Ember

  “You’ll need this,” she said sitting up slowly. I wasn’t sure what she meant but I slid it over my frame, pulling it tightly down over the waist of my black and grey board shorts.

  “How’s that?” I asked.

  “Perfect,” she glowed. She met me in the middle of my room and kissed me softly, while her hands teased my still wet hair.

  “Do I at least get a hint of where we’re going?”

  “Nope.”

  She grabbed my hand and led me to her truck. The skies had filled in with off white clouds but the sun managed to find an opening every now and again. I took a deep breath as I climbed into her Jeep. The merry-go-round of emotions I had been on lately seemed to weaken my better judgment more than once. I was going to keep my guard up today…no matter what. She leaned over and kissed me long and passionately. A faint shower of sprinkles fell upon us like a mist and the sky shook with excitement.

  “What was that for?” I asked winded. The tiny raindrops glistened in her hair like slivers of diamonds. My guard fell too easily when she smiled and said.

  “It’s my turn.” She bit her lip nervously and drove off.

  After about twenty minutes the Jeep came to rest in front of a small building that was home to four different businesses. The farthest one from us being a tattoo parlor called Island Ink.

  “So who’s getting inked today? You or me?” I asked already sure of the answer.

  “Both,” she was filled with optimism. I was anything but.

  Inside there were hundreds of designs plastered over every inch of the walls. A thousand colors and shapes filled my head. As I soaked up the different styles of art my body broke out in goose bumps. The shops air conditioner was blowing at full force and the room felt freezing. It couldn’t have been much more then forty degrees in the place. Asia called to the owner who popped from behind a purple curtain in the back of the shop and waved at us to come back and join her. She looked to be about 40 or so, with medium length, brown hair. Red streaks cut down the sides highlighting her natural color and her arms were covered in colorful sleeves of tattoos. She was dressed in brown leather pants and a black tee shirt with the shops logo printed on it in white. A matching long sleeved shirt dangled from her hand.

  “Asia doll…how are you?” the woman shouted and tossed it to Asia.

  “Better than usual Rose,” Asia said smiling at me. She leaned in and offered her a big hug. “Is everything ready?”

  “Don’t be silly!” Rose said almost offended. Asia slid the shirt over hers and winked at me.

  “Max is it?” Rose asked turning her attention to me. She grabbed my hand, pulling me through the doorway to an even colder room.

  “Yes. Pleased to meet you Rose,” I said unsure.

  “So you’re the one that’s had my girls head filled with hearts and rainbows,” she teased heartily. Asia groaned and I laughed.

  “Rainbows?” I asked with a smile. She blushed and turned from me quickly.

  “See!” Rose shouted. “She’s a mess because of you.”

  “A beautiful mess,” I added. Asia turned back to me and Rose rolled her eyes.

  “Easy Romeo…” she warned. “Are we still going with the designs we had talked about before?” Rose asked.

  “Yes.” Asia smiled at me.

  “And what designs are those?” I was nervous now. Not to mention, officially cold. Asia laughed softly and shoved me down in a chair next to a table full of tattooing equipment. Rose pulled up a stool next to me and started preparing her tools. Asia stood in front of me, rocking softly on her feet with a large bag of ice in her hands.

  “Asia I can already see my breath in here. What’s with the ice?” My teeth chattered and she giggled.

  “I have a theory…so bear with me.” She met my eyes and handed the bag to Rose.

  “Shirt off son,” Rose demanded. Asia reached out and pulled my tank top over my head, messing my hair up in the process. Worry filled my face and my core jump started itself, heating up my skin instantly. This annoyed Asia.

  “Max I need you to focus.”

  “I will just as soon as you explain what the hell you two are doing,” I spit out growing a little annoyed myself. Just then a long cold needle penetrated the skin of my right shoulder blade, causing me to flinch.

  “Hold still son,” Rose warned. I looked at Asia for answers.

  “It’s Novocain Max.” Her eyes filled with worry.

  “Novocain!” I panicked.

