Standing behind Amber and May was a girl who looked like she’d taken a wrong turn into a wolf’s den. She looked petrified, clutching the hem of her sweater like it was the only thing keeping her above water. She didn’t belong on this side of town, that much was obvious even at a glance.
Her eyes, fearful, flitted about as if seeking a lifeline. Her friends didn’t provide one—they looked more like sharks circling prey—and Kane wasn’t much of a help either. Last, the girl’s gaze fell to mine.
She stared at me with big, brown doe eyes that seemed too innocent for a place like this. Her cheeks were dusted with freckles, and her lips were full, pink, and soft. Her long, dark brown hair cascaded down her back, a stark contrast to the harsh lights of the studio. She was dressed in an oversized light blue sweater that swallowed her frame, black tights, and white Old School Vans.
She was all soft edges in a room full of sharp needles.
May rolled her eyes. “Ingrid! Are you seriously going to spend your whole life doing whatever your parents say? It’s just a tiny tattoo.”
“Yeah,” smirked Amber. “Come on. Do something against their wishes for once. Live a little.”
Ingrid stammered, “I-I left the house today. That was against their wishes.”
“Ooh, what a big girl you are,” sniggered May.
Amber added, “You only did that because they’re out of town.”
Ingrid’s mouth worked up and down. Again, her gaze swept the room, looking for help. None came from the others. She looked to me again, my eyes catching hers, but then she looked away just as fast.
I couldn’t blame her for that. I knew I wasn’t exactly approachable. But I couldn’t stop watching her.
“C-can I use your restroom, please?” Ingrid squeaked to Kane.
“Sure, it’s in the back to the left,” he answered.
She hurried toward the hall and away, not daring to look at me as she passed.
Kane said to me, “Can you go check to see if there are any blank canvases in the back?”
I nodded, grateful for the distraction from Amber and May and the poor girl they’d dragged out here, and headed toward the storage closet.
The shelves were empty.
Just as I was turning to head back, a blur of blue wool and soft curves collided with me.
Instinct took over. I shot my hands out to steady her, fingers gripping her arms. I looked down, and my breath hitched. Ingrid stared up at me, her eyes wide with shock. She had to be five feet tall at most; she barely reached my chest. I was a tall guy, sure, but I’d never considered my six-foot-two frame to be overly large until this very moment, standing so close to someone so delicate. She felt fragile in my hands.
She pulled back quickly, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I-I’m sorry… I-I didn’t mean to bump into you or a-anything; I just—“
“It’s OK,” I said, my voice coming out lower than intended. Her legs quaked, and I softened my tone. “No harm done.”
Trembling subsiding, she looked up, surprised by the lack of anger in my voice.
“You all right?” I asked, fighting the urge to reach out and steady her again.
She nodded, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. The movement released a faint scent of vanilla and rain. “Y-yeah. I need to get home soon. Myabuelitawanted me home by eight thirty, but the girls are dragging their heels. W-we were just supposed to see a movie, but they wanted to come here afterward, and I didn’t have the strength to argue with them, and…“ She’d been speaking quicker and quicker, all one breathless rush, but now she caught herself. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
I tamped back a smirk. “How about I remind them to get you back?”
A flush crept up her cheeks. “Yes please.”
I headed back into the shop, Ingrid’s small shadow trailing behind me.
“Are you girls going to be a lot longer?” I asked. “It’s about time Ingrid got home…”
May sighed, not looking up. “We’re going to be here another thirty minutes or so. Can’t you sit up front or something?”
“B-but I told myabuelita…“ Ingrid whispered.
