You know what? It is what it is...

Cheating. The big scary taboo. No one wants to man-up and acknowledge it for what it is: the centre piece of the damn room. It's standing there, casting shadows over your mind. You can't blame denial and you cannot escape it.

Sooner or later we all do it...

We all cheat.

And there I was - getting absolutely drenched from the sudden downpour. We were outside The Brew after closing time and her flesh was hot against my skin while the cool bricks dug into my back...

But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself here.

It all started with a phone call...

Xx...xX

"Hey babes!" I was accustomed to Shay dropping in at the studio from time to time when she's on her way past. My day job was at The Inky Needle (The Tin for short), a tattoo studio in a grunge meet steampunk style, situated in a bit of a hipster haven of a neighborhood. It was a dream come true when I got accepted to join the crew and start my apprenticeship, as the studio was well known and popular around the whole of town.

Just as I shared my night-time job with my best friend Rachel, I share my day job with my other best friend, Brian. Brian was a beautiful oddity: a wise and gentle soul, wrapped up in child-like delight and encased in a chiseled and tattooed body, that also preferred other chiseled and tattooed bodies, sexually.

"Damnit Shay, what's with you being in here breaking my concentration again?" Brian snapped playfully at Shay.

"Like it matters, dude. You're probably just inking your junk again." Shay lobbied right back at him, picking up their usual banter with ease.

"Guys, some of us are actually trying to work here..." I stopped my gun and glanced up as I gently wiped the mandala I was busy with. I sent Shay a kiss and went back to the lines I had to finish.

Some twenty minutes later I was having a cigarette outside on the patio with Shay's arms wrapped around my neck. She's been weirdly affectionate as of late, which is something rather out of character for her.

It made me worry. Especially when my own affections lay with a girl I've barely even touched.

"So, I was thinking... " Shay purred into my ear, "Maybe you could get off a little early today... You know, to come home and... Get off." She giggled like a naughty school girl and it caused the hair on my arms to stand on end.

The sensation was confusing. There was arousal, sure, but there was also a distinct hint of disdain.

It was a terrible word to use in conjunction with my girlfriend. Perhaps I was using it with referral to my own true desires.

My true desires did not involve Shay.

"McCullers!" Brian called from just inside the glass sliding doors that entered into the studio, holding up the receiver to indicate that I have a call.

Saved by the bell.

After untangling myself from Shay with an apologetic look, I skipped off and flicked my smoke in the ashtray on the coffee table on my way inside to take the phone from Brian.

"Paige speaking."

"Hey, it's me." Her voice reverberated through the line and caused my body to tremble inadvertently.

"Oh, hey... You... " I faltered and glanced towards Shay, unsure whether I should be transparent about who I was talking to. I had no actual reason to feel guilty, but I was feeling guilty none the less.

"I'm sorry for seeming impatient, but it's been a few days and I'm still waiting for your call." I could hear the smile in her voice and it made my heart trip all over itself.

"My call...?" I repeat stupidly and swallow hard.

"About booking that tattoo?" Her tone climbed an octave higher. She suddenly sounded so uncertain.

"Oh yeah, of course! Hang on, let me grab my diary!" I was sure the excitement was clear in my voice.

I was excited. But the truth is that I was also terrified, which was exactly the reason why I hadn't contacted her. I knew the tattoo would take at least a good five or six hours and the thought of my hands on Emily's skin for that long... Yeah.

"Okay, I can fit you in... Friday afternoon. How does that sound?" I held my pen ready, hovered above the page, anxiously waiting for her confirmation.

"I'm supposed to have Script Writing, but I'm already ahead in my project, so I'm in." She now sounded excited, a certain exuberance emanating from her voice.

"But," she added a hesitant second later, "that means I still have to wait three days before I can see you again..." Her voice grew low and timid and my stomach dropped right with it.

There it was.

Temptation, staring me in the face like a snorting bull.

"Coffee." I spat out quickly, confusing myself as well as Emily, indicated by the squeaky sound she responded with.

"I finish work at six. Are you free?" I glanced guiltily back at Shay, keeping my voice low.

"Are you asking me out?" She teased.

"I'm asking whether you'd like to have a conversation and a cup of coffee in the same vicinity at the same time." I tried my best to keep my grin in check.

"Sure. I'll be at The Brew. Meet me there." She agreed with delight, yet maintained a hint of suggestion.

"Okay later. Bye." I whispered and held my bottom lip between my teeth as I leaned slightly on the receiver, now snugly fit back in its retainer.

Sighing deeply, I mentally prepared myself for a few seconds before making my way back to Shay and Brian out on the patio, soaking up some late afternoon sun and bickering like siblings.

"Sorry about that, babe. But to come back to earlier, I can't. I have to work late." I wrapped my arms around her waist as I tried to swallow down my guilt in order to soften the blow for her.

"But you've got no bookings scheduled." Brian popped up obliviously, making me clench my jaw as I shot daggers at him.

"Yeah, that was the guy who canceled. Begged me to keep our booking last second." I cocked my head at my friend before turning my gaze to Shay, forcing my eyes to soften.

The sharp glint in Brian's eye that I could see right before I turned away told me that he caught on.

"Aww fine, but you owe me..." Shay leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, then another and held it a little longer. I breathed her in, but it felt like I was about to choke on the air infiltrating my senses.

It was all so familiar, yet now it felt wrong somehow.

I was going to go to hell.

Shay left and we wrapped up not too long after. I was busy packing my sling bag when I could feel Brian's eyes drilling into my skull.

"Just say it." I grumbled after glancing at him briefly.

"You lied to your girlfriend." He arched a brow at me.

"Captain Obvious, everyone." I got snappy when I felt defensive. And Brian knew it.

He smirked in amusement. "What's her name?"

"Why do you assume that?" I scowled at him in return.

"I'm the one who answered the phone, remember?" He was clearly very pleased with himself.

"She's just a friend and we're just having coffee. I need a bit of a breather away from Shay. She's been a bit... "

"Clingy, I've noticed. But P, you do realize it's probably because her instincts are warning her that something is up."

I sighed deeply, knowing that he was right.

"I just need some time to figure it out." I shrugged in agitation as I slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Paige." The tone of his voice made me stop and turn towards him. His voice insisted. "Don't be a dick. It doesn't look good on you."

I simply stared and swallowed, then nodded and walked out the door.

Yep. Definitely going to hell.

Xx...xX

Her scent infiltrating my nostrils was sweet and wet as her warm tongue rolled into my mouth, cool rain water rolling down her faces and mingling with the kiss. It took a second for my rational mind to kick in, but when it did, I realized that I was indeed there.

I had just entered hell.