One New Message (Random Updates)

Chapter 13

Corey pulled up to the tattoo parlor and turned off the car. "Why do I suddenly feel like North and Raven would fit in better here?" He chuckled as she unbuckled.

She shrugged, "Well, if it helps any, it's not just a tattoo place, there's a vide game arcade next door and a bar on the other side. I'll be going back and forth between the bar and tattoo shop since I freelance at the parlor."

"So, you actually have three jobs?" Corey asked as they got out of the car.

She shrugged, "Guess so."

"How many tattoos do you have?" he asked curiously.

She tilted her head while she thought, and Corey forced himself not to smirk at how cute she was being at the moment. "Six," she finally answered.

"Really?" He asked intrigued, "Can I see them?"

She shook her head, "Not now, I need to clock in."

He watched her then smirked, "There's another reason, isn't there?" He followed her. "You think I'm going to tease you about them."

"Maybe," she shrugged, "maybe not. Either way, I need to clock in."

"Damn, I'm glad to see you sassy again," he chuckled as she walked into the tattoo place.

"Eh eh eh," A man decked out in all tats shook his head as Jade waved, "that fake shit ain't going to fly here, Jay." He grabbed something from beneath the counter and tossed it at her, "Here." He glared at Corey, "Who are you?"

"Corey Henshaw," Corey said glaring right back at him. "Jade is staying with me and my family, so I brought her to work so she didn't have to drive."

"Thanks, Erik," Jade said as she came back up to them, this time wearing a KoRn concert tee. "So, what's the deal—"

"Oh, thank the fucking goddesses you are finally in!" A woman sighed dramatically as she entered the parlor and spotted Jade. "I need you to fix me immediately Jay, pluh lease!"

Jade chuckled, "What's the emergency now, Ruby?" she smirked as the woman hugged her.

"I need a cover up immediately!" the woman with hair that matched her name sighed, "I made a horrible mistake of not listening to you and I regret it sooooo much." She pouted, "please, Jade, I need you to cover it up, anything you want to put on me I don't care, just please cover it up."

"You caught him with someone else didn't you?" Jade asked sadly and Ruby nodded. "I told you there is a reason I refuse to do names, it's a curse for relationships." She shook her head and tapped the counter, "Alright, I'll draw you up a cover but you have to promise—"

Ruby beamed, "I swear no more names, I swear!"

"Alright," Jade nodded, "I'll draw you up something and Erik will do it."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Ruby hopped excitedly.

Jade grabbed Ruby's arm and looked at the guy's name inside a heart for a few minutes. "Alright, give me like" she waved her hand in a circular motion, "30 minutes, okay?" She turned to look at Corey, "I'm going to be here a while, you can go do something else if you want. I'm not leaving here, promise."

Corey shook his head, "Nah, I'm good Sweetheart. But just so you know, once North and Raven find out where we are, they are going to want you to tattoo them."

"Oh I don't do the tats," she shook her head, "I just draw them out. Excuse me."

Corey watched her walk off and Ruby turned to him inquisitively, "You're new. Our Jade has never brought anyone to work with her. Are you the reason she's changing herself?"

"No Ma'am," Corey shook his head, "I'm actually trying to get her to go back to her normal self."

"I don't believe you," Ruby flat out stated.

"You can believe whatever you want but it's the truth," Corey shrugged. "And for your information, I'm Corey Henshaw." His phone started ringing, "excuse me. Hello?" he asked as he went over to the seat. "Sweetheart is busy working right now, I won't interrupt her. She's drawing a tattoo for a client. We are at Bound By Designs Tattoos and Piercings. She said she is working here and as a bartender at Midnight Bar next door. Alright, and she gave the all clear for our plans. Alright, see you later." Corey hung up and looked around. Spotting a bookcase of binders, he walked over to them. Smiling proudly at the one labeled "Jade Designs" he pulled it out and started looking at all her drawings.

"You thinking of getting a tattoo from Jay?"

Corey looked up to see another tattoo artist leaning against the counter watching him. Corey shook his head, "Only if she does it."

The guy chuckled, "then don't hold your breath. She refuses to become an artist."

"Why?" Corey asked curiously.

The guy shook his head, "That's her business, man." A new customer walked in so he went to talk to him, leaving Corey with his thoughts.

A couple of hours later, Eric and Ruby came back to the front. Jade was busy talking to another customer about what kind of design they wanted. Ruby paid and hugged Eric before turning to Jade who was handing the customer a binder to look at.

"Like it?" Jade asked.

Ruby beamed, "I love it, it's perfect, thank you." Jade nodded then noticed Ruby pouting, "What?"

"I know what I want for my next tattoo..."

Jade shook her head, "No, Ruby, I refuse."

"Please, Jade?" Ruby pleaded, "It's just soooo cute."

"No," Jade shook her head. "I told you, I won't recreate it. Not for anyone, not for a million billion dollars, not for anything. The answer is no."

Ruby grabbed Jade's arms and started to push her bracelets off both her wrists but Jade pulled her hands free. "But Jade I want a cute little dragon on the computer and a kitty dreaming too, please?"

"Yo Jade!" The manager from next door shouted from the back, "You busy?"

"No," Jade called back, "I'm coming." She looked at Ruby, "Eric can draw you up something similar but I refuse to duplicate specific tattoos. I already told you, please stop pushing Ruby."

"Alright," Ruby smiled and nodded, "but if you ever change your mind, I'm your girl."

Jade nodded and froze seeing Corey staring at her. She turned her back to him and headed to over to the bar.