Tortured Love
Chapter 4
By:Kerri Vicious
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Three weeks had passed by and life for Adrienne had pretty much resumed to normal. She barely had time to dwell on the past as the present demands of college and work consumed her daily routine with a vengeance. She welcomed it all, not wanting her mind to wander back to that day at the Warped Tour. She could function just fine as long as she didn't.
At the current moment she was at work. She held a job as a secretary of sorts at a local tattoo slash piercing parlor called Halo’s. Basically her job was to take care of the legal work, making sure the customers were either of legal age or had legit permission from an adult to go through with a piercing or tattoo and made them sign a piece of paper stating that they were in fact legal and won’t hold the business responsible for any possible problem. The last thing they wanted was to go to court over doing business with a minor.
It was a nice job with a relaxed atmosphere and most of the time was spent studying or joking around with the parlor owner/tattoo artist Gavin and the piercer, and Gavin’s best friend, Shaun. Both boys were mere months older than her and it felt more like a small dysfunctional family than a business to Adrienne.
At the current moment, both boys were busy with customers and Adrienne was sitting close by with her feet propped up on a small desk, filing her fingernails, and manning the radio situated next to her.
Justin Timberlake's latest hit came on and Gavin just about had a fit. "Turn that shit off."
"I think it's a pretty good song for a boy band member to have written actually." Adrienne stated, half serious. Shaun shot her a quick 'what the hell' look before turning his attention back to some girl's ears who looked like she might be a fan.
Adrienne's suspicions were confirmed when the girl spoke up, "Guys are just threatened by Justin's sex appeal."
"Sex appeal? I got plenty of that." Shaun said with confidence. "Don't talk, when your jaw moves so does your earlobe."
"Oh. Sorry."
Adrienne laughed, "That's bull. He's only trying to get you to shut up, hon. Don't listen to him."
"Oh shit! Adrienne, look what you made me do!" Gavin exclaimed suddenly. Adrienne looked at him confused.
The guy, Nate, that was lying on his back in a dentist-style chair under the electric needle Gavin held in his hands who also happened to be a veteran of Gavin's tattoo artwork freaked, "What? What happened?"
"That stupid song made me screw up this tattoo." Gavin exclaimed, talking about his work-in-progress on Nate's shoulder.
"What the hell?" Nate practically yelled, horrified.
"I... fuck, I'm sorry Nate." Gavin apologized. "Looks like your bikini model's gonna have a moustache." Just when Nate looked like he was going to explode, Gavin burst into a fit of laughter. "Gotcha! Dude sorry, couldn't resist."
Nate breathed a sigh of relief, "Holy crap, give me a heart attack will you? Jesus Christ..."
Adrienne shook her head amused, "You are so evil Gavin."
"Seriously though Dre, change the station." Gavin replied, "I can't work to that kind of music." Happily complying, she searched until she found one that was more rock centered. "Much better, thank you."
"No problem."
"So Nate, what would you've done if he'd really screwed up?" Shaun asked curiously, a smirk on his face.
"Beat the living hell out of him." Nate replied simply.
"But it would have been Adrienne's fault." Gavin retorted lightly, getting back to work on the tattoo, "and that crap that some people call music..."
"My fault?" Adrienne giggled, "But you're the moron with the needle."
Gavin glanced up at Shaun with an evil smirk. Getting the silent message, Shaun nodded and both stopped what they were doing... Gavin setting his electric needle down and Shaun put the instrument he used to pierce aside. Both boys stood and advanced toward Adrienne who was watching them with an uneasy curiosity as they did so.
"Um... what's up guys?" she asked.
Without a word, Gavin grabbed her legs while Shaun looped his arms underneath hers picking her up by her armpits. They lifted her out of her chair and carried her over to the chair where Nate was lounging. He was quick to get out of the way to let the other two boys set a wriggling Adrienne down.
"Hold her down." Gavin told Shaun and Nate as he grabbed his electric needle. Now seriously tripping Adrienne hadn't a chance of getting away from Shaun and Nate though she did try, they were too strong for her. "What tattoo will Adrienne be getting today guys?"
"You wouldn't!" Adrienne gasped.
"How much are you willing to bet?" Gavin challenged, turning on the needle so that Adrienne would see he was serious. He was satisfied when her eyes grew wide with panic. "How about I draw a nice cockroach on the belly?"
