Scars

Singing along cheerfully to the music that filtered through the salon speaker system, Tonya pottered around making sure everything was back in it’s rightful place and that everything was clean ready for her first client the following day.

The salon had only been open a week, but was already busy, Tonya and the other girls barely having the time to sit down and have a coffee break or even lunch most days.

“Cheerful this afternoon.” Gena stated with a smile as Tonya walked happily around the salon.

“Anything wrong with that?” she asked with a large smile on her face.

“Not at all. Just wondering the reason considering we’ve barely stopped all day.” Gena replied from where she was sat behind the reception desk checking over the rest of the days appointments.

“That’s just it. I have finished for the day, got no one booked in until tomorrow morning.” She replied.

Gena eyed her with a suspicious smile, “So, it has nothing to do with a certain tattooist and the fact that your phone hasn’t stopped going off all day?”

Tonya blushed, she and Brian had been sending messages to each other all day, well, all week really, since he left Stella’s house Saturday night. It had started with Brian texting her with a good night message, which had turned into three hours of them messaging each other before Tonya had fallen asleep. They had then continued to message each other for the past three days, just talking randomly.

“It might do.” Tonya replied unable to stop the smile forming on her lips.

“Oh of course it has.” Heather, one of the stylists cheered from where she was working on a client. “Smiles like that only appear when there’s a sexy man involved.”

“You really like him don’t you?” Gena asked with a smile. Tonya nodded as she blushed some more.

“There’s certainly something about him yeah.” She replied.

“Well, after seeing the two of you together on Saturday I think you make a lovely couple.” Gena told her making her smile more.

“It’s early days yet, but it’s looking promising so far.” Tonya replied. “And now, seeing as I’ve finished for the day, I’m off to see said tattooist to see the design he’s done for me.”

“See you tomorrow Hun.” Gena said, passing her her purse from under the desk

As she exited the salon, she began to sing along quietly to herself, still unable to shake the smile on her face as she got into her car, turning up the volume of the radio and singing louder as she made her way back to Huntington.

She felt the heat rise in her cheeks as soon as she opened the door to the tattoo studio. She glanced around quickly and found all three of the guys’ busy working at their stations and Jason behind the large reception desk.

“Hey beautiful, what you doing here?” Jason asked with a smile.

“Don’t get too excited, she’s not here for us, only Brian.” Jimmy called out with a fake pout.

“Oh Jimmy, that’s not entirely true, I’ll still come here to see you too.” she said as she kissing his cheek.

“You better. I know he’s prettier than me, but I’ve known you longer.” He stated still pouting.

“Hey, if she’s coming here to see anyone, it should be me, we’re family after all.” Johnny said.

Tonya rolled her eyes and sighed. “Actually guys, although I am here to see Brian, I am here on business too.”

“Really? As in getting a tattoo done?” Johnny asked as he covered the tattoo he’d just finished.

“I don’t know about actually being done today, but he’s done a design for me yeah.” She replied.

“What design?” Jimmy asked.

“My memorial tattoo for Luke.” She said earning shocked expressions from the five guys. “What?”

“Really?” Johnny asked quietly, glancing over at Brian who seemed to be concentrating on the tattoo he was doing.

“Brian’s doing it?” Jason asked cautiously.

Tonya sighed again, “I know where you’re going with this guys, and I know it’s a bit weird, but I’m finally ready to have this tattoo done and he offered to do it.” she said, keeping her voice hopefully low enough so that Brian couldn’t hear.

“If that’s what you want.” Johnny said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“So long as he does a good job. Does Luke justice.” Jimmy added.

“Don’t you trust your colleague to do a good job?” she asked with a smile.

“Of course we do, it’s just that this is different I guess.” Johnny said returning her smile.

“And we’re just put out that you’ve put off getting it done for so long and now that we’ve hired a sexy tattooist you get him to do it.” Jimmy said with a wink.

“You got me.” she replied with a wink of her own. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got a tattoo design to check out.” she added noticing Brian showing the tattoo he’d just finished to his client in the mirror.

“I love it, thank you.” the woman in her early twenties said with a smile, lifting her gaze from the tattoo on her wrist to Brian, her eye lashes fluttering.

“You’re welcome, I’m glad you like it.” he replied with a polite smile. “You can pay Jason at the front desk.”

“Hey.” Tonya said as he approached him her smile widening.

“Hey.” he replied returning her smile. Brian stepped forward, leaning down to press his lips to hers, Tonya quickly recapturing his lips briefly as he made to pull away.

"So, do you have design for me?" she asked as she pulled away, sitting down in his chair.

"I most certainly do." he said turning to the unit behind them, taking out a large sketch pad. "Now if you don't like it I want you to tell me. I know how important this is to you so I want you to be sure you're happy with it." he added as he crouched down beside her as he found the page he needed. "Promise?"

"I promise but I'm sure it'll be perfect." she replied with a smile. He turned the sketch book over, placing it on her lap watching her reaction carefully. Tonya was amazed. It was beautiful; even more beautiful than she had imagined it being. The bold heart in the centre an Angel’s halo shining above it; with delicate Angel wings coming off it; Luke's initials, date of birth and date he died worked into the pattern almost unnoticeable unless you knew what you were looking for. The delicate cursive words in the banner that floated around the heart, "My Hearts Always With You." Fitting perfectly how she felt.

