Falling Down

Chapter Nineteen
Lucy
We enter the tattoo shop and Jesse pulls me close. My hands are sweating and I'm sure I've got a bad case of crazy eyes going on.
"You know you don't have to do this," Jesse says.
"Yeah, I do. First, because I want the tattoos. Second," I say, cutting a glance over to Ben and Xander, "if I don't, you know how bad I'm going to hear about it from Thing 1 and Thing 2 over there?"
Sera snickers. "Thing 1 and Thing 2."
"I'll show you my thing," Xander says with an evil grin.
"Jesse, what's up?" a very large, very tattooed man in jeans and a Falling Down concert shirt asks--I forgot to mention the very large beard and very long hair. The man is a whole lot of "very".
Jesse and the "very" man do some secret handshake.
"Harley, this is Lucy," Jesse says by way of introduction to the big man. "Lucy, this is Harley."
I hold out a hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"Oh, to hell with that," Harley says and grabs me up into a really tight bear hug and I squeak in surprise. "I've got to give the girlfriend of this never-going-to-have-a-girlfriend jackass a hug. You tamed the beast."
I laugh and hug him back. He's just a big teddy bear--who's very scary on the outside.
"Well, I don't know about taming him…" I say.
Two more tattooed guys walk up--way less scary than Harley--and shake hands with everyone. These two are hot. Meggie checks them out and I grin.
"These morons are Bret and Hunter. They'll take care of the rest of you while I get Girlfriend Kingston," Harley says, throwing his arm around me and leading me back to his station.
I grin at Jesse and he just shakes his head.
"Lock the door, Hunter."
"Got it, Harley."
"What are we going to do for you today, GK?"
GK? Oh, heh. Girlfriend Kingston.
"I want to get two tattoos, actually three, but I think I can only handle two right now."
Harley grins and nods. "Whatcha got in mind, doll?"
"I changed my mind, Jesse," I tell him taking a seat in the victim chair.
He raises a brow.
"Instead of the butterfly behind the ear, I think I'm going to get a Blush tattoo for my upper back/shoulder area."
Sera squeals. "We need to have the same one!"
Meggie bounces on her toes and blows a bubble. "Count me in."
"The guys might be pissed," I say.
"Don't worry about it," Harley says. "I'll keep the design and they can come get theirs."
"You're such a sweetheart, Harley," I tell him and he blushes.
"Now tell me what you've got in mind…"
***~~~***
About thirty minutes later Harley's got a Blush tattoo designed and it's really freaking awesome--not that I got to see it. I may be pouting just a little bit. Sera, Meggie, Jesse, Ben, and Xander all got to see it along with Bret and Hunter. Yep, I'm the only one who didn't get to see it, but I feel kind of special because Harley said he designed it especially for me and wants it to be a surprise. It's a nice gesture, but what if I hate it? Jesse must sense my turmoil as I strip off my t-shirt and lay face down on the chair. He winks and squeezes my hand reassuring me I'll love it.
"You ready, GK?" Harley asks.
"Yep," I reply turning on my Kindle.
"There's no way you're going to be able to focus on that," Xander tells me.
"You have no idea," I tell him.
"Here we go," Harley says and I feel the needle.
"Ouch, mother effing SOB!"
"Suck it up, GK. It's always hard until you get used to it."
"I could do so much with that statement," I tell them, "but I'm busy being tortured by a giant teddy bear."
"I take offense to that," Harley says as the guys chuckle.
I hear Sera squeak then growl.
"Ah, Sera's turn," Ben says rubbing his hands together. "I've got to see it." With that, he's gone.
"Go keep Meggie company, Xander," I tell him.
He wiggles his eyebrows. "More than happy to."
"He's such a perv," I tell Jesse.
"Feel better?" Jesse asks.
"It was until you reminded me it was happening. Now you need to distract me."
He leans in close to my ear and whispers, "Tonight I'm going to take your clothes off, slowly. Then kiss you until you're breathless, work my way down your body to your sexy p-ssy and lick and taste and finger you until you come all over my face."
"Dude, you better stop. She's starting to wiggle," Harley says with a laugh.
"I just got started."
I let out a breathy sigh. "He's really good at that."
"More than I need to know."
About twenty minutes later, my Blush tattoo is done, cleaned, ointment put on along with a bandage.
"Alright. You sure you want the outline and the color for the side piece?"
I nod. "Otherwise I'll end up with just an outline. I know this one's going to hurt like a mofo and if we leave it half done it's always going to stay that way."
