yo Yo YO! How's it a goin people? Well, heres the next chapter. Okay, just
one thing, there IS a reason to putting in the events of this chapter, and
some of them are just there for fun, but some of them lead to later events.
I know where its going, so just sit back and relax and wait to find out why
the hell I put this "pointless" chapter up. Okay? Sounds good to me. Thanks
Review Responses:
steves-girl: Thanks a ton! Im soo happy you like it. I hope I have updated at a fair speed here, I don't even remember. LOL. Anyway...I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Stephanie: No problem! I love to write this story, it's my favorite right now. Hope I updated quick enough. Have fun! Thanks!
Tensleep: LOL. It was a great chapter, huh? LOL. Thanks to both of y'all. Yeah, I was waiting for someone to catch onto the concussion thing. Steve got it good, hence the headaches, slight confussion, felling like crap overall, nausea, all of it. LOL. Thanks for noticing! I thought Darry was the best in those chapters, but most people didn't think so. But thanks for your support on that. I agree with you, that's the way to be. Well, thanks for all you do Tens! You rock! HAHA, Jhon, I thought of you when I was writing that fight scene between Pony and Steve, I KNEW you would love it. So here's, another chapter. No Pony either. Oh, and Jhon, the name Lenny is just...ugly (for lack of a better word that I can think of right now). Im sorry, but I can't stand it. LOL. Although, it's better than Iggy. I refuse to have a nephew by the name of Iggy, got it? LOL. See ya!
Hairibo: I CAN spell you name! I just choose not to...LOL. Jk. I just did a typo, like I do ALL the time, especially with YOUR name. You know, I really do it on purpose. LOL. wink, wink. Thanks! I hoe you get to read this soon. I never got you to help me at the end, when I needed it, so you better approve, got it? LOL. Have fun!
Erunyauve: I'm so glad you caught on to that! I've always seen it that way. Everything Steve does, the way he acts towards anyone and everyone, the way he seems to hate life and everything about it at times, that all corresponds to his home life in my head. I'm so happy I could convey that to you. Keep reading! Thanks a ton.
DaNNi BaBezZz: thanks for the short review anyway! I love ANY review. Well, you know, Steve had to snap sometime. LOL. Well, I hope your history project went well! Read on!
BLoNdEaThEaRt: Well, SF is updated, so you had that before this one. LOL. Sorry, we are working hard on it all. Thanks so much for your comments! I really appreciate that you feel this is well written. Steve is my favorite new character, mostly because he finally makes sense to me, as weird as that sounds. I am really honored to be on your favs list! Thanks again! Keep reading.
Chapter Dedication: This chapter goes out to someone none of you have met, in fact I haven't even met him. But he is a certain uncle in California that had one hell of a wedding party. It came with belly dancers, snakes, and cross dressers to top it off. No kidding. So, my thanks to him for inspiring me further for this chapter. Wondering what that means? Read on and see. HAHA.
Chapter 3
A few days later things were going a bit better, I guess you could say. At least my concussion was gone, and I had been able to sneak into the house without my father's knowledge once, the other night having stayed at the Curtis home. Now it was a matter of when my father would catch on, or when I finally got sick of being a wuss and went in the front door despite the fact I would probably get it.
I hadn't seen Evie at all since our fight, she avoided me at all costs. Then again, I hadn't gone looking for her as of yet. The last few days had consisted mostly of work and nights out on the ribbon with Soda. He made it a point to not bring up girls, not even Sandy. He seemed to know that I was still hurting. Most of it was that I had no idea where Evie had gotten that idea, and I had blown up at her. I hoped that it was because of the day, the way I felt, but deep down I knew I would have done that anyway. I really was brutal, and it was no longer a mystery to me or anyone else, in fact I was the last to find out apperently.
It was late afternoon by the time Soda came by the DX. He had the day off, his weekly treat, he called it. I didn't mind, I just worked on cars all day, which now days seemed to be the only thing that I liked to do. Even the ribbon had lost its charm, Soda was fun and all, but the charm was gone.
