After three hours, and countless customers, Mark and I close up the shop, and go home. I whip up a quick dinner for us, a couple of TV dinners, and bring one to Mark, who's watching TV in the living room. Just as I'm sitting down, the phone rings. Mark answers it. "Hello?" He's quiet for a second, then hands the phone to me. "It's Rita."
I take the phone from him, and go out into the kitchen. "Hi, Rita, what's up?"
"You've got to help me, Jess," Rita says hurriedly. "Michael and I are going out tonight with a friend of his, and I kinda told his friend that I'd bring a friend of mine. Well, you're the friend."
"Oh, no," I protest, "I'm done with blind dates." I peak around the corner at Mark, still sitting on the sofa. He looks like he fell asleep.
"Please, Jess! I will never ask you to date another guy if you help me just this once, I promise." Rita replies urgently.
I sigh. "All right, I'll do it."
"Great!" Rita exclaims. "We'll pick you up in an hour. See ya then!" Before I can reply, she hangs up.
"Thanks, Rita," I mutter as I press the phone's power button. I sigh, and walk back out to the living room, and place the phone back on the counsel. As the phone counsel beeps after I place the phone in its proper place, Mark lifts his head. "I've got to go out tonight," I tell him. "Rita set me up with her fiancé's friend." I glance down at my cooling TV dinner.
"A waste of food," Mark replies, noticing my focal point. I sigh, pick the tray up, and toss it in the garbage. "So I'm stuck here alone?" Mark calls from the other room.
I return to the living room. "Well, not necessarily. Harley can keep you company." I reply. "Plus, if you want, I've got a little gym in the basement you can use."
"You've got a gym, too?" Mark asks, raising an eyebrow. I nod, and Mark returns the nod. "I suppose I should wish you a good night."
"Thanks, Mark," I respond, and go upstairs. I take a quick shower, and change into a short dress. As I glance into my full-length mirror, I say to myself, "Maybe if I appear too desperate, this guy won't want to see me again." Immediately, I change into a shorter, tighter dress. I take another look in the mirror, and give a nod. "Hope this works." I grab a pair of matching high heels, my pack, and a nylon shrug, and head downstairs.
When I reach the bottom step, I hear a whistle come from the living room. I turn to see Mark standing, looking me over. I smile faintly, trying to hide my red face. "Are you gonna try to give the guy a heart attack?" Mark asks as I approach him.
"Something like that," I reply coyly, looking up into his beautiful eyes. Suddenly, I realize my flirtatious attitude when his eyes tell me what he sees. I look away, and walk around the coffee table to sit on the sofa. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to do that." I apologize.
"Do what?" Mark asks.
"Oh, nothing, just never-mind." We sit in silence for 45 minutes. Finally, the doorbell rings. I jump up, and race over to the door, ready to go. I fling open the door, and see Rita standing before me. "Hi," I say to her as cheerfully as I can muster, and step outside, closing the door behind me. "Let's go!"
Rita and I start down the walk to her car, where Michael and his friend await us while leaning on its side. "This is Dave, Michael's friend," Rita introduces us when we reach the two men. "Dave, this is my friend, Jess."
Dave and I shake hands, and sit in the back seat. Once Michael starts the car, Dave comments, "Nice dress,"
"Thanks," I reply sullenly. I really didn't want to be here. A quiet evening in front of the TV, talking to Mark, would have been enough for me. Dave and I don't say another word all the way to the fancy restaurant. After we are seated at our reserved table, I grab Rita's arm, and say to the men, "We've got to go to the ladies' room. Excuse us." We hurry toward the restroom areas.
Once we're inside, Rita says, "What the hell, Jess! What was that about?"
I lean against a sink. "Rita, I really didn't want to come, and I only came because you're my friend." I tell her.
Rita puts her hand on my arm. "I'm sorry, Jess. I should've asked if you had any plans first." she apologizes.
"It's okay. It's not like I had anything to do anyway. Except sit and watch TV with Mark." I reply. "I just didn't feel like going out with any more men." I turn to the mirror above the sink. "Do you think I look too desperate?"
