(13)

When Jenice woke up she felt awesome. She was awake right away and jumped out of bed.
“Best morning ever!”
She tried looking at her back in the mirror, she couldn’t see everything but that was alright. Her back felt better but was still a tad red.
“No worries.”, she told herself and sighed happily. She put on her pyjamas and unlocked her door to go to the bathroom.
“You’re up early, very early.”, Alice exclaimed when she reached for the bathroom knob upon seeing her sister.
Jenice cackled and drank in her sisters surprised expression with joy.
“Yes, I am. Can I go in the bathroom first?”
“Sure.”, Alice replied dumbstruck and dropped her hand.
Jenice reached for the doorknob and opened the door.
“Thank you.”, she said while entering the bathroom.

Alice went back to her room. She thought about what just happened and thought it to be strange. Jenice always had been the carefree type, but lately she had been just as worried as everyone and wasn’t in the least happy. Alice took a chair and sat down. Because of the noise John woke up.
“What’s up, darling?”, he asked lazily.
“Jenice is acting funny.”
“How so?”, he sat up.
“She’s … so happy.”
“That’s a good thing right?”, he asked while rubbing one of his eyes because it was hurting.
“Yes, but it such an immense change from the last days.”
“Maybe she was off in those last days and is acting normal again?”
“No, I wonder what made her change like this. I wonder what happened that made her this happy.”
“Don’t worry too much. We’ll know soon.”
“Yes, probably.”, she smiled.
His eye stopped hurting and he smiled back at her. She stood up and sat on his lap. This was the most intimate thing she had done with him in her room. He played with her long hair.
“I love you, Alice.”, he uttered happily.
“I love you too.”
She kissed him and put her arms around him. He smiled. He was happy that she was finally loosening up a bit in their relationship. He caressed her cheek and then he kissed her back.

Jenice had undressed herself and got into the shower. Under the shower she sighed happily again. She began with washing her hair. It was short so she didn’t had to use much. After a while she also began to wash her body, every spot got a fair amount of attention. She cleaned herself thoroughly and then took a towel. She also had washed her back as good as she could. She smiled at her mirror image. She dried her hair and brushed all the knots out of it. Then she tried peeking at her back again by placing two mirrors in such a way that the one reflected in the other so she could stare at her tattoo. Upon seeing it she smiled.
“Perfect, just perfect.”, she sighed softly.
She then dressed herself and put the mirrors back in place. When she was done she left the bathroom and went straight up her sister’s room. She knocked and went in.
“It’s your turn.”, she smiled at her sister.
Alice was sitting beside John, while he was holding her hand. They had broken a kiss when she knocked.
“Thank you.”, Alice jumped up and gave John a peck on the cheek, leaving her room to go take a bath.

“Alice told me you were acting weird.”
“Oh, was I?”
“She told me you were happy.”
“Well that’s not odd, is it?”
“I told her that. But she said it had been rare since you were this happy.”
“That might have been true. I was rather confused.”
“Confused? About what?”
“Myself.”
“How so?”
“I needed to figure out some feelings about some events. It was like I had mixed feelings or none. And I just needed to know what I felt.
“But that’s all solved now?”
“Yes, about most I have an answer now.”
“Is this the reason why you are this happy?”
“Well, I guess it is.”, she smiled.
“That’s okay, I happy for you now I know.”, he returned the smile.
“Great.”, she replied while turning around and leaving the room to end the conversation.
John was left behind and he sat there, watching her leave, not sure if she told him the full truth, but he hoped she had.

Jenice didn’t even took the time to grab breakfast and didn’t wait for her sister to get out of the bathroom. After the conversation with John, she took her bags and left the house. She walked past the tattoo shop of yesterday evening and smiled at it. She walked past it and was on her way to Al’s house. She wasn’t sure if he was home but she hoped he was. She came past a spot where she sprayed graffiti not too long ago. She grinned at it and went over to the wall. Automatically she took out a can and began to paint an art piece. This took longer than she had planned. After a few hours Al reached the place where she was spraying. He smiled upon seeing her. Immediately he approached her.
“Hello, Jenice.”, he said with a cheeky tone in his voice.
“Oh, hello Al.”, she smiled.
“What are you doing here so early?”
“I got distracted. I was on my way to you.”
“Oh, really?”, Al was flattered and a little blush made this clear.
“Yes, I was.”, she said while putting away her cans.
“You’re quitting?”
“Yes, I am.”, she said and then grabbed his hand. “Let’s go to your house.”, she smiled with a sweet expression.
“Oh, okay.”, Al sounded surprised and he was dumbstruck. Never would he have thought that events would turn out to this. They walked to his house and he let themselves in.
“Did you need me for something?”
“How so?”
“Well you were on your way to see me. So I assume you needed me.”
“Well, I wanted to show you something to be exact.”
“And what may that be?”
She took of her shirt.
“I already saw your body.”, he grinned.
“Cheeky, but that’s not it.”, she said while opening her bra, but keeping it to her chest. She turned around and showed the outlines of a tattoo. He approached her and took in the image.
“This is extraordinary.”, he said. “When did you get this done?”
“Yesterday evening.”, she smiled.
“You seem happy with it.”
“More than ever. This is exactly what I wanted. I need to go back two more times though.”
“Yes. One for the colouring and another one for shading and some details.”
“Oh, does it work like that?”
“Of course it does. Didn’t you know? Haven’t you looked up some stuff before letting the needles touch your skin?”
“Actually I got it placed the same time I decided to get one.”
“You idiot.”
“You’re one to talk.”
“You had to think it through.”
“I didn’t need to, I knew what I wanted.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’ll never regret this. Ever. Okay?”
“Okay. Just checking. I already have tattoos so it’s not like I judge you or something.”
“Good.”, she fastened her bra again.
“I just don’t want you to regret anything anymore.”
“I know, I know.”, she sighed, knowing what he was talking about.
“I am sorry.”
“Don’t be.”, she walked up to him and kissed his lips. “I love you, Al.”
“I love you too.”, he replied softly, caressing her back. She broke the embrace and put on her shirt again.
“When should I go back?”
“Not today.”
“Why not?”
“Because they wouldn’t be able to continue just yet.”
“They can’t?”
“Nope, you’ll have to wait some time, but don’t worry, you don’t have to wait very long.”
“Oh okay.”, she uttered rather disappointed.
“Well you can, if you want to. I am just not sure if they’d do it now. When have you gone to the artist?”
“Yesterday, they were closing down but I hopped in and they kept it open for me.”
“Well they certainly won’t do it this morning.”
“Well how about in the afternoon?”
“You can always ask.”
“Then I’ll do that.”
“Sure, I won’t stop you. Have you had anything to eat already?”
“No. Why?”
“Because I have some bacon and eggs. Want to have breakfast with me then?”
“Sure. I’d love too.”

Jenice also spend the noon with Al. They talked about titbits and then she left with Al to spray some graffiti in the neighbourhood. After some hours she kissed him goodbye and went to visit the tattoo shop. She wanted to open the door, but then she saw big red letter saying ‘closed’. She sighed at this.
“I should have checked yesterday.”, she said while walking home. She was clearly disappointed but she knew there were other days to get it finished. At home she was warmly welcomed and John didn’t nag about her being on the road alone again. They sat together at dinner and talked about the day they had had.