The day had been busy, a lot of broken down cars with old ladies and nice young men pushing them coming in. It wasn't the thing you saw everyday, but once in a while, the lucky old lady got stuck on the wrong side of the tracks, and we were closest. If I couldn't fix it, I called a tow truck, but I could at least check it out first, which I always did. Today was unusual, many such things coming in, and I wondered if Two-Bit was pulling pranks again. Either way, I liked the work, then I couldn't think on other things.
As Soda came striding over to me through the line of pumps at the DX, I was bidding farewell to yet another terrified old lady who thought I would steal from her, or try to kill her for her money. I chuckled as she left and Soda whistled at me as if to say, nice-catch-Steve-!. Good thing he wasn't serious, or I would have knocked his block off.
My shift would end in twenty minutes, not that I really cared. I knew the day would be like very other day, go hang, go home hoping I didn't get in too much trouble, and wait for the morning to come, knowing there would be no sleep in store for me. But all the same, I was getting sick of the scared old fogies around the station and the constant flow of flirting girls who came looking for Soda, found me and decided to settle. Soda sure was a life saver right then.
"What'cha doin', bum?" he called, smiling a quick and charming grin to the girls. They all knew he was taken, but somehow the grin in and of itself was worth all the trouble of hanging around all the time, every day. They all giggled in unison, and went back to talking, hoping for another shot I supposed.
"Working, what did'cha think? Sometimes I think you need to get your head checked. Maybe Dar's right." I tried to insult him. He laughed lightly, and punched me on the shoulder. Good old Soda.
"I meant, what're you planning after you get off, o thou slick one." Soda teased.
Right....
"I haven't decided yet." I said semi distracted at seeing the group of girls over at the pump trying whatever they could to get Soda's and my attention. I started chuckling, and motioned towards them, "Soda, they really are trying hard. Get a load of this."
Soda turned to see the girls looking at him and twirling their gum or hair, having hiked up their skirts more than a few inches and even put on more makeup in the amount of time he wasn't looking. He looked away almost disgusted, as I continued laughing at their futile attempts.
"Next thing you know, they will be tearing off their shirts for you too, Sodapop." I teased.
"Yeah, well it aint like I can look. Sandy would kill me!" he said seriously, but with a small grin.
"Maybe they're new in town. Just ignore them, they'll get sick of it. But they've been waiting all day for you to come."
We both got a kick out of that and started laughing together as we walked into the station to get a Pepsi. It sure was hot out for May, hotter than usual that is.
We spent the rest of my time at the DX caring for customers and trying to keep the girls at bay. They sure wanted us, at least Soda, and a few seemed out for me. They were cute too, but I didn't know what would happen with Evie yet, so I let it be and kept the flirting to a minimum.
When we finally walked away twenty long minutes later, the girls were disappointed at the next guy on shift and left in the other direction after seeing Dally and Two-bit meet up with us. I had no idea what we were doing, but by the way everyone was acting, it was all set out to be a great night.
We grazed down the ribbon, looking for any action that might be around and finding none. Then we worked our way to the rougher area of town, all the hoods hung around there in their spare time; there were a ton of bars and tattoo shops, clubs and pool halls. So that was the place to have fun if the ribbon was boring as hell like it was that night. We didn't go around there much, it being an almost dangerous place with rival gangs and such, if you went there you were looking for a fight, but it was all in the mood. No one seemed to be against it.
We wondered slowly over to the other side of the river, stopping to talk to people and trying to avoid any groups of known socs. We met a lot of people along the way, some of the brumley boys, a few hoods Dally knew from who knew where, and; loe and behold, even Evie's new boyfriend whom she must have desperately sought after for a few hours before flinging herself on him to make me jealous.
He saw me and came towards me in what he thought was a tough manner. At the time I had no idea who he was, but he made it mighty clear right off. He took a look at me, up and down, then at my company, sizing us up I guessed.
"Looking for a gal?" he asked.
"Who the hell are you?" Dal asked from behind me in return. I guess he thought maybe this kid was talking to him. He always had strangers on him, because everyone knew Dal, but he didn't know them back.
He didn't react to Dally, but looked at me and pushed me back a few inches. I didn't do much but wonder what the hell he thought he was doing. I didn't want a fight right then, so I kept my cool as best I could.