  “Rose has made her shop as cold as possible, at my request. The ice pack is back up, in case we need it colder.” She paused as the first effects of the Novocain kicked in.

  “And the drugs?” I said angrily. Asia only smiled bigger.

  “If your abilities are truly instinctual, then maybe this will give us enough time to let the ink take.” I rolled my eyes at her.

  “And that’s where you come in. I need you to concentrate. Don’t let yourself heat up at all.”

  I looked up at her with surprise. “And how do I do that?” I was already heating up.

  “Just breathe and concentrate,” she said confidently. I wasn’t convinced but I was also too far along now to stop.

  “Alright, let’s get this party started,” Rose announced and Asia ran behind me.

  “Wait a sec, I almost forgot,” she said and pulled a fresh tube of bright red lipstick and painted her full lips deeply. With a pout she leaned down and kissed my back.

  “There. What do you think Rose?” she asked proud of herself.

  “Perfect honey. Now stand back, we need to get this show on the road before I lose all the feeling in my hands.” A hearty laugh jumped from her throat. I didn’t find it particularly funny and a shiver ran down my spine. Asia walked back into my view…she was so beautiful. Her candy apple, red lips made me burn for her inside. So I quickly closed my eyes and took a long deep breath.

  An hour in a half later my eyes snapped open with a slap from Rose’s hand on my opposite shoulder...THWACK!

  “All done son, go and have a look.” Rose pointed to a mirror on the other side of the room and Asia watched me nervously as I stood up. I walked to the mirror half expecting the new artwork to already be fading but was shocked to find the exact opposite. The new tattoo glowed as if it were three dimensional. The color was twice as rich and bright than any other tattoo I had ever seen before.

  The image finally hit me like a ton of bricks. In dark bold capital letters were two words…‘CRAVE YOU.’ They were outlined in sapphire blue with dozens of cherry blossoms intertwined throughout them. At the bottom corner of the U was Asia’s lips, as full and luscious as they were on her face. My pulse began to race and her arms wrapped around me.

  “I take it you like it,” she said softly.

  “It’s amazing,” I said. She noticed how hard my heart was beating and slid her warm hand over it.

  “Good,” she smiled. I froze for a second in her arms, worried that my blood pressure was increasing and might ruin this wonderful piece of art. Inhaling a long slow breath I closed my eyes and slowed my heart rate a little.

  “Great!” Rose announced. “I’m turning the heater on before I die of hypothermia.” She stormed past us, handing the bag of ice to me as she did.

  “Just in case,” she said with a gleam in her eyes.

  “Great,” I whined. She then pulled Asia off of me and gave us a quick glance, up and down.

  “Hmph…kids and their hormones.” She disappeared behind the purple curtain, back to the front of the shop.

  “Asia, how much did you tell her about us? About me?”

  “Relax, I’ve known her for years. She knows everything about my special abilities,” she said as she removed the long sleeved shirt she had been given earlier. “And when it came to you, she didn’t even bat an eyelash. She did what I asked.”

  “So how much does she know?” I was still nervous.

  “Enough,” she smiled and walked through the curtain. I left it at that and slowly
put my shirt back on, giving my newest tat one last glance in the mirror. I truly did love it.

  A few minutes passed as Rose fit her stencil to Asia’s bare right shoulder. The tattoo gun began its tiny hum shortly after and the shops temperature seemed to heat back to normal. Thunder rolled outside as Rose’s gun inked over a sensitive spot on Asia’s shoulder blade.

  “Stop being a sissy!” Rose scolded her. We all laughed and the hour passed quickly. The rain had started to lightly pepper the windows and I watched Asia closely. A few minutes later Rose was slapping her on the shoulder too, announcing she was finished.

  “Not too shabby, if I do say so myself,” Rose said smiling. Asia ran to the mirror I happened to be standing next to and turned her shoulder into the shiny reflection. Puffing up from her flawless skin was one symbol. It was jet black with orange shading around it and looked to be Asian. It was surrounded by light and dark blue waves swirling around in a circle. The waves were so perfectly drawn I would swear that they were moving. At the bottom was two numbers written in bold black ink. ‘8/13.’

