by Raathi Chota
“Is this that Troy and Gabriella moment when they were in the pool?” Lana asked as she opened her eyes.
“If you want it to be.” I laughed as I put my one arm around her waist.
“How come all of your paint is gone?” She looked at my face and chest. I shrugged as my eyes diverted to her painted thighs. “Can you help with mine?”
“Sure,” I mumbled as I moved down and poured water on her thighs, then wiped off the paint while she did her arms. My eyes lingered up her body to her underwear. I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued. After that, she stood up and faced me. She placed her hands on my cheeks and stroked them with her thumbs.
“You still have some on your nose.” She chuckled as I looked at her face.
“You too…everywhere, actually.” I laughed as my hands cupped her cheeks. I wiped the paint with my thumbs as I swam closer. She looked up at me as her hands went to my shoulders. I ran my fingers through her wet hair as the palm of her hands touched my chest. My hands traveled down to her neck as I closed my eyes and leaned in.
“Oh, fuck,” Levi exclaimed as Lana pushed me away. I looked at her only to see her look at Levi and Axel, who got out of the pool.
“Cops,” Axel said as I turned back to Lana. I helped her out of the pool and looked back to see Keene float like there’s no tomorrow. I cursed under my breath as I swam and supported him.
“Come on, dude!” Levi demanded as he stood at the edge of the pool and held a hand out. I pulled Keene toward Levi, and he helped Keene out of the water. I quickly got out and grabbed my clothes.
“This way!” Axel called out as we followed him with our clothes in our hands. We ran into the changing room, and Levi immediately shut the door behind him. Axel spotted a window and ran toward it, then opened it. I helped him while Lana got dressed.
“We know you’re here!” someone called out from the pool as we opened the window.
“Quickly,” Axel whispered as we made way for Lana to go first. A panicked look filled her eyes as I took her hand and helped her up and out of the window. She only wore her shorts as she held her top and shoes. Once everyone was helped to the window, I went through. Just in time, too, as a police officer came through. The changing rooms were in the back, so we had to run all the way around to get to the car. As we ran into a random street, I looked ahead to see Lana slowed down.
“Why are you slowing down?” I yelled in a whisper.
“My feet hurt because of these heels! I think I’m gonna get a blister,” she mumbled as I ran next to her.
“Hold on tight,” Axel piped up as he stopped behind Lana and picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. I smiled at him as we continued to run, then looked up ahead. A flash of light was seen, followed by a person. My eyes widened since Levi and Keene were already ahead of us. I ran forward and warned them about the people up ahead.
“We’re almost to the car, though,” Keene slurred, and I almost forgot that he was still a bit intoxicated.
“Freeze! You have the rig—” The female officer cut herself off as she lowered her gun and gaped at us. “Not you again.” Officer Jackson motioned us to follow her. We followed in silence as she walked in front of us. I gritted my teeth as a cold breeze swept through and onto our chests. Officer Jackson only had one set of handcuffs on her. We arrived at her car, and Levi leaned against it as she took out more handcuffs.
“You finally got caught, princess.” Levi smirked as Officer Jackson put the cuffs on him.
“Who you calling princess, Radcliff?” she demanded as Levi, Keene, and I raised a brow, then spun around to see that it was only the three of us.
“Damn.” I bit my lip because Lana didn’t get caught—neither did my brother.
***
I stared at Officer Jackson outside of the jail cell as I went over the last event because no one else was in this cell except us. I glanced to the side to see Keene asleep on the bench. I watched as Officer Jackson got up and walked down the hall and into another room. Levi sat next to me on the floor and leaned against the wall. We’ve been in here for almost an hour, and I wondered what Lana and Axel were doing. She’s still a bit drunk, and well he’s…Axel, so anything could happen.
“Do you remember that day we watched all the Shrek movies with Lana?” Levi asked.
“Yeah,” I mumbled as I remembered how we watched movies a few days before Christmas.