"Evie's mine, got it, scum bag?"
"What the hell?" I asked him, not moving.
"Don't even try to get her back, she's mine. Unless you want your gang to find you dead on the side of the street. Get it?"
I shook my head, laughing menacingly. I didn't give a damn about Evie anymore, she was obviously over me or trying to get me back, both of which would make my life extremely easy. I wouldn't go back to her unless she came to me. That just wasn't my style, and she knew it better than me.
"Scram, you fucking idiot!" Dally screamed. I guessed he was fed up, "You see him going after her? God...just leave." He came up from behind me and motioned to the kid. He was pretty disgusted at the whole situation, I didn't know why, but it was Dal, you never know what he's thinking when.
The kid turned around and walked off, giving me one last warning look. I stood there a few seconds and then turned. We went on, I didn't care, and no one else seemed to either.
It wasn't long before we got to the really scummy side of town. I actually didn't mind it there, it was always a fun place to be, but I would never stay there for long.
About fifteen minutes later we strolled into a little tattoo parlor. I guessed then that this was the big plan. We always all went together to get tattoos, that way everyone could play tough and it was a competition in a way. It made it fun to feel the pain, to show off what guts you really got.
Soda stepped over the tiny worn out counter and started looking over the selection they had when a huge women came out of a curtain to the left of it. She she was smoking, her skin was old nad dark and wrinkly, and her triple D sized breasts were nearly pooping out of the old, stretched, leather jacket she wore. It was disgusting, but you normally go that or an old dude with a long beard and a body suit of tattoo armor that he, very unbelievably, tries and succeeds in showing off to his customers. So I stayed, preferring cleavage over an old man.
"Can I help you boys?" Just from her voice, you had to know the lady smoked at least a pack a day if not two or three. It was gruff, and deep, and had that wheeze to it. I would hate to hear her laugh.
Soda looked up, grinning his wild grin. He always got that way when he was overly excited about something or looking for trouble, or after he just won a poker game or something like that. I knew that then he was excited and pleased to be there.
"That depends. We want tattoos....big ones."
The lady started laughing. Did she have to laugh? It really was ugly...really. I spoke up from there, hoping it would stop her from laughing and get things back to business.
"You going to give us tattoos or not, Lady?" I stepped forward and put a little impatient edge in my voice. I wasn't going to listen or look at her any longer than I had to.
She stopped laughing then, turning to me. Thank god!
"Who's first? Pick and Choose, tell me where, hand the dough, and I'll do it."
Well, she was to the point. That was my kind of dealing right there.
I looked over to Soda, "Well? Aint you goin first?" I cocked a brow at him.
"Hell yeah!" His grin expanded and stuck his hand in his pocket to get out the money.
It was a few hours later before we made it out of the tattoo shop, all of us striding triumphantly along with new badges of toughness engraved permanently in our skin. Dally had won the competition, as always, but the rest of us were tied close behind.
I got the largest tattoo of them all, aside from Dally, who never counts on my world's best tattoos and persons with tattoos scale. Surprisingly enough I learned something new from it though: it attracts a very interesting crowd, to say the very least. As I sat clenching my teeth in the competition of lets not show our pain, a lovely, meaning not so lovely, lady came up behind me and started chatting a little too friendly with my tattoo artist.
I looked back up to the lady. She was tall and too skinny, had too much make up on for anyone's own good, she had straggly brown hair done in a 'sexy' due, too much muscle for any good looking women, a strong jaw line, and dark leathery skin coupled with plenty of wrinkles from smoking at least a pack a day by the looks of it. Did I mention the clothes she was wearing; a dress that showed off her shoulders, bright red, heels, a necklace, and earrings. It was really ugly on her, on anyone in my opinion, but especially her.
She really grossed me out, so I looked the other way, flexing my arms to the pain on my back from the needle hitting the same spot too many times. I was disgusted and wanted to get out by then, but at least I was one of the last to go. I looked up to Soda, he had just finished his assessment of the ugly lady as well. He had the most revolted look on his face, one that I hadn't seen in a long time. Dally let out a chuckle, and Two-Bit looked away, holding his tongue.