  “What does the symbol mean?” I asked quietly but Asia only looked in my eyes through the reflection of the mirror. Rose chimed in from behind us.

  “It means ‘FIRE’ in Chinese,” she smirked at me. Of course it does, I thought to myself.

  “And the numbers?” I asked while Asia’s eyes filled with tears, making them liquid pools of blue diamonds.

  “The day we first met,” she wiped her eyes gently. “August 13th.”

  “The day on the beach.” I pulled her face to mine and kissed her deeply. Rose grunted disgusted and gathered her things and walked toward the front door.

  “Well, I think I’m done for the day,” she announced loudly.

  “What?” My question stopped her momentum. “It’s barely lunch time and you’re done for the day?”

  “With what she pays me, I’m done for the week!” she bellowed with a wink. “Asia, be a doll and lock up for me when you are done.”

  With a wave she was gone. We were alone with only the gentle rain against the shop windows.

  The rest of the afternoon was a blur. We ate lunch at a local diner which catered to mostly seafood and she found out how much I hated it. Ice cream followed as we walked and talked all afternoon. We raced the sunset home and I felt renewed. The rain followed us closely the whole day.

  “Thank you for a great day. I needed it,” I said as the rain picked up a little.

  “Good...”

  “I needed you,” I added and her eyes flashed with comfort.

  “Max…I…I…” She stopped and looked toward the horizon. I knew what she was thinking at that moment, what she couldn't let herself say. She loved me.

  “Will you come in and say hello?” I asked changing the subject quickly. We had come too far emotionally today; I didn’t want to ruin it by pushing her. She thought about my invitation for a few quiet seconds and finally nodded her head no. I knew she wouldn’t want to come in and go a couple rounds with my uncle, but I tried.

  “I better not,” she said in a whisper. I wilted a little when she said no but I was still on cloud nine. She kissed me one last time before she ran back to her Jeep and drove away. I waved goodbye in the rain and wondered how soon before I would see her again. I shook off the rain and walked in my house, expecting the third degree from Frank, but it never came.

  “There’s my boy,” he sounded almost jolly. “Is it raining again? I can’t remember a summer this wet before.” He let the thought go and focused on me. Oh boy, here it comes.

  “Good day at school Max?” he asked kindly. What? He hadn’t heard that I ditched today? Or about the big fight yesterday? My brain started to lock itself up with question after question.

  “Uh…yeah. Great day uncle.” I decided to go with the flow and not push my luck.

  “Was that Asia I heard driving off?” he was stern.

  “Um…yeah. She picked me up today.” Now I was nervous.

  “I guess that makes sense with Samantha being stuck at the hospital all day with her friend,” he said the words so calmly, never noticing the miserable expression that washed over my face.

  “Her friend?” I played dumb.

  “Yeah, her father told me that Devon Wahlberg and his friends got in a wreck out on Highway 36. That’s always been such a dangerous pass. I guess they’re pretty banged up.” I was frozen and confused. “Sam didn’t mention any of this to you?”

  “She doesn’t appear to be talking to me at the moment. And he’s more than just her friend.” I felt the anger welling just beneath the surface and walked to my room.

  “Oh,” Frank said as if he would continue his questioning but he never did.

  I went into my room trying not to think the things I was thinking. Sam was with him. That killed me inside. They weren’t pressing charges. That confused me. I still hadn’t heard a peep from Kai or Marcus. What the hell was going on? I could have gone on like that for hours but I stopped myself and ran to the mirror and looked at my tattoo. Why wouldn’t Asia admit to me how she feels? Why couldn’t she say those three little words? Quickly a sobering thought hit me. Could I say them?

  I wanted to…but could I? Should I?

  Numb_25

  ~Straitjacket: Alanis Morissette~

  Wednesday morning – 8:05 a.m. – August 30th.

