"Alright, tough guy, make yourself comfortable while I get this shit ready," making sure everything is sanitized and placing in a new needle, I turn around, "Jesucristo!" I exhale.
Rookie has been long gone and over with. I've had my fair share of bare bodies in my tattooing career. Every now and then there have been mind-numbingly, drool-over-yourself looking bodies. But something about this grungy-looking man has set the bar. Sure, the guy isn't buffed out or working with washboard stomach muscles but he has one hell of a cute butt, one that's on display as he's laid on my pimped out chair.
"Maleene, woo-hoo? Marleene…woman…Beautiful!" shouts the man, loud enough to pull everybody's attention – including mine.
"Wha…what?" I look about at the confused and amused faces, "Back to work, all of you!" While some linger for a moment to send me an array of winks and smirks, all of them turn back to their previous activities, "You have to be so damn loud?"
"Pft, yeah! Your ass looked like you saw a ghost or something…" no ghosts, trust me.
Pretending to be annoyed, "How cute of you…"
"I try."
"Effort's what counts… Are you comfortable so I can get started?"
"As can be. Try not to screw up though, will ya?" he turns around to give me a cheeky grin.
"Alright you cheeky bastard, I have a tattooing gun in my hand. I am armed and equipped. Keep on with those little quips and I'll use it against you," he makes a zipping and throwing away the key gesture causing a snigger out of me. "That's what I thought."
Powering on the gun, I remember the paper that I didn't stencil out. Oh well, fuck it! I gawk at the man's butt once more and begin the session. Punk groans a bit at the ripping of his skin but soon enough relaxes into it.
"You've met the co-workers before?" I ask trying to make small talk.
"Only Blondie and Joanne. Wesley and I were chilling in that upstairs room after he closed up the place. They were cleaning up and well yeah…"
"She hit on you?" I laugh, "You just tell her that you have a girl 'cus you ran out of excuses?"
"Eh, not quite..."
Not quite? What?, "Care to elaborate?"
"I've got a girl waiting on me. Well it's mo- Holy fuck!"
I accidently force the gun to much, "Sorry, sorry!" You've been all over a taken dude?
"It's fine," he murmurs exasperatedly.
"Really, I am sorry," clearing my throat, "This girl, she any cute?"
"Who? Maria? Yeah she's pretty cute. You watch RAW…she was on their Diva's Search Contest."
Great, a motherfuckin' Di – wait I don't care! Wowing, "I do, actually, and that's quite an accolade. She must be a knockout. You meet her at a meet and greet or something?"
He scoffs, "You saying that I can't score someone like her?"
"You're putting words in my mouth, honey. I just asked where y'all met!"
"Interrogating me much?"
Trying to keep from rolling my eyes 'cus after so many rolls, they'll probably stay that way, "No, asswipe, I'm being friendly and trying to hold a decent conversation with you."
"Yeah, right…" he says unconvinced, "I met her during our time in ROH."
"She wrestles? What? That's pretty bad ass."
He mumbles something incoherent before responding, "More like does those pillow-fight things and interviews…she's still training."
Oh…Maria the bubbly ass, honey blonde! Sex on legs…, "Should've brought her 'round! Micks, her, and I could've gotten our nails done, hair done…everything done," ha…ha…ha, yeah right!
"It would've been a rare occasion; she barely has time for me nowadays since she's on the road often. Though, I wouldn't have bothered. She wouldn't like seeing me around you much," he laughs, "Besides, I dropped by unexpectedly, remember? The little sister always whines about my not coming home enough."
"Oh, she's the jealous type? And of course you just had to come through, for her sake." I say sarcastically.
"Not really. She's more of a time bomb. And I just had to like duh!"
I snicker at his response, "Stop, goofy ass."
"Stop, goofy ass," he mimics.
"May I remind you that I am still the one with the gun, I'd be careful."
"Shit, almost forgot," he replies sarcastically.
"You mentioned about being in WWE's developmental territory OVW? I've some names have come out of there."
"Down in Ohio, sweetheart."
Furrowing my brows, "That's at most half a day's drive…"
"You forget that as wrestlers we have to work out on and put on shows. Not as easy as it seems."
Minnie's head is now fully done, not to start on her unraveling bow, "Oh…do you know of Elle's whereabouts? Mackenzie has been so sucked up to be even hit up her line and I haven't seen her since her wedding…two summers ago."
Under my steadying hand, Phil's muscles tense which leads me to believe that the answer will not be pleasant, "Elle…my big sister, Ellie…Elle," he sighs, "She's been committed, well she committed herself, to a psychiatric hospital."