"Gotcha," Harley says. "I'm all for getting as much done as you can tolerate."
"That's a big piece, Luce."
"Yeah, I know, but it's so pretty."
"It suits you," Jesse says.
"Thanks." I smile at him and he leans down for a kiss.
"Stand up for me, GK."
I stand and he holds up the transfer.
"I thought so," he murmurs. "You're going to have pull your pants down a bit."
"Yeah baby," Xander shouts from wherever he is in the shop.
I pull one side down past my butt. "Panties too?" I ask.
"Mhmm," he replies.
"I'm missing out on Lucy's ass!" Xander exclaims.
"And bra," Jesse grumbles.
"Lucy's boobs!" Xander shouts.
"I'll just slip this arm out and hold it in the front. No worries, babe."
Jesse's head snaps up and he grins.
"What?"
He shakes his head.
"First time you called him by a nickname?" Harley asks.
I tilt my head and think. Jesse lifts a brow, still grinning.
"Wow, it is."
Jesse nods.
Harley wheels his chair next to me. "He likes it."
"So I see. I'll have to remember that." I give Jesse a wink.
"Alright, that's better." Harley holds up the transfer. "Lift your arm."
"Jesse?"
"Got it," he says, wiggling his eyebrows. He puts his hand over my bra covering my boob and gives a squeeze.
"Jesse," I scold and he chuckles.
I lift my arm and Harley applies the transfer which goes from my hip to a couple inches underneath my arm and one of the stems with a flower wraps over my breast.
"Holy shit," Meggie says walking into the room as Harley helps me to the chair. Jesse sighs as his hand falls from my boob.
"Sorry, babe."
He grins. The endearment made up for the loss of boobage. Good to know.
"Don't freak me out, bitch." I flip Meggie off.
Meggie holds up her hands. "I won't, I won't. But it's huge."
"That's what she said," Xander howls in laughter.
I just roll my eyes at Xander but I'm laughing with him. He's such a goof.
"Here we go," Harley notifies me.
I nod. "All set."
The first swipe of the needle has me holding my breath but it's not enough so I let out a stream of expletives.
"You'd think she was just told she had to give a press conference," Sera chortles.
"This is brutal. Brutal!"
"Jesse, hand me her Kindle. I'll read her a little Tijan to distract her."
"Oh my God, thank you Sera. I was up to such a great part. I've got a bit of a girlie crush on Logan Kade."
"I see how it is. You get the real thing," Ben points at Jesse, "and you need a new crush."
I bite my lip. "I'd laugh but it hurts too bad. You'll see. He's such a player and his one-liners are awesome."
Sera starts to read and before you know it, everyone's got chairs pulled up listening to Fallen Crest Public.
After an hour or so Xander sneers, "What the f*ck? I hope someone knocks those bitches on their asses."
"I'm sure it's going to happen," Harley answers. "There's no way Mason or Logan are going to let that shit slide."
I raise a brow at Sera who laughs behind her hand then goes back to reading. We've got big bad rockers and tattoo artists liking some Tijan.
"If you think this is bad, you should have read Fallen Crest Family with me. Sam's mom is a psycho."
"We'll have to read that with them next," Sera tells me with a smirk.
"Looks like we're all a bunch of Raisinettes," Jesse laughs.
I laugh with him. "Tijanettes, babe."
"New Tijanette members--rockers and tattoo artists. Tijan would be proud," Sera sniffles and wipes a fake tear.
"Weirdo."
Bret hands me a diet Coke with a straw and then a regular Coke to Harley.
"Thank you, Bret. I was getting a little dehydrated what with all the sweating from the pain and all," I tease.
Harley grunts. "I think we should 3D this f*cker."
"That'd be wicked," Hunter agrees.
"Not today, though, right?" I ask, more than a little intimidated by what I've already taken on.
Harley chuckles. "No, not today. We won't color it all in either knowing you're coming back."
I nod.
Bret stands. "I'm going to order pizza. You all in?"
Everyone murmurs their agreement.
"Smoke break," Harley says.
"I don't smoke," I tell him.
"Me either but I need to stretch and piss."
"Well then. Have at it."
Jesse helps me stand, putting a hand over my boob as he does. Another squeeze.
"Don't get me all worked up," I scold Jesse who grins. "You're so sassy today."
"You bring it out of me." He leans in and gives me a soft kiss.
"Oh boy. You really need to stop that. I think to distract myself from your hotness, I should probably go pee. Please can one of the pizza's be sausage and mushroom pizza? I can't stand all that meat that Jesse puts on his pizza and I don't do onions like on the supreme."
