Ronan sighed heavily and leaned his head against the wall behind his chair. This was taking forever.
Gansey was currently in the Dean of Admissions' office, making Ronan's case for late registration. It was technically still summer semester, which Gansey opted to stay for, because of course he did, but the fall semester started in a week. It was way too late to be registering for classes, let alone applying to the school. Ronan had already had his interview with the dean, where he actually, really tried, possibly for the first time since his father died.
The door finally opened and Gansey and the dean came out. Ronan stood up.
"Welcome to William and Mary, Mr. Lynch. I expect great things from you," the dean said, shaking Ronan's hand.
"Thank you," Ronan said in a rare show of politeness.
"You can normally register for classes online, but since this is a special circumstance and quite late in the year, you'll have to go to the admissions office and have one of the office workers get you registered. If they have any trouble getting you into any classes, tell them to call me directly. You'll be rooming with Mr. Gansey here. As for you...," he turned to Gansey. "Well, I look forward to beginning construction on our new observatory. I will look out for that donation from your father." With that, he returned to his office.
"A whole observatory?" Ronan asked.
"It's very last minute, so yes." Gansey scrubbed a hand over his face.
"Thanks, man. I mean it."
He smiled wearily and held out his fist for a bump. "You're welcome. Let's get you to the admissions office."
….
"This is a full fucking schedule," Ronan complained.
"Of course it is," Gansey said patiently. "You're starting a year late at a prestigious school. You're not going to be able to slack off here."
"Whatever. I'm enrolled. Are you happy now?"
"Are you?" Gansey threw the question back at him.
"No. Now I have to go home and pack." Ronan reached for his back and Gansey smacked his hand away for the millionth time in the last two days.
"I can help you."
"Don't bother, Matthew said he'd start and I'd bet Declan helped. Eager to be rid of me." Gansey shook his head but didn't argue the point.
"It's no trouble, if we both drive we'll only have to take one trip." Ronan couldn't argue with that. "So do you want a real tour of the campus now that you know where your classes are going to be?" Gansey asked, just barely hiding his excitement.
"I actually have to swing by Cabeswater," Ronan said. "Maybe some other time."
"Oh? What business do you have there?" Gansey raised his eyebrows.
"I have a question."
"What's your question?"
"I have to ask him about itching the tattoo. If there's anything I can use to lessen the itch," Ronan said, thinking on his feet.
"You couldn't just call?" Gansey asked, smiling.
"I lost the card," Ronan shrugged. Then, to get Gansey off his back, "You can come with."
Gansey quickly stopped his teasing and sped up his gait. "I can point out the buildings you'll be in on the way."
They reached the shop half an hour later, mostly because Gansey often got lost in his explanations, and the school and its history was no exception. Ronan practically dragged Gansey off the campus.
When they walked in, they were greeted by a very enthusiastic Noah and a decidedly unenthusiastic Blue. "You guys are back! Caught the tattoo fever, Gansey?" Noah asked.
Gansey laughed. "Maybe a little. But we're not here for another tattoo."
"Oh," Noah deflated a little. "Did one of you have a question?"
"I did," Ronan said. "Is Adam around?"
"Yeah, of course. Let me go get him for you." He scampered away to the back rooms. A minute later Ronan and Gansey heard a sing song voice say, "Adam, your boyfriend is here," followed by a thump and a loud "Ow!". Gansey and Blue grinned at each other and looked at Ronan, who was trying not to show any embarrassment but could feel his face flushing a bit.
Adam came out from the back. Noah followed, pouting and rubbing the back of his head.
"Hey, Ronan, what's up?" Ronan noticed that Adam's ears were slightly pink.
"Not much, just had a question for you," he said nonchalantly.
"Shoot."
"This thing itches like a motherfucker," Ronan jerked his thumb at his back. "Is there something I can put on it? I know you said certain things couldn't go on it."
Adam's eyebrows turned down and then one slowly raised up in silent question. Ronan suddenly felt stupid for coming in instead of just calling like Gansey suggested."Oh. Yeah, you should try to avoid putting much other than the Aquafor and fragrance free lotion on it, but if it's really bad you can try some one percent hydrocortizone on it. That can help with the swelling too. Sorry, I should've told you before you left the other day."
"Don't sweat it." Ronan looked at the other three, who were all swiveling their heads back and forth like they were watching a tennis match. He rolled his eyes. "Well, I guess that's it."
"Okay. Is there a reason you didn't just call?" Adam asked, and Ronan could imagine it as sounding hopeful, but likely that wasn't the case.
Gansey smiled widely at Ronan as if to say, I told you so.
"I lost the card," Ronan repeated the excuse.
"Oh, okay. Here's a new one." He leaned over to the front desk and pulled a card out of its metal holder.
"Thanks, but I don't really use the phone."
"What?"
"I have a cell but I don't use it ever."
"Then why do you have one?"
Ronan was becoming frustrated. "My brothers insist on me carrying one."
"Okay. Couldn't you have just looked it up on the internet?" Adam pushed. Three heads pivoted back to Ronan.
Heat rushed to his face. "I... don't trust the internet," he said lamely. Adam just stared at him. "I wanted to get advice from my actual artist. You did say I could come in if I had a question."
"Okay I guess?" Adam's voice lilted up, making it a question.