Rita nods. "Yeah, you do."
"Good!" I exclaim, and laugh. "When Mark saw me, I think he nearly had a heart attack." Rita begins to laugh with me. After we finish our laughing burst, we return to the men, and order out meals. After the waiter leaves, I say, "Hey, Rita, I got myself a job today."
"Really? Where?" she asks.
"At Mark's shop. I work the counter." I answer.
Dave says, "Wait a minute. Isn't that a tattoo shop down on Main?" I nod. "Why on Earth would you want to work there?"
"Because I want to," I answer him truthfully. "Mark happens to be a friend of mine, so you best watch what you say." Dave looks embarrassed, and I feel terrible for what I had done. "I'm sorry, Dave. I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"It's all right, Jess. I just dislike the idea of tattoos…the needle part, anyway." Dave explains. Our meals arrive, which breaks the tense mood. We all laugh and talk over our lives while eating. Once we finish our meal, Dave says, "Why don't we go out to a bar or something? Places like this suffocate me!" We laugh again, and head out to Leroy's Pub, a reputable bar near my house.
We stay out past midnight, and I realize that I have to get up tomorrow for work. "Sorry you all, but I should go home. I don't want to lose this job the day after I get it." I tell my friends.
"I'll go with you," Dave replies, then turns to Rita and Michael. "You two can stay here if you want. I should be heading home anyway. I'm gonna call a cab." Rita and Michael agree, and Dave and I say good-bye before going to the tavern's payphone. Dave calls us a cab, which arrives in five minutes. I tell the driver where to go, and we ride in silence. When the cab reaches my house, Dave says, "I'll walk you to your door."
We walk up to my porch, where Dave turns to me, and says, "I enjoyed our evening together. I was wondering if you'd like to go out again sometime. Maybe Saturday."
"I enjoyed our night, too," I tell him, "and I'd like to go out again, sometime. Good-night, Dave."
"Good-night, Jess," he replies, gives me a kiss on the cheek, and goes back to the cab. I unlock the door, and enter.
A feeling of dread comes over me. "Why did I agree to see him again?" I ask myself. "Why does it feel like I'm cheating on someone, on Mark? It's not we're dating or anything." Without any answers, I head upstairs, to my bedroom, where I take off the dress, put on an over-sized T-shirt, and promptly fall asleep.
********
It's been six months since that Sunday night. Dave and I are dating, somewhat. I like Dave, but something keeps me from committing to the relationship. I think it's Mark. We still talk and laugh and all, but it's not like it was the first couple of days we knew each other. He still puts on the charade of my boyfriend when Ms. Zellia and the other inspectors show up, even when I tell him he doesn't have to. It really irritates him when Dave shows up at the shop to talk to me.
Rita and Michael got married in late May. The wedding was beautiful, and the reception was a blast. Everyone had fun, even Mark, who had seemed more moody by the day. Now, the couple are expecting their first child in February. The summer was a busy one for the shop. All the just-turned-eighteen's came in, getting their first tattoos. A few even came back recently to get more.
It is now early September, and the air is just turning crisp and cold. The leaves are beginning to change colors, and school's just started. I'm anxiously awaiting Dave's arrival; he's taking me out tonight. I can hear Mark working out in the basement. He's been down there more and more after work these days. Sometimes, I ask him what's wrong, but he'll just tell me it's his problems, and I don't need to be burdened with them. I know he's lying.
Finally, the doorbell rings. I answer it quickly. "About time you get here!" I tell Dave.
Dave shrugs. "Sorry, traffic's bad right now. I couldn't help it." he explains. "Ready to go?"
I nod. "Just let me tell Mark I'm leaving." Dave stiffens at the mention of Mark; I think he doesn't like how Mark lives in the same house I do. I walk over to the basement door, and shout out, "Mark, I'm leaving now. I'll be back around eleven or so."
"Fine!" he calls back.
