June 29th, 2023
2:30 PM

"This is a terrible idea, Athena."

"Nuh uh, I always have great fuckin' ideas, Aunt Kayli." I snickered into my palm, casting yet another glance at the tattoo shop across the street.

We'd been at this restaurant for thirty minutes eating and talking shit to one another, and during that time, the urge to walk into that tattoo shop across the motherfuckin' street has been a lil bit too strong.

And who was I to tell myself no? And that I wasn't thinking clearly?
I wasn't doing that to myself today.
I was gonna let fuckin' loose and follow my instincts.

( My instincts told me I just needed, just needed a badass tattoo. And maybe seeing JK's fuckin' awesome tattoos have been making me want one on my own body. )

Anddd for y'all's information, I'd been planning to have this tattoo done since I was fourteen years old.

Now that I'm an adult ( and have my own fuckin' cash ), and now, maybe, that I'm not being such a cowardly bitch, I'm gonna get it done.

A big ass, cool ass, sick ass, magnificent ass, dragon that started at my upper waist, traveled down my hips and finally finished on the side of my thigh.

I got a pinterest pic for some inspo, too.

"I think it'll look sick as fuck," Sawyer nodded approvingly, a smirk dancing on the corners of his lips, "I think JK'll like it – thinks it's hawt as fuckk."

I rolled my eyes, "Don't care."

"Bitch, don't lie to me."

"Fuck you," I retorted, "I ain't lying. You are." I did care, okay? I'm mad at him, but I still wanted him to think I looked fine as fuck. Fuckin' get it? Good.

Kayli looked between the two of us with an exasperated huff and an eye roll, "The fuck have I gotten myself into." She mumbled underneath her breath, and leaned down to grab her purse, "Well, as you two make some bad decisions – I'm meeting Axel before you two rope me in." She sighed with an amused smirk, "Remember; no drinking, no drugs, no brothels."

A loud gasp left my lips, "No brothels! Awh, dang it—"

"—No drugs? Ma, you've gone and broken our poor fragile hearts! HOW DID YOU KNOW OUR PLANS?" he demanded with a wide smirk as Kayli flipped us off and left the restaurant before anyone could know she was with us by the amount of stares Sawyer and I were getting.

"You know getting that big ass tat is gonna hurt like a bitch in heat, right?"

"Yup," I slurped my coke loudly, "But I'm a bit of a masochist, so I can handle it." I cackle loudly, earning a slap on the back of the head from Sawyer.

Soon, whilst discussing my spur of the moment decision, Sawyer and I stuffed our faces with some good food, paid, and got up from our seats.

A little groan left my lips as my back and shoulders popped, and a happy sigh left my lips, "The fact that my entire motherfuckin' body cracks like a damn glowstick whenever I move and yet refuses to actually fuckin' glow is so disappointing."

***

June 29th, 2023
11:30 pm

"This burns so fucking bad," I sniffed against Sawyer's shoulder once we left the tattoo shop, fuckin' hours later, "Why didn't you try to talk me out of it?" I accused, glaring daggers at my best friend as he snorted.

The throbbing of the right side of my body, from my upper waist, to my thigh, burned once the tight fabric of my clothes rubbed against the Saniderm covering the new ink my body sported.

According to the dude that was leaving me in constant motherfuckin' pain for hours told me to wait at least twenty-four hours before cleaning the tattoo.

I just told myself I'd ask JK since the bitch nugget was fuckin' covered in tattooes and may know a thing or two.

Not that I was doubting a professional, but my dumbass would forget to check or clean it – but if I told JK, he'd remind me and I'd get the chance to show off my new ink.

Hah, that twerp didn't have a tat as big as mine.
Imma rub that in his face.
Mama didn't raise no bitch, after all.

( okay, I was bitching a lil bit...just a little bit – okay, fine, A LOT, okay? But still, yah know? )

No one but Sawyer would know about me crying and bitching in pain.

And it better stay that way unless Sawyer fancies a pickaxe handle shoved down his throat and protruding from his asshole.

Sawyer and I hopped inside his care; me far as fuck more carefully than him when I settled my fine ass in the comfy seat and reclining back, a happy sigh leaving my lips when the throbbing dulled down.

