“Until Clare stops hating you, I cant like you, okay? But that doesn’t mean I hate you for real. I hate you because she’s my bestie. I like the fact you keep coming around to make sure she’s safe… we all know she’s safe. So I hate you, go fuck off asshole and don’t come back.”
I stood there frozen, confused as all hell. Then, two minutes later she called out that she was getting laid tonight and anyone listening was in for a show.
That got Seamus grumbling something in his thick accent. I asked him what he said. But he told me to fuck off and mind my own business. His accent was a lot stronger when he was angry. It was funny, sometimes it was thick, other times it was barely there. But the guy was old, and he knew many languages. I guess he was in Scotland a lot longer than anywhere else.
I decided that was my cue to leave, pretty sure if I didn’t, Seamus would have made me.
But that was how I ended up where I was today. After that night, I called up the tattoo shop I had walked past many times before. It wasn't where I got my tatts from, but I always thought the place was respectable and professional. I asked if they had any apprenticeships, and they asked me to come in for an interview.
I wasn’t sure how this job interview would go, but had my fingers crossed. So did Liam and Ally cat.
The woman rounded the corner, her hair was shaved short and bright blue. She was covered in tatts and piercings, and held out her hand with a genuine smile on her face. I took her hand and for the first time… I was nervous. I wanted this so bad that I might be sick.
“You must Frankie. I’m Julia. Come on back.”
Chapter27
Clare
Ididn’t go back home for summer break. My parents thought I was working on my grades and I didn’t want to see them or see Jett and Mekhi. Vicki had stayed with me on campus and it was the best time I could have asked for. The campus was pretty empty, and we had spent a lot of time out and about, having lunch and doing a lot of shopping.
Turns out Jett and Mekhi paid her very well. Even now, after everything. So, she wanted to buy me things. My parents gave me an allowance but it wasn’t much. They were tight with their money; they gave me enough to eat. If I needed more for clothes or anything else, they would, but only after a small rant about how hard they work for it and not to forget that.
Vicki had been trying to get my memories back for weeks. It was hard at first, she had no idea what she was doing, and I was a little worried she might fry my brain. But it worked… kinda. I got back enough to remember some things. Not just of Jett and Mekhi. I had memories with Ada, we would hang out in the library together. I also spent a lot more time with her sister Destiny than I thought. I invited her to come with me to Kiba once… she kissed Lyell Lovell. Jett’s—one year—older brother.
When that memory came flooding back I laughed, and Vicki wanted to know. Lyell was… well let’s just say he was the last one I would have thought Destiny would have kissed. He was a nice guy, a little odd and nerdy. But sweet. But I guess they say opposites attract. Couldn’t get more opposite than the outgoing Destiny who was popular and loud. And the quiet, shy and nerdy Lyell.
I found that I could control some of the compulsion that Mr. Donovani had done. Compulsion was a suggestion to do whatever the vampire asks of you. Like to forget. Not a mind wipe, the memories stayed. He could only suggest things and your brain would do it. If you were strong enough you could undo it, and that was what I had been working hard on. I had unlocked a few memories on my own. I knew it would take time to get them all back. And well… I didn’t need everything, just enough to have the two years back.
I also realized I might have overreacted to finding out about Frankie. I was still upset that he had lied, but I guessed there were things I had kept from him too, even if I didn't know some of them. But I could understand, now that I wasn’t so emotional, that if I was in his position, I would have played along too. I was the one who assumed he was in a frat, he never said he was. But he never said he wasn't.
Vicki told me a bit about Frankie, not a lot but enough to make me realize that he wasn’t just doing all this bad shit for no reason. He was taking care of his little brother. They didn’t have much, and all they did have was from him dealing drugs.
***
“Hey, let’s get a tattoo.” I turned to Vicki, she would say such random things. But the look on her face said she wasn’t joking, she was nodding and looking in the window of a tattoo parlor downtown.
We had been out shopping again, as school started next week. I wasn't looking forward to it. I would probably have to ask Jett and Mekhi to change my grades again. I wasn't magically going to get better for my second year, when I didn't learn anything in my first year. But I also didn't want to speak to them yet, I wasn't sure when I would be ready, so that was probably something Jade will have to ask them.
“Vicki, you can’t just decide to get a tattoo like that. It has to be thought out and stuff.”
She laughed and grabbed my arm. She pulled me over towards the door that said they were open. I groaned but let her drag me in. Just to shut her up. I had noticed that she was one of those people, that once they got an idea they just ran with it. Vicki could be impulsive. It was one of the many things I liked about her, as long as it didn’t involve me.
“No, stuff that shit. It needs to be one of those stories we can tell our kids when they ask where we got that really bad tattoo. Then I can say ‘I was with your Aunt Clare and we both were young and dumb.’ That won’t be my story if you don’t come with me and get a matching tattoo.”
I couldn’t really argue with that, she called me Aunt Clare. I nodded my head but knew this was a bad idea. I guess they had laser removal, so I could just get rid of it. If I wanted to get one that was. I wasn’t sold at all on this idea at all.
I looked up at the wall, it was full of drawings. So many different designs, and Vicki wasn’t sparing a second to decide. She pointed to one, turning to me she wiggled her brows.
“We should get this one.”
I looked at where she pointed, and I couldn’t hold it in. I laughed so hard.
“That’s a joke one. No one would get a heart with mom written in it.” It was so badly drawn too, had a wonky arrow going through it too.
“Actually, I’ve had five guys get that done, and they weren't all drunk. And yes, it was a joke that I put on the wall. But they paid, so the joke’s on them.”
I turned to see a woman in her twenties, her hair was shaved short, but what hair was there was bright pink. She had a ring through her nose and lip, and colorful tattoos covered her body, she was a work of art.
