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Eloise wanting a tattoo was not shocking. Eloise dragging Fran along to get a tattoo, also not shocking.
The shop was tiny, with the artists chattering amongst themselves. The door jingled when they walked in and two women turned.
The taller one grinned. “Right on time.”
“Hi Elizabeth, this is my sister Fran.”
The woman shook her hand. “Hello Fran. I’m Elizabeth. That person staring at us is Michaela.”
Michaela waved. The first thing she noticed about Michaela were how warm her eyes were. It felt like Michaela was so delighted to see her. The second thing that she noticed was the red tattoo of a lipstick mark on her collarbone.
“Elizabeth did it.” Michaela answered Fran’s lingering gaze.
“Had to practically straddle her so it didn’t come out a mess.” Elizabeth joked before glancing at Eloise. “Are you ready?”
Eloise swallowed. “Yes. Maybe.”
“Right.”
Fran watched Eloise get tattooed for a while before she made her way over to Michaela’s booth and watched her sketch some things. “You’re good.”
Michaela looked up. “Thank you. Are you interested in getting a tattoo?”
No Fran was not…but she could be. “I don’t know what I would get. Why do you have a lipstick print?”
“I love women…” Michaela chuckled.
Fran felt her face heat up. “Oh?”
“I also have a Snowy tattoo because I thought it was cute.” Michaela shrugged.
“Snowy?”
“The dog from Tintin.” Fran nodded. “It can be something you think is funny. You just have to be able to live with it.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Eloise winced as they left the shop an hour later. Fran had been reluctant to go, but Michaela did have a client: an older gentleman who was getting his latest granddaughter’s name on his chest.
Fran looked at her sister as she started the car. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s okay. I’d do it again.” Eloise glanced at her. “So…you and Michaela.”
“She’s very nice.”
Eloise nodded. “Elizabeth said she’s single.”
Fran didn’t respond.
“And she is sure that Michaela thought you were cute.”
“I’m thinking of getting a tattoo.” Fran rushed out.
“You?” Eloise squawked out. “Of what?”
“Okay, so I’m thinking the stanza should go here.” Michaela’s gloved hand ran up Fran’s bare ribs.
Fran nodded with a blush.
“Alright. I’ve got a few different blues, so let’s take a look.” Michaela turned on her stool to pick up a color sheet. Fran was too busy watching the flex of her arms and wondering what the fuck was she doing. Fran did not do pain, and she did not like needles. Yet here she was, lying in Michaela’s chair getting the opening of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.
“I like that one.” Fran pointed to a blue that was similar to the color their mother always dressed them in as kids.
“Good choice. I’ll outline in a darker tone so it will pop.” Michaela started setting up. Fran, sitting in her bra and jeans, watched.
“So what made you want to get a tattoo?”
“Umm….” Fran didn’t know how to say I heard you were single, and I am so gay that I had to find a way for you to touch me. “Eloise made it sound fun.”
“Eloise whined the entire time she was in here but okay.” Michaela smirked before pressing the stencil on her side. "Now let’s check placement."
Fran looked into the handheld mirror and nodded. It looked good. “I like it.”
“Great.” Michaela grinned before disinfecting Fran’s side and starting.
Fran flinched and sucked in a breath.
“So what is this?”
“Hmm?” Fran hissed out.
“These notes. What are they?”
“Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor.” Fran rushed out.
“Okay. And why are we getting them?”
Fran glanced at Michaela, who was concentrating on making the lines straight. “It’s a masterpiece.”
“Yeah, but what does it mean to you?”
Fran stared at her. “Well, it’s Fate Knocking At the Door.”
“Uh huh.”
“It’s destiny.”
“Right.” Michaela glanced at her with a smile. “I’m not a musician so forgive me for not knowing. Usually I get something like, I thought it looked cool or these are my mom’s favorite flowers. This feels big.”
Fran nodded. “Well…”
Fran had thought about why she was getting this tattoo. Symphony No. 5 was a masterpiece but also, it was a reminder for Fran to be brave. To seize what she was destined to have.
“It’s a reminder.”
Michaela nodded. “Cool. I’ve got my grandmother’s handwriting on my left wrist for that reason.” Fran looked at Michaela’s wrist. It said Be Good.
“She told you to be good a lot?”
Michaela smiled wide. “Every time she saw me.”
“That much of a troublemaker?”