Shit. Fuck. How will I sleep tonight? My ass always, and I mean always tosses and turns throughout the night – and damn, I wake up sore as fuck. And not the kind of sore I wanted.

Beauty is motherfuckin' pain, Athena Green, Beauty is motherfuckin' searing fuckin' pain.

Once this gorgeous tat was all healed up, I'd flaunt it with fuckin' pride.
At least I'd damn well make sure to, especially how much I paid for the fucker.
Ain't no way will I let my money go to waste.

"It's your own fuckin' fault, cuntie," Sawyer retorted, swerving the car slightly ( purposely ) making me cringe once the burning pain started up again on my side.

"I'd slap the fuck outta' you if you weren't driving." I hissed through gritted teeth, aching to punch and slap his smirking face.

"Hehe," Sawyer let out with a conniving grin, "What do you think your dads' will think of your tattoo? That big fucker will be hard to cover."

"Nah," I shook my head, pushing my tongue against the inside of my cheek – momentarily stopped when I remembered just who I got this damn habit from. "I don't think they'll mind. I'm an adult and paid for it myself – thank fuck I got the cash from my books – and plus, I know Gabriel and North will think it's cool."

"Owen will have a fuckin' stroke," Sawyer snickered, turning down Sunny Vale Court, "After seeing how large it is."

"Yup," I giggled right along with him once he parked in front of JK's house, and he and I waited in silence.

"Athena?" my best friend ask suddenly, voice soft and curious, unlike how Sawyer normally is.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat – detecting what he wanted to speak about, "Yeah?"

I hated how vulnerable my voice was.

"What's goin' on with you and JK?"

Nothing – at least, I think so.

"Nothing," I shook my head, smirk wavering, "Why do you ask?"

Sawyer bit down on his lip and turned in his seat and watched me, "It's just odd, you know? How he was a total dick for weeks after I got back...and now...after that fuckin' phone call...he just – changes. I got to thinking about it...and..."

"It's odd," I agree, my mind flashing back to those days, and hurt swelled up within my chest, "What's on your mind?"

"He thought we were dating, and he was jealous and taking it out on you – not the best option, but still...it makes so much sense."

My head reared back in shock. Jealous? Huh?

Nah.

No.

Doesn't make sense.

Why could he be jealous?

He doesn't like me.

He hates me, for fuck's sake.

Right?

But I don't hate him...I just hate how he makes me feel and it fuckin' scares the absolute shit out of me.

So I push it away.

Why would he be jealous? I wasn't anything special.

He could have any woman he wanted – and he had the most of them in Charleston, and...

"That doesn't make sense. Wouldn't I have noticed if he liked me?" I snorted, trying to push that thought out of my mind while my face heated and heat rate amped up.

I felt Sawyer's gaze burning into the side of my face, and finally, I turned my eyes over to lock gazes with him.

"I don't know if you've noticed or not but you're oblivious as fuck...even I can fucking tell that fine ass man is down bad for you. He's been acting like a guilty kicked puppy for the past three days, if you haven't noticed." Sawyer said that so bluntly that I couldn't help but blush brightly and avoid his eyes.

The thought of JK not..hating me as I originally believed shocked me to my core.

Damn.

Could he really?

"And you like him."

I opened my mouth to argue but Sawyer held up his hand and looked me dead in the eye, serious as a heart attack, "And don't try to argue with me or lie to yourself. You do like him – and, shit, I've never seen you like this before." he leaned over and grasped my hand, "I know it scares you...but just accept it, Athena. You never know what may happen."

I squeezed his hand as fear and slight relief filled me, due to for the sake of Sawyer – I stopped lying to myself for a moment, and admitted to myself...that I didn't hate JK all that fuckin' much.

Okay, maybe he was somewhat...decent, okay?

That's all you're getting from me at the moment.

"Fine, okay, you're right. Happy now?" I told him, swiping my bag from the floor with a small wince. I ignored his laughter and swung open the door. "Wish me fuckin' luck. If my plan was plannin' JK went to the hospital, scared shitless and got himself tested. God, he'll motherfuckin' slaughter me."

"Or hate/love fuck you until you can't move–" Sawyer started to yell, jumping at the loud noise – side burning – I slammed the door shut and flipped him off over my shoulder as I ran for the front door.

