Troubled with Tattoos

Chapter Ten:

Girls Night

After hours of playing basketball with the boys, we were all gross and sweaty so we called it quits. My hair stuck to my forehead and the boys shirts were drenched. Each of them were so different yet so similar. Declan could read you like an open book, I made a note to watch out for that. Turns out Luke was the all-star basketball player when he was in high school. And Austin was the star quarterback.

After Austins team beat us a billion times we switched up teams.

We ended in a quick hug. More like a last minute heat of the moment kind of gesture. Even though it was sticky and gross I still enjoyed every second of it.

I got home just as Aunt Cherry was cleaning up from her dinner.

"Violet, who's sweatshirt is this?" Aunt Cherry called from the kitchen. Sweatshirt? I paused the TV checking out this so-called sweatshirt myself.

My eyes bugged out of their sockets when I saw the gray sweatshirt that had the auto shops logo on the front. Aunt Cherry must have been oblivious to the logo since she would've connected the dots herself. I could only imagine what would happen if she found out the "bad neighbors" next door were really the same guys who she left her car in the responsibility of.

She held the sweatshirt as if it had a disease with her other hand on her hip as she gave me a curious stare. I had forgotten she asked me a question and scrambled up the first thing I could think of.

"Oh..uh...it's Rose's. She must have left it here the other day." I quickly came up with. I exhaled calmly knowing for once my lie wasn't utterly unbelievable.

"Well tell Rose that smoking is bad for your health." She scolded handing me the light gray hoodie. I didn't quite catch what she was inching towards.

"What?" I asked my eyebrows furrowing. She stared at me as if I was dumb to not notice.

"Her sweatshirt reeks of cigarettes and who knows what else." She made a gross face as she grabbed a water bottle out of her fridge. I lifted it up to my nose taking a huge whiff of it myself. I gagged on the scent of cigarettes and possibly weed.

"I never thought she'd be the kind of girl who smoked." She muttered taking a sip of her water.

"Actually, her parents smoke, the scent must have got on it somehow." I found myself defending my friend. I know for a fact Rose would never smoke, but I also knew this wasn't her sweatshirt. It was Austins.

She stared at me blankly confusing me a tiny bit. But then she spoke again and the sweatshirt was forgotten about.

"So I was thinking we could have a girls night tomorrow, it's the weekend and I haven't spent any time with you since you've been here." She said pulling out a poor excuse of a pout. I nearly chuckled at her attempt but kept it under control.

"I'd love to, what do you have in plan?" I asked knowing Cherry too well. If she wanted a girls night you best know that she already has it all planned out.

She smiled widely, her eyes sparkling with joy. She always wanted a daughter and I was the closest thing to it for her.

"Well, I was thinking we could get our nails done at the salon, then maybe do a little shopping at the mall. We could go out for lunch and then come home and watch romance movies." She smiled.

I smiled too wishing my own mother would have a girls night with me but I now know that'll never happen. At least not for a long time. But that didn't stop me from hoping it would.

"I would love to Cherry, but what about my shift?" I frowned remembering I had a job now.

"No worries, I just hired a few new people." Her eyes lit up and she ran into the living room out of sight. That was strange.

"Your uniform came in today." She said excitedly. She opened up the plastic bag revealing a red shirt with the paw print logo. I finally felt like part of the team, I had my uniform to prove it. I ran my finger over the white paw print.

"I also bought you some khaki colored jeans since those are required also. We can get you some new shoes tomorrow." She said. For the first time in forever, I felt loved.

"Thank you so much, Cherry, for everything." I pulled her into a big hug. For a moment it felt like I had a normal life again but then it vanished as she pulled away.

"Why don't you go get some rest, we have a fun day ahead of us tomorrow." She squealed with excitement. A yawn erupted from her mouth proving that she was also tired.

"Okay, goodnight Cherry," I said. She returned the goodnight and I soon found myself sitting on the edge of my bed with his sweatshirt in my hands. What was I supposed to do with it?

I jumped at the sound of a slight cough coming from the balcony. I saw the smoke from his cigarette between my curtain. My mind scrambled on what to do next. Should I give it back? Of course, you should give it back, it's his. My brain was having its own battle against itself but my good side won.

