Unexpected

It had been a week since I had first arrived home and I was already ready to find somewhere else to stay. Cody acted like I had broken some kind of unknown promise to never return home and told me I was messing everything up. We had been in the middle of a face to face yelling argument when my parents had made it home. Both my mom and dad were thrilled I had moved back home, of course, they didn’t know the reason, even after badgering me about it.

Today I just wanted to get out, I wanted to go try new things, and I knew just what I wanted to do. What was better than a tattoo to start a new chapter in your life? Nothing that I could think of. I was in need of a change and I had a vision of how I wanted to start the new me.

Knowing NYC was crazy I had taken a cab to the tattoo studio. I half wished I had brought a friend, or hell even Cody’s moody ass as I saw the building. The street was full of life, people were moving everywhere. Paying the cab driver I stepped out wondering if maybe I shouldn’t have worn my black halter style dress with my sandals. It was warm and in the middle of the day but I was alone.

Pulling my crossbody bag over my shoulder I walked toward the building feeling a little nervous as I heard the loud music blaring from the inside. Stepping in I was surprised to find it clean and neat. People were coming in and out of rooms, others just sat waiting on their opportunity to get called to the back.

A goth looking girl looked up at me, “you here for a piercing or a tat?”

I walked up to her feeling more than a little out of place, “I was hoping to get a tattoo.”

She nodded, “you must want to try and get a tat from Xander. You can pick one and I’ll see what he says but he’s pretty picky about what and who he tats.”

I pulled my phone out and showed her the picture, I wanted to get on my right shoulder blade, “this is it, or something like it.”

The girl nodded turning and disappearing into the room behind her. I waited for her to see if I would be one of the chosen few to get tattoed by Xander. If not I could always let someone else do it.

I leaned against the wall not wanting to go sit in the few seats available. Looking down at my phone I knew my chances were slim of getting in and was seriously thinking of just walking out when I looked back up and saw the tattooed guy that had been talking to Cody the other day walk out of a back room. He was talking to another guy that had as many if not more tattoos than him.

His eyes looked up and caught mine and a grin appeared on his face. Still looking at me he said something to the guy beside him. His grin made me nervous and I looked back down but as soon as I dared to look back up I saw that both of them were looking at me now. The tattooed stranger walked toward me and I had half a mind to turn and run.

“Don’t tell me your brother let you lose in NYC by yourself,” he said as he stopped beside me.

I looked up at him and frowned, “Umm Cody does not run me. You were at the house the other day right?” I played stupid but I already knew he was aware I recognized him.

He looked down at me arching his brow nodding, “yeah I was.” He looked toward the guy he had been talking to, “so Xander can fit you in but it will be a bit. You want to go grab lunch with me while you wait?”

I looked at him confused, “I don’t know.” Cody had been uncomfortable after they had left the other day and I wasn’t sure if it was because I surprised him or if it had been something to do with this stranger and the guys that had been with him.

He looked down at me, “I think you will. Taylor right?” I nodded and he held out his hand, “I’m Lucas...give me just a moment.” I watched him walk back up to the guy and as he began talking to him the guy who I now knew was Xander looked up at me and nodded.

I felt my chest grow heavy as Lucas walked back up to me holding his arm out, “ready?” Nodding I accepted his hand and let him lead me outside. I was still unsure about leaving with him but I wasn’t quite sure how to tell him no. I doubted he would listen. He had just flat out told me yeah, you're coming with me. 

Outside I had expected for him to take me to one of the many small places around the shop but when he walked up to a black car I froze. The car was sleek and even though I wasn’t much of a car person I knew it was expensive as hell. “This is your car?“I asked as he hit a button and I heard the doors unlock.

He arched his brow as he reached down opening the door for me, “yeah, you don’t like it?”

I looked up at him, “I just...I’m sorry I just didn’t expect any friend of Cody’s to have a car like THIS.”

He laughed not saying anything only holding the door and shutting it for me once I was inside. I watched as he walked around the front of the car and got in. “So um, where are we going?”

Lucas pulled off from the curb before looking over at me, “for lunch, are you not hungry?”

I had skipped lunch, it was after 2, and part of me wondered how he knew I hadn’t eaten but I didn’t question it. “I haven’t eaten, I just...”

Lucas once again looked over at me and I just cut off my sentence feeling kind of stupid. It was becoming clear that he wasn’t some drug headed friend of Cody’s. I didn’t know if he owned this car by working for it or if he was born into money but he was clearly far out of my league. I hadn’t noticed his watch until he had started driving, I could tell it was expensive. “Do I make you nervous Taylor?”

Cutting my eyes to look over at him I nodded, “you and Cody aren’t friends are you?”

Lucas leaned back some, “I would say we are more of associates rather than friends.”

I frowned wanting to ask him more questions but as we pulled in front of a building he put the car in park and opened the door. I had no idea where we were and as he handed the parking attendant his keys I wished I had asked Lucas more questions on the way over.

Walking through the double doors a man greeted us, “Good afternoon Mr. Blake, I see you have a pretty young lady to accompany you this afternoon.”

My eyes widened but Lucas nodded, “yes, you have room for us I assume.′

The guy laughed, “always for you Mr. Blake, here let me seat you myself.”

As we were lead to a more private corner of the restaurant I began to feel a little underdressed and quickly pulled my sunglasses off of the top of my head and shoved them in my bag. Lucas pulled out my chair and I quickly sat down letting him scoot me back in. I watched him nervously as he went and sat down opposite me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked looking over at me.

I looked around, “who are you?”

He laughed, “I’ve already told you I’m Lucas. Lucas Blake to be exact.”

I shook my head, was I supposed to know his name? I began to play with my necklace around my neck thankful when a waiter placed a menu down in front of me. I opened it up glad to have something to put between us but only to put it back down when I saw the entire thing was in French.

Lucas looked up at me as I sat it down and I shook my head at him, “I have no idea what anything on this says and I don’t think I can afford any of this.”

He frowned at me, “I didn't’ ask you if you can afford it, I asked you to lunch which means I will pay for it. I can help you chose something.”

I looked down feeling out of place, “can I ask you something?”

He shrugged, “yeah go for it.”

I looked meeting his gaze, “are your parents rich and you are bored or...”

Lucas laughed so hard I felt my entire body turn red. I was extremely embarrassed. I felt tears come to my eyes and was wondering if running was an option. When he saw my tears he stopped laughing and reached out grabbing my hand. “I’m sorry that just caught me off guard. No rich parents and no I’m not bored. I run a nightclub here in New York. It makes me a lot of money.”

I looked down at my hand in his. His thumb was circling my hand trying to soothe me, “so how does Cody know you?”

Lucas frowned and I saw a flash of aggravation, “I don’t want to talk about your brother. He used to work for me and now he doesn’t end of the story.”

I swallowed the knot in my throat, “I’m sorry I just...I’ve been through a lot this past year and I guess I just have my guards up with everybody now.”

He nodded, “it’s ok... let's just eat, then I’ll take you back to the shop. If you want I can even drop you off back home.”

Shaking my head I looked up, “you don’t have to do all that.”

He shrugged, “I know I don’t I’m doing it because I want to.”