She moved toward me, unbuttoning her jeans and sliding them down her perfect legs. I stare in awe, “Your turn,” She says, her expression unreadable.

I slide off my own jeans, as she watches briefly before pushing me down onto the bed and straddling me. We continue to kiss, her going between my neck, down the line of my breasts and back to my mouth. Though my nerves were taking over, I took the chance to unclip her bra, not feeling like I had done this many times before. It falls to the bed, revealing perfect breasts. I suddenly felt as equally turned on as I was embarrassed, by my own body and small assets. She must have been able to sense it, as she pulled away, “What’s wrong?” she asked, concerned. Her body displayed in all its magnitude.

“I just can’t believe you look like that.” I mouthed.

She laughed and said, “This old rig?” leaning in to continue kissing me with her unearthly lips.

Hours later, we were lying next to each other with our legs intertwined and our foreheads so close that they were pressed together. Time went by as we talked about our dreams and aspirations. Kattie informed me that she was an aspiring DJ. It was something she had been wanting for her entire life, and in fact she was working on a song on her laptop, in the cafe on the day that we met. She had an agent and everything. More hours passed as we lay there talking before eventually falling asleep.

As I woke the next morning and rolled over, I saw Kattie looking at me with her head propped up on her hand. I gazed at her tiredly. “What are you doing today? I don’t have work.” I said, silently hoping she didn't have any plans, and that she would want to spend her day with me as much as I did her.

She looked at me, smiling slightly. “I'm thinking I want to hang out with you all day.”

My heart skipped a beat as her words drifted to my ears.

“What should we do?” I asked excitedly.

“I was thinking that we could do something exciting. See what the world has to offer on a day like today.” I said, as she looked at me, her head still propped on her hand.

“That sounds great.” I said, as I got up to go to the bathroom. “I’ll be back,” I smiled, giddy, anticipating my return to her bed.

When I got back, I lay back down, she pulled me onto her chest, her left arm around my body, and her right holding my wrist. She stroked my skin with her finger as she looked up at me. “We should get going. I have a few ideas.” She announced, so we got up, and she led me to the shower where she proceeded to undress me for the second time.

After a short while, she leaned past me and shut the shower off, stepping out and passing me a towel. “Do you want to go past your place and get a change of clothes first or wear something of mine?” She nodded toward my pile of clothes that were folded on a rack on the floor. I wondered how I didn’t notice them last night on my trip to the bathroom.

“Is it alright if I wear something of yours and I'll give it back tomorrow?” I asked. I didn’t really want to stop by my place, reminding me that I had to find a room mate fast, or move out. The extra stress wasn’t what I wanted, nor needed right now.

“Of course.” She said, reaching for some clothing items. She handed me a folded pair of grey skinny jeans, similar to my usual attire, and a black and grey speckle pattern t-shirt. She put the folded clothes on the bathroom sink and slid into some of her own.

After dressing, we made our way out into the daylight, and down the main street, stepping into my place of work for breakfast.

After talking, eating and soaking each other in for hours, we continued our walk down the main street to find something to do on this glorious day.

“Oh my God. I have an idea,” Kattie looked at me with wide eyes and a teasing grin. She tilted her head toward a tattoo parlor to the right end of the street.

“A tattoo?” I gasped, “I don’t know... I haven’t done anything like that before.” I grimaced.

“And that is exactly why you should!”, She pulled my arm and headed inside, “You won’t regret it.”

A sandy-haired guy, who looked about our age, walked over to us. His hair was shiny and his eyes sparkled, his dimples came out when he grinned in our direction. He was classically handsome, I thought to myself as I watched him carefully. I turned my gaze toward Kattie as she took him in. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him. She looked as if she were in awe, just for a split moment before looking away, just enough time for me to take in her reaction to him.

“What can I do for you?” He asked, looking directly at Kattie, his piercing eyes shined as perfectly blonde fell in front of his right eye before he brushed it away with his hand.

“Lizzy and I are getting matching tattoos.” Kattie spoke up before I had a chance to detest. I looked at her, slightly annoyed, but didn’t say anything.

“Okay, no worries. Do you have a design in mind, or would you like to see the book?” He asked, as he reached under the counter for a medium-sized photo album.

“Can we see the book?” She asked, reaching for it, before he had time to reply. He passed it to her, allowing her to flip through it. “What do you think of this one?” She asked me as she pointed to a very generic image of a star. I watched her form as she continued to browse. The way her hair fell across her shoulder, the way she talked to people without any hesitation… I couldn’t wrap my head around why she was with me.

She interrupted my thoughts, “Yes, no?”

“Sorry,” I shook my head, “Yes, that will do,”

“You could act a little more excited,” She laughed. I smiled in return, still not very keen on the idea that hundreds of little needles were about to be piercing my skin.

