The guests started arriving early in the evening. Lita introduced the girls to the array of people and Chloe was amazed at some of the names. There were a number of well-known local tattoo artists, whose names and faces Chloe knew well, but she'd never expected to meet. Most of the crowd was made up of a mix of musicians, artists, writers and of course, predominantly tattooists. Jimmy, Dan and most of the Inker's Art staff were there, looking forward to meeting the young artist whom their co-workers had spoken so much about and whose work they'd all observed. "So, did you like the article?" Dan the editor asked, knowing full-well that she would have.

"Dude, it was amazing," Chloe said above the music. "Thank you so much!"

"Just doing our job," the older man smiled. "That tiger was a real stand-out. There's probably more people talking about your work than you realise. We're enjoying it in the office at least. Nice to have a fresh face to write about!"

"Well I'm totally flattered," Chloe said honestly. "I feel like I should be tattooing 'brought to you by Inker's Art' on my shoulder."

"There'd be a lifetime subscription for you, I'm sure," Dan laughed.

Jimmy greeted Max with a hug, "I can say this now, because I already made a dick of myself before...but you look amazing!"

"Thanks," the brown-haired girl grinned with a flush of embarrassment. "Thought I should try and look the part."

"Well you rock it very well," the other photographer said honestly.

~oOo~

A little later on Lita came over to Chloe, leading a gorgeous brunette girl by the hand. "Last time I was partying at this chick's house, who's band do you think she's playing?" The red-haired girl asked her friend in a very deliberate manner.

"Not my little old band?" the other girl grinned.

"Indeed, my love," Lita laughed and finally included Chloe in the conversation. "Chloe, sweets, this is Dominique, my Stolen Baby."

"No way! I rock your shit all the time," Chloe said enthusiastically. "It's really cool to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, birthday girl," Dominique smiled. "Leets has shown me some of your work. Might have to get a piece myself."

"I...fuck, I don't even know if you're serious, but of course I'd be happy to," Chloe said, a little unsure. "I'll give you the special 'rock-star' rate," she joked.

"What's that, double?" the older girl laughed.

~oOo~

The girls chatted for quite a while before Dominique excused herself, seeing someone else that she knew who'd just arrived. "We might have to tear up the town next time I'm in Portland," she grinned as she walked away.

"Mad cool chick," Lita said when her friend was out of earshot.

"Yeah, just a bit," Chloe smiled.

"Crazy smart...and funny. You can talk to her for hours and it feels like minutes," the red-haired girl said with a grin. "As you just found out."

Chloe hadn't realised, but almost an hour had passed in what seemed like no time at all. She turned to her lover who was standing quietly beside her, smiling contentedly and sipping on her drink. "How are you, my sweet? You were really quiet."

"Couldn't be happier, love," Max said, her voice slightly tipsy. "Just...between you two and Dominique, I couldn't get a word in! Three forces of nature." The girls all shared a laugh, Lita remembering her words to Chloe, the two younger girls remembering both her and Max saying it.

"I'm going to leave you cats to it for a bit and go do the rounds," Lita smiled, taking a swig of her drink and walking off into the crowd.

"You look fucking gorgeous, Metal Max," the blue-haired girl said, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend's waist.

"Thank you, sweets," Max smiled. She was constantly looking around the room at the sea of beautiful people, often wondering how she could possibly fit in here. Chloe's words were perfectly timed. "These people are all so damn stunning. But I look at you...and you look like you fit in so perfectly. Like you could have been part of this scene for years if you were older. Like you will be for years."

"Oh babe, that's so sweet," Chloe said, kissing her partner. "I heard Jimmy and his not-so-quiet, quiet voice earlier. He was totally right. You're fucking delicious, Max. Don't forget it." Max laughed and returned her kiss.

~oOo~

The girls continued to mingle for a while, Chloe finding that people would gravitate to her throughout the night, wanting to know more about the stunning young artist. She, Max and Lita were speaking with a couple of local tattooists when an eye-catching, heavily inked brunette made a grand entrance. She flitted through the room, greeting most of the people that she passed. When she spied her red-haired friend, she headed straight over to her. "Hey sweetheart," she said loudly, hugging Lita with a smile.

"Really glad you could stop by, babe" Lita smiled.

"Can't stay long. Celebrity lifestyle and all that shit," the brunette said. "I just had to come and meet the amazing Chloe Price." She turned and grinned at the blue-haired girl, extending her hand.

"You're fucking kidding? Kat Von D!" Chloe said in amazement, shaking her hand.