I lift the needle from the green eyed man's body and stand motionless…breathless. My senses come back and I sit back down feeling lightheaded, "Wha…why?" I croak.
"I guess she just broke. She'd had a couple miscarriages and I believe her husband couldn't deal with that anymore…he left. That probably fucked with her psyche as well as childhood traumas," he responds, shallowly breathing.
"Punk, hey, calm done. Calm yourself because I can't continue if you're like this," Who can blame the dude? Not me or anybody who grew up where we did; the place wasn't an ideal place to raise kids. Our side of Lockport was pretty secluded from the rest. Nobody moved there until they were all but dead. We lived amongst lowlifes and bottom-feeders of society.
"I know," he breathes out, "Shit's just so grimy. Her situation, it kills me. She's been there for close to a year and her nurses told me she was making a breakthrough. I go to see her and she cowers away from. She called me 'Dad' with this look of outright fear," he whispers, "I know for a fact she wasn't molested, thank God, but she went through tough shit."
I put a hand on his tense shoulder, "I feel you. Fannie, 'member her? She committed suicide. She…um…ended it all. People had made light of the fact that she was raped by my son of a bitch uncle, Luis," simply retelling the tale makes my heart bleed out and veins grow cold. Fannie was my eldest sister, we hadn't ever been close, but she was 'Mom' to both Caro and me. It's a cruel world.
"Fanny? She was perhaps the most humble, courteous, amiable girl I'd ever met. She tutored me once a upon a time. She was bright as light and sharp as a knife," he sighs, "My condolences, jokes aside, I am truly sorry."
Copping up a sincere smile, "Like you said yesterday, things…they will get better," I remove my hand from his shoulder and move on to change this depressing subject, "Your tattoo is lookin' pretty damn good. I am almost done."
"Really?"
"Only need to unravel the bow and all will be done."
In a matter of minutes I'm done touching up the last of the details I put on ol' Minnie's bow. Only things left is wiping of excess blood and beginning the usual procedure of wrapping. Now that all's done, I pick up my hand mirror and tilt it so Punk can get a clean glance, "How did I do, pretty boy?"
"Hate to admit bit that's a fine piece of work there, Ms. Marleene, I stand corrected."
"And that's why I'm this parlor's queen."
"Calm down, Ms. Arrogance!" he winces as he slides out of the chair, "This shit is gonna be sore for a while, isn't it?" I nod, "Figures. How 'bout I treat you to some fast food?"
I smile at his invitation, internally jumping about but, "I can't, got loads of inking 'head of me, Punk."
He shoots me puppy-dog eyes and I realize that he's where Dom inherited them from, "Fuck work, just for today. I don't know if I'll be around for a next time!"
"I'll make you a deal, since you can't go on without repaying me. You talk to the head honcho and if he's down with letting me off the hook, I'll take you up on the offer."
The man's already heading to Wes's office before I can get a chance to finish. I lounge atop one of my counters enjoying the view.
"Te gusta el white boy, verdad?"
"Jesus Christ!" I exclaim, second's away from toppling off the counter, "Carlos, you fuck face!" I punch his shoulder.
"Hey, hey not my fault you were so busy droolin' over his ass," he titters.
"Psh, no…" he eyes me unconvinced, "That obvious?"
"Considering that I have a sixth sense, yes," I groan, "Don't worry, he's diggin' ya'."
Shaking my head, "I barely know the guys. It's more like instant attraction or some shit. I don't want to be labeled 'slut'. I've just scrambled away from one guy and onto another that's taken…?"
The former gangbanger walks over to sit next to me, "Look, mami, you chicks over-think cada pinche cosa…live a little! You're sexy and now single…embrace it with the motto 'Fuck it'".
"Says our resident Casanova. The man's taken and he lives outta state…"
Carlos brushes his shoulders, "What can I say? I worship women just not for a long time. As for your little dilemma, that's a bumma'! I gotta run though, clientele alert!" meaning a curvy woman who's just wandered in. Of course.
"Soto!" I turn around to see Wesley making his way over with a certain tattooed Jesus.
"Yeah, Bossman?"
"I'm letting you off early…" a spark of glee overcomes me but I lay it off, "As for you, Punk, don't let it be three years 'fore I hear from your usually-grumpy ass, alright."
Punk pulls my boss into a hug, "Fine, since I know how much you'll miss Daddy."
"Shut the fuck up before I decide to go Rocky Balboa on your ass," they both share a laugh and Wes pats Punk's back, "For real though, hit a guy up so we can kick it like the old days."
Phil nods, "Next time, I'll drag Colt when we have some extra play time!"
"You said it," Wes lets go, "Okay, bro, take care of yourself."
