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“Where are you going, Miss Jackson?” Penelope calls out from the kitchen without showing her face. It takes a lot to get past her.
“Over to Abby’s, we need to finish our English assignment, it’s due tomorrow.” I hold up my folder and a copy of the Great Gatsby.
“Your father says you’re grounded.” She appears in the door frame, drying her hands on her apron and looking unconvinced.
“I don’t think assignment writing applies.” I grit my teeth.
“And why can’t Abby come here?” she questions.
“Because Abby has to watch her little cousin, her parents are out too.” I make up that one right on the spot and surprise myself at how convincing it sounds.
“Okay,” she nods eventually, and just as I’m about to open the front door I hear her again.
“Don’t worry, Miss Jackson, I won’t tell your father.” I spin my head around quickly.
“About your assignment… just be back before ten-thirty.” She smiles me a knowing smile, and I run and give her a hug before heading out to my car.
I type the zip code into my sat nav and it gets me straight there. Of course, I know there’s no guarantee that this will be the place Nyx works, but seeing as it’s the closest place for miles I stand a good chance.
I watch a hot looking blonde guy leave and get on a bike, and know I’m in the right place when I notice he’s wearing the same hooded skull on the back of his vest as the person I’d seen the other day at the top of our street. And I wait till he’s ridden out of sight before getting out of my car. I watch Nyx through the window from the other side of the street for a while. He’s wearing black plastic gloves, and looks like he’s being thorough as he cleans everything over.
When he disappears into a room behind the desk, I take my chance and quickly cross the street before I lose all my confidence and change my mind.
“We’re closed,” a rough voice calls out from the back room when I open the door. I step inside and stand still, in front of the desk. I’m unsurprised when I see the hooded skull on there too, and the words ‘Dirty Souls MC’ curved above it.
Suddenly everything clicks into place. Everyone's got a story to tell about the Souls, I’ve even heard my father talk about them.
When Nyx appears in front of me, he looks shocked to see me and I can’t make out if it’s a pleased kinda shock or the furious kind.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, his jaw tensed tight.
“My parents went out, so I decided to come find you.” I bite at my bottom lip.
“How did you know to find me here?” It’s the furious kind, he’s definitely mad at me.
“It wasn’t difficult, this is the only tattoo studio in miles.” I half smile, hoping to lighten him up a little.
“You shouldn’t be here, Ell.” He quickly rounds the desk, barging past me to get to the entrance and check outside. When he’s satisfied that no one’s seen me, he snaps down the blinds and locks the door.
“What’s the problem?” A nervous giggle comes out with my words because the way he’s acting is actually scaring me a little.
“This just isn’t the kinda place for you to be, I thought you were grounded anyway,” he says, sounding on edge.
“I am, but I was curious, Nyx, you never talk about yourself, your family, or even your friends. I just want to know more about you… I didn’t mean to get you angry.” I suddenly feel pathetic, Jesus, he doesn’t tell you shit because he doesn’t want you to know shit, Ella, get a grip…
“I’m sorry, I’ll leave.” I make for the door, but he stops me, grabbing my wrists and pulling me back to him. So close that I feel his broad chest sag as he lets out a long, frustrated sigh.
“I ain’t angry, not at you,” he assures me, still sounding agitated. “Did anyone see you come in here?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“Take a seat, let me finish out back then I’ll make sure you get home, okay?”
“I don’t want to go home, I wanna stay here for a little bit.” I stand my ground, fed up of all his mixed signals. “You can’t make me feel bad for coming here, not when you were watching me in my room from that tree behind my house for god knows how long,” I remind him.
Nyx looks at the floor and twists his mouth into something that resembles a smirk, I know he likes it when I stand up for myself, even if it’s against him.
“Just give me five,” he says disappearing into the back room again, leaving me so my eyes can wander. The walls are all black, but the bright lighting in the room and all the mirrors give the illusion that the place is much bigger than it is. There are sketches and photographs stuck all over the walls, and two tattoo stations that both look sterile.
Nyx is watching me from the doorframe when I turn back around. I don’t know how long he’s been staring, but I know it’s long enough for him to see how nosey I’ve been.