“Okay, we will get this one,” She said to the gorgeous blonde behind the counter, who seemed very interested in her, looking her up and down desiring her every aspect.

“Right on.” he buzzed, “I will just draw that up for you.” He turned to the back of the room and took a place at his workstation.

I drifted back into my thoughts... It was as if the beautiful people of the world had their own society, these two people belonged in it. And then, there were the people like me. Lost for words, and stumbling awkwardly through life with no direction or purpose. Just living.

My thoughts were soon interrupted once more, this time, as the buzz of the needle began. “Who’s first?” he asked, looking in our direction.

“Lizzy,” Kattie volunteered for me, a giggle escaping her lips as they twitched into a smile. Her perfect tanned skin glowed and her sparkling eyes mesmerized me, as though she were a siren luring me into her lare. Her long, dark, sultry lashes made me feel so inferior. I was definitely surrounded by a society of beautiful people. No one is that perfect. “Are you alright?” she asked, touching my arm, “Are you going first or not?”

“Yeah,” I said, standing and walking toward the tattoo bed that was splayed out in front of me. I took a seat, my stomach wrenching with fear.

“So where are we putting this bad boy?” The tattooist asked as he dipped the needle in black ink...

“My wrist,” I said, exposing the skin.

“Okay,” he said as he placed the transferable paper in place.

“Is it okay if I listen to music on my phone?” I asked, hoping to somehow take my mind off the pain that I was about to endure.

“Sure.” He nodded. And I quickly put my earphones in before he connected the buzzing needle to my skin. As it made contact, I jumped, not expecting that type of sensation.

“You're going to want to keep still or you are going to have a very uneven, shitty tattoo, which I won't take credit for.” Blondie warned me.

Distracted by his beauty, I just nodded. Lying very still, I felt the needle touch my skin again. The burning pain, very familiar… Suddenly, causing memories to flood my mind. Cutting skin with razors, knives, sharp objects, anything I could find. Like a dream, I couldn’t see who it was. Only an arm, a leg, or a stomach being sliced, as smoothly as though it was butter. The stinging, burning, blood spilling out. The thoughts stung and made me feel strange, like nostalgia. I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, hoping to shake it off. In an effort to drown out the thoughts, I turned up my music even louder, pressing my fingers into my eyes as I shut them, causing star shapes to appear in my mind, instead of the disturbing imagery.

Moments later, Blondie’s words shook me out of it. His hot, boyish self was sitting in front of me, peeling off his gloves... “You're done,” he said, sliding back in his mobile chair.

Feeling groggy, I sat up and looked at my wrist. The finished result was better than I had imagined, which was a huge relief. Kattie went next. I sat to watch her, as I peered at my own tattoo again, thinking about how I could never imagine myself without it now, even though I would have never imagined myself getting one in the first place. In a way, it was thought I could not imagine my life without Kattie, rather than the tattoo itself. “Told you, you would love it.” Kattie squeezed my arm, peering at my new amendment.

“How are you not squirming?” I asked, intrigued, as blondie buzzed away on her ankle.

“I’m used to it. It's almost like it's nothing.” She smiled at me and then looked back at her new addition.

Looking back and forth between them, I sensed an attraction. For a split second, I felt a ping of jealousy. Maybe she was meant to be with someone else, someone as beautiful as him. And then I found myself wondering about all the others she would have been with previously, and got annoyed. Even though I knew I had no right to be. I reminded myself that she had just gotten a matching tattoo with me. A tattoo that would be placed on her body forever. The thought made me smile.

As we got up to leave, I led the way to the counter and paid. Even though she insisted she pay, I quickly did myself, before she could do anything about it. Walking to the door I glanced back to see Kattie talking to the tattoo artist again. Her stance as she twirled her finger through her long, soft curls, looked as though she were flirting. I watched for a little longer until she turned and said goodbye. As she joined me, she slipped her hand into mine. I pulled away. “Do you like that guy?” I accused.

“No, don’t be silly. Why would you even ask that? I just got a matching tattoo with you...” Her tone was both confused and offended.

“Because what I saw back there looked like you were pretty interested.” my tone was accusing.

“Okay, you need to calm the crazy for a second. Stop being so possessive.” She looked at me the way one would never want to be looked at and turned away.

I paused for a minute before turning her chin to face me. “I’m sorry. I have never been with someone…” I paused again, “Someone so much better than me. I don’t know how to act, how to think, how to behave.” I watched as the anger on her face melted away.

“I guess I can forgive you.” She gave me a slight smile, “And I am not better than you. Just so you know.”

“You are. I just don’t see why you even like me. You could have anyone.” I hoped my words would prove intentions, and help her to understand why I was insecure.

She looked at me and laughed. “Don’t be stupid.” Which didn’t ease my mind at all.