Chapter 20

Sparks Fly and Tempers Flare

I floored it and me and Chris crossed in the air and each did a can-can on opposite sides of our bikes. Jon lined up and did his back flip with us all going behind him doing one of our own. The pit was enormous and there were several cameras around getting all the action. This continued for two days of heavy dusk until dawn. We had little rest but nobody cared. Doing what you love all day gives you an awesome wary feeling. The guys were a great group and they treated me pretty good. We worked together really well. We finally had a day to ourselves and I chose to go to the dunes. A couple of the guys were down there. While we were taking a break my cell started to ring. I hadn't heard from anyone while being here.

"Hello?"

"Hi. First show's tomorrow how's it going?" Carey asked.

"Good this is our first day off."

"You're on your bike aren't you?" I told him yes and he sounded frustrated. "You need a break. You should party tonight. Let go and do something fun."

"You really shouldn't be lecturing me on working too hard Carey."

"Just do me a favor and go out and do something tonight."

"I will." I promised him. "How's everything at the shop?"

"The usual. The shop may go under. Tomorrow I have a fashion show that Thomas and me have to go to. Magic is the perfect place to advertise." We talked for a few more minutes and I headed back to the hotel. I kept true to my promise and went out to a club for an hour or so. A couple guys from practice were there so I sat with them.

"So do you think you'll be cool to tattoo tomorrow?" Thomas just nodded and walked out of the back room and headed outside to wait for Carey. All Thomas has done lately is mope around. Carey was concerned because he knew what artists were like. They were on the top of the world one-minute and ready to jump off a cliff the next. Thomas was bad for this. He really needs to work on controlling himself Carey thought as he went out to meet Thomas. The day was going to be a long one. Thomas used to be awesome at publicity and advertising but he hasn't been the same person since Shannon left.

Thomas walked away from the group of men. They could talk amongst themselves without him there. He could tell Carey was scowling at his retreating back. Thomas hated these events. Being here meant he wasn't tattooing and that meant he was losing money. Money he couldn't afford to lose. The day crawled by but him and Carey ended up leaving a bit early anyway. They had to work on some inventory back at the shop where Bryan was waiting.

"This right here is a major problem. We can't keep enough of them in our stock." Bryan held up a needle. Thomas shook his head because he knew exactly why they were breaking. He grabs it out of Bryan's hands and shows him and Carey why they keep snapping.

"It's because the dam shop keeps yank on them when their cleaning the fucking things. That's why they keep fucking breaking."

"Thomas just relax man. You don't have to take everything so fucking personally" Carey says. Thomas jumps to his feet.

"Yea. You're right I might as well quit because the dam shop would run so much smoother without me there." The door slams behind him and Carey and Bryan look at each other.

"Jesus Christ man. He fucking acts like the sun isn't even going to rise tomorrow." Carey got up and swore some more and went to the warehouse because he had an important call to make. On the way out he bumped into a stressed out Thomas outside the door.

"Carey I'm sorry man. I'm just wired because I don't have time to tattoo anymore. Things just suck right now."

"Look Thomas you have to find what makes you happy."

"I know what made me happy and she's gone. I can't believe we're not together anymore." He laughed for a second at himself. "I guess even if we were together I'd screw it up." Carey placed a hand on his shoulder and told him to find something constructive to do and he headed to the warehouse.