Nothing in This World Can Compare to You

I woke up the next morning to the feeling of sunlight blaring down on my face. With a groan I lifted my head, realising that Nate and I had passed out in the living room. As quietly I could, I lifted his arm off of me and stood up, reaching for my phone. SHIT! I have to be at work in half an hour! And it takes me 15 minutes to get there! I quickly knelt back down to Nate’s sleeping body.

“Nate, Nate baby, wake up,” I said urgently.

Nate’s eyes flickered open and his forehead creased.

“What?” he drawled.

“I have to be at work in half an hour, so I’ve got to get ready quick. Didn’t want you to wake up alone and not know why,” I said quickly.

“Babe, I’ll drive you, calm down,” Nate yawned.

“Are you sure?” I asked, biting my bottom lip.

“Yuh huh. Go get ready,” Nate nodded.

I squealed and pecked his lips, before running upstairs. Fuck I love this man. I knew I wouldn’t have enough time for a shower so I just sprayed a shitload of deodorant all over me, and washed all...juices off my torso. I then pulled on a clean pair of black boxers, ripped skinny jeans, a black Glamour Kills t-shirt and jumped into my favourite Black Etnies. As a last thought, I shoved my old black flat peak cap on my head to cover my messy hair. Yeah, that’ll do. I grabbed my sidekick and wallet, shoving them in my pockets, and ran back downstairs, only to see Nate dressed in the clothes he wore yesterday. I grimaced, making him laugh.

“I’ll change when I get back, love,” Nate promised.

I nodded and opened the front door, only to have Nate clear his throat.

“Aren’t you forgetting this?” Nate mused, waving my camera in the air.

“My bad,” I blushed, taking it from him.

Nate laced our fingers together all the way down to his car, and pecked my lips before getting in the driver’s side. He drove pretty damn fast to get me to work, and pulled to a stop right outside the front doors of the building.

“Fuck, you drove fast,” I gasped, unclenching my hand from the door grip.

“Only so I had time to do this,” Nate smirked.

I couldn’t help but inhale sharply as Nate pressed a deep slow kiss on my lips, one of his hands looping behind my head. He lightly ran his tongue over my bottom lip before plunging his tongue into my mouth, tangling with mine dangerously. I moaned at the intensity of the embrace, but pulled away as I felt myself stir downstairs.

“I have to get to work,” I breathed.

“I’ll be waiting when you get home then,” Nate smiled.

“I finish early today but I’ve got my tattoo appointment with Jared,” I reminded him.

“Oh, the memorial for your dad? Dylan not doing it this time?” Nate frowned.

“No, he said he couldn’t. He knew my dad too, remember? Besides, it’s his day off,” I said with a weak smile.

“True. Alright, well I’ll wait for you,” Nate replied.

“Thanks. I love you,” I grinned.

“I love you too. Now go make some money,” Nate chuckled.

I laughed and pressed another quick kiss to Nate’s lips before getting out of the car. I walked quickly up to my office, where Dan was already sitting at his desk. He looked up at me and burst into laughter.

“What?!” I yelped.

“Have fun last night?” he grinned.

I frowned, confused, until Dan pointed at his neck. I walked over to the mirror on our wall (yes, we are that vain), and shrieked. There are 3 deep purple hickeys right on the front of my neck. Right in plain sight.

“I’m going to kill Nate,” I growled.

“You didn’t know?” Dan cackled.

“No I bloody well didn’t! And Nate obviously did!” I exasperated.

“We’ve got that business meeting today, don’t forget,” Dan smirked.

“Ohhhhhh!” I whined.

I sat down at my desk and rooted around in the drawers for anything that would help. Oh thank the lord, a sandscarf. I quickly wrapped the black and white scarf around my neck, adjusting it till I knew it covered the three marks. Nate is going to pay tonight.

“So your anniversary was that good, huh?” Dan mused.

“It went perfectly actually, yeah. We just, uh, got a bit carried away,” I blushed.

“I can tell that by the hat over your hair and the lack of eyeliner,” Dan said seriously.