I slid off my bed holding his sweatshirt in my hands. I gave it on the last sniff wondering if that's what he smelt like. That's creepy Violet, stop being weird.

I mustered up my courage and opened my curtains. There he stood with the familiar cigarette hanging between his lips. He didn't see me watching him.

I opened the balcony doors which he seemed to notice. He watched as I carefully stepped out of my room onto my balcony. It was a story high and had two lounge chairs. He leaned against his railing flicking his cigarette in the process.

It was breezy out, I should have changed first.

"You left your sweatshirt when you invaded my house," I joked. I realized that could have sounded different to someone else but he knew what I meant.

"Keep it." He shrugged throwing his cigarette off his balcony. Our balconies were close but they were a good few feet away from each other. He wants me to keep it?

"Why would I want it?" I sat on one of the chairs. The cold metal gave me goosebumps.

"You know to sleep in, to drool over, to smell it whenever you miss me." He smirked leaning towards my balcony now. I rolled my eyes at his cockiness as I threw his sweatshirt back at him. He caught it.

"You must be spending too much time with Cam." I said. He smiled in return nodding his head as if it were true.

"Cams a good kid. Just gets himself into trouble too much" he said with a shrug. He placed both arms on the balcony. If I had to guess he was about seven feet away from me. A gust of wind swept by and I visibly shivered in response.

"You're cold, here." He pointed out throwing his sweatshirt back to me. I whispered a thanks as I stuck my arms through the holes. I suddenly became engulfed in his scent.

"Thanks, auto boy," I smiled at the mention of my new profound nickname for Austin.

"See you later, kitten." He chuckled leaving me out in the cold alone as he stepped back into his house. I failed the one thing I had to do; giving him back his sweatshirt. Way to go Vi.

I opened up the balcony door closing the curtain on my way in. My mind scrambled as I begun my nightly overthinking session. I suddenly questioned my place in this group of boys.

I didn't fit in, I wasn't a badass who caused trouble. Trouble always finds me, I mean look at the dilemma I'm in now. I've lost both parents after they've gone completely insane and now I've barged into my Aunts house and interrupted her life. I will always feel like a burden.

I changed into blue fluffy pajama pants but kept the sweatshirt on. I now owned three pieces of his clothing. The sweatpants and shirt from that mysterious night and now this sweatshirt. Aunt Cherry would never believe the sweatpants were Rose's they were too big for her frail body.

"This is such a cute little coffee shop, don't you think?" Cherry said excitedly as we stood in line. Everything was...tan. They had round tables with high bar stools and there were engravings of coffee mugs on the backs of the chairs.

They had music playing quietly but loud enough to hear and recognize the songs being played. l wasn't much of a coffee person, but I could try it.

We reached the top of the line and the young girl took our order. Cherry recommended the caramel mocha latte and I had taken her suggestion along with a simple glazed donut.

The barista handed us our order shooing us away since the line was a mile long. Aunt Cherry got an apple cinnamon glazed donut that smelt delicious. She chose a table near the window that had a great view of the small city.

I grinned as I finally remembered what I wanted to ask her. I sipped my coffee eager to see how it tastes. The hot liquid burned my tongue and I pushed the cup away until it cooled.

"How did the adoption agency go?" I asked just as she stuffed her face with her apple cinnamon donut. She covered her mouth with her hand as she chewed.

"Oh, that could take years to get through with it all. But they did say I had an advantage with my well-paying job, a nice home, and no criminal background." She chuckled at the last part.

"That's great," I said trying another sip of my latte. It wasn't as hot as before and I could taste it much better. I could definitely taste the caramel but it was surprisingly good. It didn't taste how I imagined it would.

"How's school going? Any cute boys you may be interested in?" She asked with a bright smile plastered upon her pink lips. gazing out the window at the bright sun.

"Schools going good and as for the boys.." I hesitated to mention Austin because I didn't want her to find out he was our neighbor she had warned me about. I decided to be as vague as possible.

"There's one boy but I'm not sure yet" I admitted. Lizzie's warning replayed in my mind almost daily.

