Upon reaching the border of Illinois, Kora insisted that Josh take a break and then she could take them to their appointment from there. Josh gladly obliged and eventually, the group reached a sweet road with cute house-looking business lining either side.

Tyler watched with wide eyes as she steered the group into the parking lot of a brick building labeled "Pat & Tats: Tattoo and Salon". He surveyed the dark rose bushes growing by the door and the wispy weeping willow in the front lawn. It was a very aesthetic place, but it stood out like a sore thumb compared to the other, soft colored businesses.

"This is it," Kora said, pulling the keys out of the ignition and settling her hands in her lap, a tiny grin growing on her lips. "Luckily this is a small business, so the two gentlemen have agreed to let only the five of us be booked to get some makeovers today."

"That's amazing," Josh commented softly from the front seat. 

"I'm glad you think so because you'll be getting the biggest makeover today." Kora winked at him before hopping out of the car. 

Josh gave her a look of surprise before blinking. Then he followed the other four out onto the stone walkway leading to the door. As Kora excitedly whisked the front door wide open, the scent of masculine hair products and some musk of berries met the group. With careful, curious steps, the five of them came in, glancing at the red walls and dark wood floors. 

A shorter man with a black apron, glasses, and reddish-brown hair stepped out of a side room. He flashed the group a soft smile as he dusted off his hands and removed his black fedora, setting it on the front counter. 

"Welcome to Pat and Tats," the man greeted, running a hand through his straight hair as he looked them over. "I'm Patrick! Are you the group. . ?"

"Yes, sir!" Kora beamed, stepping up to the counter and burying her hands in her jacket pockets. "I'm Kora and this is my little posse."

"Awesome," Patrick replied, clicking on the little computer that sat behind the counter. Then he stopped and glanced up at Kora. "Your aunt said this was to be off book, correct?"

"Yes, that was the plan." Kora quietly responded, swallowing hard. 

Tyler watched in interest. Was Kora getting nervous? This was new. 

"A little bit shady," Patrick pointed out. "But your aunt told me that you guys have plenty you want to be done and you'll gladly pay for all of it, so I'm willing to let it slide."

Kora visibly relaxed. 

Patrick clicked off the computer and smiled again, rubbing his hands together eagerly, "Okay, let's step back into the studio and we can get to work."

The "studio", as Patrick called it, was a pretty big room with everything you'd need to run both a high-end salon and an esteemed tattoo parlor. The two, giant mirrors for the hair stations reflected the single window's soft afternoon light onto the four purply-gray walls. An air of comfort radiated in the masculine decor of the place. It was surely a place that could be comfortably stayed at for hours. 

Patrick strode into the room, tossing a towel over his shoulder and gesturing to the dark-haired man reclining on one of the several sofas within the studio. 

"This is my partner, the Tat side of the business," Patrick introduced them to the man. "His name is Pete."

"I heard you guys are getting inked for the first time," Pete commented with a nod, his rich brown eyes dancing over the group in excitement. 

Tyler felt his stomach clench up when he saw the man offer the group a half smile. For some reason, Pete made Tyler feel a little uneasy. It was obvious, however, that Kora felt the opposite. She instantly warmed up to him.

"Sure are," Kora affirmed, reflecting his nod. "I, for one, am beyond excited."

"Me too, kid," Pete grinned at her. 

"Get comfortable, everyone," Patrick directed, gesturing to the couches and chairs. "That way, we can start discussing how this is gonna go down." 

Kora settled down next to Pete, with Shiloh bouncing up to snuggle into her side. Orchid picked a distant chair and Josh made his way to the closest couch. Tyler went down to the floor, sitting cross-legged against Josh's couch. Once they were cozy, Patrick brought out some books to help them figure out what they wanted.

It wasn't too much longer before Kora was in one chair studio chair, her locks wrapped in foil and bleaching. Meanwhile, Patrick was helping Shiloh up into the other chair, ready to cut and color his hair as well. Tyler ended up migrating to the couch in order to pour over Pete and Patrick's journal full of a wide array of colorful tattoo ideas alongside Josh. 

As soon as the foil came out of Kora's hair and Patrick pulled out the shears, Kora called Tyler over to check out her new style.

"What do you think, Tinker Bell?" Kora asked joyfully, looking in the mirror and fluffing her now short hair. Patrick beamed in the mirror on her left and Tyler stared quietly from the right. 

"Wow," Tyler agreed. "That's quite a transformation."

"A wonderful transformation," Patrick enthused, pocketing his shears and continuing to examine her hair in the mirror. "The silvery-blonde really lifts your features and draws attention to your eyes!"

"Kora!" Pete called from his station. "It's time for your ink!"

"Coming!" She replied, whipping off the barber cape before trotting over to Pete, vacating the hair chair. She stopped short and swirled back around, throwing her arms around Patrick in a tight hug. "Thanks for everything!"

She turned and left.

Patrick faced Tyler with a gentle grin and swept a hand over the chair, "Ready?"

Tyler nodded, moving over to the chair.

"What did you decide?" Patrick asked, tilting his head and looking over him in the mirror.

