Page 87 of Vying Girls

‘The serpent, I think.’ I twist it round so she can see. ‘I’m thinking small, just above my boob.’

‘Alrighty. Let’s do it.’

I strip to my bra as she sorts the stencil. My mind’s still on her comment. I guess with that much history behind me and Nic, it might be obvious to some. There are definitely sparks igniting around us, even if they’re not the sexy kind. There’s such a thing as negative chemistry. I think. At least, there is now. It sums up me and Nic perfectly.

Skylar’s hair is shiny beneath the bright lights. It’s tinted blue, like she dyed it that colour without lightening it first. I wonder what she’s like in bed. Not in a pervy way, but comparatively. I get the vibe she likes it rough. Iknowshe likes it rough; I’ve heard it. I bet she’s into all sorts. All those times she slept with Haz, I wonder what they did. Just the size difference is almost enough to make me wince. Haz could literally step on her by accident.

‘Alright.’ Skylar swivels on her stool to face me. ‘Get that hair up and sit up straight.’

I do as she says so she can apply the stencil. Once I’ve nodded my approval at its placement, she has me lie on the bench, the creaky leather reeking of antiseptic.

I close my eyes, listening to the tattoo guns in the air around us. I wonder how Elly’s getting on, if she’s in one of the rooms either side of this one.

‘Mind if I climb on up?’

I shake my head. Skylar’s light as a feather as she straddles me. Never had this happen with my moth tattoo but I don’t mind. There’s probably more awareness now than there would have been before. Every girl I meet I’m looking at them differently. Elly said that’ll pass once I’ve passed ‘baby gay’ status. Haz said it never would and I’ll be perving forever. I’m more inclined to go with Elly’s prediction.

It’s weird, but I can see Haz and Skylar together. It’s the matching dark aura they carry.

I eye her as she considers my stencil. ‘Hey. Can I ask you something? It’s weird so you can say no.’

‘I love weird. Shoot.’

‘It’s about Haz.’

‘Mm-hm. Want to compare notes?’

‘No…well, that’s just it. We haven’t…you know. Yet. She keeps…brushing me off.’

Skylar flicks her eyes to me. ‘Not got the parts she likes or something?’

I roll my eyes. ‘You’d think. I don’t get it either. I mean, you’ve been with her. You know what she likes.’ I let out a helpless breath. ‘Any advice would literally be so welcome.’

‘Damn.’ Skylar laughs, a high, musical sound. ‘First time someone’s coming tomefor advice. Fuck. Well, I’ll tell you this much. When you do get to that point, make sure you try touching her. She fuckinghatesit.’

I frown. ‘Why would I try touching her if she hates it?’

‘So she’ll punish you. Duh. Now, stop talking for a sec.’

I take a breath as the gun starts up. I’ve already received one of Haz’spunishments.I’m not about to touch her if she trulydoesn’t like it, but maybe that’s her whole thing. Drawing out the brat, manipulating it so I do misbehave, do procure punishment. I mean, that’s definitely a thing, right? I’ve not experienced that dynamic myself, but then I’ve never been with anyone as kinky as Haz. If that can even be classed as kink. I don’t know. Despite all the boys I’ve been with, we never did much more than missionary. Closest I got to kink was with Ryan, and his version of that was just rough sex.

But we have to get to that point first. The pain from the needle tempers some of the frustration, but it still floods me like acid. Even though it’s her denying me, she’s put the decision in my hands by telling Elly it’s because she doesn’t trust me to still want her afterwards. That it’s up to me to prove I will.

Taking my mind off the burn on my chest, I flick my eyes around the designs on the walls. Doesn’t Haz know she’s as permanent as these tattoos, that I couldn’t slough her off even if I wanted? She fills up my soul along with Elly, as integral to me as the air I breathe, the air that catches in my lungs as an idea strikes.

‘Wait.’

Skylar pauses, eyes a little glazed as they meet mine. She was clearly in the zone.

‘I’ve changed my mind.’

She looks down at the already-started tattoo, a flicker of annoyance in her face.

‘No, I still want that. I just want to add something.’

She waits for me to go on. I release a breath, body thrumming with a new conviction.

It’s a crazy idea. Impulsive. Irreversible. Undeniably right. It’sHaz.