One would have thought that as the weeks went by, I'd have gotten tired of the same routine. Waking up, spending time with Heather, and then at night seeing her friends, who had now become mine.

I did get some alone time as well. I would go into my room and read mostly, or just scroll on my phone.

However, I loved the time that I spent with Heather. I couldn't get enough of her, she was the most charismatic, caring person I'd ever met. It wasn't just her body that I couldn't seem to get enough of, it was everything about her.

I couldn't help but wonder what this was between us. A summer fling, or even something more. I knew that time would tell, however my feelings were growing stronger each day.

Mallory came up to visit over 4th of July, and it was good to see her. She was going to be starting college at the University of Delaware, majoring in education. Seeing her was a much less...sexually charged time than seeing Lucy, but I wasn't complaining.

As mid-July neared, I knew that I would be finding out who my college roommate was soon. Heather knew who her roommate was going to be already, and they had already been messaging a bit over Instagram.

One afternoon as we were out by the pool together, I checked my email on my phone to see if I was notified yet of my roommate. To my surprise, I did get the email.

"I got an email telling me who my roommate is," I looked at Heather.

Heather immediately looked interested, "How exciting! What's her name?"

I looked down at the email, "Caroline Fitzpatrick."

Heather started typing on her phone, "Already trying to look for her."

I went to Instagram first to see if I could find her, however before I even typed in her name, Heather said, "Found her."

"Public or private account?"

"Private. But you can see a small photo of her."

Heather held up her phone to me, and I looked at my future roommate. She had a bright, sunny smile, green eyes, and ginger hair.

"She looks nice," I said, "I like her hair."

"Follow her, get to know her," Heather encouraged me.

I looked at her account name on Heather's phone, and then typed it in on my own. I requested to follow her, and I then said to Heather, "Hopefully I get along with her."

"I don't see why you wouldn't. You're very easy to get along with, Alice."

"That's nice of you to say. I've always tried to make friends but I moved a lot, so I never got to know anyone properly, except for my ex-girlfriend, Kiana. That's why I'm so glad to be here with you. I feel like I've made true friends and real connections. Especially with you."

Heather held my gaze and smiled at me, her dimples appearing, "I feel the same way. You've become a really good friend to me. With some benefits, of course."

Heather shot me a wink, and I smiled at her.

Yes, we're friends. But it feels like more.

That night we went to Michelle's, and while we were there, Julian showed off his new tattoo. It was a tribal band on his upper right arm.

"This is awesome, Jules," Heather lightly touched Julian's lanky arm, "I'm so jealous."

"Thanks," Julian smiled at Heather, "What's stopping you from getting one? You're over 18, you don't need parental permission."

Heather chewed her lip, "I know. I just worry they'd freak out."

Haley chimed in, "So what if they do? It's not like they're going to kick you out or disown you."

"You have a point," Heather said to Haley.

I looked at Heather, "I'd get one with you."

Heather's eyebrows shot up, "You would?"

"Go to the place I went to," Julian suggested, "It was about an hour away. They even take walk-ins."

"I have so many tattoo ideas," Heather seemed excited, "Alice, we should go tomorrow."

I smiled at Heather, "Let's do it."

That night when we got back to the house, I sat on Heather's bed with her, and she showed me her Pinterest board of many tattoo ideas. We shared a few kisses, but we didn't have sex. Instead, we enjoyed each other's company and shared our tattoo ideas.

Heather settled on an idea that she had for a while, a tattoo of a snake wrapped around her forearm.

"I want to be covered in tattoos one day," she said to me, "Give it a few years, I will be."

I settled on a delicate floral pattern that I was going to get on my forearm as well, however it was much smaller than Heather's.

Heather seemed giddy as she said, "This is so exciting! There's no one else I'd want to do this with."

She then reached over and pulled me into a hug, and my heart skipped a beat as I hugged her back.

The next morning, Victoria asked what Heather and I were up to for the day.

Heather glanced at me, "I think we're going to explore one of the towns nearby. Walk around, grab some coffee and lunch."

"Sounds nice," Victoria smiled, "Have fun, girls."

As soon as Victoria walked away, Heather whispered, "I am not telling her about the tattoo until after."

As Heather drove us to the tattoo shop Julian suggested, she asked me, "Are you nervous at all?"

"A little bit. I just hope it doesn't hurt too bad."

"Your forearm shouldn't hurt too much from what I know. The pain will be worth it. And I'll be there the whole time with you."

When we got to the tattoo shop, I could tell it was very much Heather's vibe, with its dark decor.