"No problemo. That's what Hunter eats too," Bret says exiting the store.
Ten minutes later Harley's back to inking up my skin. He's gotten a lot done in the time we've been here which must be quite a while since it's starting to get dark. My side is numb from the needle.
"Harley, do your neck and back get sore? Does your hand get numb?" I ask.
"Sometimes the neck does. Back isn't so bad and no to the hand."
"I've got to agree with Jesse. The outline is worse than the color."
"I don't agree with that at all," Ben says.
"Of course you don't. You're not happy unless you're being contrary," Sera scolds.
"You gain any weight yet?"
"F*ck off, Ben."
"I'll meet you in your room later."
"You're living in a dream world, Benjamin," she says imitating Morpheus from The Matrix.
I groan then whine, "Jesse."
"Luce, you're the one who wanted it done in one sitting."
"You're supposed to be sympathetic and loving and comforting. What kind of boyfriend are you?"
"The best kind. See me holding your hand while you break bones? I held your boob--twice--when you needed to adjust before, didn't I?"
I snort at that. "You can hold it later too."
"Dude," Xander interrupts. "Lucy's gonna have to be on top for a while. You don't wanna f*ck up her ink."
Jesse shrugs. "Works for me."
"I just bet."
"So, Xander, were those groupie whores that I saw down your wing of corruption yours or did they belong to more than just you?"
"I'm good, Luce, but five girls is a bit much for me by myself. I shared."
"Lovely. Share the skanks, share the STDs. Such a generous friend."
Harley whistles. "Not liking the groupies, huh?"
"Not so much."
"You've just got good girl morals," Ben tells me.
I nod. "I do. I admit that. I've never been one for whoring around. Don't get me wrong, I've had hookups, they were just never one-nighters. They were more like mini-relationships."
Jesse growls which I choose to ignore at the moment.
"That's the truth," Sera affirms. "She had to actually like the guy instead of just thinking he was pretty."
"I don't care if he's nice or not," Meggie says. "If he's hot and he's got a decent sized cock, I'm all for it."
"How can you tell if he's got a decent sized cock before--" I break off. "You know what? Nevermind. I'm going to just sit here oblivious to your whorish ways."
"You just reach down and grab the package. Jeez, Lucy. It's not that difficult."
I sigh. "I figured it out after I brought it up."
"You've never had a club hookup where you're grinding on a guy and he gets hard and you reach down to check it out?" Meggie asks.
Jesse coughs, hiding his laugh, and I grin.
"Well, the club part, yes. The reach down part, yes. The hookup, not that night but yes."
"Have you not watched the news lately? Did you not see their video?" Xander asks.
"Ha! Jesse Kingston you've corrupted our girl. Pull that video up, Xan."
"Maybe, but she corrupted me right back."
"Dude," Xander scoffs.
"There is no way for me to corrupt you, Jesse. You've already been corrupted in every way possible."
"Not true. You corrupted me into thinking relationships are good."
"No, no. You're the one who--"
He presses a finger to my lips then nods. "I did." My eyes widen and everyone gets quiet. Something's going on here. Something big. My heart starts to race. "I don't regret it either. In fact, I'm enjoying it. Who knew monogamy would be so fun?"
"It is with the right partner," Sera fills in.
"Mhmm," Jesse says then presses his lips to mine. He pulls back and tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear, just looking at me and I start to wonder what he's looking at--or for.
"What's going on--" Xander starts to ask, looking up from his phone, and Sera elbows him.
"You okay, babe?" I ask.
He smiles and nods. "I just figured out that I'm feeling pretty good about it."
"Oh shit," Ben says and Sera elbows him too.
"About what?"
Jesse shrugs. "You. Me. Us." He pauses and runs his knuckles down my cheek. He leans in and his lips brush mine as he tells me, "Being in love with you."
Harley immediately pulls up the tattoo gun.
"What?" I whisper. I'd bolt upright but my boob's hanging out.
Sera and Meggie make noises in their throats.
"Yeah. I figured that out this morning. It took me a couple days to figure out what it was I was feeling, but I figured it out. You know, it's not something I've ever felt before."
My heart, I swear it's going to beat out of my chest like in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. Tears fill my eyes and I know my mouth is hanging open. I am seriously dumbfounded.
"You can't say that here, with everyone around and my ass and boob hanging out."
He throws his head back and laughs. "I probably could have waited until you were completely naked--"
"Bro, I'm surprised you lasted this long," Ben says.