“We watch it every year, and every year I tried to figure out why she liked it so much…” He trailed off as I squinted my eyes. “She says because there’s always a happy ending. Even now. Coming here and seeing what she’s been through, I finally understand. She’s waiting for her happy ending,” he whispered.
“Well, this is reality. Not everything has a happy ending.” I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the wall.
“Yeah, and when I arrived here, I thought it’d be like every other year, just her and me. When we were growing up, everyone in the neighborhood knew us as the best friends Lana and Levi,” he mumbled. “Now seeing how everything has changed…how she has changed and moved on…”
“She hasn’t changed. You just didn’t grow up, dude.” Keene yawned.
“Well, it takes time to get used to the fact that she has so many new friends. Not to mention that half of them bullied her!” Levi snapped as I opened my eyes.
“Now she’s dating one of them too,” Keene added as Levi cursed under his breath.
“Yeah, and him of all people. Like, what the fuck? He doesn’t deserve her,” Levi snarled.
“Then who does?” I asked, because I deserved her; I wanted her.
“Not me. I love her. She’s my other half, but look at me. I can’t give her anything.” He stared at me with a panicked look. “As much as I love her, I’ve learned to control it and only see her as a best friend. I’m not independent, and for that, there’s never gonna be an us. There’s never gonna be the same Levi and Lana that everyone knew,” he whispered.
“Blake deserves her,” Keene spoke up as my eyes widened.
“What?” Levi asked as he turned to me.
“Yeah, the dude’s whipped. Can’t you see it? They have a lot in common,” Keene said.
“Whoa. I’ve been so busy trying to not hate Benny that I didn’t realize that you liked Lana,” Levi confessed as I sighed. “I’m suddenly intrigued. What do you like about her?”
“What’s not to like about her?” I asked. “She’s funny, caring, beautiful. I mean, have you seen her eyes? Those electric, mesmerizing blue eyes that always draw me back and are mysterious, which only makes me want her more. I want to figure her out, the real Lana Willson. It’s in there somewhere.”
“Whoa,” Levi commented.
“Told you he’s whipped as fuck.” Keene giggled as he pointed at me.
“What’s the closest encounter you’ve had with her?” Levi asked.
“At the cottage with that drug dealer. I kissed her.”
“Man, bad timing and place, dude,” Keene pointed out as I rolled my eyes.
“Do you think she likes you?” Levi asked as the corner of his mouth lifted.
“I don’t know. One time we’re talking like best friends, then the next we’re fighting.”
“Look, I’ve known her for four years now, and I see that she’s a person who likes to crush all their feelings into this one big ball of emotions, then when the time is right, she reacts,” Keene began. “Whether it’s cheerful, depressed, wrecked, or terrified…it’s like sometimes she doesn’t even know what’s going on or what to do.”
“Man, that pill really does have an effect on you,” Levi commented after a while.
“He’s right, though. That’s what makes Lana so mysterious. She’ll be smiling, but you don’t even know if it’s real or not.” I sighed. “She’s magnificent at acting, but not as herself.”
“Yeah, it’s kinda sad because you’ll think she’ll be happy, then something happens or comes up and then…” Levi trailed off, yet I c
ould only imagine what he thought of. It could be when Levi and I raced or when we found out that Parker sexually harassed her. That ruined me. I couldn’t believe it. When I beat him, I was acting on the sudden urge to hurt him so badly.
The conversation soon died down as we heard many footsteps approach us. I glanced up to see Officer Jackson walk toward us with two people behind her.
“All right, you three, I don’t want to hear from you again. Just be glad I’m in a good mood and that it’s a new year,” she said as my eyes narrowed.
“Who bailed us out?” Levi asked as we stood up and walked to the gate.
“The one and only!” Lana’s voice echoed as she cheered. I took in her appearance and noticed that she had bare feet and wore Axel’s flannel.
“Lana, does your father know that you’re out so late?” Officer Jackson asked as we walked out of the cell.
“Not really, Miss Jackson, but I heard you’re in a good mood, so…” She winked.
“Yes, but if I see or hear of the five of you, I won’t hesitate to lock you all up.”
