smirking.
"So, what advice do you need?"
"Of course it's a tattoo related advice. Or I wouldn't be here." - Piper starts rambling and the brunette smiles.
"Tell me everything." - and then goes on the couch.
"Sit where you want, kid." - the brunette says to Piper who's still standing.
So she sits next the brunette and starts to show what she wants. Tells her she is pretty scared of getting hurt.
She speaks so much, she doesn't even know why she is giving all these details to a perfect stranger.
She enjoys the way Alex listens to her, never interrumpting her. Nodding to her, laughing a bit when Piper rambles too much.
Comfortable, that's how she feels with this girl.
"You know, Piper, I thought you were one of those kids who asks for dolphin, stars, boyfriend's name. I didn't expect someone like you to ask for something like this."
"You're in good company. My expectations have been failed too." - she thinks again how she had pictured the tattoer to look like.
"What?" - asks Alex confused.
"Never mind. So, can you draw something like this for me? And can I try it before getting it permanently?"
"Like a nice purse?" - Alex asks smiling.
"Yeah! Like a purse! To see if I feel comfortable with it, you know? To see how it looks on me!" - Piper says with a bright smile.
"Ok, let's try something."
After getting up to reach her laptop, printing something, picking a weird pen, the brunette goes back on the couch.
"Strip." - that's what Alex tells suddenly. Piper blushes, and then remembers she has told the woman she wants the tattoo to be on her shoulder. She removes her t-shirt, under the brunette's gaze who is taking a careful look.
"Come closer, I don't bite." - and that's what Piper does. They are a few inches away. The brunette is studying her shoulder, lightly touching it, like it was a canvas.
"It's perfect." - she says, biting her lower lip.
"What?" - Piper asks.
"Your shoulder, your skin. Perfection." - Alex smirks, locking her eyes with the girl sat in front of her. That's when Piper finds out the brunette has some flawless green eyes. Full of confidence, passion and mistery. She feels trapped. In a good way.
"Yeah?"
"Absolutely." - the brunette replies with her sultry voice, still looking into the blonde eyes.
She puts that paper she printed on Piper's shoulder, rubbing it a little. She then removes it, and starts to traces the lines left by the paper.
She guides Piper on the backrest and puts her hand below her shoulder, almost on the blonde's breast.
Piper is captured by the way the brunette is drawing on her body. She likes the way she is super absorbed by the task.
And that hand almost on her breast doesn't even bother her. She is surprised, she quite likes the feeling. She smiles.
Again, comfortable. That's how she is feeling under the brunette's attention.
"I'm already in love." - Piper breaks the silence.
"I know." - that's what Alex says, without looking up at the blonde but smirking. It's like they're not talking about tattoos anymore.
"How am I gonna get it off?" - she asks, just because she wants to hear that voice again, and to feel her breath on her own skin.
"Acetone." - fuck, that voice is doing some crazy shit to Piper's head.
"Done. Do you want a mirror?" - Alex asks, now looking at Piper.
"Yes, please!" - she is quite annoyed by losing Alex's closeness. The brunette comes back with a mirror and then Piper looks in it with the biggest smile ever.
"Oh my God. When can I get it?!" - she is excited. The draw is perfect, she loves it.
"Let me check my agenda." - Alex checks her smartphone.
"Friday at 7pm. Is that okay for you?"
"Yes!" - Alex then gives her smartphone to Piper.
"Your cellphone number, please. And send yourself a text so you have mine." - Piper starts to type and then gives the smartphone to its owner.
"If you can't make it, text me. I'll do the same."
"Ok." - she picks her t-shirt and wears it again. Then gets up from the couch, gathers her stuff.
"So, see you on friday?" - the blonde asks.
"Can't wait." - Alex replies with a smirk.