The neon green lights shined in Apollonia's face as she stood on one of the many streets near her home. She clutched her hand bag tightly and was starting to rethink her decision of ditching her friends and walking all the way to this tattoo parlor. Maybe this was a bad idea. She didn't know how her parents felt about tattoos and they might hate it. May she should just head back home and- 'No! I wanted a change and this is what I need! I have a enough money and I am a legal adult. Besides, I already know what I want.' Apollonia took a deep breathe and pulled the parlor's door open. There was no one in the red and black painted lobby but there was a huge secretary desk to her right with a bell on the surface. Ringing the bell about once or twice before she heard someone call out for her to wait. This was it, she was actually going to get a tattoo. On her arm no less. It was twelve thirty and her party was six and a half hours away.

"You have an appointment or just a walk in?"

Apollonia jumped in her skin by the new voice but she managed to keep her composure. She turned and saw a man with a couple tattoos on his bare arms which were shown off by his black t-shirt. He was removing a pair of latex gloves and moved toward the desk.

"Um, just a walk in. How much would a specific tattoo request cost?" Apollonia asked.

"Depends on what you want," he said, not looking up from the desk, "for me it usually takes three to four hours to complete a full tattoo, depending on the size. What were you thinking of getting?"

The Italian girl open her bag and pulled out a printed picture of a sugar skull and handed it to the man. It was a beautiful design and she thought it was perfect. The skull was white with some of the edges printed in a ocean blue color. The eye sockets were covered by cherry blossoms and some pedals of said flower were on the top edges of the jaw, chin and top of the scalp. Lavender swirls were on the forehead and they edged down until they centimeters away from the ridge of the nose. The gums were colored a light orange and two fully grown roses with one leaf on either sides were on both sides of the jaw.

The man looked slightly impressed by the choice. Usually he got girls who wanted something meaningless like the name of their lover or a butterfly, but this was a refreshing change. He gave a slight nod and led Apollonia to one of his colleague's work space.

Oh god it hurt. It hurt like a son of a bitch and whenever she moved her arm it hurt even more. Jesus, she starting to regret her decision. Apollonia finished getting her tattoo two hours ago and the pain beneath the bandages on her left arm was unspeakable. She knew it was going to hurt but she didn't expect it to be like a freshly sharpened knife shredding her skin in an agonizingly slow pace. The only bright side was that she had gotten the tattoo she wanted and now she just needed to face her friends and family. . . ok, so maybe the worst wasn't over. God only knows how they would react. Her parents and sister would probably chew her out and send her to her room like a child. Her brothers, well, knowing them they'd probably poke her bandages to see if it'll hurt or beg to see the tattoo. Becca and Nicole would probably slap the fresh tattoo and call Apollonia a dumbass for either getting it in the first place or for not taking one of them. Victoria and Anna would be shocked with her decision while Elsa would act cool and collected when in reality, would be disappointed or just not like her choice.

'Well, it's too late to undo it, now. I already spent my five hundred dollars.'

Apollonia didn't want to face anyone at the moment to she made a B-line to her room and did her best to cover her arm with the short sleeve of her t-shirt. Luckily she managed to duck behind some curtains and dodge a few people before they could notice her arm.

Taking a deep breath and stepping into her safe haven, she looked over to her clock and saw it was 4:15. 'Crap, where did Becca leave my dress?' She thought, eyes roaming her room. Knowing her friend very well, she most likely put her gown some place where she couldn't easily spot it. 'Maybe it's in my closet.'

It was.

The gown Apollonia picked out was a simple white dress with a single strap over the left shoulder with little black and white rhinestones on the strap. It hugged her torso perfectly with a black beaded belt below her bust and it flowed freely below her hips. Her friends even convinced her to by matching high heels, even though she hasn't worn a single pair in years. It was a very simple, not at all extreme, outfit that she knew her mother would approve of. She slipped the comfortable gown over her head and zipped herself up.

The brunette headed toward her personal bathroom and washed her face before applying very little make up and fixing her hair. 'New age, new hair style.' She thought. Apollonia reached into one drawer and pulled out a brand new curling wand, still in its box, and ripped open the top. Letting it heat up, she started brushing through her hair and eyed her bandage. The tattoo artist did say to leave it for two to seven hours but it was finished three hours before. Not wanting to risk anything, she felt the wraps alone and picked up the curling wand.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Abby! Open the door!"