When Soda looked at me, he started laughing, and I did in turn. At that I got a smack on the shoulder by the tattoo artist, apparently I was moving too much. I scrowled, but stopped my chuckling. It sure was funny though. I suspected the lady to be a cross dresser, a drag queen.
By the time my tattoo was finished, which was about fifteen minutes later, the drag queen had decided to hit on me. At first I laughed, thinking it was a joke, but that when it was only talk. When it turned into a full on physical contact game, I luckily was in a position to get up and leave, swearing at "her" all the way out. Soda and Two-bit found it mightily entertaining, snickering out loud but keeping it down for the looks I was shooting them. They knew better than to push it when my temper was already flared.
Dally followed me outside, lighting up a cigarette. He found it funny to, but he wasn't laughing, just had a satisfied look on his face. He said it wasn't unusual for that to happen in these parts. Yeah, since I didn't already know that, now. I had to laugh about it later, but at the time it was sure humiliating, having a man hit on you. He was practically laying on me, and the artist didn't even care, she seemed too used to seeing it.
Dally and I stood outside the shop for about five more minutes, before the other came out. Two-bit had decided he couldn't outsmart the artist and give her a good run for his money.
That's how Two-bit got his tattoos. He would go in, show them a wad of cash that was either fake or borrowed or stolen or whatever, tell them he wouldn't hand over the money until they were done and the job was the best he had seen, and then when it was finished he would either say it wasn't good enough and pay them less than half of what they asked for (assuming they really DID do a good job in his opinion) and then take off. The other ones he would just start cussing them out and take a dart at it, meaning he gave them a run for HIS money. That's how he put it at least. Of course, you had to go tot the right people to get away with that. They had to be doped up or cool or rough or old or something. Basically, Two-bit had his rating system that no one understood, but he never got caught in the end, at least for that, so we let him be.
We left joking about each other, the pain, the tattoos, the drag queen, and the artist. It sure was a wild time. The tattoo was worth it for me though, it was real tuff looking, just what I needed. We made it to the main strip of barsto hunt out some action. It was going to be a great, long, fun, party filled night; I knew just from the feel in the air there. I was hyped, and so was everyone else.
Review Responses:
steves-girl: Thanks a ton! Im soo happy you like it. I hope I have updated at a fair speed here, I don't even remember. LOL. Anyway...I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Stephanie: No problem! I love to write this story, it's my favorite right now. Hope I updated quick enough. Have fun! Thanks!
Tensleep: LOL. It was a great chapter, huh? LOL. Thanks to both of y'all. Yeah, I was waiting for someone to catch onto the concussion thing. Steve got it good, hence the headaches, slight confussion, felling like crap overall, nausea, all of it. LOL. Thanks for noticing! I thought Darry was the best in those chapters, but most people didn't think so. But thanks for your support on that. I agree with you, that's the way to be. Well, thanks for all you do Tens! You rock! HAHA, Jhon, I thought of you when I was writing that fight scene between Pony and Steve, I KNEW you would love it. So here's, another chapter. No Pony either. Oh, and Jhon, the name Lenny is just...ugly (for lack of a better word that I can think of right now). Im sorry, but I can't stand it. LOL. Although, it's better than Iggy. I refuse to have a nephew by the name of Iggy, got it? LOL. See ya!
Hairibo: I CAN spell you name! I just choose not to...LOL. Jk. I just did a typo, like I do ALL the time, especially with YOUR name. You know, I really do it on purpose. LOL. wink, wink. Thanks! I hoe you get to read this soon. I never got you to help me at the end, when I needed it, so you better approve, got it? LOL. Have fun!
Erunyauve: I'm so glad you caught on to that! I've always seen it that way. Everything Steve does, the way he acts towards anyone and everyone, the way he seems to hate life and everything about it at times, that all corresponds to his home life in my head. I'm so happy I could convey that to you. Keep reading! Thanks a ton.
DaNNi BaBezZz: thanks for the short review anyway! I love ANY review. Well, you know, Steve had to snap sometime. LOL. Well, I hope your history project went well! Read on!