Watching Sawyer drive safely down the road, I nodded to myself, sucking in a sharp breath of air until I threw open the door and stepped inside the house quietly.

Hanging my bag up on the hooks by the door, I pocketed my cell phone, hearing the sensual slow R&B music JK likes to play during the evenings pause, and then I heard his low growl.

"Shit." fear spiked my heart rate up instantly, and I made a motherfuckin' run for it.

A huff left my lips the instant my side and thigh throbbed when I started to sprint to my room.

"Princess –" a loud yelp slash terrified scream left my lips when I felt JK's hand wing around my bicep and force my body to freeze.

Heat flared between us as he twirled me around and jerked me to nearly face plant onto his bare chest.

My hands shot out, steading my body by supporting my hands on his pecs, feeling them tense and unclench slowly. I couldn't stop myself from admiring his nearly bare body, eyeing the beautiful and sexy tattoos on his chest.

Our bodies seemed to be magnets, moving closer and closer without truly noticing it until my side slightly burned when his large, blinged out hand placed itself on my upper waist.

Fuck, all I wanted to do was snuggled right up against him.

"Princess," JK let out a slow breath, his chest rising and falling underneath my palms, and I could fuckin' swear I felt his heart racing just as fast and loudly under my fingertips. "Where've you been?" he asked, his voice tense with worry and curiosity, "and why the fuck did you lie to me? I've been at the hospital most of the day getting fucking tested, for christ's sake!"

I giggled, I just couldn't help it, "My bad, JK."

Moving away before I jumped his bones, I shifted from foot to foot sheepishly as he glared down at me from his towering height. "Didn't think you'd believe me." I admitted with a shrug, my mind going back to mine and Sawyer's conversation.

JK's perfect brows furrowed, and he did that fuckin' tongue on cheek thing again, making my mouth dry, placing those sexy hands of his on his hips, he licked his lip piercings, "Of course I would believe you – why wouldn't I? –...Never mind." he sighed, seeing my blank look.

JK shook his head and slightly smiled down at me, boba eyes sparkling with an unknown emotion, "What did you do today?" he watched, amused, when I carefully threw my body down to rest on the couch.

Replying to a couple messages from my parents, I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth and shrugged, "Went out to lunch with Sawyer and Kayli and then got a tattoo."

It was my turn to watch in amusement as JK's eyes widened and he looked blown the fuck away, "a...tattoo? The fuck? Where is it?"

He looked up and down my body to see if he could spot it. I grinned smugly and patted my waist, hip, and thigh lightly. "It's a big one! It took fuckin' hours and I could have cried. Shit hurts." I thought I was gonna play it cool? Ugh. I needed to control what I said sometimes.

JK's eyes sharpened with heat, and he walked closer, tugging up the hem of his low-slung sweatpants that exposed his very elaborate V-line and took a seat beside my legs and raked a hang through his long dark locks.

"Lemme see," he encouraged with a jerk of his chin, making me loudly sigh – seemingly annoyed from the outside, but inside, I was chanting and motherfuckin' cheering, and hell, even preening from his interest and attention.

"...Fine." I sighed, and in one smooth movement, jerked up my shirt and jerked down my pants, not giving a shit about him seeing my body since I wasn't really self-conscious and I was eager to show him my new cool ink.

"Holy shit." JK breathed, eyes transfixed on my exposed skin, his eyes slowly trailed up the length of my tattoo and down, "Looks good." he mumbled, thumb coming down to rub my hip soothingly.

Fire licked up and down my body at the feeling of his fingertip rubbing my hipbone and it took all of my willpower to not let my emotions and those fucking feelings take over me.
If I was in his presence any longer, I'd do something so motherfuckin' stupid and I'd regret it.

Confess.
No, I couldn't.
That would be bad.

JK let his touch linger, looking into my eyes, his own softening, and slowly, his shoulders broadened and relaxed as he breathed in deeply.

"Princess?" he asked when my clothes were pulled up properly and I was nearly dozing off on the couch.

"Hmm?"

"Why don't you call me by my name anymore? – I mean, uh, my real name?"

author's note ; ✨

Ehhhhhhhh, so what do you think of this chapter!? Hehe, I loved writing this!
Thanks for reading!

^ Athena's tattoo ( I WANT THIS TAT SO BAD )
I got this pic from Pinterest, so I don't own it.