"That is sick." Kade said as I stood in front of the mirror admiring my new tattoo. Its the biggest one I had yet and it was beautiful. 

"Holy shit Jonathan this is gorgeous" I said. The tattoo was of a geometric snake wrapped around my thigh with splotches of color here and there to look like watercolor splashes. It was about 90% black and white but the splashes of color really made it come together. 

"I know you like simpler tattoos but I decided to push it a little this time" He said leaning back in the chair. "I guess you like it." He bit into an apple he got out of nowhere. The store was closed but we were still here cuz Jonathan is  awesome and also the owner so, special privileges. 

"How much do I owe you?" I asked walking up to the counter and pointing at the register.

"You know I don't like charging you." Jonathan frowned. 

"And you know I don't like leaving you with no business so come on, spit it out." I said, taking out my wallet. Jonathan named the price with a sigh and I handed over the cash. That jerk, I knew he charged me half price because I know for a fact a tattoo of this scale would not be this cheap. Link and Remington made appointments to get tattooed with Jonathan. Kade wanted to but didn't because he was still 17 and it was illegal. He protested saying I was 17 but Jonathan said that because he was family he could sign for me as a legal guardian, but couldn't do the same for Kade unless he had a legal guardian who could sign for him. Kade was disappointed but promised to come on his 18th birthday. 

Kade and Link went together since they said they lived not too far away and that Remington wouldn't need to drive them. So it was just me and Remington, jamming out to music in his car. We pulled up to my house, said our goodbyes and I hopped out of the car. I walked about five steps before some drunk guy appeared in front of me. 

"Hello there gorgeous." He smiled crookedly, slurring. "Whats a pretty thing like you doing out here all by her lonesome?" I tried walking past him only for him to grab my arm. 

"Now now honey, don't play hard to get." I glared at him, jerking my arm out of his grasp. "Or do you want me to follow you?" He asked with a wink. "Cuz we can always go to your place and we cou-" He didn't get to finish his sentence before he got pulled back and dropped on his ass by a looming figure. 

"Leave, her, alone." Remington said, his voice furious. 

"Oh shit dude, didn't know she was your property. My bad." The drunk guy said and scurried off.

"Property, really." I huffed. " I could've handeled it, but thanks anyways." I said. Remington wrapped his arm around my shoulder. 

"I'm gonna walk you to your apartment. Don't want you to encounter another drunk guy." He said as he led me to the entrance to the building. 

"Um, thanks." I said, my cheeks turning hot. I looked down and covered my cheeks with my hair so he wouldn't notice the redness as we walked to the elevator. Once I was at my door I stopped and turned to face Remington.

"Thank you." I said. "For escorting me. It was a nice gesture." I smiled up at him, a smile which he returned. Then he did something he hasn't done before. He hugged me. It was a bit awkward because right now he was huge, but it still felt really nice. And oh god he smelled so good. His arms wrapped around me felt like heaven which I never wanted to leave. He pulled away sooner than I would have liked and brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"That tattoo looks really good on you by the way." He said. The whole situation from the escort to the hug to the brushing of the hair made me blush red like a fire engine. "And did I ever tell you that you look adorable when you blush?" He smiled and then turned around and left.  I let out a small sigh and then unlocked the door to my apartment. Welp, guess who's not sleeping tonight. 

It was a week later and I still haven't forgotten that little encounter in my hallway. It has been spinning and bouncing in my head all week. Right now I was just doodling nothing in particular in my notebook, bored out of my mind in chemistry. 

"Hmm" Kade said, peering over into my notebook. "Doesn't that look familiar. Does someone has a little crush on a very big someone?" Kade asked with a playful tone. 

"What?" I asked, looking up at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?" Kade pointed at my notebook and I looked down at it for the first time without being zoned out. Oh.

"Oh" I said, looking at the portrait of Remington's face in the corner of my notebook. 

"So." Kade said, resting his chin on this interlocked fingers. "Does our little husky have a crush?" He asked.

"No" I said. Way to go, very convincing. "I just tend to draw people I spend the most time around and that just happens to be stupid Remington." I said as I went back to doodling, this time making sure its just squiggles. 

"Mhmm. Sure." He said, not believing. "Don't worry husky, your secrets safe with me." He gave me a reassuring 'i got you' wink.

"There is no secret because there is no crush." I insisted. 

"Thats what you say now oh young one." 

"I am older than you!" I objected. Kade help up his had. 

"Doesn't matter" He said matter of factly. This boy better not blow my cover or I will blow him up.