“If I didn’t know you’re bi, I would have serious doubts about your sexuality,” I teased.

“Thanks. I think,” Dan snorted.

*

“Alright, and that’s all I need to talk about. Has anyone got any other points they wish to make?” my mom asked.

No-one in the conference room said anything. Suh-weet!

“Then this meeting has ended. Thank you,” my mom smiled.

As people filed out of the room, I waved goodbye to my mom, seeing as I was leaving for the day. I walked with Dan back to our office and picked up my camera, cellphone and wallet.

“You’re off to get your tattoo now, right?” Dan smiled, closing the office door behind us.

“Yeah, can’t wait. I can’t believe I’ve taken this long to commemorate my dad actually. What are you doing tonight?” I smiled.

“Take-out and a movie at home. By myself. Oh the life of a bachelor,” Dan sighed dramatically.

I couldn’t help but laugh. I’m glad Dan and I get on so well. It’s nice to be around someone other than Nate that understands me so well. We walked down two sets of stairs to get outside of the building, pausing outside. He’s going right and I’m going left.

“See you tomorrow, Ash,” Dan grinned.

“Bright and early as always,” I nodded, smiling.

Dan laughed and did a weird little salute before walking his way, letting me walk mine. It’s a beautiful day out today. Shame I have to wear this stupid scarf. It only took me 20 minutes to get to Ink Academy and as soon as I walked in I smiled. It’s good to be back here.

“Ashley!” Shelley cried out excitedly.

I laughed as she ran into my arms, hugging her tightly.

“Jared’s just finishing his lunch, he’ll be out in a sec,” Shelley grinned.

“Make that now,” Jared corrected, walking from out the back.

“Hey Jar,” I greeted.

We did a man hug, before pulling away. I knew that Dylan was away today, but Jared, Shelley and Geoff were in so it was still cool.

“Alright, so have you got what you want tattooed?” Jared asked, leaning against the front desk.

“Yeah. I want my dad’s name, Carl Barton, tattooed in cursive script, and then this phrase tattooed slightly smaller underneath it,” I nodded.

I handed the piece of paper in my hand to Jared. His face scrunched up as he looked at it, making Geoff and Shelley look over his shoulder. It says Αναπαύσου εν ειρήνη.

“Is this...greek?” Jared frowned.

“Yeah, it’s Greek. It means Rest In Peace. My dad was half-greek,” I nodded, smiling weakly.

“He’d be real proud to see this,” Geoff said supportively.

“I hope so,” I chuckled.

“Okay, so you want this on the back of your neck?” Jared confirmed.

“Yuh huh,” I nodded.

“Awesome. Alright, come over to my station then. Geoff, don’t forget you’ve got that labret piercing at 3 and that anti-tragus piecing at half 3,” Jared reminded.

“Yeah, Shell told me they called in last minute,” Geoff nodded, smiling.

I followed Jared over to his station and laid face down on the bench like he told me too, pulling off my scarf and hat. It was easier this way, so my head didn’t move.

“This might hurt at first, but it’ll get easier,” Jared warned.

I didn’t say anything, knowing it would just be muffled if I did. 1 hour and a fair amount of blood later, the tattoo was done. Jared cleaned it up and walked me over to the large wall mirror. He held a massive hand mirror behind my head, angling it so I could see my new tattoo.

“Thank you. So much,” I said gratefully, my voice cracking slightly.

“No problem, Ashley. You’re like family here,” Jared grinned.

I blushed lightly, and grabbed my scarf and hat.

“Nice hickeys by the way,” Jared commented, walking over to the front desk.

Geoff and Shelley laughed, me just blushing deeply and wrapping my scarf round my neck, placing my flat peak back on my head.

“Tell Nate to keep his lips to himself, huh?” Geoff teased.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll see you guys later,” I replied, embarrassed.

I waved at them as I walked back out of the shop, glad to be going back home. I tugged on the ends of my scarf as I walked, the blush still slightly on my cheeks. Maybe I should tell Nate to keep his lips to himself.Even though I’d miss it.

Shame I had no idea that next week would turn my world upside down.