07. the chapter with the tattoo

Christian 

We were called in, entering the room afterwards. I looked at some of the pictures and artwork scattered on the walls while Rose explained to the tattoo artist, who was a man only a few years older than both of us, what she wanted.

" Are you going to stay here with her? " The man caught my attention.

At first I thought to say no, but as I thought about the area that would be tattooed, I didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone with a complete stranger. Not that we had known each other for very long, but I decided to stay anyway.

" Yes," I shrugged, receiving an amused look in return.

" And here I thought you chose this place because it would look good, in the end, you just want to see me without a shirt." Rose scoffed as the tattoo artist instructed her to remove the garment and settle down on the gurney, where there was a sheet for her to cover herself while he adjusted the design on his computer. 

" That's not why I chose it," I approached her, looking into her eyes.

" Why then? " she crossed her arms.

I didn't answer, just kept looking into her eyes, seeing a spark of amusement at the whole situation we were in. 

Rose began to untie the knot that held her blouse closed, causing a surprised expression to take over my face at her attitude, and my gaze locked on her cleavage shortly thereafter. I might not have chosen the place for this reason, but I wouldn't miss this opportunity.

" Christian " Rose called me, making me look at her face again.

" Yes? " I stammered.

" Turn your back.”

" What?" I frowned, not understanding the reason for this request.

" Turn around. This is the second time we've talked, and I tried to run you over," she laughed.

I couldn't help but give a small smile even though I complied with her wish.

" The first time we spoke you hit me with a glass, today you tried to run me over, I think I deserve compensation," I tried to argue.

I felt Rose approaching my back, stretching out her arm, offering me something to hold.

" Here, you can hold my blouse," she teased me.

I took a deep breath, I couldn't help imagining her without it, but when I turned around, she was already settled on the gurney, her bust covered by the sheet. 

I stood back a little, facing her as the tattoo artist prepared Rose for the procedure after she approved the artwork.

" Are you ready? The area you chose is a little painful," the tattoo artist warned as soon as Rose was in position to begin the process.

Her gaze met mine, making me smile in a satisfied way at her expression.

" You think you're so funny, don't you, Davis? But I came prepared for pain," she returned in a defiant tone.

I continued to smile, watching the man begin the procedure, but the first contact of the needle with her ribs was enough for her pose to fail.

" You big son of a..." Rose groaned, giving me an irritated look, "you did it on purpose.”

" If you want, you can hold my hand, Rose," I offered dismissively.

She gave me the middle finger, squeezing her eyes shut as the tattoo artist went back to work, pretending not to see our interaction. 

" You will pay me for this," she threatened.

" You asked me to choose," I winked at her, watching her suffer for a few more minutes.

" The next time I hit you with a cup, I'll make sure it's filled with hot coffee," she cursed as the tattoo artist paused to wipe off the excess ink.

I leaned away from the wall I was leaning on and approached her gurney, lowering myself down until my face was level with hers.

" You wouldn't do that, Rose," I teased.

" I'll start again," the man warned.

" Are you sure you don't want to hold my hand? You'll feel better," I teased her.

Then, to my surprise, Rose brought her hand up to my face, running her nails down the back of my neck, pulling me close to her face, causing my heart to race a little.

Is she going to kiss me? 

But before I could react, I felt her long nails digging as hard as they could into the sensitive skin on the back of my neck, pulling even a few strands of my hair as the tattoo artist resumed his work.

" What the... " I began to curse at the almost unbearable burning that was taking over my skin.

" You're right, I feel much better, Christian," she let out between her teeth.

Rose loosened her grip on the back of my neck after a few seconds, causing me to quickly pull away and massage the affected spot.

" You really need to cut those nails, they're practically claws. How can you draw with them? " I muttered as I headed toward the exit, feeling convinced that the guy wouldn't try anything with her, not after that.

Rose took a few more minutes to leave, but when she did, she was too delighted with the result to remember the pain she had felt during the process. 

I walked her to the car, feeling curious to see the drawing.

" How did it look? " I probed her.

" Perfect," she sighed, starting the car.

" Aren't you going to show me? " I tried my luck, regretting not staying in the room until the end.

Rose gave me a sideways glance, laughing before she started to drive away.

" Nice try, Davis. You missed your chance," she hummed.

I let out a little laugh at her answer, in the end, I'll just have to see how it turns out. We returned to Grayfox Mills in a slightly friendlier mood than before, and it wasn't long before we were walking together through the halls of the campus.

" Thanks for the company today, I enjoyed not being alone, even though you were the usual jerk," she thanked me as I dropped her off at the beginning of the hallway where her room was located.

" I liked it too, even though you almost killed me more than once," I sneered, making her laugh.

" You'd better get used to it, we're friends now, so it's bound to happen often," she winked at me.

" I'll pretend I don't know you tomorrow," I warned before turning away, leaving her behind as I walked up another flight of stairs to my room.

I soon found myself lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling after a shower, thinking about everything that had happened that day, from my initial excitement to find Alicia to the moment Rose was staring into my eyes as she lay on the tattoo parlour stretcher. I brought my hand up to the back of my neck, feeling the still sensitive skin where she scratched.

She is completely insane!

That's when the bedroom door opened and Harry, my roommate, walked in. He was returning from a game of snooker in the game room with some other guys who studied with us. He had asked me to join in, but I had preferred to go to the party.

" Are you back already? I thought I would be staying late," he remarked nonchalantly.

" I didn't stay long, I left with a girl and we went to Waterfall," I explained.

He arched his eyebrows, sitting on his bed, watching me curiously.

" A girl? The one who asked you to come to the party? " Harry asked.

" No, another girl," I denied.

He waited for me to tell him more, but when the details didn't emerge, he stood up, heading toward the bathroom with a sigh.

" You could be a little less closed off, you know. 

I heard the door close before I began to think about what lay ahead for me in the coming weeks. Would it be a good idea to get closer to Rose?