I go back to Dave, and exit the house with him. We go out to Roxy's, a very fancy restaurant on the corner of Main and 24th. We have a nice, private table, with a candlelight dinner. During dinner, Dave tells me about how his latest signing had gone; Dave is a real estate agent. After dinner, we go out to a few bars, visiting with his friends. When he finally takes me home, which is well past midnight, I feel a little drunk.
On my porch, Dave places his hands on my arms, holding me there. "Jess, this was a wonderful evening, but it doesn't have to end yet."
"What do you-" I begin to say, but Dave's mouth covers mine, preventing me from talking any further. His tongue forces its way into my mouth. Immediately, I push him away. "Dave, what do you think you're doing?"
An evil smile crosses Dave's face as he grabs my arms, and brings me to his body again. "It's time you give yourself to me, fully and completely, Jess," he tells me cryptically. "It's time you become mine!" He pushes me into the door, which causes pain to shoot through me. He turns the doorknob, opens the door, and pushes me in. I stumble over the threshold, but Dave grabs my arms again as he closes the door. I struggle to get away, but he's too strong, and he tightens his grip. He pushes me onto the sofa, where he covers me with his body.
"Get off me, Dave!" I scream out, hoping Mark would hear me.
I start to hit him on the side of his head with my fists, but he grabs my hands with one of his own. With his free hand, he reaches under me, unzips my dress, and pulls it down over my breasts. "You'll never want another man after I'm through with you tonight," Dave tells me as his hand rubs my breasts, molding them, teasing my nipples. He lowers his head to my chest, and I feel his tongue slide over my skin.
I've been quiet up until now, but I can't take any more abuse. I kick him in the groin, and he groans, falling onto the floor. I quickly stand up, stomp on him a few times, screaming at him, "Get out of here! I don't want to ever see you, and I mean EVER!" With a final kick to his ribs, he gets up and runs out the door. I race to the door, lock it, and lean my back against it. Tears are streaming down my face as I re-zip my dress. "How could I have thought he was different?!" I ask myself.
I go up the stairs, and as I approach my bedroom, Mark's door opens. He comes out into the hallway, dressed only in boxer-briefs. "I thought I heard screaming," he tells me. He looks at me closely, takes my hand, and guides me into his room. "Are you okay?"
I lose control of my tears then. As I sob, I feel Mark take me into his arms, and just hold me. After a few minutes, I sit on his bed. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to soak you in my tears."
"It's all right, Jess," Mark replies, sitting next to me. "Want to tell me about it?"
I nod. "We'd just gotten back from dinner, and he just changes from sweet gentleman to vicious lust-demon. It scared the hell outta me, and he just wouldn't let me go. He kept hurting me, and then he started to undress me and touch me." I tell him, not telling him much else. Tears are coming down my face again. "Why did I believe he was different than the others?"
Mark puts his arm around me again. I'm beginning to like his arms around me. "Because you wanted him to be. You want somebody to love and to love you back." Mark replies.
"I'm beginning to think I won't ever find anyone like that," I whisper, looking down at my clasped hands.
Mark lifts my chin with his forefinger until I'm looking at him. He wipes a tear off my face with his thumb. All of a sudden, his mouth is on mine. I'm shocked at his suddenness, and can't do anything, but let him continue. His weight forces me to lie down on his bed, and he follows me. His tongue finds its way into my mouth.
By now, I've regained my bearings, and begin to push him away from me. "Get off of me!" I scream. He lifts his body a little, and I slip away. I turn around to face him. "What is it, 'Attack Jess' night? Mark, I thought you were different; I thought you respected me."
Mark stands up, and comes over to me. He tries to place his hands on my arms, but I twist away. "I do respect you, Jess," he says. He runs his hands through the roots of his hair. "I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry." He looks at me with pleading eyes.
I answer in anger, "Not half as sorry as I am!" I storm out of the room, slamming the door behind me, then slamming my own door. I plop down onto my bed, tears really coming down now. The one guy I thought I could trust turned on me. I'm not disappointed about Dave, but I am disappointed about Mark. "How could I let him do that to me? I should have known better." I take a long, hot shower, scrubbing my skin until it is bright pink.
