50 - Tattoo

“Cara?” Ariana played with a piece of clay on the table. “Do you keep in touch with the tattoo artist, where I got my first tattoo?”

 

“Uh-huh. Why?” 

 

“I think I want another one.” Ari replied. 

 

“Really? I can call him, if you want?”

 

“Would you?” She tossed a clay ball from one hand to another. 

 

“Let me go grab his number.” Cara disappeared down the hall to her office. She had made some sculptures for his tattoo studio a while back, so it was most likely on an invoice somewhere. Rummaging through her files, she found the number and placed the call. A few minutes later she returned to the studio, telling Ari they had an appointment for six o’clock.

 

“Great. How about we go shopping, maybe get a bite to eat before then?” Her green eyes shone with excitement.

 

“I don’t see why not? Let me just clean up a bit.”  

 

Ariana helped Cara straighten up what she was working on when the muffled sound of ‘I’m too sexy for my shirt’ came from her bag. Blushing bright red, she reached inside her bag and saw it was a text from Jon.

 

“Who is that?”

 

“Jon. He must have changed his ringtone when he was here.”

 

Sending him a quick reply, she tossed her phone back in her bag as they headed out the door.

 

When it came to shopping, Ari hated it, but her friend really enjoyed it, so she did it for her. Ari watched as her red-haired friend sifted through rack after rack. Now and then, Cara would ask what she thought of something. Both girls knew that no matter how many things Cara tried on she usually only took one or two items. Hence the reason Ari hated shopping with her. Ariana on the other hand, when she shopped she knew just what she wanted before she entered the store. Which was usually some vintage t-shirt and jeans boutique.

 

“Are you almost done, I’m starving.” Ari protested.

 

“When are you not?” Cara rolled her eyes while she looked at herself in the three-way mirror.

 

“Do you wanna go to Schwartz’s?”

 

“Sounds good to me. Just let me change out of these clothes and we’ll be on our way.”

 

As they turned on to Saint-Laurent Boulevard, they could see the line for Schwartz’s was out the door. Having been part of Montreal’s history since 1928 they were famous for their smoked meat and steak sandwiches. While similar to pastrami, ‘smoked meat’ was very different in Montreal. They were both briskets, but seasoned differently. Being both American and Canadian she grew up eating both and according to Ari they were both delicious.  

 

If you were looking for a long and leisurely meal, Schwartz was not the place to go. You basically ordered, ate and were out the door in twenty minutes or less. Which was exactly enough time for them to make their appointment.

 

L’artiste was in an old two-story brick building with red accents on the window and door. Its owners were Francois and his wife Matilda, otherwise known as Frank and Mattie. Not your typical tattoo parlor, but more a cross between badass meets tranquility. Frank was the creative mastermind, while Mattie was the tranquil spirit.

 

As Cara opened the door they were greeted by a girl in her mid-twenties tall, tattooed and pink hair.

 

“Allo, bienvenue chez L’artiste.”

 

“Allo. We have an appointment with Frank.” Cara spoke.

 

“Whom shall I say is here?” she asked.

 

“Tell him it’s Cara.”

 

The girl disappeared down the hall to where the private rooms were. While they waited Ariana looked around the main room, the humming sound of needles coming from the six stations filled the room.

 

“You sure about this?” Cara asked.

 

“Uh-huh.”

 

Frank’s ready for you. The girl called as she walked towards them.

 

Leading them into one of the private rooms in the back she closed the door behind them and went back to her station. Cara sat in the chair along the wall while Ari sat in the armed chair in the middle of the room. There was a small knock on the door before it pushed opened with Frank on the other side. He greeted both women with a hug and a couple of air kisses.

 

Pulling up the stool he took a seat. Sketchbook in his lap, Frank listened as Ari explained what she had in mind, his hands working as she spoke. He made a few suggestions here and there, some she liked, some she didn’t. In the end, she loved what he had drawn.

 

Frank placed his design into the thermal-fax machine to prepare the stencil as Ariana situated herself in the chair. Needles prepped and ready to go, he applied a little ointment to keep the stencil from rubbing off and to help the needle slide along her skin more smoothly. Taking a deep breath and blowing it out Ariana was ready. The first few minutes were the roughest and reminded her why she’s only had one tattoo. After that, her skin got used to it and the pain subsided.

 

The girls talked amongst themselves while Frank worked. Careful of what she said, Ari told Cara all about her surprise visitor she had the other night and that he asked her to go with him next year and she agreed. Cara asked her what she planned on doing with the bar or if she still planned on starting her own business. Ari didn’t have definitive answers for either question. She knew that this was something she needed to do for him.

 

With the outline complete, Frank began adding a little shading. Before he applied the protective layer of ointment, Ariana stood in front of the mirror to take a look. It was perfect. It represented her journey through life.

 

A treble and bass clef notes in the shape of a heart... for her love of music and the life she spent around it and the love she found because of it. Add in the words ‘Avere Fede’, Italian for ‘Have Faith’. Words she’d heard many times before but had a new meaning for her now.

 

“It looks good. Do you like it?” Frank asked as she admired it.

 

“I love it. Thank you.” Ari returned to her seat so he could put the bandage on.

 

Cara took her place in the chair as it was her turn now. Having decided on something simple this time, a quote “Love Fearlessly”, placed just above her collarbone where her shoulder and neck met. When Ari asked why there, she simply answered.

 

“I love to be kissed there.”

 

“And who is kissing you there?” Ari asked inquisitively.

 

“Jonas.” She answered with a smile.

 

“Really?”

 

“Qui.” Cara stood and looked in the mirror. Admiring Frank’s handy work, she continued “We’ve been seeing each other exclusively now. I know that’s shocking to hear, me with one guy, but I like him a lot.”

 

Ariana’s eyes beamed with happiness for her friend. Cara had always been a free spirit and to hear her talking about liking someone enough to commit to just him, it had to be serious.

 

“Well I’ll be damned.” Ari stepped behind her friend as she stood in front of the mirror. “Could this maybe, possibly lead to the ‘M’ word?”

 

“Now, let’s not go that far.” She turned and looked at her friend. “I am enjoying where we are at the moment. Even though we have known each other for years, we’re learning so much we never knew.”

 

“The honeymoon stage.” Ari winked and teased as she watched her friend blush.

 

“Shut up.” Cara bumped her out of the way and walked back to her chair to allow Frank to apply the bandage. Thanking him when he was done they proceeded to the front room where they paid and said their goodbyes.

The brisk, late-October wind brushed lightly against their faces as they walked down the street. It was nice they got the chance to spend the day together. They both had a busy week ahead of them before their trip to Toronto and probably wouldn’t see each other again till then. Giggling and talking about their trip they made their way home.