The plane lands, finally after the longest eight hours of my life. We all scramble off, eager to get to our bags first.
"That a new design?" Jesse asks, nodding in the direction of my sketch pad as we wait at baggage claim.
"No" I say shaking my head "It's just something that I had to draw y'know." Jesse nods in agreement, both of us sharing an understanding that the sudden urge to draw or sketch new things isn't un common for tattooist or artists.
You see, once the idea forms itself in your mind, it spreads. Infesting itself there until all you can think about is how you'd draw it. What lay out you'd use or how you'd use shadowing to give the best effect. Sometimes I find myself painting or sketching at four am.
"It's good though" he comments "Put it out there in the convention and see who wants it! It might even be the winner" he winks.
"Maybe, maybe not" I grin. I'll admit that I'm quite selfish when it comes to my work, sometimes some things just need to be mine.
"She won't" Luke says from behind me "I've seen her paint masterpieces at like 6am! I've told her that she should show case them, even if people don't want them as tattoos maybe she could sell them"
"Maybe I don't want to sell them!" I argue "I'm not a painter, I'm a tattooist. I don't like giving my work away like that. Ever thought that I just paint because I enjoy it?" I snap at him.
I feel my temper flare and before I can do anything about it I find myself almost shouting at him "Why are you even here anyway? This is a convention for tattooists! For Christ sake"
We don't speak to each other again that night. So I'm surprised when I find him ready and waiting to come with me, Jesse and Roxy to the convention the next morning.
"Sorry about yesterday" I manage to spit out, making it clear I am far from sorry "I didn't mean to snap at you like that"
"Its fine don't worry about it" he shrugs "I know you're just nervous" he says sweetly
I feel my eyebrows pull together in confusion, my eyes meeting his "Nervous about what?" I challenge
"That no one will like your work" his face remains the same, but I can see the bitterness flash in his eyes.
"Fuck you!" I spit. Purposely I catch him in the ribs with my heavy kit bag. I storm out of the lobby into the humid air of Seattle and find Roxy and Jesse loading their kit into a cab.
"That bastard is not coming anywhere with us today!" I fume "No way is he ruining this chance for me!" Only then I notice a missing person "Wait, where's-"
"Ben?" Roxy cuts me off "Yeah he's in bed sleeping off his hang over. He claims" she air quotes, rolling her eyes "That its jet lag. But I know he spent ages down in the lobby getting hammered" she says her hand coming to rest on her hip.
"Oh good, so when he wakes up at least he'll have Luke to keep him company" I say as I load my bags into the cab.
"Where to Miss?" The cab driver asks me as I slide into the front passenger seat. I drew the short straw and have to ride shotgun. I can't help but smile at his accent. It sounds so polished and happy and fun. I feel like I'm in a movie.
"Uh, I'm not sure what the place is called exactly" I say watching his face, checking to see that he's understood what I'm saying. Sometimes my accent is so strong people have a hard time understanding what I'm actually saying. "Jesse, what's the place called again?" I ask over my shoulder.
He manages to explain to the cabby where we need to be better than I could.
"Oh my god" Roxy and Jesse repeat so fast it almost sounds like one word "Look at the crowds! And it hasn't even started yet!"
I can't help the nervous butterflies that swarm in my stomach at the sight of so many people. Hauling our bags we make our way over to a crowd of people standing in line at the door. I can't help but feel happy about the opportunity I'm going to have, I suddenly want to tell Luke how amazing it's going to be, to be able to show my work to so many people! That's when I realise he's not here. But somehow I feel that he's not meant to share this moment with me.
"Um, excuse me" Roxy starts as she approaches a group of guys and girls near the very end of the line "Do you know where the artists are supposed to go?"
A tall guy, kind of big in his build turns to face Roxy. He blinks for a moment appearing to be processing what she just said. He's exactly the kind of guy you'd expect to see at an event like this. Now that I look at him properly I see his leather jacket, his curly grey hair half hidden under a bandana of stars and stripe's, his greying goatie and a few metal piercings. His eyes, kid of grey make a quick assessment of the three of us.
"You guys are artists?" his face seems to reverse in its aging as he breaks a smile "Wow that's so cool!" his manner of speech is unusual and it makes me smile.
"Yeah we are" I say "How do we get in? We have to get set up in time"
Before the biker can reply, a young girl ducks underneath a few arms and pushes her way in front of him.
"Hey!" she exclaims "You're Sarah Black! I've seen your work online, it's amazing! I can't believe you're here!"
Well that makes two of us, I think.
The girl is practically beaming. I'm also in shock at how this girl knows me, so my response is delayed.
"Ruth!" the biker guy calls to the slip of a girl "Cut it out will ya, you can fan girl inside! Let these poor guys get their shit together before you hassle them" his grey eyes turn to mine again, smiling he says "Just make your way to the front of the line and show them your passes and they'll let ya in, that's what all the others did! And don't you be worrying about time; we're just here extra early to get in good!"
The three of us thank him and being pushing our way through the crowds of people
"What does that girl mean she's seen my work online" I shoot a look at Jesse and Roxy as we skilfully navigate the crowds
"We might have put some of your work on the convention website" Jesse looks menacing "The hits you had were amazing, people were asking if they could pre-book sittings with you and all sorts! Looks like you're gonna be one busy chick Sar!" He says smugly
Before I can respond I almost slam into the back of some woman
"Shit! I'm sorry!" I call out over my shoulder as I make my way past her, trying to keep up with Roxy and Jesse
Before I realise what's happening there's a chorus of 'hey's!' and 'wait up's!" people being to call my name and try and grab me by the arm
"What the fuck have you done Jesse!" I hiss "You better not have done something you'll live to regret!" I suddenly have visions of naked pictures of me being posted online
"I swear he hasn't done anything horrible Sar" Roxy calls "He literally just posted pictures and videos of your best work!"
"You better not be l-"
I'm suddenly grabbed by the arm and pulled nearly clean off my feet, backwards into the crowd. I shriek in pure shock my arms flailing. I'm righted back on my feet and turned abruptly.
I find myself face to chest with someone wearing a black t-shirt.
"What the actually fuck was that!?" I scream, tilting my head up to get a good look at the assholes face. "You freak, let me go!" I know, not the best was to make a good impression.
His eyes bore into mine and as much as I want to look away I can't. There's power in those eyes, a power strong enough to hold my gaze, a power strong enough to silence the words on my tongue.
Holy fuck. This freak was hot!
"What did you say your name was?" his dark eyebrows furrow in what I can only assume to be intense confusion.
"I didn't say my name was anything!" I shout, despite the sudden awe I find myself in I'm glad a snide remark still manages to find my lips.
He doesn't seem to know how to answer me; we stand there staring at each other in silence until two guys, who I assume to be his younger brothers appear behind him.
"Are you Sarah Black?" One of the younger guys asks
"Yes I am" I say, trying m best to stay calm "And I'm going to be late if you don't get out of my way!" I snap glaring at each of them in turn.
"You're an artist?" The same young guy asks
"Yep" I say popping the p "I'm a fucking artist. Now move"
They split apart letting me slip through them towards Jesse and Roxy. I chance a quick glance at them over my shoulder, just as the arm belonging to the guy who first grabbed me snaps forwards capturing my wrist.
This time though when he looks at me, his hard etched face softens as he smiles warmly at me. Strange feelings stir within me, feelings I know I haven't felt with Luke.
"My names Paul" he says, his eyes trained on me.
"Fuck off" I say with a laugh in my voice. Pulling my arm free of his hold, I dash forward.
AN: Please let me know what you think!