Page 18 of Joyride
Wren
I’ve beenin New Orleans for a week now. I’m considering staying here for a while. I’m pretty sure I could finish my college classes online if I do choose to stay. I’ve taken some summer courses every year and only have one semester left before graduation. I could graduate in December, or take a semester off then finish in the spring. I’m leaning toward the latter.
Sketch and I have spent more time together since I told him about Zack. He hasn’t let on anything about seeking revenge on Zack. I hope he doesn’t do anything. I would never forgive myself if something happened to Sketch because of me. It’s good to talk to him again. I’ve missed him more than I realized.
Elena pops her head into my room. “Did you decide if you’re going today?”
There’s a tattoo convention here this weekend. Sketch was talking to us about it last night. He and the guys are going and invited us.
“Yeah, I think I am. Did you want to come,” I ask her.
She shrugs. “Sure, I don’t have anything else going on.”
“I'll be looking for an artist to get my first tattoo with,” I tell her.
“Isn’t Sketch a tattoo artist?”
Heat rises in my cheeks. I’ve thought about having him do it, but then I thought about how I feel when he touches me. I can’t bring myself to ask him.
“He is,” I tell her. Before I can say more, my phone buzzes with an incoming text.
From Sketch:We’re about to head to the convention. Want us to pick you up?
To Sketch:Elena is coming, too. We’ll meet you there.
From Sketch:See you there, Little Bird ;)
I smile at his last text. Him and that stupid nickname. I got so mad at him when he first started calling me that. It’s grown on me, but he’s the only one allowed to use that.
“They’re leaving now. Are you ready,” I ask Elena.
“Ready for what? Where are we going?” Aria barges into my room.
“The tattoo convention,” I tell her.
“Oh, hell yeah! Let’s go,” she says.
“I’m ready,” Elena adds.
“Harper is working today, but can meet up with us later,” Aria tells us.
“Sounds good. Who’s driving,” Elena asks.
“I will,” Aria offers.
“Shotgun!” I giggle. We grab our purses and head out the door.
“What do you want a tattoo of,” Elena asks as we all climb into Aria’s car.
“You’re getting a tattoo?” Aria shouts.
“I might. I want to get a lotus flower. I want the outline black with pink watercolor added throughout it. But I need to decide where I want it.” Lotus flowers are such beautiful and inspiring flowers. Before they can bloom, they have to make their way through the dark mud. In time, the lotus rises above the water and emerges beautiful and whole. I want it as a reminder of the mud I had to go through to get back to myself. I may still be a work in progress, still cleaning the mud off, but I could use that visual reminder. I will always rise above the mud, no matter how thick it is. I will always emerge whole.
“That would be really pretty,” Elena raves.
“A lotus flower would be perfect for you,” Aria tells me. Ten minutes later we pull up to the New Orleans Tattoo Convention. While Aria looks for a parking spot, I shoot Sketch a text.
To Sketch:We’re looking for a parking spot now. Aria came with us.