Becca.

"It is open!" Apollonia said, curling her black locks.

Her energetic friend burst through the door in her own dress. Becca didn't get a gown because she said will, "face plant so much that she will give herself a nose bleed." Apollonia didn't doubt this for a second and helped her best friend pick out a nice dress that ended just above her knee.

Becca stopped at the door frame of the bathroom and stared at her friend. Apollonia felt her intense gaze and stopped her curling. "What?" She asked.

Becca pointed at the bandaged arm. "What the hell is that?"

'Oh shit.' "Uh . . . I cut my arm."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying!"

"Abby I swear to god, if you don't tell me what's on your arm I will call everyone in here to hold you down while I cut those bandages open!" Becca yelled.

Apollonia fell silent. Becca wasn't one to break any promises and she did crazy things, if necessary. Apart of Apollonia wanted to show her but the other half wanted to wait for the right time. She must've taken too much time to think things through because was calling out to their room mates from her door way. Well, she call them by their names she just yelled, "Bitches, get in here!"

'Shit!'

"OK! OK!" Apollonia yelled, "I'll show you!" But it was too late because the girls immediately showed up in her room. 'Jesus, Becca you couldn't wait?' Sighing to herself, Apollonia finished her hair and explained to everyone that she was fine and that Becca was overreacting. When asked why she had a bandaged arm, Apollonia unwrapped it and showed off her tattoo.

Nobody said anything for five excruciating minutes. Apollonia cocked a hip and rested one hand on it. Deciding to break the ice, Apollonia gave a brave smile and asked, "What you think?"

Becca, Victoria and Nicole looked at each other for a few moments before looking back at their room mate and gave her satisfied grins. "Approved." They said.

'Oh my god,' Anna thought, 'why does she look soooo damn sexy?' The redhead didn't realize it but she was practically drooling over Apollonia and her tattoo. Her teal starry eyes grew in size and her mouth was hung open.

Elsa tried to contain her excitement as she saw Apollonia's dress and her sugar skull tattoo. She was surprised that her- no, Apollonia wasn't hers anymore, would even think of getting something permanent on her body. Her perfect curvy- 'Stop it, Elsa!' She needed to get a hold of herself. The blonde was in Apollonia's home with her family, she needed to ignore these urges.

"Girls! The party starts in twenty minutes, have you seen . . ." Marie slowly came to a stop once she saw her youngest daughter dressed in a simple, but elegant white gown. Then she saw the permanent mistake on her arm. "Could you give us a moment? I need to speak with my daughter, alone." Marie's voice was unusually calm. Almost dangerously calm. Knowing what was about happen, the girls rushed out and gave the older woman and her daughter their privacy. Once the door was shut, Marie turned to Apollonia with the coldest glare the young woman had ever seen.

"I'm not going to yell. I'm not even angry, Apollonia," the older woman said, "I just want to know what you were thinking."

'Oh shit! Say something! Say . . . I'm sorry and I promise I'll- wait no. I won't apologize for this. I made this decision to prove to myself that I was growing up and I don't regret this at all!'

"I wanted to grow up." Apollonia straightened her back and held her head high. "I'm in a really messed up place in my head, mom. I hurt people I care about by my own selfish acts and I needed something new, something . . . I don't know, okay? Something different! And if you want to yell at me for that be the 'most disappointed mother' then go ahead, but I don't regret this. So, let me have it." The brunette's hazel eyes were burning as tears threatened to fall.

Marie stood in shock. What did her daughter go through in order to get that? Whatever it was, Apollonia was slowly breaking down and she needed some one to save her. The older woman couldn't stand seeing her child like this so she did the only thing a mother could do in a situation like this. She stepped closer until she was at arms length and wrapped her youngest daughter in all the love she needed. Apollonia was taken back but she was thankful, none the less.

She couldn't do this. She couldn't pretend she was happy, not even at her party. Marie truly went all out for this party. The house's large backyard was covered in round tables with white lavender cloths. Each table had a lit lantern as a center piece and the yard's large gazebo, located in the middle of the land, was covered in white, crisp curtains and tied with lavender streams. Christmas lights were hung from the edges of the gazebo's roof while the other ends were hung from the house and were lit as the night grew older. It was a beautifully decorated party and everyone was enjoying their time. Everyone but the birthday girl.