"Brian, it's beautiful." she whispered quietly unable to lift her gaze.

"Really?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes really." she said lifting her eyes to look at him, a smile wide on her lips. "I love it. I think its perfect." she added reaching up to place her hand on his chiselled cheek. "Thank you." she leaned over and kissed his thin lips.

"I'm glad you like it." he said with a smile as he pulled reluctantly away from her.

"No one could have done a better job. I can't wait to have it done." she said her eyes sparkling.

"You got time now?" Brian asked returning her smile.

"Now?" she repeated in shock.

"Yeah why not? I've got no one else booked in." he replied.

"How long will it take?" she asked.

"An hour, maybe and hour and a half." he told her as she glanced at her watch.

"Yeah okay." she replied with a smile.

"Okay give me ten minutes to set everything up and we'll get it done."

As Brian set up his station, Tonya gazed over the sketch on her lap. it really was perfect and exactly how she had imagined it being. It did Luke justice.

“It was on your lower back you wanted it wasn’t it?” Brian asked as he put on a pair of black latex gloves. Tonya nodded as she stood up, placing the sketch book back on the unit before starting to unbutton the top she was wearing.

“T! You can’t strip down to your bra!” Johnny yelled from across the room.

“Why not? I’m more covered up than some of the women who come in here in their tiny little so called bikinis!” she replied as she tossed the top onto the small stool next to her.

“She has a point there dude.” Jimmy replied. “There’s no need to get your knickers in a twist just because she’s your cousin. And anyway, she looks damn fine in just a bra.” He added with a wink.

“Thank you James.” She replied with a smile before turning to Brian. “Where do you want me?”

A wicked smile crept onto Brian’s lips which was mirrored briefly by Tonya before he signalled to the recliner chair that was in a horizontal position. “On your front, head at that end.” He said with a point.

"Nice phoenix." Brian said as she lay down.

"Thanks dude." Jimmy called over with a smile.

"You did that?" Brian asked Jimmy who nodded.

"Yeah, when I first moved back to Huntington after loosing Luke. He did the one behind my ear too." she said pulling back her hair to reveal the broken heart.

"Nice." Brian commented as he began to place the stencil onto her lower back.

"Got any others?" he asked.

"Only the ones on my wrists that Johnny did." she said. "I wanted more but various things stopped me."

"Do you wanna go check that out? Make sure you're happy with it." he said. She got up and walked over to the mirror tears forming in her eyes as she saw the design on her skin. "It looks fantastic." she said as she walked back over to him. She lay back down and made herself comfortable so that Brian could start the outline.

"So," she said tilting her head to look at him. "Tell me about some of your tattoos."

"Well," he began. "My first one was when I was fifteen, the number one on my thumb. I got Haner on my back but I don't really like it." he continued.

"How come?" she asked.

"It looks amateurish. I was young when I had it done.” He explained.

“You’ll have to show me it sometime.” She said with a grin. “Got any more hidden under that v-neck?”

“Just a small one on my chest, it says Blueblood.” He replied with a smile.

“Yeah, I’ll have to see that one too.” she said a playful glint in her eye.

“Perv!” Johnny called from across the room.

“Prude!” she countered quickly as she rested her head onto her folded arms, keeping her eyes on Brian.

“Okay, there you go, it’s done.” Brian said as he wiped away the last bit of ink off her newly coloured skin. “Let me know what you think.”

Tonya stood up slowly and made her way over to the mirrors, turning so that she could look at her back. As she looked at the image she felt tears well up in her eyes. It looked even more beautiful on her skin than what it had done in his sketch book.

“You happy with it?” Brian asked as he came up behind her.

She turned to face him, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I love it, it’s perfect.” She replied quietly with a small smile on her face. “Thank you so much.”

“No worries, I’m just glad you’re happy with it.” he said as she kissed his cheek. “Come her and I’ll cover it for you.”

As Brian carefully covered her tattoo, Tonya reached into her purse to retrieve her ringing cell phone. “Hey Hun, what’s up?”

“I’ve got take out and two bottles of wine and I need a rant.” Stella said.

“Okay, I can be home in about twenty minutes. Is everything okay?” she replied.

“It’ll be better once this wine is open.” she replied.

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.” she replied before she hung up with a sigh.

“Everything okay?” Brian asked quietly.

“Not sure.” Tonya replied “Stella needs a vent for some reason so I’m going to have to shoot off. How much do I owe you for this?”

“Nothing.” Brian said with a shake of his head.

“No, Bri I can’t do that.” she protested as she pulled her top back on.

“Yes I can. You’re a friend, well actually I hope you’re more than that, you’re not paying for it.” he told her, a blush creeping over his cheeks.

Tonya sighed, a smile appearing on her lips as she gazed up into his brown eyes. “I’ll just have to find some other way of paying then won’t I?”

Brian smirked as she leaned up to kiss his lips, lingering briefly before she pulled away. “I’ll speak to you tomorrow.” she said, Brian agreeing before she said goodbyes to the other guys.