Carolina's Story

[Kelli-wa]

"Alright, you've proven you can do it, you just need to get some experience. Sometimes people will give you a shot, but you have to get the word out there. If you've got some close friends that'll take the risk, go for it," said James, better known as Jimmy "The Ace" Morrison. He was also known as "Boss" to the people who worked at his small tattoo parlor in Nashville, Tennessee. He was an amazing artist and she was really glad to be given this opportunity. She was only nineteen and hadn't had any training or experience other than doodling on her notes in high school and drawing on her friends with sharpie markers while they were sleeping, although, those artworks had turned out very good.
"Alright, thank you Boss," Carolina replied.
"You're cleared for piercings though, so you can do that while you're gaining experience. I'm also ordering practice canvas. It's basically fake skin that you can do some basics on and we'll go from there."
The blonde girl nodded with a grin. This was finally happening. SHe was so ready for it. She was left with Camille and Greyson, two other artists at the parlor.
"Don't worry, two or three good ones and he'll clear you. He's not as strict as he comes off," Camille said. "I'm Camille, by the way, Cami for short. That stupid looking Asian over there is Greyson. He'll talk in a minute."
A smirk was all that came from Greyson and he shook his head lightly. "You're just mad 'cause you can't have my dick, Cam."
Camille scoffed and shook her head, walking from the room.
Greyson laughed and looked over at Carolina. "By the way, I'll talk right now, usually it takes me a minute, but you're pretty." Carolina blushed and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Thanks I guess," she said quietly. "I'm Carolina, or Caroline, or Carol, or whatever you want to call me, really, I'm not particularly picky. I'll answer to anything, stupid, ditz, blondie, whatever you want, honestly---
"Sh-hhh," Grayson said with a light chuckle. "Calm down a bit, bullet, you'll hurt yourself. Why don't you sit down. Caroline is a beautiful name. It fits you."
She blushed again. "Th-thank you..." She sat down beside the attractive person that she hadn't expected to be so nice to her. She was so embarrassed right now and she honestly wasn't sure what to say.
"Alright, so the deal about the first day is, you have to show me all of your tattoos." He looked her over. "I would assume you have a decent amount."
Carolina licked her lips and nodded. "Uhm.. Yeah... well, I have two so far..." Her heart started to beat a little faster and she blushed again. "I don't know though. They're kind of hidden. Well, one of them is..." She lifted her hair up to show him a star that rested on her hair line. "That one isn't, but the other one kind of is..."
Greyson gave her a pout, "Oh come on, I won't tell. I won't tell anyone you showed me either."
She raised a brow at him and licked her lips. She wasn't sure. "I think you should just remember that I don't really like to explain it..."
He nodded, "You don't have to explain it. Not now, anyway."
She nodded and lifted her shirt up to show him the anchor that was between her belly button and her hip. The anchor had a banner around it with the initials "E.R.D." on it.
He looked at it and then back at her face. "Not too bad, who did them? They look like Jimmy's."
She nodded, "That's because he did them," she said with a smirk.
"Alright Miss Carolina," Greyson said, "Would you go get a drink with me tonight? If I buy, will you tell me what the anchor means?"
Carolina thought about it for a moment and finally, but reluctantly nodded, "Yes. I'll tell you what it means. But we can't go to a bar. I won't get in."
He smiled, "We'll just go to my place then."