As I gently towel-dry myself, I look into the mirror. "Does Mark really feel bad about what he did?" I ask myself, and pull on a pair of panties and a huge T-shirt. I start to blow-dry my hair, and keep talking to myself. "I did the right thing. I didn't want to repeat what happened so long ago, with Dave or anyone." I continue to blow-dry my hair, my guilt growing. "I really shouldn't have said what I did to Mark. That was out of anger, but it was still wrong."
I brush out my hair, put it up into a ponytail, and go back to my bed. I climb in under my bed-coverings, and turn out my lamp. As I lay against my pillows, my guilt grows to an all-time high. "I wish I could take back what I said to him. He didn't deserve it." I say aloud to myself. "Tomorrow, I'll apologize. He really couldn't help himself. It was a romantic moment. Even I was touched by his gentleness." Suddenly, thoughts and emotions hit me. I think through every moment of the past six months, and fall asleep before I'm through.
********
I awaken at ten o'clock, and realize it's Monday morning. Mark hadn't even bothered to wake me up for work. "After the way I treated him, why would he?" I grumble to myself. I get out of bed, get dressed, and brush my hair again. I nearly stumble down the stairs. When I reach the kitchen, I trip over Harley's food dish, and land on my butt, my head hitting the floor pretty hard. I moan, pain encompassing me. I sit up, grip the countertop as I stand back up, bringing Harley's dishes with me.
I rub my head as I look into the fridge. The sight of food doesn't seem to agree with my stomach, so I grab a bottle of water instead. As I lean against the counter island, unscrewing the cap from the bottle, I spot a note from Mark on the fridge, under a magnet. It reads: "Jess, if you want me to move out, I will. There are some apartments near the shop that are being rented out, so I could move out as soon as you say so. I don't want to stay and burden you anymore. We can talk about it later. Mark."
"Shit," I swear at myself. "I hurt him…I should've known better." I shake my head once. "Damn it." I pick up my pack, put my arms through the straps, and grab my truck keys. I run out to the garage, locking the front door first, and jump into the truck. I slam my foot on the gas pedal too hard, and the truck almost goes through the garage door before it's finished opening. After I get out of the driveway, I race down my street to get to Main. As I near the corner, I spot a police vehicle, and finally slow down. "If I don't slow myself down, I won't be able to make that apology," I say to myself. Five minutes later, I park along side the storefronts, and enter the shop.
As soon as I enter, someone calls out, "Good morning, and welcome to Mark's Tattoo Studio. How can I help you?" I look toward the counter, and see a young woman standing there, smiling at me. A blonde bimbo (no offense to anyone). She's in her early 20's, I'm guessing. My first thought is that Mark replaced me, and then I realize she's just the stand-in for the stand-in.
I smile politely at her. "I need to speak to Mark," I tell her.
"Wouldn't we all?" she replies, her smile growing even bigger. "I tell ya, I've been trying to talk to him for the longest time. He just won't open up!" She comes around the counter. "Here, I'll take ya to him." She takes my arm, and leads me to the back, stopping at the fourth door. "Hey, Mark!" she calls to the door.
"What?" comes his gruff reply.
"There's some chick here to see ya," she returns. She turns to me, and whispers, "What's your name?"
"Jess," I reply.
"The chick's name is Jess, and she needs to talk to you," she shouts out again.
There is silence for a few minutes. Then Mark replies, "Put her in an available room for now, Kate."
Kate takes my arm again, and leads my down the hall a little further. We stop at the first door, and she opens it. "Here ya go," she says, coming in with me. "Ya know, Mark is just so sexy." She sighs as she sits down on a chair. I sit up on the cushioned seat where the customers sit. "I've always wanted to go home with him, and, ya know, get in his pants, or more correctly, jeans." She snickers to herself. "Why did you want to see Mark anyway?"
I think it's none of her business, but I tell her, "Mark and I had a misunderstanding, and I wanted to clear it up."