  I hadn’t heard a peep from Kai or Marcus in two days, since my very public unveiling of my temper. My real temper. I still wasn’t sure how much they had witnessed during the fight. The wall of rain that Asia provided was dark and thick and they may not have seen anything supernatural at all. But here I was, strolling up to Kai’s car like normal.

  Kai offered a welcoming smile as I climbed in the passenger’s side. From the back seat, Marcus seemed to have trouble making eye contact with me. Almost as if he was scared of me. That hurt my feelings a little but I couldn’t really blame him.

  “So where have you been hiding stranger?” Kai joked. I was relieved to hear his relaxed and playful tone but at the same time, I found myself mildly angry. Why hadn’t he returned any of my calls? I had called him at least a dozen times.

  “Asia kidnapped me yesterday,” I said calmly. His eyes widened with excitement.

  “Nice!” He slapped the steering wheel. “I knew you were in good hands.”

  “Kai, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the last two days.” I turned to Marcus and he smiled nervously. “Both of you.”

  “My bad Max,” Kai laughed. “I left my phone in Sam’s car after the fight and since she’s been missing in action too, I haven’t had a chance to get it back.” He saw how I winced when he said her name.

  “She hasn’t left Devon’s side,” he spoke carefully. I paused for a second.

  “Yeah…that’s what I heard,” I said a little sadder than I was expecting. Marcus fidgeted in his seat and I figured I needed a little damage control.

  “Sorry Max,” Kai added.

  “No, it’s okay. I’m the one who should be apologizing to you two,” I said. Marcus leaned forward a little.

  “Things got a little crazy Monday and I should have warned you about my temper.”

  “Temper? That was more like a reckoning!” Kai laughed. “Devon and his friends had it coming Max.”

  “Yeah…but…” I tried to say but was cut off.

  “But nothing brother,” he smiled. “I’m just glad we had front row seats,” Kai cheered.

  “You two didn’t see anything…well…a little hard to explain?” I stuttered out the question. They both looked at each other quietly and I filled with a nervous fire.

  School was weird now. Either the kids would ask me the most ridiculous questions about the fight or they would just point and stare. Sam wasn’t here and that made our classes together drag on and on. I did see Brian walking through the halls but he avoided me completely. It made sense that he was back at school; he was the one who had only suffered a few bumps and bruises from the fight
. He stumbled off pitifully with his taped up hands crossed under his arms.

  At lunch I took a few moments from jamming with the guys to call Sam. It was the fifth time today and Kai just shook his head at my desperation. It rang and rang before someone answered.

  “Hello.” It sounded like Sam’s mom, Rebecca.

  “Is Samantha there?” my voice cracked.

  “Max? Is that you?” she asked worried. “How are you? I heard you were involved in the accident too.”

  “You did?” I was confused.

  “Yes…Samantha told us you refused medical treatment. Are you all right?” her voice was kind.

  “I’ll live.” I felt guilty using those words with where she was at the moment. “Can I talk to Sam please?”

  “Hang on, she just walked in,” she spoke softly with her hand covering the phone so that I couldn’t hear anything. I could still hear Sam’s muffled voice on the other end though. She was upset and then the line went dead.

  “Damn it.”

  Thursday lunch – 12:27 p.m. – August 31st.

  My morning went the same way as the day before. The rumors increased and so had my celebrity. There was still no sign of Sam, which made my morning classes unbearable again. Brian was joined by Jason and one of the twins, Alex. Brian was wearing smaller bandages on his hands now. He looked almost back to normal. Jason on the other hand looked the opposite. Both of his eyes were black and almost entirely hidden by the large bandage across the middle of his face. He had bruising and some scrapes along his neck and he blushed when we made eye contact. Either from embarrassment or anger, I wasn’t sure which. Probably a little of both. Alex wouldn’t even look my way. Both of his arms and hands were covered in bandages and they couldn’t move very well. His face was scratched up with one of his cheeks bruised. It was obvious he didn’t know how to act without his twin brother around.