I am unharnessed from Mitch and I run to her, Josh meeting us in the middle, for a loud and excited, group hug.
“That was amazing!” I shouted toward the heavens.
As we began to move back toward the hanger to get out of the jumpsuits we were wearing, I spot someone I recognize walking out of the building.
“Jazz? Is that you?” I asked.
“Who else would it be, bitch?” My goth punk friend asked me, her hands on her hips and a gleam in her eye. Her hair is purple today and I love her crazy sense of fashion. Jazz is covered in tattoos and has done some of Josh’s ink over the last year.
Jazz was a waitress at a sports bar we spent time at during college and we hit it off immediately. Her quirky sense of style, tattoos and piercings, and over-alldon’t fuck with mevibemade me love her so much more. She’s been a part of our inner group for years and to have her here for my birthday made me grateful for all my friends.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, confused, my eyes shifting to Caroline.
“I’m here for the next part of your birthday surprise.” Her eyes were sparkling with delight “It’s time for that piercing you’ve always wanted.”
My eyes widened at her words. I’m not a fan of physical pain and that has always been the reason to skip over my deep desire for a nose stud.
“Maddie, honey, you are full of adrenaline right now. I promise this is the best time to pierce you. You will feel less pain and I have all my equipment set up inside the office. The staff is cool with it and I really want to help you cross another life list item off.” Jazz pronounced, leading me into the office and sitting me in the chair.
Looking at Carolina and Josh, enormous smiles on their faces, I nodded to Jazz to get started.
Today was shaping up to be the most amazing day ever and it’s wasn’t even noon. I wondered what else they had planned for me. All my friends knew about my life list and have been helping me add to it. I refused to call it a bucket list; it sounds to morbid and final to me. You should experience as many new things as possible while you are living and not wait until you are dying to be adventurous.
I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn’t even notice when Jazz pushed the needle through and placed the silver stud in place.
“All done. You did great Maddie. It looks so good.” Jazz said, as she cleaned the area and put ointment on it. She handed me a mirror to look at it.
“Holy crap! I love it!” I squealed, throwing my arms around her neck. “Thank you, Jazz.” I turned to my other friends and the staff who were observing Jazz work. “And thank you all for making my birthday the most memorable one of my life. I won’t ever forget this day or the part you played in it.”
“You’re welcome” came from all over the room as I stood up and walked toward the car.
“Let’s roll, people! We have adventures to experience!” I shouted over my shoulder to the group with the biggest smile I’ve have ever had.I love my friends.
The rest of the day was filled with food, fun and friends. Who could ask for anything more?
It had been a week since my birthday and I was still floating on a natural high. I felt that, for the first time in my life, I was actually living. I started to realize that I had been surviving life in a safety net and it was time to cut away some more of the ropes.
I wanted to be bold and daring, something that I had been afraid of in the past.
“Caroline? Where are you?” I shouted through my open door into the apartment.
I heard the balcony door close and I knew she had been sun bathing again.
I met her in the kitchen with my phone, poised to show her my idea. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t going to want a part of this, but I’m going to offer anyway.
“What were you yelling about?” her eyes showing she had dozed off sunbathing again. I’m sure our the single guys living next door weren’t too upset at it, judging by the small amount of material her suit was made of.
“I was wondering what your plans were for tonight? It’s my last weekend off this month and I really want to go dancing at that new club in Little Five Points. They put you in a cage over the dance floor for an hour and you get to dance for the crowd. You get tips from the crowd if they like your style and you are featured on the big screens behind the DJ. How about it? You feel like shaking things up tonight?” My eyes going up and down, trying to get her excited.
“That sounds like fun but I can’t tonight. I’m supposed to be meeting that guy I’ve been chatting with online for drinks.”
“Why didn’t you tell me it had moved to the drinks stage? While I’m sure it’s safe to meet this guy at a public bar, I can go with you, just in case.” I practically begged her knowing she won’t want a chaperone on her drink date.
“You don’t have to do that Maddie. I have been talking to him for the last few weeks and you have been in the room when we chatted to start with. You know he is harmless. Besides, it’s just drinks at the bar around the corner.” She shrugged her shoulders like meeting a stranger, alone, isn’t a bad idea.
“How about this? I’ll get a table at the back of the bar, you enjoy your drink date with Mr. Harmless and I promise he won’t even know I’m there. Please, Caroline! I just want to know you are safe.”
Her shoulders moved up and down without her saying a word and a small smile broke out. “Thank you, Maddie. I would feel better if you were there, as long as he isn’t aware that you are.”
