Sasha spent the next few days in a cheap motel in Reseda, being glad to finally have a shower again and being able to wash her clothes. When Wednesday came around she still didn't find a job and money was becoming tight again. But she really looked forward to seeing Rico again. Somehow she liked that guy. He seemed genuine and she had a feeling that they were more alike than meets the eye. So when she got off her board in front of the studio, she couldn't feel a smile forming in the left corner of her lip. It was the first one in a very long time and it felt good to be excited again.

She stepped inside the building and suddenly heard the strange buzzing of a tattoo gun, accompanied by the smell of hand sanitizer. A bell over the entrance door notified the owner of her arrival. She heard the buzzing stop for a second and a familiar voice shouted from the back room:

"Hey, sorry I can't come out right now. Will be done here every second. Just make yourself comfortable and I'll be right with you."

Without an answer she puts down her backpack and starts looking around. There are lots of pictures and drawings on the wall, which showcase the artist's work and are supposed to help the customers choose a design. At least that's what she suspects. Especially one drawing of a cut up watermelon drew her didn't even realise that the buzzing had stopped for a while when Rico's voice brought her back from her trance.

"You like it?"

"I love it."

"I could do it for you, if you're interested."

"I'm underage. And still didn't find a job."

After a short silence, where both look at the drawing again, he answers.

"Look, if you don't rat me out, I would still do it. I don't care if you're underaged. I got my first tat when I was just 14 and never regretted it. And as for the money, I could offer you a job. My receptionist and assistant just quit and I need someone new. I might not be able to pay you much but it would be something and I could help you with your drawings when business is slow."
Sasha contemplated for a second and answered:

"Thank you. But I can't. I need enough to find a place to live."

"I noticed you have your packed bag with you again. I know this look. The twigs in your hair from last time, the clothes spilling out of your backpack, I've been through it. At just 12 years old I ran away from my group home and never looked back. I was lucky enough that my mentor took me in and I made myself a promise to do the same, in case I ever meet someone like me. Like I said, I can't offer you much, but there is a couch in the Backroom and like I said, I need the help. What do you say?"

"What are your conditions?"

"No conditions. Just help me out in the shop, go back to school and stay out of trouble. Then I will give you a place to stay."

"Guess that sounds good. Thank you Rico."

A few weeks later the summer is over and her first day at West Valley High is coming around. She and Rico fell into a nice routine. In the morning she got up, cleaned the backroom and prepared everything for Rico's first appointment. After she's done that, she has some time to herself as most clients and walk-ins only come in the afternoon to evening. So, after breakfast she goes out to do some yoga and skate. Around noon she goes grab some lunch from a restaurant around the corner and brings it into the studio where Rico and she eat together. From then on she stays in the parlour and manns the reception while working on her art. Whenever Rico has some time to spare he comes up front and gives her some pointers on technique and composition. He even mentioned teaching her the handling of the tattoo gun. Right now she was working on her own version of the watermelon that she has been looking at every day, ever since she first stepped foot into the studio.

She decided to make it look like it was broken in half right in the middle, with raw edges drawn to fit perfectly into each other. Everything about this motive reminded her of her long lost brother. She missed him more than anything and didn't know where to start looking for him. There was nothing on the internet she could find about him and she never saw the boy from the competition again. So her last hope was that he went to the same school as she did. A single tear fell down and made the pencil wash into a watercolour like stain. She loved the look and got a brush and water to add more and more drops. Right when she deemed her drawing ready, Rico came out and looked at it.

"That's beautiful SashSash. I think we found your first tattoo, what do you say? I have the afternoon off."

"I'd love that, Rico!"

They chose to put it on her wrist. It was the perfect placement for her to always have a reminder of her past, and the man who is brightening her future.