"The one and only," the older girl smiled. "Seriously though, you've done some nice work so far, kid. Lita told me she saw you and straight away knew you were gonna be hot shit. I've learnt over the years that she's a pretty good judge of people." She placed a tattooed arm around Lita's waist with a smile. "And then you go and do that tiger piece. I stopped doubting Lita years ago," she laughed. "You're gonna do alright for yourself." Chloe's mind was racing hearing such praise coming from a person she'd admired for so long. Someone who the tattooist in her looked up to above almost all others. "And your lovely other half, Max, I presume?"

Max shook her hand and smiled, "It's amazing to meet you." She was shocked that the older girl even knew her name.

"Lita told me you were going to do some unspeakable acts to the photography world, like your girlfriend does to tats," Kat grinned. "You two are gonna have some fuckin' fun together."

~oOo~

They spoke for around half an hour before Kat bid them farewell. She quickly and gracefully passed around the room, saying goodbye to all the people she knew before sauntering away. "What the absolute fuck, Lita?" an exasperated Chloe said, staring at her friend.

"You didn't like her?" the red-haired girl asked with a grin.

"I nearly fucking passed out," Chloe said, shoving the older girl playfully. "She's amazing!"

"Good, 'cause she really liked you," the older girl smiled.

"You think?" Chloe asked.

Lita laughed, "Wanna play some poker...kid?"

~oOo~

As the night bled into the early hours of the morning, and then the early hours into late, most of the guests were slowly filtering out. Dominique, Jimmy, another photographer from Inker's Art named Drew and the three girls remained, drinking and talking until the sun rose on the new day. Drew eventually drove his very drunk counterpart home. Jimmy said goodbye to everyone, lingering on Max last of all. "Did...did I ever tell you...tell you how...fucking hot you look? And...and your girlfriend. See? I remember..." he grinned, slurring his words horribly.

"Seriously, time to go, you fucking dick," Drew laughed. "Have you got a bottle of water for Captain Slow?"

Lita laughed back, happy her moniker had stuck. "Good call, man."

"I didn't...fucking...Sat-Nav," Jimmy tried his best to protest.

"Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy," Lita grinned, shaking her head. "You're gonna be so sorry tomorrow, man. But the rest of us always appreciate the laughs, guy." She handed him a bottle of water and pushed him gently in Drew's direction. The older photographer put an arm around the unsteadily wobbling man coming towards him, laughing and saying goodbye to everyone as he wrestled the drunk man away.

~oOo~

"Mind if I crash for a few before I head home, darl'?" Dominique asked a little while later.

"Mi casa, su casa," Lita smiled.

"Thanksh babe...did I...did I ever tell you...how gorjuss you...you are?" the brunette said, playfully mimicking Jimmy's suave exit and causing the girls to burst out laughing.

"And look at you two rock-stars," Lita said to the girlfriends, still sitting on the couch. "Last ones left kickin' it." Both Chloe and Max had paced themselves throughout the night, Chloe being aware that she was somewhat the centre of attention, and Max trying desperately not be. "Might be an idea to get some sleep though," the older girl offered. "Don't forget you have to fly home a bit later." The girls had completely forgotten the fact, both so swept up by the party and the guests which had attended it.

"Oh shit!" Max exclaimed, looking at her phone. "In like...seven hours."

The two girls stood up unsteadily, said goodnight to Lita and hurried off to the bedroom.

"You know, you can always book another flight and stay here. Think about it," Lita offered as they walked away.

~oOo~

Max opened the door to their bedroom which was now awash with bright sunlight. Chloe pulled the curtains closed and got undressed, throwing her clothes roughly on the floor and collapsing onto the bed next to her partner who'd already done the same. The girls lay staring at each other, both still buzzing from the alcohol and the party.

"Thanks for all of this, angel," Chloe smiled.

"You can thank Lita for most of it," Max said humbly.

"No, hun, I can thank you," the older girl said. "You know me so perfectly. It must have been hard, trying to plan something but not being able to go out to a bar with me or some shit. So what do you do? Make sure I party with fucking celebrities. Max, I'm fucking living the dream right now...and I'm so in awe of you."

"Oh babe, I'm so glad you're happy," Max said, wrapping herself around her girlfriend. "You're worth it all." She kissed Chloe fervently.

~oOo~

"We're not flying home today, are we?" Chloe sighed a while later, a broad grin across her face.

"Hell no," Max smiled.

Lita received a text message on her phone and read it with a laugh. 'Crashing here tonight, babe. See you in...hours.'