BLoNdEaThEaRt: Well, SF is updated, so you had that before this one. LOL. Sorry, we are working hard on it all. Thanks so much for your comments! I really appreciate that you feel this is well written. Steve is my favorite new character, mostly because he finally makes sense to me, as weird as that sounds. I am really honored to be on your favs list! Thanks again! Keep reading.
Chapter Dedication: This chapter goes out to someone none of you have met, in fact I haven't even met him. But he is a certain uncle in California that had one hell of a wedding party. It came with belly dancers, snakes, and cross dressers to top it off. No kidding. So, my thanks to him for inspiring me further for this chapter. Wondering what that means? Read on and see. HAHA.
Chapter 3
A few days later things were going a bit better, I guess you could say. At least my concussion was gone, and I had been able to sneak into the house without my father's knowledge once, the other night having stayed at the Curtis home. Now it was a matter of when my father would catch on, or when I finally got sick of being a wuss and went in the front door despite the fact I would probably get it.
I hadn't seen Evie at all since our fight, she avoided me at all costs. Then again, I hadn't gone looking for her as of yet. The last few days had consisted mostly of work and nights out on the ribbon with Soda. He made it a point to not bring up girls, not even Sandy. He seemed to know that I was still hurting. Most of it was that I had no idea where Evie had gotten that idea, and I had blown up at her. I hoped that it was because of the day, the way I felt, but deep down I knew I would have done that anyway. I really was brutal, and it was no longer a mystery to me or anyone else, in fact I was the last to find out apperently.
It was late afternoon by the time Soda came by the DX. He had the day off, his weekly treat, he called it. I didn't mind, I just worked on cars all day, which now days seemed to be the only thing that I liked to do. Even the ribbon had lost its charm, Soda was fun and all, but the charm was gone.
The day had been busy, a lot of broken down cars with old ladies and nice young men pushing them coming in. It wasn't the thing you saw everyday, but once in a while, the lucky old lady got stuck on the wrong side of the tracks, and we were closest. If I couldn't fix it, I called a tow truck, but I could at least check it out first, which I always did. Today was unusual, many such things coming in, and I wondered if Two-Bit was pulling pranks again. Either way, I liked the work, then I couldn't think on other things.
As Soda came striding over to me through the line of pumps at the DX, I was bidding farewell to yet another terrified old lady who thought I would steal from her, or try to kill her for her money. I chuckled as she left and Soda whistled at me as if to say, nice-catch-Steve-!. Good thing he wasn't serious, or I would have knocked his block off.
My shift would end in twenty minutes, not that I really cared. I knew the day would be like very other day, go hang, go home hoping I didn't get in too much trouble, and wait for the morning to come, knowing there would be no sleep in store for me. But all the same, I was getting sick of the scared old fogies around the station and the constant flow of flirting girls who came looking for Soda, found me and decided to settle. Soda sure was a life saver right then.
"What'cha doin', bum?" he called, smiling a quick and charming grin to the girls. They all knew he was taken, but somehow the grin in and of itself was worth all the trouble of hanging around all the time, every day. They all giggled in unison, and went back to talking, hoping for another shot I supposed.
"Working, what did'cha think? Sometimes I think you need to get your head checked. Maybe Dar's right." I tried to insult him. He laughed lightly, and punched me on the shoulder. Good old Soda.
"I meant, what're you planning after you get off, o thou slick one." Soda teased.
Right....
"I haven't decided yet." I said semi distracted at seeing the group of girls over at the pump trying whatever they could to get Soda's and my attention. I started chuckling, and motioned towards them, "Soda, they really are trying hard. Get a load of this."
Soda turned to see the girls looking at him and twirling their gum or hair, having hiked up their skirts more than a few inches and even put on more makeup in the amount of time he wasn't looking. He looked away almost disgusted, as I continued laughing at their futile attempts.
"Next thing you know, they will be tearing off their shirts for you too, Sodapop." I teased.
"Yeah, well it aint like I can look. Sandy would kill me!" he said seriously, but with a small grin.
"Maybe they're new in town. Just ignore them, they'll get sick of it. But they've been waiting all day for you to come."