Jesse wipes a tear from my cheek.
I breathe out a big breath. I look at him, then Sera and Meggie, back at Jesse.
"Are you--" I shake my head. "But how… oh my God." I stand up and Jesse cups my boob so there isn't a Janet Jackson moment much to Xander's displeasure. I sit on Jesse's lap and look him in the eyes.
I'm so shocked and taken off guard, I shake my head again.
"You crazy, silly man," I say, cupping his face in my hands. "I love you too."
"Yeah?" he asks with the widest grin I've ever seen.
I nod. "Yeah."
He pulls me to him and hugs me tight--and squeezes my boob.
"Dude, it's about time," Xander says. "I knew you were in love with each other for a while already."
"Whatever," Sera tells him. "This was the sweetest thing ever. I got to see Lucy's hottie Jesse tell her he loves her and her tell him back."
"In my wildest dreams I never imagined this moment coming true," I tell Jesse.
"Believe it," he reassures me, then squeezes my boob--again. "You better let Harley finish.
"It's cool, Jesse. It's not every day a rock star confesses his love to a big time actress and she professes it back. You get a snapshot of that, Hunter?"
"Yep. This is one for the wall."
"Of course it is. My ass is hanging out and Jesse's squeezing my boob. Great picture," I say with a snort.
"Damn right. Now get your sexy ass back in my chair. We've got at least another hour to go."
Just as I'm about to get up and follow orders, there's a knock at the front door.
"Pizza bitches!" Meggie yells.
"Alright. We eat then we finish up."
"Sounds good. Have I thanked you yet, Harley, for doing this for me?"
"You have and you're welcome." He shakes his head. "Jesse Kingston's in love with Luciana Russo and she loves him back. What the hell is the world coming to?"
"Hey!" I protest.
"Baby doll, I'm afraid to tell you this, but you're way too good for that bum."
I laugh. "Oh shush you. Let's go eat."
Jesse and I grab some pizza and make our way back to Harley's station. The rest of the group stays in the break room. Jesse pats his lap and I take a seat.
"I can't believe you told me you love me in front of everyone."
He shrugs. "You said it back in front of everyone."
"I did. You know what else?"
"Hmm?
"I meant it," I grin.
"Me too."
We both eat our pizza in silence, goofy grins on our faces.
"How long have you known you were in love with me?" he asks.
"Hmm. Thinking about it I'd have to say it probably started in Chicago. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to let you get on that plane and not stalk your sexy ass into first class?"
He chuckles. "I was kind of expecting it and I got a little disappointed when you didn't."
"Awww, you even liked me when I was seventeen-year-old jailbait."
"I did."
"Well, everything started in Chicago and grew from there. But when I really knew was when you asked us to move in with you and it didn't send me running in the other direction."
"We're so…"
"Weird," I finish for him and he laughs.
"Yeah. You know what though?"
"What's that?"
"I think I like that we're weird. It means we're like nobody else."
"Huh. That's true. Very profound Mr. Rockstar."
"I have my moments."
And this was one of those moments. A moment that had my heart skipping a beat. A moment where my chest felt so full of love and hope I thought I'd explode. A moment so touching and poignant and he didn't care that it wasn't just me in the room. He didn't care that his brother, my sister, our band mates and three tattoo artists were listening intently as he laid his heart in his hands for me to either accept or reject.
"It's weird, Jesse."
"What is?"
"You're so comfortable being in love with me. Are you the same Jesse Kingston who sat with me in front of the Beverly Wilshire and told me he didn't do relationships?"
"One in the same. I was talking out of my ass. I knew I wanted a relationship with you then. I knew that one night wasn't going to be enough."
I nod.
"I wanted more than sex from you. I wanted to know you… all of you and the more I got to know, the closer to the ledge I got until I just took the plunge."
"Don't break my heart, Jesse. You could and you'd destroy me."
"I don't plan on it. I was kind of hoping you'd stick around. I was hoping it so much that I was going to suggest to Cage we tour together but he beat me to it."
"Really?" I squeak.
He nods. "Mhmm. There's too much here between us to not see where this goes."
I sigh. "Who knew Jesse Kingston was a romantic?"
He shrugs. "Not me, but I knew you were. Especially when they forced you to sing Blush."
I groan. "That was supposed to be a surprise."
He chuckles. "I've got to say, it definitely was that."
"Have you thought about the new song at all?"
"Some."
"Me too."
"What've you got so far?"
"Well, I don't think it should be a ballad."
"I agree."