Tyler stared at the still reflection of himself, seeing the dark circles surrounding his eyes and the dull sheen dominating his irises. He reached up and gently tousled his hair, thinking, What would Rachel say?

"Um," Tyler softly started, still unsure. "Just. .  do something soft. And keep the floof on top."

A smile stretched across Patrick's face as he replied, "I can do that."

Once Tyler's cut was finished, he wandered back to the couches and sank into the soft cushions, hoping that if he sat down his weariness would fade a little.

It took him a moment to realize Josh was also sitting on the couch beside him.

"Hey Tyler," Josh greeted him. He wore the most genuine smile Tyler had seen of him yet.

"Hey, " Tyler replied, nodding. He allowed his eyes to trace over Josh to examine for changes.

In place of the silvery gauges sat bolder black ones. His lip ring was gone and a new, shimmering nose ring decorated the left side of his nose. Wrapped around his right arm was a huge, white bandage, presumably covering a brand new tattoo.

"You got a tattoo." Tyler pointed out.

"Yeah, I actually did." Josh beamed, glancing down at it pridefully. "And you got a hair cut."

Tyler nodded, thinking, Wow. He looks awesome. And tough.

"I've still got my hair appointment coming up," Josh explained, pointing up to the dark beanie nestled over his head. "I'm excited."

"I can tell," Tyler grinned back.

"What about you?" Josh asked, tilting his head. "You're not getting a tat?"

"Oh. . .uh," Tyler shifted his eyes to gentlemens' leather journal lying on the coffee table. "None of them really. . .stood out to me."

"Then find something that does." Josh said, his sparkling eyes swirling like a playful forest brook as he started at Tyler's face. "I know you have it in you."

Tyler moved his eyes off, away from Josh. He let his gaze fall to the floor in thought.

"Pete?" Josh called out.

"Yeah?" came the reply from his station.

"Can Tyler get something simple?"

"He sure can."

"Awesome, thanks!" Josh turned back to his new friend. "I can't wait to see what you pick."

Around seven o'clock that evening Kora and Orchid went out to grab dinner for everyone while Josh got his hair done and Tyler started his tattoo. After food, Kora curled up on the couch and slept for a while everyone finished up.

At nine twenty-eight, Pete and Patrick wrapped everything up and Kora handed over a sizable stack of cash to cover everyone's bill.

"Thank you so much, gentlemen." Kora smiled, giving them both huge, but soft, hugs as the group gathered by the door.

Tyler surveyed everyone's final looks. Little Shiloh had simply gone from longer, blond hair to jet black, short curls. Orchid went full out red with her hair and ditched her glasses. Josh changed his piercings, added a tattoo, and ended up with a curly, mohwak-esque hairstyle with a soft cotton candy blue dye. Kora cut her hair to shoulder length, platinum blonde with a brand new lioness tattoo on her right shoulder. She also dawned double eyebrow piercings and a stud nose piercing.

"I like it," Josh said, inching over to Tyler's side. They met eyes and Josh nodded down to Tyler's new wrist tattoo, three lines in a neat sequence. "May wanna use the bandage, though."

"I will later," Tyler replied. "It bothers me when I try to use my hand for literally anything."

"I'm proud of you,"Josh commented. "Stepping out of your comfort zone. I know it's not easy."

Patrick interrupted their conversation, "Before you guys go, I wanted to gift you with something, Tyler."

Tyler felt his heart speed up. Gift him? With what?

"O-okay," he quickly replied, stepping around Josh to stand in front of the counter.

"Stay there, and I'll grab it," Patrick said, adjusting his fedora on his head and gliding back to the side room.

Tyler shifted around nervously, burying his hands in his pockets. He felt a hand rest on his shoulder, softly, causing him to turn around.

"It's cool man, relax," Josh encouraged him.

Tyler glanced towards Kora, seeing her face flush with worry too. That certainly didn't help. If Kora was worried, then it could mean trouble.

Patrick emerged from the side room with a black bag in hand. He smiled and rummaged through the bag, seeming to search intently for something.

"Ah ha!" Patrick called out, pulling out what seemed to be a black shirt. He tossed the bag to Pete and shook out the folded shirt. "I found this at Hot Topic yesterday and bought it on impulse! Now I know why."

Tyler stared, confused. Until Patrick spun the shirt around. It was a black muscle tank with a faded image of coy looking Tinker Bell, surrounded with a ribbon decorated with the words, "Never Land Magic est. 1953".

"Patrick!" Kora called out, beaming. "That is perfect!"

"Free of charge, Ty." Patrick smiled, chucking it over the counter towards him.

"Try it on!" Josh called out.

Tyler sent him a glare.

"Sorry," Josh's smile dissipated.

He knew it was inevitable, however, because everyone was watching eagerly. Tyler gave a sigh and pulled off his hoodie, over his head. He threw it on top of Josh's head and replaced it with the Disney shirt. When he was done and awkwardly patted his legs and shrugged.

"It's perfect," Kora enthused. "Patrick, you're a Saint."

Yeah, Tyler thought. A real Saint. . .

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