We both got a kick out of that and started laughing together as we walked into the station to get a Pepsi. It sure was hot out for May, hotter than usual that is.
We spent the rest of my time at the DX caring for customers and trying to keep the girls at bay. They sure wanted us, at least Soda, and a few seemed out for me. They were cute too, but I didn't know what would happen with Evie yet, so I let it be and kept the flirting to a minimum.
When we finally walked away twenty long minutes later, the girls were disappointed at the next guy on shift and left in the other direction after seeing Dally and Two-bit meet up with us. I had no idea what we were doing, but by the way everyone was acting, it was all set out to be a great night.
We grazed down the ribbon, looking for any action that might be around and finding none. Then we worked our way to the rougher area of town, all the hoods hung around there in their spare time; there were a ton of bars and tattoo shops, clubs and pool halls. So that was the place to have fun if the ribbon was boring as hell like it was that night. We didn't go around there much, it being an almost dangerous place with rival gangs and such, if you went there you were looking for a fight, but it was all in the mood. No one seemed to be against it.
We wondered slowly over to the other side of the river, stopping to talk to people and trying to avoid any groups of known socs. We met a lot of people along the way, some of the brumley boys, a few hoods Dally knew from who knew where, and; loe and behold, even Evie's new boyfriend whom she must have desperately sought after for a few hours before flinging herself on him to make me jealous.
He saw me and came towards me in what he thought was a tough manner. At the time I had no idea who he was, but he made it mighty clear right off. He took a look at me, up and down, then at my company, sizing us up I guessed.
"Looking for a gal?" he asked.
"Who the hell are you?" Dal asked from behind me in return. I guess he thought maybe this kid was talking to him. He always had strangers on him, because everyone knew Dal, but he didn't know them back.
He didn't react to Dally, but looked at me and pushed me back a few inches. I didn't do much but wonder what the hell he thought he was doing. I didn't want a fight right then, so I kept my cool as best I could.
"Evie's mine, got it, scum bag?"
"What the hell?" I asked him, not moving.
"Don't even try to get her back, she's mine. Unless you want your gang to find you dead on the side of the street. Get it?"
I shook my head, laughing menacingly. I didn't give a damn about Evie anymore, she was obviously over me or trying to get me back, both of which would make my life extremely easy. I wouldn't go back to her unless she came to me. That just wasn't my style, and she knew it better than me.
"Scram, you fucking idiot!" Dally screamed. I guessed he was fed up, "You see him going after her? God...just leave." He came up from behind me and motioned to the kid. He was pretty disgusted at the whole situation, I didn't know why, but it was Dal, you never know what he's thinking when.
The kid turned around and walked off, giving me one last warning look. I stood there a few seconds and then turned. We went on, I didn't care, and no one else seemed to either.
It wasn't long before we got to the really scummy side of town. I actually didn't mind it there, it was always a fun place to be, but I would never stay there for long.
About fifteen minutes later we strolled into a little tattoo parlor. I guessed then that this was the big plan. We always all went together to get tattoos, that way everyone could play tough and it was a competition in a way. It made it fun to feel the pain, to show off what guts you really got.
Soda stepped over the tiny worn out counter and started looking over the selection they had when a huge women came out of a curtain to the left of it. She she was smoking, her skin was old nad dark and wrinkly, and her triple D sized breasts were nearly pooping out of the old, stretched, leather jacket she wore. It was disgusting, but you normally go that or an old dude with a long beard and a body suit of tattoo armor that he, very unbelievably, tries and succeeds in showing off to his customers. So I stayed, preferring cleavage over an old man.
"Can I help you boys?" Just from her voice, you had to know the lady smoked at least a pack a day if not two or three. It was gruff, and deep, and had that wheeze to it. I would hate to hear her laugh.
Soda looked up, grinning his wild grin. He always got that way when he was overly excited about something or looking for trouble, or after he just won a poker game or something like that. I knew that then he was excited and pleased to be there.
"That depends. We want tattoos....big ones."
The lady started laughing. Did she have to laugh? It really was ugly...really. I spoke up from there, hoping it would stop her from laughing and get things back to business.