I grab my purse and pull out a piece of paper. Jesse raises a brow.
"What?" I ask.
He shakes his head. "Nothing. That's just a very musician thing to do."
"Well, duh, I am a musician."
"You are, but I'm still getting used to it. I'm used to you being an actress."
"Mhmm. You and everyone else. This is going to take some doing."
"What?"
"Proving myself. Right now the world is probably thinking this whole band thing is a big joke."
Jesse shrugs. "F*ck 'em."
I nod.
"What've you got for lyrics?"
"I don't have a melody yet, just the first line."
"Go."
"I met you in a dream last night."
"You walked straight toward me and into the light."
"Nice." I write that down. "All I saw was a silhouette of someone I might know."
"Step out of the light so I can see you. Go. Go."
Sera takes a seat. "I've seen you on screen, I've seen you on stage, I've seen you happy, and I've seen you rage."
Ben nods in approval. "I just want to know you, maybe if I show you."
"That I'm not the same, to me it's not a game," Xander adds while I quickly write the lyrics that pour from us. It goes around and around from one to the other and soon we have a song.
"Let's hear it," Harley says after directing me back into the chair.
"Here goes. Titled: Falling Down."
Jesse sings with me.
I met you in a dream last night
You walked straight toward me and into the light
All I saw was a silhouette of someone I might know
Step out of the light so I can see you. Go. Go.

I've seen you on screen
I've seen you on stage
I've seen you happy
And I've seen you rage

I just want to know you, maybe if I show you
That I'm not the same, to me it's not a game
You're real and I'm here, step out into the clear
Let's change it all, let's change it before we fall…

Down the empty black hole of nothingness
You've gotta admit, you're a mess
You can fix this if you want to try
I know you don't want to be that guy

Be more than you are right now
I'll help you, it's my vow
I don't know who you are but I've seen you in my dream
It's only real or it's fake, it's not always as it may seem

I just want to know you and see what's on the inside
What's on the outside doesn't matter so please don't hide
We can fix this if you want to try
I know you don't want to be that guy

Be more than you are right now
I'll help you it's my vow
No more falling… down.

"Well, GK, you proved it to me with just that. Your band is going to knock some people on their ass when they stand there all skeptical and doubting and shit," Harley tells me.
"I hope so."
"Good melody, but it needs something more," Jesse tells me as I cringe at the feel of the needles working color deep into my skin.
"Yeah, Ethan, Kennedy, and Jace can figure that out. Text the lyrics Sera?"
"On it," she tells me as she takes the paper.
"I've gotta tell you lot, this has been the most f*cking memorable day I've ever had in my shop. First, I've got Luciana f*cking Russo in my chair and I get to see her ass and feel her boob."
"I knew you wanted to feel my woman's boob."
"Damn straight, Jesse. She's hot. And she's f*cking famous. Academy award winning actress and shit."
I roll my eyes.
"Second, Serafina Manzini is here. You have no idea how many times I've--nevermind."
"Eww," I say with a laugh.
"Then we've got Meggie Melody. One of the best guitarists I've ever seen."
"Here, here," I cheer and Meggie takes a bow.
"I'm used to you Falling Down f*ckers but not these ladies. Then on top of that, I've got a rockstar and Hollywood actress professing love while I tattoo her tit. It doesn't get any f*cking better than this, I swear," Harley announces with pride.
I laugh thinking about Harley tattooing my boob while Jesse and I said our I love yous.
"You f*cker," Jesse chides Harley. "You were copping a feel while I was professing my love to my woman?"
Harley shrugs. "We've got to take the moments we're given, brother."
"True that," Xander says, and fist bumps work their way around the room.
"Are you guys for real right now?"
"What?" Ben asks.
"This is the weirdest day of my life and that's no lie. I can hear my mother. 'So tell me the moment Jesse told you he was in love with you. Well mama, it's like this. Harley, the amazing tattoo artist was inking me at the time and feeling me up when Jesse leaned forward and told me he was in love with me in a room full of people.'"
They all start laughing.
"I can see Regina now," Meggie says. "You better not mention the ink. Let her find out when she sees it, uh, this weekend."
"Oh shit. We were invited for… oh I am so f*cked."
"Not yet, babe, but you will be when we get home. What?" Xander asks as we all glare at him. "It's what Jesse should have said right then. I can't help if he's not as quick witted as I am."
I roll my eyes--again.
This really is the weirdest day of my life--and the best because the man I love loves me back. As Harley said, it doesn't get any better than that.