“Will do, Miss Ja—did you know that there’s a song with your name, Miss Jackson?” Lana asked as we walked down the hall.
“I thought she was sober,” Levi grunted as he glared at Axel.
“We made a few stops before we came to get you guys.” Axel shrugged as we watched Lana. She swung her arm around Officer Jackson’s shoulder and belted out the lyrics to Panic! At the Disco’s “Miss Jackson.”
“Okay, I think we need to go.” I grabbed Lana and guided her out of the station.
“What the hell?” Officer Jackson stated as she stared at us. We were finally out of the station, where I let go of Lana and watched as she skipped to the car and continued to sing.
“Where are her shoes? And why is she wearing your flannel?” Keene asked as we walked to the car.
“Her feet were getting sore, and do you really think I was going to let her enter the police station in a crop top and shorts?” Axel asked.
“Where’s her jacket?”
“It’s in the car, and plus, pumpkin looks cute in my clothing,” he said. I rolled my eyes as we got in the car. I sat in the middle while Lana sat on my right and Keene sat on my left. Axel drove this time while Levi turned on the radio.
“Guess where we got the money?” Lana asked as she clapped her hands.
“Is it from that guy you raced?” Levi asked as he turned to face us.
“Yeah! Since I won fair and square, I took the money that fell to the ground and shoved it in my jacket pocket,” she said as her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Yeah, and the money from the fight I won, we used it to buy a bottle of whiskey and a bag of chips.” Axel motioned to the bag of chips, which Keene ate.
“Where are we off to now, Captain?” Lana asked as she straightened her posture and saluted. I laughed at her childishness.
“Tattoo parlor.” Levi grinned as he read through the list.
“Aww, I don’t know what to get.” Lana frowned as she turned to me.
“You can get a piercing,” I suggested, then remembered a few hours ago when she was drunk and hinted where she wanted a piercing.
“I think I have something in mind for a tattoo,” Levi faintly said.
“Hey, Keene, guess what, guess what?” Lana urged as I gave a look.
“What?” he mumbled.
“I killed someone.” She giggled, then poked my cheek. Everyone in the car fell into a profound silence as we absorbed what she had said, then laughed at the ridiculous things Lana said when she’s drunk.
“You’re funny, princess. How much alcohol have you consumed in the last twelve hours?”
“I don’t know. Maybe four—teen beverages or something like that, but I’m still happy and alive!”
“How is that possible?” Axel laughed.
“I take my medication every day.” Lana pouted as she tugged on the sleeves of Axel’s flannel. Other than being intoxicated and childish, she looked cuddly. Her hair was curled up from the pool and the flannel ended by her thighs.
“What medication?” Keene asked.
“You know.” She wiggled her brows at me. “Vitamin A, B, C, and all I’m missing is D, am I right?”
“Oh my God.” Levi facepalmed as we laughed.
“I’m hungry!” Lana whined.
“You just ate a bag of sweet chili chips,” Axel pointed out.
“Oh yeah.” She chuckled, then turned to me. Our faces were inches apart as she stared at me with a sly grin and her eyelids drooped. “You know what I’d go for right now?”
“What?” I asked as she leaned in and whispered in my ear.
“A nice juicy piece of meat.”
Chapter Seventeen
Blake
We arrived at the parlor Keene suggested. It was open twenty-four hours, and Keene knew the people, so it was no problem. When we walked in, I took in the atmosphere. Multiple designs were advertised on the walls. Most of Axel’s and my tattoos were done in Minnesota, and I’ve been to one parlor in Illinois, but not this one. A guy walked in from the back and took off his gloves. Apart from the tattoos that covered his arms, he had clear amber skin and stubble that covered his square jaw.
“Keene!” the guy exclaimed as he greeted him with a handshake.
“’Sup, man,” Keene said, then turned to us. “You know Levi, of course. This is Axel, Blake, and Lana. Meet Isaac. He owns the place.”
“So what can I do for you today?” Isaac asked as he put the gloves in the trash can and folded his arms.
“Our lovely friend here would like…” Levi trailed off as we stared at Lana.
