I really didn't know what to do with myself. Remington and I have been spending a lot of time together over winter break and my feelings for him were only growing but I didn't know what to do. I wanted more than anything to just be able to kiss him again but I was scared. To clear my head, I did what any reasonable person would do, which is go and get a tattoo. The sound of the tattoo gun actually soothes me. 

I walked into my cousins store where Jonathan was just finishing up with a customer. He gave the man a handshake and then grinned at me.

 "Rie!" He said and went over to hug me and spun me. "Long time no see." He said. "Here for a new tattoo?" 

"No I'm here for a doughnut and a back massage, of course I'm here for a tattoo!" I said. "I'm letting you have full creative freedom here. Keep it at around 500 bucks okay?" I said and Jonathan fist bumped the air. Tattoo artists love it when you give them full freedom. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. 

"Where do you want it?" He asked, leading me to a chair. 

"As I said, full creative freedom." I said sitting down. Jonathan thought for a little while before saying that he wants to do my left leg. I pulled up the pant leg of the pants that I was wearing. Luckily they weren't tight because this is a pair of pants I wasn't ready to say goodbye to. Jonathan came back with a stencil, sitting down beside me. 

"I've had this drawn for a while but didn't have anyone to tattoo it on yet. And then you came through the door and I knew you would love it." He said, applying the stencil. "But no peeking" He said as I was about to move my head to look at the drawing. I flopped my head back and pouted. 

He started tattooing, looking over at me a couple of times and sighing. 

"What brings you here. I know you, somethings eating you up inside by the looks of it." He said. "Come on, you know your favorite cousin has the best advice." He gave me a cheeky grin, before turning back to my leg. "Trouble in paradise?" He joked but then looked at my expression and his face held a look of realization. "Who is it?" He asked.

"Remember the three guys that came in here to get a tattoo with me?" I asked. Jonathan nodded.

"Its not all three of them is it?" 

"No you doofus. The tallest one who stayed back here with me." I said and Jonathan nodded. "Did they ever come to get their tattoos done, they never told me." I said.

"Yeah they did. I don't really remember what they were, but yeah they did." He confirmed with a nod. "Anyways, back to you. So what is it? You like him but he hates you. Has a girlfriend maybe? Love triangle? I want the juicy details." 

"None of the above. Its our stupid family misfortune. I'm scared of getting into a relationship because of it, especially with someone who I like so much." I said and Jonathan frowned. 

"Yeah, that." He shook his head. "You know, I was scared of it too. Fr a very long time because I didn't want to end up like my parents or anyone else in my family. But now I am happily engaged to my boyfriend of 5 years, so you shouldn't be scared of a relationship. Don't let our family hold you back from what makes you happy." He said. Hold on.

"Hold up. You thought I was just going to let it slide that you are engaged now?" I almost yelled at him. "When did this happen?" I asked.

"Two weeks ago?" He said wincing. 

"Jonathan Roland Parks! You have been engaged for two weeks and you never told me!?" I scolded him. "I didn't even know you had a boyfriend, this is so unfair! Here I am spilling my juicy love life secrets to you and you didn't even tell me you had a boyfriend!" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"What was I supposed to do? See you come in for a tattoo or over the phone just tell you oh yeah by the way I'm gay and dating a dude bye!" He mocked himself.

"Umm, yes?" I said like it was obvious. 

"Well I did this with my family and they didn't exactly throw me a coming out party. Why do you think I moved away? Its because my parents wouldn't stop harassing David and I." He said, turning back to my tattoo.

"Well I can if you want." I said and Jonathan chuckled. "But seriously, you should bring him over to dinner. I'll cook." I said and Jonathan thought fr a moment.

"Only if your boyfriend will be there." He said with a cheeky grin.

"But I don't have one." I pointed out.

"Well you're not meeting my fiance until you grow a pair and finally get together with him and stop letting our family ruin everything good in your life." He said, looking at me. "Seriously, even if it doesn't work out in the long run, you will still have made memories. Happy memories." He said, looking at my rib cage. "Which I will add to this thread of tattoos on your ribs." He said. On my ribcage I have a series of happy memories tattoos in simple outlines and shapes. They go down my ribcage and side. 

For the rest of the tattoo we sat mostly in silence because I was thinking about everything Jonathan had said. The tattoo ended up taking longer because I also asked him to do a quick one on my ribcage of two people dancing set up like a scene in Howl's Moving Castle, remembering the waltz Remington and I did around my living room.