"Ew." commented Shaun's customer who was watching the whole event unfurl with interest from a safe distance away.
Adrienne watched as Gavin lowered the needle to her now exposed belly, closing her eyes just as she expected to feel it prick her skin. What she felt instead was a completely opposite sensation... something was tickling her sensitive skin. Opening her eyes slowly, her gaze traveled down to her belly... where, quite literally, a cockroach was crawling around. Health inspectors would have a heyday with that if they saw...
All the color drained from Adrienne's face and she started whimpering, "Get that infested thing off me, now!"
Shaun complied, scooping the creature into one hand and tossed it into a nearby garbage can. All three boys let go of her so she could get up, laughing at her as they did which proved to be a fatal mistake. She jumped at Gavin, chasing him around the parlor.
"Now now Adrienne... you know you had it coming." Gavin stated with amusement still evident in his tone while skillfully avoiding her playful punches. Shaun grabbed her the next time she ran by, holding her still so she wouldn't go after Gavin anymore and began tickling her mercilessly. Gavin joined in soon after, both boys tickling her until tears were streaming down her face from laughing so hard.
The phone chose this time to ring, being the closest to it, Nate answered. "Halo's... Adrienne, it's for you."
The boys ceased their attack and Adrienne collected her breath, "For me?"
Nate nodded, "It's Melanie."
Adrienne took the phone from him and answered, "Mel? What's up?"
"Hey Dre." Melanie replied, "Gah. Things have been so busy!"
"Really?" Adrienne asked, "How's that working out?"
"It's a lot of fun," Melanie answered, "But a lot of work. Which is why I was calling..."
"No."
"But Adrienne!" Melanie protested, "You haven't heard me out yet! It's a lot of work for one person and it's driving me crazy, I need help. You've done it before so—"
"One of the other merchandisers couldn't help or share a booth with you?" Adrienne asked, "I'm sure someone would."
"They're all just as swamped as me... and Adrienne I'm the only one running a booth by myself."
"I did it on my own, really Melanie you're making too big a deal out of it." Adrienne sighed, exasperated. "I can't quit my job here." She noticed everyone's attention in the parlor was suddenly turned on her.
"I really need your help. Please?" Melanie begged. "And you know I suck at math... all this counting money and giving out the correct change is killing me."
Adrienne had to laugh at that. "Meeeel..."
"C'mon..." Melanie urged, "Why are you so against it?"
She had to think of a reason to end the conversation quick. "Look Mel I really have to go, things are really busy around here." Adrienne spotted Shaun raise an eyebrow as if to say 'Right... look around chica' rather sarcastically and she offered him a weak smile in return. "I'll call you later, okay?"
"Dreeee..."
"Later Melanie!" with that she hung up on her best friend.
"What was that about?" asked a nosy Gavin.
"I'm wanted again as merch girl." Gavin and Shaun knew all about her time on the Warped Tour last summer. She'd told them everything, the pros and the cons. So they had a pretty good idea of her sentiments of the whole ordeal.
"Why don't you go?" Gavin offered, expecting the glare she sent his way. "I'll bet its a lot more fun that sitting around here all day."
"But I have more fun here," she protested, "No way."
"I agree with Gavin." Shaun stated, "I think you should go too. Why let one little thing keep you down? Don't miss out on an amazing opportunity to do something a lot of people would die to do just because he's too blind to see how wonderful you are."
"And, your job here will be waiting for you when you return." Gavin nodded.
"You two are just too sweet... okay, I'll do it for you two." Adrienne affirmed.
"There's our girl." Shaun said, affectionately ruffling her hair.
Gavin hugged her, pulling away he smirked, "You're fired... now go get 'em Tiger."
His statement caused her to giggle. After she told them both goodbye, she headed out the door and to her car to go home and pack. Grabbing her cell phone out of her purse, she dialed Melanie's number. Halfway through the first ring, Melanie answered.
"So where's everyone now?" Adrienne asked, referring to the tour.
Not expecting it to be Adrienne, Melanie was surprised by the sudden call-back. She figured Adrienne was fuming, "Oh um we're on our way to Houston right now."
"I'll take the next flight out."
Melanie squealed so loud that Adrienne had to hold the phone away from her ear for a moment, "Wonderful! Just wonderful! Thank you so much Dre! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
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