“I-I don’t know.” She shrugged.
“Don’t stress, kid. A tattoo takes a lot of thinking, especially your first one. Kendra might help.” Isaac looked over his shoulder. “Kendra!” he called as I stuffed my hands in my jeans pockets. The woman who entered the room, who I assumed was Kendra, wore black jeans and a maroon tank top that displayed the tattoos that surrounded her collarbone. She had short curly hair, which brought out her high cheekbones.
“Hey, guys.”
“Kendra, Lana here is getting her first tattoo.” Isaac gestured to Lana, who was now in her leather jacket and heels.
“Cool, follow me.” Kendra motioned Lana to follow her into another room. I watched as Lana whispered something to Levi. He nodded, then followed them. I walked around the parlor and looked at the different designs. Isaac turned on music, and I smiled as Drake came on. Axel took off his shirt as I raised a brow and walked over to him.
“You’re getting a tattoo?”
“We’re getting a tattoo, brother.” He winked as I sat down on a chair. I closed my eyes for a moment and sighed. I knew what tattoo he wanted. Last year we got a tattoo of Mom’s name, Roxanne, on our left bicep. Now we’d get a tattoo of our dad’s name and when he passed away.
“All right, boys, what would you like?” Isaac asked as I took off my jacket and gray tee. Axel did a little sketch of the way we wanted it. It was like the way we got Mom’s name. After we argued on where we wanted it, we finally decided to put it on our left forearm. I went first as I sat on the chair and laid back. Isaac pulled his chair up and sat next to me as I held out my arm. He cleaned the area of my arm where I wanted it tattooed as I closed my eyes. As I felt the needle press against my skin, I thought of what Lana got.
After being still for forty-five minutes, the light that was on us dimmed. I squinted my eyes, only to be met by those familiar blue eyes.
“Hi.” She towered over me.
“Hey, are you done?” I asked, and she nodded.
“Levi and I got matching tattoos. He’s getting his done now.” She looked over her shoulder and into the room where he was.
“All good, man. I’m assuming you know what to do since you got quite a few tattoos,” Isaac said as he put on the see-through covering.
“Yeah, thanks.” I sat up and observed the tattoo of my dad’s na
me.
“All right, Gunner number one, you’re next,” Isaac sang as I got off the seat and put on my tee. Unlike me, Axel talked to Isaac the whole time while he was busy. I followed Lana to the corner of the shop where a big mirror was displayed on the wall.
“What tattoo did you guys get?” I looked through the room where Levi was. His stomach was on the seat with his shirt off while Kendra tattooed on the side of his hip. I turned to Lana, who raised her jacket. Through the see-through cover, I saw a small tattooed crown in black, and underneath it said “princess” in cursive.
“Levi suggested it. Since he’s been calling me that for fourteen years.” She smiled, then lowered her jacket.
“Cute, but as Sam said, you deserve to be a queen,” I quoted as my mouth curved into a smile.
“You’re funny, Blake.” She shook her head. “What did you get?”
I held out my arm as she observed the black ink. She glanced up at me and smiled.
“Your dad?” she asked. I nodded.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered as her fingers grazed over it. A flush crept up my face as I stood in front of the mirror and read it.
Damian Gunner
05-14-14
After we finished our tattoos and paid, Levi needed gas, so we stopped at a gas station. I sat in the car with Keene while Levi and Lana filled the tank and Axel paid.
“You know I’m gonna confess something…” Keene said as his whole face went blank. I sat up and looked in front to where he sat. “I once had a crush on Lana.”
“No way.” I laughed.
“True shit. She was sixteen and goddamn, bro. That’s when puberty hit her.” He cupped his hands and motioned to her breasts.
“What happened?” I laughed.
“Well, Levi was always with her, and plus I’m two years older than her. It was just a little crush,” he said in a flat tone as I raised a brow.
“Wait…if you’re twenty, then she’s eighteen, and I’m seventeen,” I sighed.
“No freaking way, you can do the math,” Keene sarcastically gasped as I rolled my eyes.