"Will do, same goes for you 'cus you getting rusty," Wes frowns and Punk grins cheekily before running over to me and dragging me into a run as well, "Let's go have an adventure!"
ΔΔΔΔ
Purple-ish orange streaks have now taken over the sky announcing that the sun has tired out and is waiting for the moon to take it's place. The wind has also picked up a bit making the fallen leaves dance around.
It has been one of the best days I've had in a while…a long while. Chilling with the hazel-eyed man wasn't at all what I'd expected. He actually knew how to let loose and just horse around. His sarcastic sense of humor made it difficult to swallow my food without choking and his theatrics over his spilt Pepsi – the one I accidentally spilled - were hilarious. Not to forget the ruckus we caused all over downtown. Everything gave me a sense of familiarity; like we weren't acquaintances but old buddies reliving the day's passed. It was a pretty swell day.
Bolting out of the Punk's rental, I haul ass to try and get to Micks's house before being captured by him but fail to do so, "Punk!" I shriek, "Put me down!" I giggle like a schoolgirl, "Phil!"
"Payback's a bitch!" he states, "I told you I'd avenge my fallen Pepsi!" with that, he dumps me into a pile of autumn colored leaves.
Mouth gaping, "You fucking bastard, this shit's gonna be stuck in my hair for days!" I slowly elevate of the ground and charge at Phil's retreating body and bam!, "Look out!" two bodies collide and at the force tumble down
"Ah, shit!" groans Punk as I land on top of him, his body succeeds in softening my fall, "Mar…you're in for it when I get the strength to get up," he threatens between his teeth.
"Yeah? When will that be? Five years from now?" I chortle.
In a split second, the man rolls us over and he now has the upper-hand, "More like a five seconds," he breathes, "Who you calling an old man, kid?" with that he starts tickling my sides. Laughter and squeals escape from my mouth, "Revenge is sweet."
"Sss…stop, Punk!" no such luck, his fingers just keep swiveling around making me thrash around like a possessed bitch.
In all the commotion, we didn't hear Mackenzie come out her house until she gasped loudly, "What the hell? Marleene…Phillip Jack Brooks, what in the…? Take that nastiness somewhere else!" Dirty-minded girl…
Simultaneously, Punk and I stop rolling around and jump up. I can't help by hide my face while Punk faces up his sister, cherry-faced and all, "Sis don't get your panties in a bunch, it's not what it seems!" calls out Punk as he drags me to the front door.
As we pass her, "I'm guess you guys got to know each other real well, huh?"
"Oh little horny sister…you offend me with all these assumptions. You, of all people, should know that I don't do casual sex," Oh God. My pregnant best friend frowns at her brother's choice of words as Dom is also in the room playing with his Legos, "Besides, may I remind you that I have a lovely girl waiting for my return back in Kentucky. Apart from that, Marleene…" he side-hugs me, "and I have had one hell of a day, getting to know each other…as friends, of course," I nod in agreement.
Mackenzie wobbles off to the couch and settles down clearly miffed, "Whatever you guys say. That Maria chick you told me about sounds like an airhead looks like one too. I saw her on that wrestling show Marleene watches."
Punk laughs, "It's just a charact-"
"Just a character, I know but she plays it too well. I don't like her," mutters the wavy-haired dirty blonde.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I pray that the pair of siblings will refrain from kicking off a verbal brawl in which I'd probably have to referee.
The brother slides in next to Micks and embraces her, "Squirt, don't get all hot and bothered. I'll be leaving before you know it and I want us to have some good ol' quality time together,"
This brother-sister moment moves me. I miss my own siblings. Caro moved with Pop and Tio Vidal to Maryland and Fannie…she's resting six feet under. Snapping out of my thoughts, I head on over to the bathroom. The reunited family deserves some time solo. Once alone in the bathroom, I let my tears fall without remorse. Much has happened in these last few hours, purely overwhelming. All of the trauma seemed to slip away during my time shared with Punk, cheesy as it is. He's an alright dude, a little rough around the edges and sarcastic everywhere else, but overall nice to be around. He's not an option though, girl.
Splashing water on my face to ride of smeared makeup, I look in the full length mirror nailed to the bathroom door and shrug off my jacket. My autographed jersey comes off as well, revealing all around yellowing bruises to soon disappear from my body. The cuts and scrape has scarred as well appearing to be nothing more than maroon slits and dots. My black eye is nothing but a small blemish, my eyes opening up little by little. Progress. Progress, like I'm ready to flip the page and start a new chapter in my life.
Smiling back at my reflection, "It's gonna be okay…"
A/N- Woo! This was hard to write, haha. Keep believing in me!