Apollonia slammed down her drink and stomped over to Elsa, who was talking to Becca, and dragged her inside one of the house's many hallways. The blonde was taken back by the sudden ambush but didn't say anything as she let the brunette lead her to an empty room. An office, it appeared to be. "Elsa, I can't take it anymore," Apollonia said, "I can't keep pretending! I have to tell Anna!"

The blonde felt her eyes widen and heart rate quicken. "No, you can't! She'll be crushed!"

"She deserves to know. I cheated on her with you, her own sister! I have to tell her!"

"Apollonia, I am begging you, do not tell Anna about us."

The brunette scoffed. "What 'us'? Elsa, we had an affair. I don't think that counts as a relationship!"

"Even if it didn't count for you, I still cherished every moment." Elsa stepped closer to Apollonia until their bodies were practically touching. "I don't regret it but I don't want to continue unless I know for sure that I won't be your secret."

Being at such close proximity to the Snow Queen made the brunette's heart flutter and her breathe caught in her throat. She could feel Elsa's cool breathes hit her heated face as she desperately tried to focus on something else. Anything but the tempting lips mere inches away. But Elsa wouldn't have it. She dipped her head and connected her lips to Apollonia's. The kiss was electrifying and it made their knees go weak. Elsa wrapped her arms around the younger woman's waist and backed them up until they hit a wall. Wrapping her arms around Elsa's neck, Apollonia deepened their kiss by tracing her tongue on the blonde's lower lip, which was immediately granted entrance.

This was wrong. They shouldn't be doing this in the office of Apollonia's father. The room held a lot innocent memories of her childhood which was now being filled by not so innocent memories. 'Stop it, stop it, stop it! Jesus Christ, you're still Anna's girlfriend!' The brunette's mind pestered her and she knew this was still wrong and it wasn't fair for anybody. Apollonia placed her hands on Elsa's shoulders and pushed her away. Their labored breathes were the thing heard in the office. They said nothing for the longest time but their eyes never left the other's.

"Anna!" Apollonia called through the crowd of people in her backyard. She spotted the redhead sitting near a table and chatting with Victoria and Nicole. Becca and Elsa were no where in sight so she assumed they were talking. She called out to Anna again, catching the redhead's attention. Apollonia held the girl's hand in her own and led her inside her house.

They needed some place quiet to talk and there were plenty of perfect rooms and spaces for that. Anna smiled her head off and was having a good time at the party. So far she had met many family friends and spent some time with Apollonia's adorable nieces. She was so happy in the moment and didn't even question why her girlfriend had dragged her into an empty guest room.

"Abby, this is such a great party!" Anna gushed. "I haven't had fun like this in such a long time!"

'Well, I'm going to be the biggest bitch in a minute.'

"That's great," the brunette's tone was flat and emotionless. "Glad you're enjoying yourself." She then sat down on the empty bed.

Anna's smile faltered as she saw the way Abby was acting. The redhead sat beside her and cradle Apollonia's hands in hers.

"What's wrong?' Anna asked.

"Everything," Apollonia said, "everything is wrong and I need to you something." Her hazel eyes locked with Anna's teal ones.

"What is it, Abby?"

Apollonia took a deep breathe and swallowed her fears. "I cheated on you."

The redhead released her hands and scooted away. She didn't know how to react. Her heart felt like it was just ripped out of her chest and smashed with a hammer. Her blood raced in her ears and tears prickled at her eyes. Anna broke her gaze with Apollonia and focused on the hard wood floors. She lifted her eyes and forced her herself to look into Apollonia's hazel orbs.

Looking into her eyes and remembering all their good times, Anna didn't want to let her go. This was the first relationship where she felt affection and . . . love.

"Apollonia," Anna said. "I love you."

'No, no you don't. Anna, you deserve so much better.'

Apollonia didn't want to hurt Anna anymore than she did but she said the only she could say in order for Anna to understand. To fully know that they were and never going to make it. She locked eyes with the redhead and said the cruelest thing she could say.

"Love someone else."