"Tell me about him." She sipped her coffee her ears perked in my direction. I wiggled my lips left and right trying to find the right words.

"Well he's smart and strong and he looks out for me" I said as I remembered when he tried to shoo me away while he was being jumped. "He always has these quick comebacks." And he was most definitely a bad influence but that was something I did not want to admit to my aunt. 

The familiar beginning of a certain song caught my attention. It's been a long time since I've listened to it. It was Ash's favorite.

My mind flashed back to the times where he'd be in his car seat dancing to when he could sit with just a seat belt. Water pricked the corners of my eyes as I thought about my younger brother. I still remembered the day my parents told me my mom was pregnant. Boy was I mad.

"Violet, what would you think of having a younger brother or sister?" My mother asked me as I focused only on brushing my dolls hair. My blonde hair was set in two braids resting on my back as I stared up at my mother's youthful face.

"I don't want a brother or sister." My ten-year-old voice mumbled selfishly. My mother laughed rubbing her belly as she rocked back and forth in her rocking chair. I continued brushing my dolls brown hair gently taking out all the tangles.

"Why not cupcake?" Dad asked entering the living room with a cup of coffee in hand. It was autumn and Halloween was nearing, I was going to be a pirate.

I don't know why I didn't want a younger brother or sister.

"Because," I huffed crossing my arms over my chest giving them a vague response with attitude. Dad put down his coffee with a smile on his face while he patted his lap. I put down my doll hopping on his leg.

Dad only lets me sit on his lap when he was going to tell me something important. I listened closely and watched as him and my mother shared secret glances.

"Violet, your mom is going to have a baby. That means you are going to be a big sister." He explained to my little self as I sat back with confusion drawn all over my face. Didn't I just tell them I didn't want a younger brother or sister?

But I guess if I had to have one I'd pick a younger sister. I could do her hair and we can share our toys. Maybe we could even have a bunk bed and I'd get to climb up on the top. But then I did something I wasn't expecting and my parents obviously didn't expect it either.

One, two, three tears dripped down my cheeks leaving wet stains. Was I happy or was I sad? I didn't know but that didn't stop them from falling.

"Violet hun, why are you crying?" My father chuckled wiping my small tears away with his big rough hands. His hair was blonde and didn't have a single gray strand yet. His eyes were gray and looked down at me in concern.

"Violet? Violet, are you alright? I didn't mean to upset you." Cherry stroked my hand distracting me from my little memory. She looked up at me her eyes full of guilt. Then I realized she thought she got me upset.

"No, no it wasn't what you said. This was Ash's favorite song." I gulped down the knot forming in my throat. She nodded remembering him singing it all the time around the house.

"Shall we get going to the mall now?" Cherry smiled a measly attempt at trying to change the subject. I nodded leaving the coffee shop with Aunt Cherry in tow. We got into her old car that was fighting to still be kicking.

She had to try a few times to get the engine to start. It sounded like an old man wheezing until it finally started.

"Penelope here's getting pretty old" She chuckled patting the dashboard.

She pulled into the busy malls parking lot, I was surprised her car made it that far. We walked through the main entrance, me being the lost kid I was had no idea where anything was.

"Let's go get our nails done first." She smiled leading me through the busy crowd. This mall was much larger than the one I had at home, we were lucky if we fit in ten stores, this one had two floors.

Cherry greeted the man and the ladies, she must come here often. I couldn't quite understand what he was saying from his accent but she understood well.

"Pedicures and manicures." She said. He smiled pointing at the large wall of polish. They were organized by color which was extremely satisfying.

I chose a teal color while Cherry chose a light pink. He sat us down at the manicure tables. Two girls greeted us and began filing our nails.

Soon my fingers were painted and my toes were being scrubbed. The chair massaged my back while he painted my toenails the same teal color. I wasn't the type who normally painted their nails but I could get used to this.

My nails felt smooth and clean. Aunt Cherry left the lady a good tip and she thanked us. 

In total, I think we had ten bags each, but the amount of fun we had was a hundred times that.

It wasn't often I got to have fun with Aunt Cherry, but living with her made things different.

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