Kate nods, as if knowing what it was about. "Ya know, a good romp in bed would solve everything," she replies.
I'm about to answer, but the door opens, and Mark walks in. He notices Kate sitting in the chair, and says, "Kate, could you leave us alone?" Kate nods, and leaves. Mark sits down in the chair she just vacated. He looks at me with cold eyes, full of anger. "Why did you come here?"
"I work here still, don't I?" I reply smugly. "Besides, we need to talk about last night."
"I think we talked enough. You made your point clear to me, and I intend to leave soon." Mark replies angrily.
"Mark," I answer, "please listen to me first, okay?" He just crosses his huge tattooed arms in front of his chest, and leans back in the chair. "Last night, I was angry, blinded by rage and all, and I didn't know what I was doing," I explain. "I had just gotten through another hopeless relationship, and Dave had violated me. All I wanted was some comfort, nothing more."
Mark nods, and I continue. "When I was with you, and you caught me unawares with a kiss, I couldn't handle it. I didn't want to be kissed ever again after what had just happened to me. I understand now that you had wanted to comfort me, and just got caught up in the moment."
"And afterwards," Mark adds, "you wished I hadn't lived in your house. I think I got the picture pretty well. I'll get my things out as soon as I put a down-payment on an apartment."
"But Mark, I don't want you to leave."
Mark stands up in anger. "How long are you going to let me live in your house now, huh?!" his voice booms. "Another six months? Maybe just two months this time?"
Tears are welling up in my eyes. "No, Mark," I tell him. "I want you to stay forever."
He didn't hear me. "I'll tell you one thing, Miss Jessica Curtis, I will not let you abuse our friendship anymore. I'm-" He stops in mid-sentence. His brow knots up. "What did you just say?"
My tears finally overflow, and run down my face. I laugh a little, then repeat, "I said, I want you to stay forever."
Mark sits back down on the chair. "Forever?" he whispers, looking deeply into my eyes.
I smile again. Sliding of the bigger chair, I straddle Mark's lap. "Mark," I say in a soft voice, "I didn't really realize until after I yelled at you why you were always moody. You loved me, but I was gone with Dave all the time, and it really pissed you off, made you jealous."
I stop for a breath, and put my arms around his neck. Mark puts his arms around my waist. "Wouldn't you be a bit jealous, too?" he asks.
I nod, and answer, "Yeah, of course I would." I shake my head. "The point is, I didn't see all this until after I yelled at you. I'm really sorry I did it, and I want your forgiveness. I love you, Mark, and I don't want you to leave…ever." I smile, and laugh again. "I know it sounds corny." Mark smiles at that.
Tears are still falling off my chin, and Mark wipes a few off with his thumb. "I don't want to leave you, either. I love you, Jess…" Mark trails off as his lips come to mine. This time, I accept the pressure on my mouth. My fingers entangle themselves in his hair when his tongue slips between my lips and begins to explore my mouth.
A knock comes to the door. "Mark, your eleven o'clock is here!" Kate calls out.
"Thanks, Kate," Mark calls back, and looks at me again. "Looks like I can't play hookie all day."
I laugh, and get off his lap, pulling him to his feet. "I ask only one more thing of you," I tell him.
"What?"
"Can I have my job back?"
Mark smiles, and replies, "Sure, anything for you." He puts his arm around me, and we walk to the front together. "Hey, Kate, you can go leave now," Mark tells the girl.
Kate's about to protest, but sees Mark's arm still around me. "Sure, Mark. Thanks for letting me work for a few hours." She grabs her coat, and leaves the store.
Mark turns to the customer. "Come with me, sir," he tells the man, and turns to me. "Don't go anywhere, okay?"
"Don't worry, I won't," I reply with a smile. He takes the man to the back rooms. I go to the counter, and glance at the appointment chart. This is the last one for today, if no one else calls. I smile to myself. "Good," I say aloud, "looks like Mark and I will spend most of the day together." I look out to the street, anxiously waiting what the day will bring.