There were three artists there, and a young woman named Gabby took us back to her station. We sat with her and told her our ideas, and she started to print out stencils. We then decided on the exact placement of the tattoos on our arms.

"I love these ideas," she said to Heather and me, "Alice, since your tattoo won't take as long, I think you should go first."

Nerves started to set in as I nodded, "Okay. Sounds good."

I was sure Heather could sense my nerves, because she put her hand over mine and said, "It's going to be fine."

Gabby looked between Heather and I and gave us a knowing smile. She then said, "I promise it'll be fine, Alice."

I sat in the chair, and Heather pulled up a stool and sat beside me as Gabby started to use the tattoo gun. Heather held onto the hand of the arm that wasn't getting tattooed.

My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest as the tattoo gun neared my arm, but once Gabby started, I realized it wasn't so bad. It just felt small scratches.

"This isn't bad," I said, "Barely hurts."

Heather smiled up at me, "Good. You're making it look easy."

The tattoo didn't take long, and after Gabby was done, she cleaned off the tattoo and put on a second skin to protect it.

I looked in the mirror at my newly tattooed arm and smiled back at Heather and Gabby, "I love it so much."

Gabby smiled back at me, "Awesome. Heather, it's your turn."

Heather seemed way more excited than nervous. I sat on the same stool she had and held her hand as well. When Gabby started to tattoo, Heather winced slightly, and I squeezed her hand.

"Yours might hurt a bit more," Gabby warned Heather, "You have more shading."

"I can handle it," Heather said confidently.

As Gabby carefully tattooed Heather's arm, Heather said to her, "I want to do exactly what you're doing someday."

"You'd like to be a tattoo artist?" Gabby asked Heather.

"Yes, and I'd like to do piercings as well."

"That's great!" Gabby responded, "Are you planning on interning at a shop?"

"I'd love to, but it's going to have to wait until I graduate from college. My parents would flip if I chose to do that instead of getting a degree."

"Ah, that sucks," Gabby said sympathetically, "How old are you, Heather?"

"19."

"You're at the weird age where you're technically an adult, but your parents still have some control over you. I've been there."

"Yeah," Heather sighed, "I'll play by their rules and go to college, but after that I'm doing what I want."

Heather's tattoo took a while longer than mine, and I could tell she was getting restless by the end of it. However, when Gabby finished, she was absolutely thrilled with the results.

As Heather looked in the mirror, I couldn't keep my eyes off her. The tattoo looked hot. There was no other word to describe it.

"I love it so much!" she said to Gabby, "You are incredible."

Heather and I left the shop both satisfied, and as Heather drove us home, she said, "I am so happy with this, I don't even care how mad my parents get."

When we got back to the house, Brian and Victoria weren't home, but Heather's brother was home. He was in the kitchen making a sandwich.

"Hey," he said, not looking up right away, "Mom and dad are out to dinner."

Justin then looked up, and his eyes landed on Heather's arm, and then mine. His eyes then widened, and he said, "No way. You both got tattoos?"

Heather smiled and nodded, "We did."

Justin walked over to us and inspected my arm and then Heather's.

"They look great," he said, "You do realize mom and dad are going to freak out, right?"

"They can freak out all they want," Heather responded, "It's my body."

Brian and Victoria got home not much longer, and Victoria noticed the tattoo on Heather's arm in about five seconds.

She gasped, "Heather Marie Rayne, that better not be real."

Brian looked at Heather curiously, but he didn't necessarily look mad.

Victoria then noticed my arm as well and exclaimed, "Not you too, Alice!"

"If I tell you it's not real, will you be less mad?" Heather asked her.

Victoria sighed and rolled her eyes, "What in the world am I going to do with you?"

Brian walked over to Heather and looked at her arm and then mine, "They're well done."

Victoria looked up at Brian and shot him a look, "Don't you encourage this."

Brian shrugged and Heather said, "Sorry to break it to you, but I'm going to be getting plenty more."

That night everyone came over to Heather's house, and Haley had a question for all of us.

"So, my parents have a beach house as well in New Jersey. Two of my sisters spend a lot of time there over the summer, I prefer it here in the mountains. But I was going to go down to the beach this weekend. Do any of you want to join me?"

Julian rolled his eyes but smiled, "Of course you have a beach house as well."

"Is that a yes?" Haley asked him.

"Sure. Why not?"

"I'm in," Michelle nodded, "Sounds like a fun time."

Heather glanced at me and I gave her a small nod, indicating that I would be down to go to the beach.

"Alice and I are in as well," Heather said.

Time for a change of scenery.