"Yeah. So thanks." Ronan stood there awkwardly, not sure what to do. He knew he should leave, but he didn't want to. Plus, Gansey had come all this way with him to see Blue.
"So what do you do here?" Ronan asked Blue, almost rudely. He hated all these eyes on him.
"I'm the piercer," she answered, prickling at his tone.
"I've actually been thinking about getting a piercing," Ronan said.
"Oh? What do you want done?" she asked, interested now.
"I was thinking my tongue." Ronan's eyes flicked to Adam and back. Adam was still staring at him, but now his finger was tapping quickly on the front desk.
"We can do that today-"
Just then, the bell tinkled, announcing another customer. Ronan could almost hear Adam's sigh of relief.
"How can I-"
"I've got it!" Noah cut him off. Adam gave Noah a look, but didn't stop him. Noah took the girl over to his station.
"We can definitely do your tongue today, if you want it," Blue continued.
"Let's do it," Ronan said. He went to the body jewelry case and picked out a simple black ball tongue ring, then he followed Blue to one of the back rooms that was evidently her own work station.
She snapped on a small pair of black latex gloves and laid out her instruments and the ring.
Gansey came wandering in. "Declan is really going to lose it now."
"Good," Ronan said, sitting on the reclining table.
"These are so bad for your teeth."
Ronan shrugged. Gansey shook his head but stopped arguing.
"Okay, stick your tongue out," Blue instructed. Ronan complied. She marked where the ring would go with a blue marker. "Check it out in the mirror."
Ronan examined the mark with a critical eye. It looked like it was perfectly in the middle to him. He turned to Gansey for confirmation.
"Looks good to me," he said. Ronan hopped back on the table.
Blue used a clamp with a hole for the needle to go through to pull Ronan's tongue out just a little farther. Then she grabbed the needle. "Okay, breathe in." Ronan did. "And out." As Ronan exhaled, she poked the needle through. Ronan's eye twitched, but otherwise didn't show any sign of pain. Blue pulled the ring through the hole and twisted the ball on. "All done. You can go look at it."
Ronan stood up and looked in the mirror once again. The black ball rested squarely in the middle of his tongue. "Looks good. How much do I owe you?"
"Thirty." Ronan pulled out his wallet and handed her four ten dollar bills. Blue mimicked tipping her hat to him and followed him out to the front. "Don't use alcoholic mouthwash or drink any alcohol for at least two weeks, preferably four."
"What?" Ronan stopped in his tracks.
"Alcohol dries out the piercing and can stop it healing properly. You have to wait until it's completely healed before you can drink alcohol." Blue crossed her arms.
"You didn't tell me that before I got it!"
"I kind of figured you would already know not to put alcohol on an open wound," she raised her eyebrows in a silent challenge.
That earned a snort from both Gansey and Adam, who had come over to see the new "wound". Ronan stuck his tongue out at Adam so he could examine it.
"Looks good on you," he nodded.
"Thanks." Ronan rubbed the back of his neck.
"Hey, don't rub the tattoo, you'll wreck the lines!" Adam lunged forward and tore Ronan's hand from his neck. Ronan stared at Adam's hand wrapped around his wrist. Ronan marveled at how his hand felt without the latex glove between their skin. He clicked his new tongue ring against the back of his teeth, something he could feel would become habit.
Adam still hadn't released Ronan's wrist. Heat radiated out from the contact and pooled in Ronan's stomach, speeding his heart rate. Ronan hadn't touched or been touched by Adam without gloves or clothes in the way except when they had shook hands two days ago. He was tempted to slide his hand down to be enveloped by Adam's.
Blue cleared her throat. Adam jumped slightly and released Ronan's wrist. Ronan glared at Blue, who was looking particularly smug.
"Want something?" she asked. Ronan opened his mouth to tell her that he wanted her to mind her own damn business, but then he realized she was talking to Gansey. "We can give you a matching one." She gestured at Ronan.
"I don't think so," Gansey laughed. "It wouldn't look as good on me."
"Oh I don't know about that," she said. Gansey blushed a deep red.
"Are you done? We have to go pack my shit," Ronan said, jabbing Gansey's side with his elbow.
Gansey looked at his watch. "Oh, yeah. Yeah we do. If Matthew really already started, we might be able to make it back by tomorrow."
"God, I hope so. I don't need to deal with Declan longer than one night right now," Ronan rolled his eyes.
"Who's Declan?" Adam asked. Ronan didn't think he was imagining the interest in Adam's voice.
"My brother," Ronan answered. "He's a real dickhead."
Adam laughed. "Family trouble is something I understand."
"Who's the dickhead in your family?"
"My father," Adam said shortly. Ronan wanted to pry a little more, but Adam's face said he wouldn't say any more on the subject.
"Well, we better get going," Gansey said after a minute, breaking the awkward silence.
"Right. Next Saturday, Parrish?" Ronan asked for confirmation.
"See you then," Adam nodded.
Ronan and Gansey left the shop.
"So, a tongue ring, huh?"
"Shut the fuck up, Gansey," Ronan replied.
"To the barns?" Gansey asked.
"Unfortunately."
"I think you're going to like William and Mary."
Adam's face flashed in Ronan's mind. "Yeah, I think I might."