"You going to give us tattoos or not, Lady?" I stepped forward and put a little impatient edge in my voice. I wasn't going to listen or look at her any longer than I had to.
She stopped laughing then, turning to me. Thank god!
"Who's first? Pick and Choose, tell me where, hand the dough, and I'll do it."
Well, she was to the point. That was my kind of dealing right there.
I looked over to Soda, "Well? Aint you goin first?" I cocked a brow at him.
"Hell yeah!" His grin expanded and stuck his hand in his pocket to get out the money.
It was a few hours later before we made it out of the tattoo shop, all of us striding triumphantly along with new badges of toughness engraved permanently in our skin. Dally had won the competition, as always, but the rest of us were tied close behind.
I got the largest tattoo of them all, aside from Dally, who never counts on my world's best tattoos and persons with tattoos scale. Surprisingly enough I learned something new from it though: it attracts a very interesting crowd, to say the very least. As I sat clenching my teeth in the competition of lets not show our pain, a lovely, meaning not so lovely, lady came up behind me and started chatting a little too friendly with my tattoo artist.
I looked back up to the lady. She was tall and too skinny, had too much make up on for anyone's own good, she had straggly brown hair done in a 'sexy' due, too much muscle for any good looking women, a strong jaw line, and dark leathery skin coupled with plenty of wrinkles from smoking at least a pack a day by the looks of it. Did I mention the clothes she was wearing; a dress that showed off her shoulders, bright red, heels, a necklace, and earrings. It was really ugly on her, on anyone in my opinion, but especially her.
She really grossed me out, so I looked the other way, flexing my arms to the pain on my back from the needle hitting the same spot too many times. I was disgusted and wanted to get out by then, but at least I was one of the last to go. I looked up to Soda, he had just finished his assessment of the ugly lady as well. He had the most revolted look on his face, one that I hadn't seen in a long time. Dally let out a chuckle, and Two-Bit looked away, holding his tongue.
When Soda looked at me, he started laughing, and I did in turn. At that I got a smack on the shoulder by the tattoo artist, apparently I was moving too much. I scrowled, but stopped my chuckling. It sure was funny though. I suspected the lady to be a cross dresser, a drag queen.
By the time my tattoo was finished, which was about fifteen minutes later, the drag queen had decided to hit on me. At first I laughed, thinking it was a joke, but that when it was only talk. When it turned into a full on physical contact game, I luckily was in a position to get up and leave, swearing at "her" all the way out. Soda and Two-bit found it mightily entertaining, snickering out loud but keeping it down for the looks I was shooting them. They knew better than to push it when my temper was already flared.
Dally followed me outside, lighting up a cigarette. He found it funny to, but he wasn't laughing, just had a satisfied look on his face. He said it wasn't unusual for that to happen in these parts. Yeah, since I didn't already know that, now. I had to laugh about it later, but at the time it was sure humiliating, having a man hit on you. He was practically laying on me, and the artist didn't even care, she seemed too used to seeing it.
Dally and I stood outside the shop for about five more minutes, before the other came out. Two-bit had decided he couldn't outsmart the artist and give her a good run for his money.
That's how Two-bit got his tattoos. He would go in, show them a wad of cash that was either fake or borrowed or stolen or whatever, tell them he wouldn't hand over the money until they were done and the job was the best he had seen, and then when it was finished he would either say it wasn't good enough and pay them less than half of what they asked for (assuming they really DID do a good job in his opinion) and then take off. The other ones he would just start cussing them out and take a dart at it, meaning he gave them a run for HIS money. That's how he put it at least. Of course, you had to go tot the right people to get away with that. They had to be doped up or cool or rough or old or something. Basically, Two-bit had his rating system that no one understood, but he never got caught in the end, at least for that, so we let him be.
We left joking about each other, the pain, the tattoos, the drag queen, and the artist. It sure was a wild time. The tattoo was worth it for me though, it was real tuff looking, just what I needed. We made it to the main strip of barsto hunt out some action. It was going to be a great, long, fun, party filled night; I knew just from the feel in the air there. I was hyped, and so was everyone else.