“Yes and a reminder to be kind. To others. To myself.” Michaela sat up and rolled her shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
Fran somehow forgot that she was getting a tattoo. Her side ached. “Okay?”
“How about we take a break, and then I’ll finish up.”
Fran nodded. "That sounds good."
Fran’s first tattoo was a resounding success. It looked amazing and she had a new friend.
A new friend that she was trying to make more than a friend. They had been texting for a few weeks, about tattoo maintenance and art and other things.
Fran hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask Michaela out yet, but she had hung out with her on some not dates.
They were enjoying the gorgeous weather in the park, Michaela was sketching a group of women doing tai while Fran used the sun as a reason to touch Michaela.
“You have an arrow on your forearm.” Fran traced the point of the red arrow that curled around Michaela’s right forearm.
“I do.”
“Why?”
“I’m an archer.”
“You’re an archer?” Fran could not picture that.
“I am.” Michaela closed her sketchbook. “What’s the fascination?”
“I want another tattoo.”
“You do?” Michaela seemed shocked. “Addicted already?”
“People get addicted?” Fran just wanted Michaela to touch her again. That meant getting another tattoo.
“Some do. What are you thinking?”
Fran thought. “I don’t know. Maybe flowers. Is that too…basic?”
Michaela chuckled. “No. Francesca roses.”
“That’s…wow.” Fran was shocked. Most people didn’t know there were Francesca roses. “You like flowers?”
“Not particularly. Just…Eloise mentioned your mom loves flowers and that you were named after a rose like her. I looked it up. It’s pretty.”
Fran watched Michaela’s face get a red tone. “Is that right?”
“Pretty like you.”
Fran’s face heated up. “Where should I get it?”
“I can do a simple one on your wrist… or your ankle?”
Fran thought about the idea of Michaela’s hands on her leg. “Ankle.”
They settled on a simple line drawing of the rose in bloom. Michaela’s hand were cool through her gloves as she gently tattooed Fran’s ankle in a vibrant red ink. Despite them being in a noisy tattoo parlor, Fran could hear Elizabeth and Christopher yelling about something behind them, it was intimate. Michaela was so gentle that it barely hurt, and they didn’t even talk. They just enjoyed the silence together.
“Hey, we got a walk-in, can you take it after Fran?”
They looked up to see Elizabeth looking at both of them.
“Sure.” Michaela said. “I’m almost done.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Looks good.”
Fran looked at her ankle. It looked beautiful. “It does.”
Fran’s ankle was a gorgeous piece of Michaela’s art that she kept admiring - and wearing ankle socks for.
“I’ve seen your ankle more this month than I have in my entire life.” Eloise snarked.
“Put them away, Fran.” Pen joked.
Fran blushed. “She did a great job.”
Pen and Eloise shared a look as Michaela finally exited her booth with her last client.
“Hey! Is this Pen?”
“Yes. Hi.” Pen said. “You must be Michaela.”
Michaela looked at Fran and Eloise. “I have a description?”
“Fran raves about you all the time.” Eloise added.
Elizabeth finally showed up to save them. “Penelope?”
“Hi. Yes.” Pen stood up.
“Great, let’s head back. Come on Eloise. Leave these two to flirt.”
Fran felt her face heat up.
They were finally alone in the front of the shop.
“So.” Michaela said. She had a small smile.
“So.” Fran replied. “Do you-“
“Can I- go ahead.”
Fran shook her head. “No. Go ahead.”
“Can I take you out on a date?”
Fran grinned. “Yes. I’d like that.”
Fran sat next to Michaela as she held out her arm. She had a free space right next to her red arrow that Elizabeth was prepping.
Fran was squeezing her left hand.
“I’ll be fine.”
“I know.” Fran said.
“I promise to be gentle.” Elizabeth joked as she finished her transfer. “Is this the right blue?”
Fran looked at the ink and nodded.
“Great.” Elizabeth prepped and leaned over, beginning the blue heart that was joining Michaela’s arm.
Fran’s eyes moved up to the notes on the stem.
“I can’t believe you are getting a matching tattoo.” Elizabeth grumbled.
“I’m not. I’m simply getting a reminder to seize the day or whatever.”
Fran kissed her temple. “That destiny is coming.”
“Yes. That.”
“Don’t even know what it is and you’re getting it on your body. You’re a cliché.” Elizabeth teased.
Fran watched her destiny bicker with her best friend and smiled.